No tropicals up here.
This is why they call them the Smokies.
TROPICAL PLANTS AND GARDENS #131
Beautiful, Alice and I'll bet it's nice and cool too. Surprised you have internet service 'way up there!
- my Passiflora quadrangularis is blooming again, way up high in the bamboo stand. I hope the right pollenators are around at this time of year. The rest of the blooms in the spring never set any fruit.
- got myself a new orchid at Trader Joe's this week, Beallara Tahoma Glacier
that make 387 now Elaine?
Nah, I've kilt off a few with the black plague since we've had so much rain this summer. Also been battling boisduval scale on another bunch, which are out in the garden in quarantine. (the geckos eat the scale insects for me out there)
Still over 100 though. A lot are still small and have not bloomed yet. So once in a while I treat myself to one that already has flowers.
LOL!
Yes the heat has gotten to me as well.
Does anyone know of any architectural salvage places in the south of Florida? I am getting ready to start the hardscape in the backyard and can salvage a lot of what I think I need.
Thanks-Debi
There's a wonderful one here in Sarasota, Debi.
http://www.sarasotasalvage.com/
Thanks--saw that one online. May have to do some field trips, I'm a thinking!!
Gee, that would probably have to include orchid and tropical oddity growers too.....
...But of Course!
These mountains are getting interesting. Saw my first bear strolling across the back lawn this morning. Guess I now know what it feels like when mountain people see their first gator.
Drew are you getting all this rain? We are drowing up here. My plan was to go someplace where it was cool enough so I could sit on the deck in the mornings and have my coffee. I've been here 2 weeks now and have not been able to do that yet. Between the wet weather and now the the wildlife, that plan has been scrapped.
There was a piece on the local TV last night about a local woman who had bananas on her plants. She did not know the variety but the ones shown were large and very edible looking. Strange when tropicals thrive in the Western NC mountains.
We have too! Probably M. Basjoo,... survives Zone 4 if very heavily mulched... Bananas are not edible though.
That was my first thought, I have had M. Basjoo and got rid of them because they were such thugs. These bananas I saw on TV were much larger. My Basjoo's were fairly small.
My son, here in Asheville, has Basjoo's and frankly, they look out of place in this climate to me. But, the climate - it's a changin'.
I was just watching TV and listening to some doctor telling people how to lower their cholesterol. One of his recommendations was a Japanese noodle with no calories. I googled it and found it is made from the root of A. Konjac. Who knew?
http://www.amazon.com/Shirataki-Noodles-Pack-of-5/dp/B002CENRLG
I love noodles, so will find some of these. There is quite a variation in the price, so if you intend to buy them, check at several places.
Good idea. I just hope they don't taste like A. Konjac flowers smell. LOL
It is said that these noodles don't have any flavor. I imagine they are just like the glass noodles used in Oriental cooking. A dear friend of mine owns an Oriental market - I'll check with her.
Just make sure you rinse them well with cold water before using, as they have a fishy odor.
I've used them for years when I'm watching my weight and even though they are tasteless, they take on the flavor of whatever you're using them with.
I still have some in my pantry, and the good thing is, they do not need refrigeration for storage.
They are very filling as they're made of glucomannan, which is fiber.
Gracie
Interesting! Thank you.
Drew, you are so good at growing aroids, maybe there is another career for you here. :-)
I'm still not growing any plant that has a stinky flower, even if it does make delicious diet noodles! Got to go look for those noodles, though.
I just got back tonight from another trip to Salt Lake, so tomorrow morning will have some flower pics to show off I hope!
Good morning, everyone! Elaine, we always love seeing your flower pictures, so can't wait until you show us more!
I have been busy futzing about in the garden all morning, and here it is clouding over and already raining a bit! My yard looks like it's trying to do 'Sleeping Beauty's Castle' and devour the house. Evidently it has been raining heavily every day this week, so . . phew! My garden helper and I will be doing a weeding marathon on Monday morning.
Only got as far as the pool cage with the camera before I had to put it away and start fussing.
- Rita's spiral ginger made a stem with almost all white leaves!
