Gardening in Austin

Ummm...what type?

2012-01-22T06:55:00.000-06:00

I saw this bird last Saturday at the suet feeder. I have no idea what type it is - it has a little yellow spot under the wings and a yellow rump. plus the white eyebrow...

Yellow-Rumped Warbler maybe? Looks like an eastern immature... if Allaboutbirds.org is to be believed.

Feeder Watch - Jan 21, 2012

2012-01-21T21:47:00.000-06:00

I brought in all the bird feeders and cleaned them and filled them with fresh seed. I have 4 feeders in the front yard and are therefore the only ones that I'll be using for my Feeder Watch (which is not the same thing as Project Feeder Watch...well, it is, but I'm not part of project feeder watch...mostly because it requires some amount of consistency; which I don't have - the same reason I haven't joined CoCoRaHS. But if you are one of those consistent people, I highly recommend participating in both organizations). I've done a little section below on each of the feeders and which seed I put them usually.

I put out all the feeders by 8:30 this morning.
Platform: 1/3 c Black Oil Sunflower (BOS), 1/3 c Safflower (Saff), 1/3 c "Trail Mix" nut blend.
Tube: 1/3 c BOS, 1/3 c Saff, 2/3 c InLaw mix (CostCo mix with added peanuts and BOS)
UpCycled: 2/3 c Thistle, 2/3 c "Song Bird Blend" (Thistle/Red Millet/Sunflower Hearts) in the bowl + 1/4 c Saff, 1/4 c BOS on the plate
Suet: 1 cake in the upper holder - "Insect Feast" (Rendered Beef Fat suet, cracked corn, millet, peanut, dehydrated mealworms)

Notes: The neighbors across the street are having a garage sale and the next door neighbors are moving. Also it's cold and windy...so it's probably not going to be very busy at the feeders (or it will be very "flighty")

1625 - starling on suet and a starling on the platform; strike that, the starling moved to the suet. 3 juncos on the ground, male house finch on the tube.
1615 - male and female Lesser Goldfinches at the tube feeder. House sparrows on the ground
1558 - Carolina chickadee at tube, house wren on upcycled, house sparrow at the tube, and a mocking bird (maybe - it looked like a smaller version of a mocking bird, but the tail length was all wonky) at the suet.
1557 - starling on the suet
1528 - male and female house finches in the platform feeder
1507 - female cardinal at the upcycled feeder, house sparrow at the tube feeder, and bewick's wren at suet.
1254 - male cardinal at the platform feeder
1206 - starling on suet
1205 - male house finch at the tube feeder, female house finch on the upcycled feeder
1204 - female house finch at tube feeder
1145 - dove and house sparrow on ground, there is a visiting starling, but it's not at any of the feeders.
1136 - dove at the upcycled, female house finch at the platform
1133 - male cardinal going back and forth between platform and the upcycled feeder
1114 - female house finch in platform
1058 - female cardinal and male house finch in the platform feeder
1055 - Female Cardinal and House Finch at the Upcycled Feeder, Male Cardinal at the tube feeder (going back and forth to the Upcycled feeder)
1045 - Female Cardinal at the Upcycled Feeder
0946 - 2 Gold Finches (later determined to be Lesser Gold Finches) at the tube feeder, Female Cardinal at the Upcycled Feeder, House Finch and Junco in the tree
0915 - House Finch at the tube feeder
0908 - Female Cardinal at the Upcycled Feeder
0830 - Feeders Up. Starlings gathering

**and at some point, probably around 11am, I realized that I probably should have created a spreadsheet instead of doing it this way so that i could just put a checkmark each time I saw a bird at the feeder. So maybe I'll do that tomorrow instead.

**Also, Annie at the Transplantable Rose informed me that there is an event that happens every February - The Great Backyard Bird Count, which only requires 15 minutes of observation (or more if you want to) for at least one day during a specified four day period in February. You can read more about it here: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

The Feeder Types:

The Hanging Platform

Most used by: the Doves, Jays and Squirrels. Also used by the Cardinals, and more recently the Starlings. When the larger birds aren't around (read: when the peanuts and black oil sunflower seed are gone), the house finches and wrens will visit.

Seed used and frequency: 1 cup of Black Oil Sunflower/Safflower blend. Depending on what birds I see at the feeder determines the 2:1 mix (more little birds = more Safflower, more of the big birds and the squirrels means more BOS). I put out fresh food daily because the animals go through it within a day. I did recently buy a "Trail Mix" nut blend from HEB so now the mix is 1/3 cup of BOS, Saff, and Nuts, each.

The Small Tube Feeder

Most Used By: The House Finches, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and very rarely the Cardinals, Downy Woodpeckers, and Younger Jays (the young jays started using it when they saw how the woodpeckers managed to get seed)

Seed Used and Frequency: I used to only have Black Oil Sunflower and Safflower in this feeder, but when I realized that the birds were ignoring a thistle seed feeder I had up, I started adding in a very small amount of thistle. Now that my In Laws gave me a new feeder and some of their seed mix (the CostCo mix with added peanuts and BOS), I've been mixing more like 1/3 c each of BOS, Saff and Thistle, and 2/3 c CostCo. I usually only fill the feeder once a week, though sometimes I'm nice and fill it 2 times.

The Upcycled Feeder (far right)

Most Used By: The House Finches and the Cardinals. Occasionally by the Doves and Jays.

Seed Used and Frequency: I put Thistle seed (and/or the Thistle seed blend my coworker gave me - Thistle Seed, Sunflower Hearts, Red Millet) in the bowl part and a 50/50 mix of Black Oil Sunflower/Safflower on the plate (usually about 1/2 cup total). I refill the thistle maybe only once a week or less, and the BOS/Saff every other day.

And Finally,
The Suet Feeder (also shown above)

Most used by: The Downy Woodpeckers, and the damn Starlings (like 15 at a time). Also occasionally by the Wrens, and what I think is a Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

Suet Used and Frequency: I'm currently using Wild Bird Unlimited Suet (Christmas gift from my sister). I originally put in the Red Pepper suet in the top square and an Orange flavor suet in the bottom. The top cake was gone about a week before the bottom cake, though I don't know if that was because it was preferred for taste or for location. For my determination purposes I'm only going to put in one square at a time to make it account more for flavor than for location. I just put out a new cake - "Insect Feast" or something to that effect (I had let it sit empty for a week hoping that the starlings will move on, but considering the number I saw in the tree 15 minutes after putting it up does not have me hopeful).

Placement Notes: The Platform and Suet Feeder are located close together. And the UpCycled and Tube feeder are located close together on the opposite side of the tree from the other feeders.

Junco

2012-01-20T18:45:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately, there are way too many juncos for me to name them all and keep them all straight - thus, they are "the Juncos." Since they're ground feeder birds, they're the most commonly stalked birds with Doves being a close second. The juncos, however, are much faster at getting out of the way than the doves are so they tend to make it.

Obviously this picture is showing the junco in the tree, but that's only because the ground picture was a little fuzzy. I'm surprised he went to the tree - the normal first line of defense is the dead/dying red tip photinia plants along the neighbor's house.

Wordless Wednesday: Succulents Floral Arrangement

2012-01-18T12:21:00.000-06:00

Date Taken: 01/06/2012
Time: 4 pm Central
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/320
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 57.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - +10 contrast, +5 brightness, +10 saturation, Unsharp Mask, add Border.

Date Taken: 01/06/2012
Time: 4 pm Central
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/200
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - +10 contrast, +10 saturation, Unsharp Mask, add Border.

Thank you to Bond and David for the arrangement.

RJ & Emily

2012-01-16T12:20:00.000-06:00

Earlier this week, I noticed a male downy woodpecker at the suet feeder my sister got me for Christmas. So today, when I saw him outside, I decided to get a picture.

He hasn't been as skittish as a bunch of the other birds are - I can easily walk out from my garage and he'll watch to make sure I'm not coming toward him, but he doesn't immediately fly away like most of the other birds.

I've named him RJ (as in Robert Jr. Because he's a Downy...yes, I'm a dork, why do you ask?)

Picture taken from the front corner of the house (it's about as close as I can get while outside)

My neighbor asked me today how it was that I managed to not have the squirrels eat all the suet cake (she had briefly put out a suet feeder, but took it down because of the squirrels it attracted - which drove her dogs nuts). I told her I had used a hot pepper cake which has capsaicin which affects mammals, but not birds (or perhaps it's safer to say that it doesn't affect them in the same way) - which is probably the reason birds like chile pequin plants.

Just a day after taking the photo of RJ, I noticed the female downy on the feeder (I've decided to name her Emily...I don't know why - it just came to me...much like naming my pets).

But I have been having a problem with European Starlings being all gung ho over the suet. Like "15 birds at a time" gung ho. Yeah...I'll have to figure out what to do about that....any suggestions?

Bloom Day - Jan 15, 2012

2012-01-15T22:25:00.000-06:00

What's this? participating in bloom day? Why, yes, I think I will.


