2021
6/7 Willow Tree, bought Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' or dwarf Japanese juniper and Victoria blue salvia to line front path. Juniper will grow 4 to 6 inches a year and reach 4.5 feet. Salvia will grow to a 1 and 1/2 feet tall and 9 inches wide. Needs richer soil.
Fertilize citrus and avocado
plant moss roses and zinnias
2020
6/11 Went to Willow Tree with Bethia, where I picked out a crossandra and some Corsican mint. Not very sensible choices, but it was love at first sight. Now I just have to figure where to put them.
6/30 Just Fruits and Exotics have shipped an Australian Green Finger Lime and Sugar Belle Tangerine. They are unboxed and standing in the shade, waiting for their final resting space. I'll definitely wait for the rains. Tangerines ripen in November, and Limes are everbearing -- when they turn color and 'feel full' Tangerines are on trifolate or sour orange rootstock so should like acid soil. ???
On a less cheery note, still working on thinning the bamboo, and yearning for a better backyard plan. But backyard serves no real purpose except as a path from Janie and Claire's cars. Got to plan around that.
2019
Rain lilies went to town after I separated them and planted them along the path!
2014
Rain lilies went to town after I separated them and planted them along the path!
Update: Avocado tree is doing okay. It was blighted this spring, so no crops, but it's looking ok. All the Santa Rosa stuff perished long ago.
This year's new plantings: a really gorgeous Celosia which I'm trying to propagate. Just took three cuttings, and only three because I hate to denude the plants, they're so full and beautiful. Looks fantastic with the red-leaved coleus, which I'm also working at propagating.
I have a lot of purple shield which have graduated to pots on the window sill of the porch. They're such a beautiful true purple, but they can't take full on heat. I would put them around the palm tree but I think they'd burn up. They're very effective in pots near the door, but they should have something with them. I'm not sure what. Maybe some flower.
2014
Many new plants!!!
Mexicola grande avocado tree, courtesy of my sweet Bethia: If you do get just one tree, here's a tip to increase fertilization: Spray flowers with a weak honey water mixture, like 1:10. The bees and wasps will be all over it, pollinating away! Really worked for me.
It is sometimes called the year-round avocado because of its long harvest season. To extend the harvest, store fruit for up to six weeks in cool temperatures. The fruit matures on the tree but ripens after it is picked, so delay picking and store in a cool place to provide avocados almost all year.
Moringa tree: In front yard, again, courtesy of my sweet Bethia: I'm expecting a bumper load of nuts...in about five years.2011
Home Depot: Broke down and bought a mini pink which I've almost killed already. Bought coleus which I immediately began to snip up and propagate with great satisfaction. Bought luscious begonia which will probably be dead by the next time I read this, bad me.
My order from Santa Rosa Nursery arrived:
| Items Ordered: | Price: | Status: |
| $4.99 | Shipped | |
| $8.97 | Shipped |
| $2.99 | Shipped |
| $4.99 | Shipped |
It's not such a hot idea to order super cheap on sale plants; they arrived very root bound and droopy, the lower leaves burned yellow. I ripped out some whip-and-a-chain beach sunflower and replaced with gaillardia I planted Buddleia by the bougainvillea and hope it will be answer to all my dreams. I'm eager to see my sedums take off -- their leaves look radically different.
Also bought on impulse from Home Depot: Calarhea. Medium light, moist soil, and warm home temperaures of 70 - 75. Meant to be just a houseplant? Remarkably beautiful leaves.
My four cubic yards of dirt quality mulch from the city was probably at least one cubic yard too much, but oh well, I'm not through yet. Tired, but not through.
2011
A beautiful red bloom on the hibiscus, amid the beach sunflower. I fertilized with fish emulsion last week, and this week, the hibiscus do seem to be blooming better. The fish emulsion is stinky, but it's fine stuff.
I'm thinking a little purple queen near the wall would do well and look good.
It's not such a hot idea to order super cheap on sale plants; they arrived very root bound and droopy, the lower leaves burned yellow. I ripped out some whip-and-a-chain beach sunflower and replaced with gaillardia I planted Buddleia by the bougainvillea and hope it will be answer to all my dreams. I'm eager to see my sedums take off -- their leaves look radically different.
2011
 |
| A beautiful red bloom on the hibiscus, amid the beach sunflower. I fertilized with fish emulsion last week, and this week, the hibiscus do seem to be blooming better. The fish emulsion is stinky, but it's fine stuff. |
I'm thinking a little purple queen near the wall would do well and look good.
