Common Google Searches

So, since I have sitemeter, I can see what the more common searches are that bring people to my page (and furthermore how long they STAYED on my page reading stuff).

Today, those search terms were:

Austin Organic Gardening:
I don't think I've ever specifically said that I am an organic gardener, but I like trying to be. I do have Azalea and Rose fertilizer, but that was because I was going to do a grand science experiment and plant a couple of hydrangeas then fertilize each one with a different fertilizer to try to get one pink, one blue. But, I killed my hydrangeas before I even got them in the ground, so I gave up. But I still have the unopened fertilizers (even though there is a rose bush out front...but I honestly am trying to kill that one off because I don't like it).

Last year I bought all of my plants from Walmart, and I wouldn't say that they were organic, but once I planted them in the ground, we only used organic practices--so the plants only got fertilized with our Compost and Compost Tea. I also try to only use the water in the rain barrel, though of course, that is highly dependent on how much rain we get. This year I only have one transplanted plant (a Lemon Boy tomato from The Red Barn garden center that I got for free through their coupons), and the rest I grew from seed in recycled-from-last-year-plastic-pots as well as those little peat pots.

Orange Fogo Thai Peppers:
Yes, I have planted some of these. I planted 4 of the Orange Fogos and 4 of the Red Demons. Since I transplanted them, 4 of the plants have died off. However, if I remember correctly, I did a kitty-corner style planting with them, so really I should now have 2 orange fogo and 2 red demon. But, I don't know which pepper plant is which. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll figure it out when they start growing peppers. Also, all the plants are approximately 1" high. Hey, at least they're still alive.

Growing Avocado Trees in Austin:
I have this in a pot at work. Where it inexplicably flourishes. It currently has crispy spots on some of the leaves, but that is because they were the leaves that were touching the window a while back--the tree was starting to lean and I didn't have any supports, so I turned it so it leaned against the window. I transplanted it a month later and now it's got supports and everything. For whatever reason, I blogged about the Avocado Tree more on my normal blog than I did here. Anyhow, here are the pictures I took.

Asian Jasmine Austin:
This is the plant that I refer to as "Devil Weed" or "Devil Plant" This is because it does not die. Sure, there are places where it doesn't spread as much--Full Sun, and it does appear to be a very good plant for xeriscaping as I've never watered it... But seriously this plant would take over our backyard if we didn't hack it back 2 times a year. And just so you know, if you ever plant the stuff and then decide that you want to get rid of it, you never will-- You might be able to get rid of it by taking a shovel and digging the whole plant out.

When I moved down here, it became obvious that it was the cheapest groundcover the previous owners could find because there were at least 12 individual plants planted throughout the front and back yard. I decided to rip out the 2 that were planted by the crepe myrtle by our bedroom window. I spent an entire saturday out there with a trowel and tried to get every last piece. I thought I had done good until this year when I went out and found that it looks like I never even pulled the plant out...