Shrimp plant

And after going through some old entries, I decided I should post a wide angle picture of the side fence:

You can see a comparison here

Project: Front flower bed

2012-01-15T09:40:00.000-06:00

You see, the goal is to plant these plants:

in this bed:

But, of course, this also requires the turning of soil, the adding of compost, the removal of dead and dying plants (including a portion of that vile Asiatic Jasmine).

After: Soil turned, some jasmine removed, plants planted...let's see how many make it through the winter...

And of course, now I'm thinking I need to plant some possumhaw or yaupon holly on one side of the berm - maybe replacing even more of the jasmine. And I'd still like to do a stock tank pond, but that might end up in the backyard instead of the front...

Questions, Answered

2012-01-14T17:17:00.000-06:00

In case you don't already know, I have comment moderation turned on for entries over 2 weeks old - this is mostly for my benefit as I hardly ever go back and check to see if any posts have gotten any more comments than during that first week after I've posted said post. This also means that you'll get a quicker response from me since I actually get emailed your comment.

Anyhow, Michael asked that I email him back some responses to questions which is only a doozy because there was no email address included and he hasn't filled in his blogger profile, thus, no way to contact him. So I'm doing it here:

Michael's first question was if the habanero peppers I got from my plantings darn near burned my tongue off. The answer is "no" because I have, to date, never been able to grow habaneros from seed. Also, when we do have super hot peppers like habaneros or the ghost pepper, we will use it in chili or something similar so it's in the crock pot all day long which seems to severely limit the hotness factor. We just made chili a two weeks ago with the ghost pepper. I thought it was very hot. Not so hot to make the food inedible, but still quite hot. My husband said I was crazy and he was disappointed that the chili wasn't hotter.

Michael's second question is in regards to the peanut plant - he specifically asks what the flowers look like and when I first noticed them. I don't quite remember when I first noticed flowers on the peanut plant, but I do know that from when I transplanted it to when I first noticed flowers had to have been a couple of months (3 or 4 would be my guess). The flowers are yellow, they look roughly sweet pea ish (which makes sense since they're both legumes), and they're kinda small. The biggest thing to remember is that peanuts form underground from the fertilized flower so it will form red-brown runners which will drop to the ground and will look something like this:

More specifically, the plant will probably eventually fall over and grow more along the ground - at least mine did. I tried to stake it up but abandoned that because it kept sending out the peanut runners and it was taking forever to get to the ground. I ended up with 4 peanuts by the time I pulled the plant out.

Hope that helps...

Book Review: How Carrots Won the Trojan War

2012-01-11T18:41:00.001-06:00

When looking for a Christmas present for me, my sister went to the local bookstore, plopped herself down in the 'gardening' section and didn't leave until she found a bajillionty books for me. One of those books was "How Carrots Won the Trojan War" by Rebecca Rupp.

I started reading the book right after Christmas and finished it last weekend, so it did go pretty quickly. The chapters are separated by fruit or vegetable (so chapter 1: Asparagus, chapter 6: Celery, etc.) and each is chock full of history, science, trivia and stories of the specified food item. The only complaint I had was that each chapter is so full of information that it is best read in small snippets instead of just sitting down and reading chapter after chapter. I feel the same way about Cooking for Geeks if anyone has read that book.

Each chapter starts with a quote about the food item ("A cucumber should be well sliced, and dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out, as good for nothing." -Samuel Johnson) and usually gives a few stories of the food item (the Greeks ate carrots while in the Trojan Horse so they wouldn't have to go #2 while waiting) before going into the nutritional make-up. There, of course, are always bits and snippets of information included in each chapter as well (Moslem legend states that as Satan departed the Garden of Eden, onions sprang from his right footprints and garlic from his left); and of course there are some snippets that are more useful to our everyday gardening such as "melons and cucumbers...both belong to the genus Cucumis, but are separate species...and so do not interbreed. An exception is the sinuous Armenian cucumber (C. melo var. flexuosus)...which will cross with the melon because, despite its cucumberish name and appearance, it actually is a melon."

Heart O' Texas Orchid Society 41st Annual Show and Sale

2012-01-08T17:58:00.000-06:00

For those of you who like orchids, the Heart O' Texas Orchid Society has a sale and show coming up at the end of April.

The following is from Geoffrey Frost (who is part of the society):

Heart O' Texas Orchid Society's 41^stAnnual Show & Sale, "Orchid Heaven"

April 28^th& 29^th, 2012

Zilker Botanical Gardens Center

2220 Barton Springs Road,

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 477-8672

Show & Plant Sale: 10:00am - 5:00pm Saturday & 10:00am - 4:00pm Sunday.

This year we are very proud to present the 41^st Annual Orchid Show here in Austin, TX. Orchids are Mother Nature at her best, so come join us and check out all the beautiful orchids that will be on display. There will also be hundreds of blooming orchids for sale, as well as helpful information for growing these beautiful plants from the 8 vendors and society members. Need flowers for that special person in your life...orchids are becoming one of the most popular flowers in the U.S., so why not get an orchid this year for that special someone or special occasion. Admission to the event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. For a complete schedule of events, or for more information, please visit our web-site: http://www.hotos.org/

Downy Woodpecker

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Look what I found in the neighbor's yard...a female downy woodpecker making a nest-hole. Maybe she's the mate of the male I saw on the 22nd...

Well, That's a Hum-Dinger

2012-01-02T11:44:00.000-06:00

After not seeing any hummingbirds for over two months, I took my hummingbird feeder down. Since I hadn't gotten one of those ant traps, the ants were, indeed, becoming a problem.

I did get an ant trap and figured I'd put it out when I hung the bird feeder in the spring. Little did I know that I would be using it a bit more quickly than that.

The day before my family came down (so the 21st of December), I was sitting backwards on the chair (that is, the chair faces into the living room, but it has the only windows in the room right behind it), and I noticed a hummingbird looking for blooms by the window. I quickly put water and sugar in the feeder and re-hung it outside. Sure enough, the bird easily found the feeder. Since then, I've been having a bird show up every day. This one isn't nearly as skittish as the other hummingbirds and has no problem with using the feeder while I'm doing yard work right next to it.

Thus, while this picture doesn't really look like I'm any closer than any of the previous photos I've taken (you can see them here and here), I'm using a 70mm lens instead of the 300. Which basically means that I was like 5' away from the bird instead of 12'.

Based on the apparent affiliation with the Texas Longhorns, I'm going to guess that this bird is a Rufous. Though it could be an Allen's Hummingbird.

Christmas is for the Birds

2011-12-31T23:30:00.000-06:00

My family drove down from Colorado, battling snowstorms and having the better half of New Mexico roads closed, to spend Christmas with us this year. My family, as always, did a great job selecting gifts for me, and this year my sister and mother in law picked up on the fact that I had gone a bit bird brained this past summer.

My sister managed to find some amazing deals at a Wild Birds Unlimited that was going out of business in Colorado, while my mother in law got me one of those up-cycled ceramic bird feeders. The ziplock bag of food pictured above is a gallon sized bag of the CostCo bird food (which, while it has millet, it isn't as prevalent as it is in most mixes) that my MIL gave to me. You may be wondering what the yellow, hummingbird feeder looking thing is - that's a butterfly feeder. My sister has stated that she is never coming down here again (she doesn't like butterflies).

As today was a gorgeous day with 70 degree weather (that and it was the first day since Christmas that I've been home during daylight hours), I decided to hang the bird feeders. I opted to take down the finch feeder I was using because the birds never liked it much, and I have replaced it with the ceramic feeder. I put the suet feeder close to the platform feeder and am keeping my fingers crossed that the squirrels won't bother it much (I put the hot pepper suet at the top of the stick). I haven't put out the butterfly feeder, though I did see a butterfly today, so I should have, but I didn't know where to put it permanently (probably by the garden so I can attract the pollinators). I also have to figure out where to put the bird house. It's a bluebird house, and it says to put it 5-6' off the ground on a tree trunk, but I think I may go a bit higher than that...

So far, the thing I think is going to end up being the biggest problem is the feral cats - and not just because they hang out by the feeders, hoping for a bird. I get the feeling that they can tell that the suet cakes are made out of beef fat and I can see the little wheels in their heads turning trying to figure out how to get to the feeder.

Garlic Planted

2011-12-04T18:25:00.009-06:00

I finally planted the garlic last night. And by "night" I really do mean night.

For my birthday, my friend Andrea got me some reusable plant stakes which I opted to use. But I also fear that like the last reusable plant stakes the name may fade out by the end of the growing season. But these stakes have little plant pictures on them so I can tell which one is which just by the little painted on picture. Thus, pictures for the blog so I have a record of which is which.

[edited 01/06/12: I planted a crapload of yellow onions on the first or so. So now my garden plots (and the potato box) are full of onions and garlic. And one fennel plant and 2 lemon balms and 1 garlic chives plant. Point is, I've guaranteed myself that I won't have a spring garden - which is probably for the best since we're still in a pretty bad drought.]

