Hi, everyone! Yesterday was so nice. Around 65 during the day. I got sooo much done. Raked more leaves, trimmed shrubs, up-potted some more coleus, mulched some more beds, dug a frostweed for a DGer here in town, planted some fern outdoors, tied up some turk's cap that was leaning over, planted a few pansies. My lovely tree is bare now, no leaves left and almost no seeds. The birds have stripped it almost bare.
Still blooming are the ageratum, lantana, zexmenia, turk's cap, cowpen daisy, western mist flower, parthenia, chrysanthemum, milkweed and the narcissus has buds. It usually blooms in January. I have oxalis blooming in the pot with my opuntia. The pot is in a toasty microclimate. The irises are looking lively with new growth, fleabane is 3-4" high and wild strawberry (weed) is popping up everywhere.
Our season here has aspects of Fall, Winter and Spring, Finterpring???
Mid-winter report
OK.
Hoping to do your yesterday, tomorrow...!
I still have more to do today. Still have some plants I rooted back in Spring that I need to plant.They are from a yard where the sign said, Sold, House to be moved. I timidly took a few cuttings. I should have done a lot more. They bull dozed it. A beautiful Brunfelsia hedge, Hamelia, Vitex, a rose with a 4.5" bloom, turks cap, senna, crepe myrtle; It's all gone now.
I did not do a winter garden this year. Since Ive gone back to work, I just dont have the time. I may still plant some lettuce but not much else.
As I wander through my garden I am amazed at the variety of plants that are obviously living in different temperature zones. My duranta is putting on blooms, my hibiscus has given up the ghost for winter. Quite a few of my rain lilies are happy and green while others are dead. I even have an amaryllis or two that are still green. I am not sure about my castor bean, this last cold snap finally frosted the leaves but the trunk seems in good shape. My purple Mexican petunias are still green and upright, my pinks are done for yet they stand side by side.
I am very hopeful about my irises. I have never been able to get them to bloom which is why they have been moved to new beds.
I agree that the weather has been strange. I noticed a few new leaves on one of my oaks and my fig hasn't lost a single leaf. I moved a bunch of dirt so I could plant my new citrus trees but want to wait for the next cold spell. I do hope to get one more round of cabbage plants in the ground and maybe some spinach tucked in the open spots in my beds.
Yellow rose is outstanding!
Thanks Marty. That is my Nacodoches, antique, the blooms stay the most wonderful crayon yellow from bloom to drop. It usually blooms like this in spring with smaller flushes throughout the year. This was yesterday, the 28 degree weather hasn't affected leaves or blooms.
Joy, I have 4 of the tiniest caterpillars you have ever seen. Need a magnifier to see them. I have enough to feed them for a while but I know Im going to need help so stand by.
Joy is this the time to plant citrus? I have Meyer Lemon and Kumquat that need to be planted.
Marty that is a shame about the place that was bulldozed. Sounds like it had some very beautiful plants.
Can I do some cuttings now? There is a Giant Mexican Turk's cap on an empty property but didn't know if it would be the right time to try cuttings.
I was told to plant in the winter so that they could develop a root system. I don't want them to think it is spring with the warmth of 70 degree days and then have a big cold snap. I have a Meyer lemon and two new oranges.
Sandy, I have a large one in a pot that you may have. They root easily in my experience so try it. I always start about 6 cuttings, that way I usually get at least one that roots. Mine in the ground was loaded with blooms this year. 6 feet tall.
Wow Marty I would love that. You are so sweet. I am going to have to come see your yard. Maybe I have some plants you would like to have.
Do you use Rooting powder? I am going to try it as my friend saw these at the vacant house and I couldn't believe my eyes. It is so beautiful.
Sometimes I use the powder, sometimes not. I cant tell it makes much difference.
That is good to know as I don't use it but I have it. I have the cuttings I took in water right now. They have been in there about a week. I guess I need to get them into dirt. I seem to always get ahead of myself and have too many things to do at one time.
I don't ever think there will be a day I am caught up and can just enjoy it all. But I love it anyway :)
You must learn to enjoy it in the "cracks" between things to do!
You are so right. I love the way you look at it. I try to see the roses not the thorns unless of course I am pruning them :)
Steadycam you are "lucky" to still be gardening...my garden is "done" until spring, I've put my "mulch" on it now, though my roses still have new growth coming in, I don't anticipate any blooms as we are due for a lot colder weather!!!
Happy New Year to y'all!!!
Just came in from planting my last batch of cabbages and broccolis. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I will try and get some spinach, kale and carrot seed in the ground.
That sure looks great Kiddo, congratulations!!!
Josephine, do you remember that NOID chrysanthemum you gave me several years ago? This is the first bloom from it and there are 4-5 more buds. It's not completely open yet but I snapped it as I never know what the weather will do. You said that a friend of yours gave it to you.
Thanks Josephine, I have never grown decent broccoli before. It always was small and poor doing. My cabbages are doing well and the big plants are brussel sprouts. They are healthy but not "sprouting" yet. I find it pretty exciting. Dave just laughs. But he is more than willing to eat what I grow.
I love your chrysanthemum Marty, quite pretty.
Joy, I have great luck with a broccoli named Green Goliath. I stagger the planting so I dont get 9 heads at once. I love broccoli but I cant eat 9 heads before they bloom. I love raw broccoli dipped in salsa con queso. I also like a primavera with roasted red peppers, mushrooms, broccoli and Alfredo sauce.
That is a problem with starting from seed. I just buy a six pack of plants and looks like the broccoli will work out right. I may be overrun with cabbages soon though. I can easily freeze extra broccoli if need be but cabbage?
I love broccoli salad, raw with ranch, and added to most any dish. In fact I am going to harvest a head in the morning and add it to a breakfast casserole I am going to make.
There's kraut, eggrolls, and I have this recipe I love called Thai cabbage. It's a Wok dish so you must have all your ingredients measured and prepared before you begin. To overcook this is quite easy!
2 Tbs lime juice
2 Tbs Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
2 1/2 Tbs red pepper flakes
Peanut or coconut oil
6 cups finely shredded cabbage
6 scallions sliced
2 cloves garlic crushed
1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1/4 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
Mix together the lime juice, fish sauce and pepper flakes. Set aside
In a wok or heavy bottomed skillet, heat a few Tbs of oil over high heat. Add cabbage, scallions and garlic. Stir fry no more than 5 minutes just to heat the cabbage.
Add the lime juice mixture, stir to coat, cooking only one minute more, Stir in the coconut and serve topped with chopped peanuts.
Marty, that mum looks just like I remember it just beautiful, thank you for showing it to me.