- same plant, the flower
- Spathoglottis plicata 'opal' has been blooming non-stop for months
- my favorite orchid Brassavola nodosa, smelled absolutely heavenly last night to greet me home.
Love them all!!!!
Me too! Very nice
Heaven Scent!
Painted lady bamboo took off this summer!
OK, fellow gardeners, I need help! I planted running Bamboo and Golden Bamboo in a fence area - the patch is about 4'x6'.
I would leave it there if I were going to continue living in this house that I rent, BUT - I am being forced, at some point, to move - the house is up for short sale.
I need to find a way, other than digging the Bamboo, to kill it - my back won't allow me to dig. Can anyone (who has actually killed this giant grass) help with HOW TO DO IT?!!!!
Is the owner forcing you to remove it? If not I would leave it for the next owner to deal with. My son's home had a very large variety of running bamboo that had been planted right along the house. It was growing under his HVAC units and it had already cracked the steps. He is young and strong and he couldn't dig it out either. He cut it to the ground with loppers and painted the cut edge with RU. It seems to have worked. He still gets the occasional shoot but that is all.
So sorry you have to re-locate. I know it will be difficult leaving some of your beloved plants.
I'm afraid the bamboo will be up for short sale with the house. The new owners can deal with it. For all you know, the whole place might get bull dozed, and that would take care of it. My opinion is attempts to kill it will make it look like hell, and in the end it will still live.
Thanks, Alice and Randy. I have placed an ad on Craigslist for free Bamboo - you dig. I haven't gotten any responses yet, probably because it grows wild here, and those who want it already have it. I will forfeit my $1,050 deposit if I don't remove all the plants. I have hired a guy to help me dig 'ordinary' plants, but Bamboo is not an 'ordinary' plant!
That is certainly a task. Wayne does the same thing Alice's son does, cut them down and pour round up down the center
Thanks - if I don't get folks to come and dig it all, I'll use the Roundup. I have two guys coming to get some - pray that they take it ALL!!!!
Be careful of people you contact on craigslist, Kay. Have at least one friend- preferably a brawny male - there with you when they come. There are unscrupulous characters who target older people on that site. Many bad stories.
Our sympathies on having to move your garden! Phew. What a task as RJ says. Wish some of us could get there to help you. I'd be no help in this weather, as I last about 10 minutes in the heat.
Kay,
Don't you have a greenhouse also ? Is it portable so you can move it to your new place ?
The greenhouse belongs to the house. I just gave over 50% of my potted tropicals to my neighbors - my yard looks SO BARE now! I'm getting excellent responses on my free Bamboo. Thanks for being concerned about criminals - I am setting digging times for after he gets home from school and work. Hopefully, enough people want it that I can mow the area while I'm still here and then let the new owners worry about it.
Boy, do I know that feeling Kay!!
Yes, Randy - I think of your situation, a year (or so) ago, when I hand someone my precious babies!
Don't worry, that's what you have us here for. We are the Plant Insurance Forum. Once you get a new place, we will send you wonderful plants to get a whole new garden going again.
I'll bet your lucky neighbors will let you come back and take cuttings of your former babies, too.
Elaine, I wouldn't ask you all to do that - everyone on this thread has been so generous with me over the years. I wouldn't have had all the neat plants I had if it weren't for the love from all of you - thank you to each of you. IF/when I move back to KC, I will be near Debra - that beautiful flower is what I really need - she is SO PRECIOUS!
BTW, has anyone heard from Rita or Paula, lately?
Oh dear, really love all the plants here, I am leaving for Buffalo in a few days, my lil Braxton will be here every other day to water, I am taking cuttings of stuff in case I lose anything, it hasn't rained here for about three or four weeks now, can't believe we had rain 9 out of 15 days in July, now the summer is here, I have only brought in two plants..
I hope you get moved safe and sound, KayJones, and I will have plants for you when you do..
My one and only plumeria is budded and it will bloom of course while I am gone, go figger..
Have never seen it bloom yet. A tour of the patio..
So lovely, Deb. Unless you are gone for more than a couple of weeks, I'm betting your plumeria will still have flowers when you get back.
Buffalo? Isn't that one of those places where they have two seasons? Winter and August. Don't stay into September, it may snow!