Project: Plant Removal

2011-12-02T22:19:00.003-06:00

I'm working on a project (and have been since Veteran's Day) that involves removing approximately 50 feet of dead Asiatic Jasmine. I'm still working on it, but at least I only have about 10 feet to go. Pictures to come when I'm done with the project...which probably won't be for a while.

And I still need to get garlic in the ground.

I love that it's finally raining, but I'd rather it not be so I can do the garlic and more of the plant removal.

But I guess as long as it's more misty than actually raining, it will all work out.

I haven't checked the total for today, but I'm guessing it's somewhere in the 1" range. which brings our total November 1 to present total around 3".

Sweet Potato

2011-11-20T16:55:00.001-06:00

Half of the sweet potato harvest. All from 4 slips. I think I'll be planting them again next summer (assuming we're not in the same nasty drought). While the husband and I like sweet potatoes, we don't devour them, so the amount we got (16 small to medium sized) will probably last us a while. Because I used slips from a potato I got from the grocery, it means that this experiment was relatively cheap.

Veggie Plant Winners (Round 5)

2011-11-19T19:09:00.006-06:00

Summary:

Black Krim (2 plants) - 5 tomatoes total, 3 ruined by squirrels or birds. Plants removed from garden 11/19/2011
Roma (2 plants) - 7 tomatoes total, 1 ruined by blossom end rot, 2 tomatoes removed while green when the plant was removed from the garden. While the plant bloomed prolifically with cooler weather, it never really set fruit. Plants removed from garden 11/19/2011
Crookneck Squash - 3 squash total, 2 eaten by squirrels, 1 picked too late to eat.
Red LaSoda Potatoes (5 planted) - 10 potatoes
White Kennebec Potatoes (4 planted) - 2 potatoes
Sweet Potato - 16 potatoes from 4 (or so) slips. I haven't eaten any of them yet so they may be complete crap, but the fact that the return was 4-fold, I'm going to do them again next year (assuming no drought). Potatoes harvested and removed from garden 11/12/2011
Watermelon - 3 total - one eaten by Timmy the possum, 2 eaten by me. And while I've had better from the store, I've also had much worse. I saved seeds from the bigger one so I'll try planting them again in the future. Unfortunately, all three were of the regular pink variety (the packet contained yellow and orange fleshed watermelons in addition to the pink)
Eggplant (2 plants) - 3 total - the first one fell off the plant so I was going to use it, but forgot about it until it was soft. The other 2 were used in Pasta Alla Norma. One of the plants is blooming again, but I don't know if we'll get any more eggplants before the freezes start. Rather than wait for the plant to be flush with eggplants and then have a freeze happen, I opted to pull out the two plants on 11/19/2011.
Cayenne Pepper - 6. Edited 11/27: 14 total.
Thai Red Demon Pepper - 64 peppers total, 2 eaten by squirrels/birds, 2 given to Linda Lehmusvirta. 10 given to Daphne Richards, in exchange for a Peter's Purple Bee Balm, 1 eaten by my husband in a bout of questionable mental stability. Plus, more on the way. Edited 11/27: 149 total
Jalapeno Pepper - 20 peppers (though 10 of those are tiny and green and have no heat at all - the plant stem just started drying up so I pulled the peppers off of that stem, but the other 2 stems are fine), plus more on the way. Edited 11/27: 38 total

What Up, Peanut?

2011-11-18T14:52:00.000-06:00

The peanut haul. I think I'll just save them for planting.

Thankful

2011-11-16T13:33:00.001-06:00

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/800
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP -crop, add border.

Project: Backyard Tree

2011-11-12T16:41:00.000-06:00

As I wanted to plant a tree in the back yard to replace the Arizona Ash that died a few years ago, I decided it would be smart to call DigTess (1-800-Dig-Tess) to find out what underground utilities were in the back yard before going and digging a large hole. While most of the other projects I'm doing are less than 16" deep, a tree planting hole, is not.

DigTess came out and marked up the yard for me, but all it really did was tell me that the two other spots I wanted to plant the tree were unavailable because of the utilities (damn AT&T cable line!)

So I let it stew for a few days while I went through the blah-ness. Even as of Saturday morning (11/5) I didn't feel like working on the yard in any capacity. That is, until I went to my in-laws house and saw all the progress they've made in their back yard. Then it was like a bug - I had to get home to start working on "the projects." So I spent the better part of the evening digging a hole for an as-of-yet-not-even-determined-much-less-bought tree. After I hit a couple of big roots from the previous tree (I was already over a foot deep, and about 3' wide, so I thought I made a pretty good dent), I gave up and moved to digging out a hole/ditch area at the end of the dry river for a rain-garden type thing (the water is creating another pooling area just outside of the dry river, so I decided I might as well deepen the hole and plant stuff there). Note: The husband is not happy about this turn of events - mostly because he thinks it's going to look weird to have a flower bed in the middle of the yard, essentially.

Then, on Sunday (11/6), I think the planting bug got into my husband because he became all hell bent on getting a tree (after I told him, 'no really! it really is time to plant trees right now!'). So we went off to Red Barn and found a small cedar elm for $35. I was really hoping for a bigtooth maple, but they only had silver, brandywine, and some other variety that was not bigtooth.

And so, now we have a new tree!

Holy Ginger!

2011-11-11T15:45:00.001-06:00

My science experiment is going well. I found a "how to grow ginger" article from Tropical Permaculture and subsequently planted some ginger pieces on April 16.

The picture above was taken on October 29. (compare to the picture taken in July here)

Now I just have to stop watering, move inside to protect from freeze and collect the ginger in February...

Beautyberry

2011-11-09T16:20:00.000-06:00

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/160
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 1600
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 300.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP -auto white balance

Naga Jolokia: The Ghost Pepper

2011-11-08T16:25:00.001-06:00

Excitement abounds! In other news, Shawn decided that it was a good idea to eat a Thai Pepper straight off the vine. That went as well as to be expected.

Also, in unrelated news, Shawn and I were sitting out on our deck and he decided to open the grill (it has the bad habit of getting all moldy from the humidity). Lo-and-behold, we left two fully cooked turkey wings on the grill. So now we have some non-edible turkey jerky in the grill...oh goody!

Implementation

2011-11-07T17:08:00.000-06:00

My in-laws have been making some great headway on the paths/bed/patio project (you can read previous entries Design and Paths). So far, the biggest problem my mother-in-law has had is that plants are expensive. She's been doing pretty good at getting plants that can be divided and getting plants from neighbors/clients, so she's doing okay at keeping the costs down - of course until the plants start to fill in, the beds will look pretty sparse. Apparently she's been so keen on planting plants that my father-in-law actually got to the point where he refused to plant anything that wasn't a perennial.

I guess my mother-in-law has found out from one of the neighbors that she's technically supposed to have their back yard 60% grass (oh silly homeowner's associations). But! The neighbor says that he likes the beds better than the dirt patch that they had because buffalo grass does not grow in the shade. They've apparently gotten nothing but compliments on their yard at this point in time. Hopefully they won't be turned into the HOA, because that would kinda suck. But I'm also sure that the HOA would have to let it slide since, as stated before, buffalo grass doesn't grow in the shade.

They haven't started yet on the patio itself, and they still have to fill in more rocks and mulch, but it really is starting to come together:

This photo is looking south from just outside their bedroom door. The front bed (with the sparse rocks) hasn't been worked on - apparently there's some discussion about how much of the grass to remove - it's sparse right now, but it might fill in so my father-in-law wants to leave it, but my mother-in-law thinks that it might die, so she wants to get rid of it now.

This is from the south side of their sun room looking north. They're using cypress mulch for the paths as it's supposed to stay put and not float away.

From the north corner of the yard looking to the south. A bit fuzzy, but you can see the more of the plants - mostly turks cap and liriope right now. I guess she's got a bunch of ruellia from one of her clients that she's planting to see if it will take.

Standing just outside their sunroom door. The spot where I'm standing is the location where the pavers are supposed to go.

Standing just outside the sunroom door and looking north - the bare area that is roughly outlined by rocks is supposed to be pavers, with the bed around the last tree filled in.

Feeders

2011-11-06T14:57:00.005-06:00

The hummingbirds have left for Mexico (this was taken about a month and a half ago right before they left).

The Carolina Chickadees are appreciating the new bird feeders I put out.

As are the house finches.

Those birds will go through an entire feeder full of safflower and black oil sunflower in a couple of days. They, of course, tend to ignore the thistle feeder except for when the other feeder is so busy that they have to take turns to feed.

I'm still filling the platform feeder every day (with about a cup of seed). I've started mixing in some safflower since the birds like it and the squirrels don't. So far it seems like the Jays and the squirrels will make off with the black oil sunflower seed and the finches/chickadees and cardinals will get the safflower.

Of course, we did have our first feeder casualty; a dove. While I'm not necessarily happy about this turn of events, I also know that the killer was one of the feral cats. And while it sucks that a bird died, I can't exactly say that doves are all that smart and it was walking around on the ground at the time of its demise. That being said, the mockingbirds can also be quite dumb - dive bombing cats isn't usually the surest way to a long life...

Guara

2011-11-05T22:22:00.001-05:00

The guara I got on clearance from HEB a few weeks ago - the plan is to plant this baby tomorrow...of course the other plan is to also go find a tree and plant it tomorrow, too.

The blah-ness

2011-11-05T09:57:00.000-05:00

As all local gardeners know, central Texas has two short growing seasons instead of one long one. But of course, I always try to get my plants to limp through the hot summer to start producing again in the fall. And, after a summer like this one, boy are the plants limping.

Of course another problem with the plants making it through the summer is that I have no space to plant anything for the winter, nor do I have the energy to actually do any planting.

So I should be planting garlic and fennel in the veggie garden, and I should be planting trees in the yard and working on any of the plethora of projects I have in the yard (Hell Strip, Front Berm, Rain Garden in the side yard, removing part of my rock garden and moving it elsewhere, re-seeding the dead grass with NAS drought grass seeds, etc.). But I just can't get in the mood to do any of it.

Blah.

Hopefully this changes soon (very, very soon) because seriously, I need to get a move on.

Possible Freeze

2011-11-02T19:55:00.002-05:00

Wow, we're already at that time of year where we have to worry about possible freezes.

Tonight should be okay in Austin Proper, but tomorrow night I think I'll bring in the peppers and cover the tenders since it is forecast to be 36 at 7 am Friday morning.

Makes me wish all of my thermometers were working properly...

Garden 2011: 10/29/11

2011-10-29T15:41:00.001-05:00

Veggie Plant Winners (Round 4)

2011-10-29T09:49:00.002-05:00

Summary:

Black Krim (2 plants) - 5 tomatoes total, 3 ruined by squirrels or birds.
Roma (2 plants) - 5 tomatoes total, 1 ruined by blossom end rot, 1 on the vine (the plants have started blooming again because of the cooler weather).
Crookneck Squash - 3 squash total, 2 eaten by squirrels, 1 picked too late to eat.
Red LaSoda Potatoes (5 planted) - 10 potatoes
White Kennebec Potatoes (4 planted) - 2 potatoes
Sweet Potato - 0 thus far
Watermelon - 1 thus far - I had 3, one was eaten by possums, the other I just picked, and the third one is still on the vine.
Eggplant - 3 total - the first one fell off the plant so I was going to use it, but forgot about it until it was soft. The other 2 were used in Pasta Alla Norma. One of the plants is blooming again, but I don't know if we'll get any more eggplants before the freezes start.
Cayenne Pepper - 5
Thai Red Demon Pepper - 53 peppers total, 2 eaten by squirrels/birds, 2 given to Linda Lehmusvirta. Plus, more on the way.
Jalapeno Pepper - 16 peppers (though 10 of those are tiny and green and have no heat at all - the plant stem just started drying up so I pulled the peppers off of that stem, but the other 2 stems are fine), plus more on the way.

Support Your Independent Nursery Month: The Great Outdoors

2011-10-25T22:49:00.003-05:00

Pam at Digging has declared October as Support your Independent Nursery Month. As such, some of the local bloggers are posting entries every Wednesday (I love the sound of deadlines as they go whooshing by) celebrating the more popular independent nurseries in the Austin area. The nurseries we are blogging about are, by no means, the only independent nurseries in the Austin area, and I fully encourage you to seek our your nearest independent nursery.

In case you haven't already noticed, I am completely and utterly behind in posting about our local independently owned garden centers (as in this post was supposed to be LAST Wednesday).

Anyhow, let us commence, shall we?

The Great Outdoors is probably the most visited (by me) of the big local garden centers. This is because it is within spitting distance of my office and so it makes a good lunch-hour-gotta-look-and/or-buy-plants location.

The Great Outdoors is probably most noted for their giant topiary elephant, and possibly secondly for their birds. While most garden centers have cats, the Great Outdoors has an assortment of parrots in their seed house. And let's be honest, I do love me some birds, and some seeds.

Of all of the garden centers, GO is the only place I've actually asked for help from the staff. And they are more than willing to answer your questions or otherwise help in any way they can - in fact, one of the times I just kinda stood there looking forlornly at all the options for flying insect control (I had a problem with gnats at my office). One of the gentlemen was very helpful in getting me set up with the sticky traps (least toxic).

Furthermore, Merrideth (the owner of GO) is probably the second most well known garden guy in Austin (the first being John Dromgoole from The Natural Gardener). Which, is saying something.

So, if you're ever in the South Congress area (by Penn Field), look up the Great Outdoors.

Bird Feeders

2011-10-16T21:06:00.003-05:00

The hummingbird feeder has been lonely these last few weeks since the resident hummers have all headed south for the winter.

I just hung two new feeders in the front tree - I decided that I had to hang them since I've been noticing more of the smaller birds hanging out around the lone platform feeder. And of course they were all being chased off by the larger birds. I hung them in a location so the cats can watch them, but I neglected to put them in a good spot for human viewing. Eh - it's all for the birds, right?

Support Your Independent Nursery Month: The Natural Gardener

2011-10-15T08:43:00.005-05:00

Pam at Digging has declared October as Support your Independent Nursery Month. As such, some of the local bloggers are posting entries every Wednesday (I love the sound of deadlines as they go whooshing by) celebrating the more popular independent nurseries in the Austin area. The nurseries we are blogging about are, by no means, the only independent nurseries in the Austin area, and I fully encourage you to seek our your nearest independent nursery.

When I first moved down here (in January of 2005), one of the first things I asked my fiancé (now husband) was "Where's the closest good garden center?"

See, back in Colorado I lived in a town called Parker. And Parker has a huge independently owned garden center called Tagawa Gardens. Of course, most of the facility is inside a giant greenhouse (what with Colorado being too cold to garden for 6 months out of the year), but they offer classes, natural gardening solutions, knowledgeable staff, and plants by the thousands that, while perhaps not native, do well in the area.

Everyone told Shawn, "Oh you HAVE to go to the Natural Gardener!" and so we made the trek from our far northwest Austin home to the Natural Gardener just west of the Y in Oakhill which is on the far southwest part of Austin.

The Natural Gardener has everything from bag your own soils/compost to ceramic pots to one of the biggest and widest selections of plants I have ever seen. And of course, as mentioned above, the Natural Gardener is the purveyor of everything natural in gardening (including companion planting - such as plant roses at the end of your grapevine rows because roses will get the same diseases as the grapes, only sooner - that way you don't have to constantly be spraying your grapevines, you can wait until the roses show damage).

When you go to the Natural Gardener, be sure to check out the inside area as that's where all the seeds, bird supplies, and garden gifts are located. Also, you should walk around the grounds to see the demonstration gardens as well as visit all the farm animals.

P.S. I just saw that 7 Austin Local Independent Nurseries are offering giveaways through the following blogs (deadline to enter is 10/26 11:59 pm central time):

Sharing Nature’s Garden: $50 gift certificate from Emerald Garden

J Peterson Garden Design: $50 gift certificate from The Great Outdoors

Go Away, I’m Gardening!: $100 gift certificate from Sunshine Landscape & Garden Center

Great Stems: $50 gift certificate from Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery

The Whimsical Gardener: $25 gift certificate from It’s About Thyme

Rock Rose: $50 gift certificate from Shoal Creek Nursery

Growing Optimism: $25 gift certificate from The Natural Gardener

Digging: TWO prizes to two different winners: a $100 gift certificate & a Fall Power Package (valued at $50) from Barton Springs Nursery,

Veggie Plant Winners (Round 3)

2011-10-10T22:25:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Black Krim (2 plants) - 5 tomatoes total, 3 ruined by squirrels or birds.
Roma (2 plants) - 4 tomatoes total, 1 ruined by blossom end rot.
Crookneck Squash - 3 squash total, 2 eaten by squirrels, 1 picked too late to eat.
Red LaSoda Potatoes (5 planted) - 10 potatoes
White Kennebec Potatoes (4 planted) - 2 potatoes
Sweet Potato - 0 thus far
Watermelon - 1 thus far - I had 3, one was eaten by possums, the other I just picked, and the third one is still on the vine.
Eggplant - 3 total - the first one fell off the plant so I was going to use it, but forgot about it until it was soft. The other 2 were used in Pasta Alla Norma (which I still have leftovers of...)
Cayenne Pepper - 4
Thai Red Demon Pepper - 50 peppers total, 2 eaten by squirrels/birds, 2 given to Linda Lehmusvirta. Plus, more on the way.
Jalapeno Pepper - 15 peppers (though 10 of those are tiny and green and have no heat at all - the plant stem just started drying up so I pulled the peppers off of that stem, but the other 2 stems are fine), plus more on the way.

Don't worry - I saved seed from the Thai Pepper - this is the most prolific it's ever been...

Rain

2011-10-09T22:21:00.004-05:00

Oh my goodness, could it be? Could it really be rain?! Why yes, I think it is rain!

0.25" on 10/6
0.5" on 10/8
0.75" on 10/8 (during the day)
2.75" on 10/9

FINALLY

Though if you look in my bucket on the deck, it looks like we got a lot more than 4.25" over the last couple of days...

And I had to go pull the big watermelon for fear that all the water would make it split.

Support Your Independent Nursery Month: Barton Springs

2011-10-08T13:32:00.004-05:00

I must admit, I don't normally shop at Barton Springs Nursery. It has nothing to do with the fact that it's far from my house - it actually has more to do with the fact that I didn't know it existed until last year. (I visit the Natural Gardener with about the same frequency - which is to say - when I'm looking for something specific).

The nursery is awesome insomuch as they grow their own plants on the premises (while I can't say that all independently owned nurseries grow their plants on the premises, I can safely say that the big box stores do not). This might explain the reason why the few plants I have bought from BSN are still alive while the ones I have bought from the big box stores are not.

BSN has recently gotten their shipment of fall planting bulbs (fall planting means spring blooming) as well as new cement planters/garden decoratives and pottery. So hurry on down and give 'em a gander.

Barton Springs Nursery is located at 3601 Bee Caves Road and can be found online at BartonSpringsNursery.net

Paths

2011-10-01T19:01:00.004-05:00

Remember back in the day when I said I volunteered to help my in laws with their back yard area? The area that is almost entirely in the shade? Where the deer play (and apparently raise their young)?

Yeah, we finally started on that the other weekend. By the time my mother in law had decided she wanted to do something and had bought the patio pavers, it was too hot to really bother doing anything so the project was put on hold. Plus she kept saying she didn't know what to do - she's not a designer (not that I am - I mean come on, most of you have seen my yard). But, as with all things, it's easier to see potential in other people's yards - with the added benefit that if it looks like crap when it's done, it's not your yard.

Now then, as I had mentioned before, she wanted to re-sod most of the yard instead of going with native plants and I had THOUGHT I had convinced her to use plants instead of grass. I was wrong. She did go out and buy grass seed (something that's supposed to grow in the shade, but it's not St. Augustine). They spread it out and dutifully watered it. It didn't take. There are little patchy clumps near the edge of the shade area, but the rest of the area is bare. So she agreed to try plants instead of sod.

Of course she said she couldn't do plants because she doesn't know how to design a landscape, so I drew up a plan (I mean it's just like the design a go-go's right?). She saved it and it is now the plan of what we will be designing (even though it's not to scale, nor does it necessarily have accurate plants for the area - I didn't have my books with me so I had to go off of memory of what grows in the shade and is deer resistant). The biggest problem thus far is that the neighbor's tree is dropping all it's leaves, plus my father in law pruned their trees so now areas get more sun than they used to. The worst area is in the area that I had marked as "Turk's Cap". (good thing Turks Cap grows in the sun AND shade)

So the other day we (my mother in law and I) went out and layed rocks out at a 2' interval (due to lack of enough rocks) to mark where the patio should be, where the shredded bark paths should be, and where the planting beds would be.

The toughest part was getting my MIL to understand that if she didn't like where a rock was (as in it made the bed too weird of a shape, or the path wasn't wide enough), she was, indeed, allowed to move the rock to a more appropriate place. After we were finished I insisted that we "walk the yard using the paths" just to make sure the feel was okay. She thought it was an unnecessary step. Until we were doing it and decided that one of the paths should veer to the left instead of right. Guess what? It's a lot easier to move a few rocks than it is to move shredded bark and planted plants.

Since I know we'll have to go back up there at some point in the near future to put gutter guards on the house, I'm guessing we'll be laying more rock and laying the patio itself. Guess I'd better start lifting weights again...

And I haven't even started on the projects I have for my yard yet (hell strip, front berm, side yard, and planting trees). Oh yes, I have plans, but they'll probably take at least 5 years to implement.

Veggie Plant Winners (take 2)

2011-10-01T18:57:00.003-05:00

Rather than provide an update in the style I normally do, I feel that a summary is warranted.

Black Krim (2 plants) - 5 tomatoes total, 3 ruined by squirrels or birds.
Roma (2 plants) - 4 tomatoes total, 1 ruined by blossom end rot.
Crookneck Squash - 3 squash total, 2 eaten by squirrels, 1 picked too late to eat.
Red LaSoda Potatoes (5 planted) - 10 potatoes
White Kennebec Potatoes (4 planted) - 2 potatoes
Sweet Potato - 0 thus far
Watermelon - 0 thus far - I had 3, one was eaten by possums, the other two are still on the vine.
Eggplant - 1 thus far - there are another 2 waiting for me to pick them.
Cayenne Pepper - 4
Thai Red Demon Pepper - 50 peppers total, 2 eaten by squirrels/birds, 2 given to Linda Lehmusvirta. Plus, more on the way.
Jalapeno Pepper - 5 peppers, plus more on the way.

Obviously the winner is still the Thai Pepper. But then, at this point, I don't think anything is going to beat it...

Successes

2011-09-12T20:54:00.009-05:00

The sole gulf fritillary butterfly I've had born in my yard this year. The rest have been killed in their formative stages by the paper wasps that live in the eave of the house.

The saucer I put out for the toads and lizards is finally being used by one of the toads.

The bird feeder, which is mostly used by the Jays and the Doves is also being used by Cordelia the Cardinal (also, my husband believes I am crazy naming all the resident animals, though he had no problem with me naming some of the ducks in college.) Also, this photo was taken through a window and a screen.

It's also being used by the squirrels...meh. They need food, too. Besides, I only put a cup of seed out each day so it's not like I lose a lot by letting the squirrels take the left overs after the birds are done.

Hackberry Emperor butterflies mating on my window screen. You go, little butterflies, a variety of which I've never seen in my yard before, but likely were attracted to the sap from my pistache tree because the bird feeder rubbed one of the branches every time I took it off of the tree.

And finally, the best success of them all, a picture of Bettye - the resident female humming bird (yes, she looks like a male in this picture, but it's just the angle). I have at least three that visit throughout the day. This photo was taken from about 20 yards away. The next day I was able to move my chair to 15 yards. Soon I'll be able to be close.

Blue Jays

2011-09-07T17:01:00.000-05:00

I'm sure I'm probably not supposed to be feeding the blue jays. It seems like most people don't want them around their feeders (what with their aggressiveness and all). But I like them. And more importantly, my cat likes them - while I'm sure she'd like to EAT them, she only ever gets to watch them (cuz she's stuck inside while the birds are outside eating). But she likes the Jays. I think she likes the young ones. She has conversations with them through the window. But this isn't really about my cat liking the jays, or talking to them. This is about the weird thing I saw a jay do the other day.

I was leaning against the chair watching the jays and the doves take turns at the feeder and at the water dish. One of the jays was at the water dish and, to begin with, started in the dish. Then she (yes, I assign gender to all the birds at the house, even if I don't REALLY know its gender) reached over the side of the dish to grab a dead leaf on the ground. She started playing with it - picking it up and dunking it in the water, letting it float to the top and grabbing it again. Leaf in the water. Leaf out of the water. Leaf on the ground. Leaf in the beak. And Leaf back in the water. It quite honestly looked like she was just playing with the leaf and the water. I figured she would get bored and leave, but she played with that leaf for a while (5 minutes or so), and then started intentionally dunking it in the water, turning it over and dunking it back in the water. After about 30 seconds of this dunking action, she grabbed the leaf and flew off. I mean, really, why? It seems odd. I've read that captive jays will use tools, but could the leaf really hold enough water to take back to a nest? I realize that jays are in the same family as crows and crows are crazy smart, but do they have magpie-type tendencies about collecting things (magpies are in the same family)?

So many questions, so few answers...

Hummingbird

2011-09-05T17:51:00.000-05:00

I have two coworkers whose birthdays are 4 days apart. Before their birthdays, we had all been talking about the wildlife are faring during this drought. One of the girls had already started buying bird feeders and native plants, but was lamenting the fact that she didn't have a hummingbird feeder.

Thus I went to Petsmart and bought us all some feeders as the feeder, I felt, was pretty darn good (and cheap): It's red plastic with no yellow parts on it at all and it fully comes apart. The downside is that while it does come apart, the bulb part does have a fairly narrow opening. I have found that by cutting a few triangles out of the sponge part at the top of a bottle brush cleaner, that it will fit easily into the bulb thus allowing easy cleaning.

I hung mine out last weekend (August 28th), and you'll be proud to know that I did it myself - mostly because the husband hurt his wrist a few weeks ago, though he did supervise.

12 hours later I saw my first hummingbird at the feeder (a female black chin or ruby throat who has shown up every morning around 7:30) and just today saw 2 males - one each of the black chin and ruby throat. YAY!

No pictures of hummingbirds yet - they won't come by the feeder when I'm outside. We're working on our trust issues.

Water

2011-09-03T08:33:00.001-05:00

With Stage 2 water restrictions looming, I have been contemplating what to water and what not to water. I have also been thinking about getting rid of more grass. The problem is that it's quite possible that replacing grass that I don't water with plants, which, while requiring little water, will still require more water than the grass that I don't water. Normally I'd just start asking people how much water they use in their yards, but 1) everyone has different rates and points where the cost goes up depending on where you live, 2) people have different sized yards, 3) people have different plants that they'll let go (dormant or die) in the heat of summer, and 4) peoples' household use of water differ drastically.

I have some idea of how much my inlaws spend on water only because my MIL is always concerned with how much they're spending compared to others (we, on average, spend about $40, though this last month's bill - which included me watering all flowering plants every day for 2 weeks leading up to my go-go- was $50 or about 6000 gallons). The inlaws also have an automatic sprinkler system, the idea that grass must always be green, a larger turf area, and a home owners association that is perceived to be very strict about plants and lawn and hell, everything (we have an HOA too, but they complain about things such as 'the grass is too tall' versus 'your grass is brown').

Of course we were (until about 4 weeks ago) also watering our lawn which was only a lesson in futility since the backyard went dormant and then subsequently died. We didn't really start watering the lawn until the middle of June and even then it was half-heartedly and with the goal of not keeping it green, but with making sure the roots didn't die. We then went through a phase where neither of us remembered to water on our watering day and I don't want to stand out there for an hour with a hose. I can deep water the tree in the back and the grass does not come back. Compare this to the front yard where I will deep water the trees and we end up with a 2' x 2' patch where the grass is verdant and 6" tall. Thus my theory is that the grass in the back is Dead.

As I'm not a big fan of lawn, I am always trying to come up with schemes to get rid of more turf. But of course the problem is that OTHER people like turf and if we ever want to sell this house we're going to likely have to have SOME grass area. Which means that I would prefer something like Buffalo, but that's what my inlaws have and they hate it. I'd go with a prairie mix, but I'm guessing most people don't want to let their lawn get 6" tall or taller. I'd plant low water/maintenance plants, but we're back to the whole thing of even low water plants require some water, so the question is, does having a (mostly) dead lawn which I occasionally water end up being cheaper than plants that require little water? The answer is likely yes, but again, people don't want dead lawn when they purchase a house, they want live lawn...which means we're back to square one.

Good thing we're not planning on selling for the next couple of years...

Maryland: Milkweed

2011-08-22T09:39:00.000-05:00

Wild milkweed in Maryland. I also got to see something I haven't seen down here in a while - Monarch butterflies.

Maryland: Jewelweed aka Spotted Touch Me Not

2011-08-21T09:24:00.000-05:00

Jewelweed is thus named as water beads on the leaves looking like the plant is bejewelled. It is called Touch Me Not as the seed pods burst when touched. It also is used as a cure to poison ivy and mosquito bites (rip the leaves and rub on affected areas). Jewelweed grows in Texas but it likes moist soil and shade (maybe more of a bog plant...).

Emmitsburg, MD

2011-08-20T17:37:00.000-05:00

A picture of a black-eyed susan bloom (at least I assume it's a black-eyed susan) at the Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Vacation

2011-08-20T13:17:00.003-05:00

So I didn't REALLY go on vacation - I was at a training in Maryland for the last week while my husband was (and still is) at a conference in Vancouver. But the bad part about going to cooler climes in August? It means that your plants are left here in the frying pan to fend for themselves.

I asked the neighbor who was watching our cat to water the veggie garden and other plants in pots on Tuesday and Thursday (keeping in mind that I normally watered those everyday). I also had a coworker stop by on Wednesday to water "all plants outside, front and back." so if we're keeping track that would indicate that all the perennials and annuals and flowering things would get watered on Sunday before I left, on Wednesday and then again on Saturday when I returned. The veggie garden and plants in pots would get watered on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The flowering things all did fine - the worst looking plant by far was the milkweed. And the back yard flowering plants looked downright wonderful.

The garden, however, looked pitiful. The squash plants have all died (probably a one-two punch between the heat and SVB), one of the Krims I had grown from seed died, the marigolds all looked extremely stressed, the lemon balm is crispy, as are some of the sweet potato plants. Hell, even the garlic chives aren't looking so hot. The best looking plants were the eggplants and watermelon. The most pitiful thing to me, though, was the fact that my lone habanero plant (from seed) looked done for. The leaves were completely limp and a dull green. I watered it anyway and it has miraculously recovered.

While I'm a little sad so much died, at the same time it's a good thing because I need to make room to plant garlic, broccoli, and cauliflower very soon like.

Birds

2011-08-11T22:09:00.001-05:00

It's been so hot and dry out and this damn drought is never ending that the poor animals are having a tough time.

I started putting a bowl of water out for my cats, but the neighborhood cats started coming around so now it's out all the time, and then I put out a saucer of water for the birds (cats in the back yard, birds in the front). Then I started thinking that they needed a bigger water dish (to account for evaporation), so I started looking for a big plastic saucer (like the type you put under flower pots). In the meantime I found a toad living in my garden (probably on account of the fact that it is the only area that reliably gets water), so I started leaving a saucer of water in the garden. Shortly after that i found the tiny baby anole living on my Thai Pepper plant so I now pour water in a yogurt lid that I have on the dirt in the pot so the little guy has access to water. I finally found a large saucer for the birds in the front and I moved the smaller saucer to the back yard in the shade garden as the anoles tend to like to live in that area.

A few weeks ago, the husband and I went to Lowe's to buy some paint and drywall compound. I got sidetracked by the wild bird section and debated on buying a feeder and food. Just this last weekend, after watching a jay family in my yard obviously looking for food, I finally "broke" (at least that's what we'll tell the husband) down and bought a feeder. Since I know all the animals are hurting (except for the wasps and ants in our yard) so I bought just a flat hanging plate and a 17-pound bag of black oil sunflower. Thus far I haven't seen any birds (or other animals) at the feeder, but something's eating all the seeds...or dumping them out at least.

Update: I wrote this a few days ago and since then I have actually bothered to put out the seed and sit at the window and watch. I had the jay family, a cardinal and about 4 doves visit the feeder while some type of nuthatch/chickadee visited the water saucer.

Veggie Plant Winners

2011-08-09T21:45:00.004-05:00

Rather than provide an update in the style I normally do, I feel that a summary is warranted.

Black Krim (2 plants) - 5 tomatoes total, 3 ruined by squirrels or birds.
Roma (2 plants) - 4 tomatoes total, 1 ruined by blossom end rot.
Crookneck Squash - 1 2 squash total, eaten by squirrels
Red LaSoda Potatoes (5 planted) - 10 potatoes
White Kennebec Potatoes (4 planted) - 2 potatoes
Sweet Potato - 0 thus far
Watermelon - 0 thus far
Eggplant - 0 thus far
Cayenne Pepper - 4
Thai Red Demon Pepper - 42 47 peppers total, 2 eaten by squirrels/birds, 2 given to Linda Lehmusvirta. Plus, more on the way.

Obviously the winner this year is the Thai Pepper.

(edited to update counts on 8/26)

Plant Sale

2011-08-06T08:27:00.002-05:00

I went to the HEB last Saturday to get the makings for Ranch & Spinach Pasta Salad (Rotini, bacon, spinach, and ranch dressing). While there, I decided to check out the plant section to see if they had any thing that would feed/water birds (aka plant saucers or bird baths). I didn't find any thing of that sort, but I did start looking at the plants. I ended up picking up a weeping jade plant for $2, and a portulaca for $1.19. I then found the clearance section. A clearance section that's full of plants that aren't even necessarily looking all that bad, and so I picked up a Persian Shield for $2, Devonshire Lavender for $1, and a Blue Salvia for $1. Of course I'm sure the clearance plants will promptly die as soon as I put them in the ground (but maybe I can propagate them - especially the salvia and the Persian Shield).

Of course the reason I even looked at the plants was because I had bought some clearance pots at Lowe's the weekend before - a lime green and a bright purple small pots (a little bit bigger than those 4" plastic things), and two blue and bronze triangle shaped pots labelled as "Orchid pots". I figured the jade plant would look good in the purple pot and I could probably break off some of the leaves to get them going in one of the blue and bronze pots. And while the Persian shield would look stunning in the green pot, it is a bit too small unless I want to keep propagating the plant to keep it small enough.

Wee Baby Anole

2011-08-01T21:56:00.005-05:00

The other day I went out to water my plants and there was a wee baby anole on my Thai Pepper plant.

In order to give an idea of size, I've tried to take photos with something one could compare to - here the little anole hanging onto a "medium" size tomato cage.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/25
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - Hue +10, Saturation +10, Unsharp Mask, Border

And here he is on top of the cage with a few of the pinky-long Thai peppers.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/25
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - Saturation +10, Unsharp Mask

It was all a Go at my house this morning...

2011-07-30T17:58:00.007-05:00

This morning, a bunch of Garden bloggers all convened on my house to give me ideas of what to do with my "part All Shade, part All Sun, and Drainage Problems All Over" area of my yard (basically the south side of the house). Along with many great ideas for plants and grading suggestions, I also received a couple of awesome gifts. Diana from Sharing Nature's Garden gave me the little metal dragonfly in the top picture (which is sitting on top of Daphne's garden plan).

Bob from Central Texas Gardening gave me a white Philippine Violet, Ronny from The Lazy Shady Gardener gave me Silver Squill and Soap Aloe. Last but not least, Bob from Gardening at Draco made a butterfly (for lack of a better word) doodad 'specially for me.

I was so excited about having everyone over, I totally spaced that I was going to give away a tea towel that I'm sewing. Le Sigh.

Just an observation

2011-07-22T20:14:00.003-05:00

I'm having a garden blogging group over to my house next Saturday. I find it kinda funny that I've let the grass go dormant but like hell I'm going to let all the other plants go dormant. I figure I ought to at least PRETEND that I know what I'm doing and am capable of keeping a plant alive...

Hello, Ginger!

2011-07-16T13:29:00.000-05:00

The ginger I planted from pieces on 4/16. Picture taken a week ago, but I figured I aught to post something on Foliage Followup (hosted by Pam at Digging.)

Bloomin'

2011-07-15T15:57:00.001-05:00

Rock Rose. Picture taken a week earlier, but I figured I aught to post a picture of a flower on bloom day (which is hosted by May Dreams Gardens). Plant was from Bob at Draco Gardens.

Wordless Wednesday: Horsemint

2011-07-13T12:54:00.001-05:00

Horsemint, grown from seed from Meredith at GreatStems

How to separate seedlings

2011-07-11T20:22:00.010-05:00

Guess what I found? My point and shoot camera! Okay, it's not like I lost it. It's more like I forgot that I had photos on it. Photos like me separating and transplanting seedlings. Something that I meant to do a "How To" on. So, here it is, 5 months late:

Step 1: Prep the containers you're transplanting to (in this case a 6-pack esque thing and some 4" x 4" pots). I used seed/cutting mix. Also make sure to bring over your seedlings.

Step 2: Label all of your pots. This is especially important if you're pulling multiple types of seedlings.

Step 3: Use a stick or dowel or skewer to poke holes in your soil mix. It would also be smart to get it kinda wet. (this is so it doesn't repel water...dry dirt tends to be hydrophobic for a while and you don't want your seedlings not getting water). You are poking holes so you can get the little seedling roots into the new pots.

Step 4: Grasp your seedling by its leaves. ITS LEAVES. Plants can regenerate leaves, they usually can't regenerate stems. use the dowel/stick/skewer to loosen up the soil around your seedling.

Step 5: Place the seedling into the prepared pot.

Step 6: Use the stick/dowel/skewer to gently pack soil around the roots.

Step 7: Wash, Rinse, Repeat for the rest of your seedlings. Water (I use a spray bottle at first because I don't like bowling over the little plants). Place in protected place out of full sun for a few days until the seedlings recover.

Randomness

2011-06-23T20:14:00.003-05:00

I decided at some point over the winter that I wanted to try growing ginger. So I went to the store and got some fresh ginger (in the spring) from the grocery store. I cut it into pieces and planted it in a pot full of potting soil. I watered. And watered. And watered some more until I FINALLY saw some shoots. The shoots, since I'm blogging about this all sorts of late, are now about a foot tall and look (I think) very similar to bamboo. But hopefully they'll produce some nice ginger pieces for cooking.

I also decided to try growing sweet potatoes, which meant that I needed to get slips. I opted to buy a potato from Whole Foods, sliced off the bottom and put it in a jar of water. The slips started sprouting almost immediately. As the sprouts came off the potato I planted them in the garden. Of course, the problem is that it's been so freaking hot that if I forget to water the slips every 12 hours for the first week they're out in the garden then they just crisp up and die.

Now then, all I need to do is try growing some crocus for saffron, right?

Motion

2011-06-22T22:25:00.003-05:00

This month's Gardening Gone Wild photo contest is about capturing motion in a photo. In other words, it's something that I generally consider a 'bad' photo. Of course that's not to say that I don't love it when other people do it, but when I do it I think it doesn't look very good. But then, I probably am just harder on myself than I am on others. And I always look at a photo I've taken and think "motion blur (bad)" as opposed to "motion blur (cool)". The best motion blur photos I think I've ever taken were done unintentionally: I somehow managed to get my point and shoot camera to create these awesome blur photos when I was in New Orleans; I have never been able to get it to do that since. For this project, I took a crap load of photos, but never got one that I really absolutely love, but I think some of it is the angles that I had to use and what have you (I mean who really wants to see a downspout on my house?)

I took a trees in the breeze photo which I like, but there's very little motion in it:

In the end I ended up deciding that one of the many feather grass photos best showed motion:

I still don't like how grainy it looks in the small photo - much better at the embiggened size...

Lizard

2011-06-13T21:55:00.005-05:00

Right before we left for Washington State, Shawn and I saw a lizard a lizard hanging out on our deck, all flashing his dewlap. Then we saw this guy, also flashing his dewlap but hanging out on our deck chair. And then he held still for a photo.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/640
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 400
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - Saturation +10, Border

He ran off, returned to his normal green, and paused long enough for me to get another. The fact that I used a 70mm lens means that I was within a foot and a half or so of him, so he was mighty tame.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/2500
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 400
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - Saturation +20, Hue -7, Border

Pink Flower

2011-06-09T18:17:00.005-05:00

Some silly pink flower in Washington State (Yakima area) that doesn't have much above ground other than the flower itself. Strange little plant...

Also, these were taken the day after Shawn almost stepped on a Bull Snake. Yep. Washington State is full of snakes.

Southeast Washington - Lupine

2011-05-29T08:59:00.004-05:00

This was the day I almost stepped on a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Of course, since the lupine was all a-bloom, the husband and I just took to calling it Washington Bluebonnets since they look so similar. And yes, saying "Washington Bluebonnets" is obviously easier than just saying "lupine"

Garden 2011: 5/15/11

2011-05-28T19:58:00.003-05:00

SVB

2011-05-20T22:00:00.001-05:00

Not again! Or rather, Not already!

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/80
Aperture Value: 5.31 EV (f/6.3)
ISO Speed: 400
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 300.00 mm
Post Processing: Levels (manual), brightness (+5), Unsharp Mask

potatoes

2011-05-17T21:54:00.001-05:00

The Red LaSoda haul this season (started with 5 potatoes of the size in the center)- better than last season, so at least I'm improving. But it still ain't the 50lbs of potatoes the article promised.

Rock Rose

2011-05-15T17:20:00.001-05:00

I had fun playing with GIMP today. Here is the base image::

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/200
Aperture: 6.64 EV (f/10)
ISO: 400
Flash: No
Metering: Pattern
Exposure Program: Normal (green square I think)
Focal Length: 70.0mm
Post Processing: Levels (manual), Brightness (-5), Contrast (+10), Unsharp Mask.

And here is after cropping (with saturation turned down some):

And here's where it got out of control and I started using some auto option filters in GIMP. I call this one "Cat" since it's similar to one of the filters that Cat at the Whimsical Gardener uses. Of course, hers turn out much better, and have more noise in them (thus making them look even cooler, naturally).

And here's a Mandelbrot filter (named after Benoit Mandelbrot, the father of fractal geometry). I call this one "Philip" since it looks like something that Philip at East Side Patch would play with (but of course, again, he would do a much better job than I would).

Leaf Footed Nymph

2011-05-13T21:59:00.000-05:00

Camera: Canon XTi
Exposure Time: 1/80
Aperture: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO: 400
Flash: No
Metering: Pattern
Exposure Program: Normal (green square)
Focal Length: 300 mm
Post Processing: Levels (manual), Unsharp mask, Brightness (-10), Contrast (+10)

Garden 2011: 5/9/11

2011-05-09T22:39:00.001-05:00

light

2011-05-01T15:04:00.005-05:00

So last month, the Gardening Gone Wild photo contest was about light and I had submitted one of Lily P. Utian's photos because it didn't feel right linking to a post from last summer and using that as my entry. I figure "i've got a camera, and I always need the practice, so I should use one of my newer photos if I'm not going to actually go out and take photos specifically for the contest."

As I was backpacking yesterday, I remembered that I had plenty of photos, that while taken months ago, at least had never made it to my blog. Photos taken in Big Bend, like the white fuzzy fungus (pictured), the green moss, and the prairie grass were all better "light" photos than the photo I entered for the contest.

Besides, I realized that when I'm taking photos for this blog, I tend to just use my camera in "P" or "Green Square" setting (essentially "point and shoot" modes) whereas when I go camping I'll play around with the different settings (usually opting for Aperture (Av) or Shutter Speed (Tv) priority). And that's assuming that I've even bothered to get out the SLR (half of the time, especially for those 'update' style postings, it's just easier to use the actual point and shoot).

Purple flower taken at Pedernales State Park 4/30/11 (non-processed)

So, resolution time!
in order to take better photos I will:
1) Read the user's manual
2) Take more photos where I'm trying to get a 'good' photo (this is because a 'good' photo is subjective)
3) Post-process the photos
4) Post them on my blog. Now then, I'll likely take a bunch of flower/plant/landscape photos because it's what I'm comfortable with. But I also need to take more animal/people photos...which I'll likely post on my other blog. OR! maybe I just need to start a new blog where I post a photo every day.
5) Provide photo metadata (it only counts if it can be re-created, right?)

Same purple flower as above (duh). Post processed with GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program).

Camera: Canon Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/250
Aperture: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO: 200
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Patern
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Focal Length: 70 mm
Post Processing: Brightness +5, Contrast +5, Levels (manual), add border

Lily P. Utian

2011-04-23T16:45:00.002-05:00

Hi! My name is Lily. Lily P. Utian. I am going to take you on a jaunt around Katina's garden to show you my favorite potted plants. Here I am sitting in my home with my Venezuelan friend and a nice set of Lemon Balm cuttings that Katina is trying to root for her coworkers.

We shall start this tour in the backyard with the Agave desmettiana variegata from Jenny from Rock Rose, Sedum from Bob at Draco Gardens, and unknown variety of agave from Katina's work. You can't tell, but the black pot in the background has a Mexican Buckeye tree sapling from Carol at Lost Valley Gardens.

Around to the front the house, you'll find a unknown (by Katina) red variegated agave from Diana at Sharing Nature's Garden. Over my right shoulder you can see some spineless prickly pear from Katina's friend, Ross. Immediately behind the pot is a heaping mound of Asiatic Jasmine, or as Annie in Austin refers to it, the "Scourge Released Upon Central Texas." By the window of the house, you can just barely see Katina's avocado tree which she started from a pit almost 6 years ago.

Moving one pot to the left (that's my left), we come to the pot of graptopetalum from Bob at Draco Gardens, behind the pot there's some Feather Grass (Katina doesn't remember who she got it from, either Jenny at Rock Rose or Philip at East Side Patch), you can see the stalks for the Tropical Milkweed, and the yellow spots are zexmenia which Katina got from Bob at Draco who got his plant from Jenny at Rock Rose. The grass-looking plant to the right (my right) and behind the pot is a rain lily from Annie at The Transplantable Rose.

And here we are at the end of our tour. All plants in this photo (graptopetalum, sedum, and rosemary) provided by Bob at Draco Gardens.

Thank you for joining me on the tour of the potted plants in Katina's yard (you may have noticed that there are a few pots in the above photo which we did not cover--that is because the plants in them are D-E-D, dead). See you next time!

A Feather in your...Chair?

2011-04-21T16:58:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago, the husband and I made a trip up to Draco Gardens. Mostly because the husband required the superior welding services of Bob, who, as most of us garden bloggers know, is a welder and always has cool projects going on. We drove up to his shop and got out of the car. As I'm standing there, I notice this chair:
Wait, what's that funny cracking on the back of the chair? It's a...Feather?

Bob says that he got the chair from someone else (feather-ed already) and has no idea how the chair cracked in a perfect peacock feather pattern - the husband and I were postulating that maybe a wet feather was somehow pressed on the leather to cause the cracking...or it could just be that someone took a knife to the back of the chair to create the look.

Garden 2011: 4/14/11

2011-04-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

Dinner

2011-04-17T16:47:00.002-05:00

A wasp stung and is trying to pick up and carry off this caterpillar. Picture taken at Draco Gardens.

Towels

2011-04-17T16:41:00.003-05:00

I have a set of towels that have herbs all over them. Based on the pictures, and the word next to the picture indicating the herb, there are two possibilities: the creator was colorblind, or the creator was high as a kite. I prefer to think that it is the latter rather than the former.

Pumpkin: Casper

2011-04-09T19:41:00.002-05:00

Noticed the first (and so far ONLY as of 4/9) pumpkin seedling on 4/1.

Planted: 3/20. Sprouted 4/1

Experiments

2011-04-09T12:23:00.002-05:00

New Experiments:
-Spring Potatoes in the Potato Box - currently under way. the plants look much better than the fall experiment potatoes. I also didn't bother ordering any potatoes, I just bought organic Red LaSoda and White Kennebec potatoes from Whole Foods on Valentine's day. I planted them the following weekend. The Red LaSodas are doing great, the Kennebec, not so much. I'll probably only stick with the Red LaSodas after this...

-Spring Quinoa - Currently under way. The seedlings didn't start as quickly as they had in the fall (I'm guessing it's a temperature issue).

- Casper Pumpkins - currently under way. I planted the seeds, but none of them have come up yet...I'm beginning to think that I waited too long to plant them (I had bought the seeds a few years ago and forgot about them).

-Spring Sweet Potatoes - I tried to get some sweet potatoes to sprout - I put them in some water on the counter. I didn't get anything other than moldy potatoes. The other night when I went to get out some other sweet potatoes from the cupboard for making sweet potato fries, I noticed that one of the potatoes had started sprouting. So, out with the old, in with the new. I have the potato sitting on my windowsill to see if it will sprout more slips.

-Peanut Bush - My parents had moved to New Jersey for about 3 months for my dad's job (he was supposed to be there for 3 years). On their way back (from the move), they opted to drive through the southern part of the US. They stopped in Georgia for a bit and my mom found this peanut growing kit (which was really just a little salsa cup from Chuy's with red yarn and 4 peanuts) that she bought as a stocking stuffer. I started the peanuts a few weeks ago, and the peanut plant is already ready to be planted in the garden.

-[edited on 4/16] I want to try growing ginger (Zingiber officinale). I bought some ginger a week ago from the HEB that has some growing tips, I broke off the pieces and planted them about 2" deep in potting soil in the pot the Avocado Tree used to be in. I used Tropical Permaculture as the guide I followed.

Experiments I want to try:

-I also want to try growing saffron (crocus sativus)

Previous Experiments:
- The Garlic Experiment (aka Growing Garlic) - Win!

- Make seed start pots out of toilet paper rolls - Fail. Last time I posted about this, I was told to abandon toilet paper rolls and make newspaper rolls instead because it's easier for the plant roots to get through when it's planted in the ground.

- Strawberry Popcorn - Neutral. The corn grew, it produced. Because of my own stupidity, they didn't produce as much as they could have. I planted I think 8 plants or so and got 6 good ears and about that many not good ears (I had stopped watering the plants well before I should have).

- Paper towel seed starting technique - Epic Win! I successfully managed to start seeds by using the trick of sprinkling said seeds on a wet paper towel, wrapping it up and putting it in a ziplock bag on the counter.

- Lemon Balm + Nasturtium to repel Squash Vine Borer - Neutral. I don't know if it really repels the SVB, but I'll probably plant this again as the Nasturtiums are pretty and the Lemon Balm is well, lemony. Plus, I felt that the Lemon Balm worked fairly well as a mosquito repellent until the mosquitos are so thick that they don't care what type of repellent you have on.

- Fall Quinoa - The plants grew only about 4" - 6" high (they're supposed to be 4' - 6' high). Needless to say I didn't get anything from them, but figured I ought to try again in the spring.

- Starting tomatoes/eggplant/pepper from seed - Epic Win!

- Agave pups - Currently under way. The agave at work sent up a bloom stalk and produced pups. I collected a shit load and gave a bunch away to other garden bloggers. Unfortunately, even though the agave had survived at my work without problems with weather, it apparently is not necessarily frost tolerant as all of the ones I planted outside froze during the winter. the only ones alive are the ones I have in pots.

- Carnival Mix Carrots - I planted one area of my garden with the Carnival Seed Blend which I completely forgot about until I pulled up carrots and I had maroon and white ones. The maroon one was good, the white ones were blah.

- Chef's Choice Cauliflower Mix - The cauliflowers didn't make it this fall - I think it was the location (lack of sun). I will try again in the fall.

- Tulle Bags to protect the tomatoes - Has not started yet. I'll make the call when I have more tomatoes growing . The gist is that you use those little tulle wedding gift bags and put your tomatoes in them (while still on the plant, duh), to protect the tomato itself from bugs. Note: As Annie in Austin has pointed out, this will not protect your tomatoes from other, larger varmints. Varmints with teeth.

-Sweet Potatoes - it was an accidental experiment that worked pretty well, the only problem was that I started it much too late in the fall season to get any sweet potatoes.

Penstemon

2011-04-07T12:09:00.000-05:00

Gulf Coast Penstemon from Linda Lehmusvirta. Pulled up and planted at the wrong time (right before flowering), and the plant is flourishing. Dang that penstemon is tough (hope I'm not saying that same phrase when I'm trying to make sure it doesn't grow in the grass...)

Year of the Mountain Laurel

2011-04-04T12:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it's really not THE year of the Mountain Laurel, but my trees have practically doubled in size.

That's right, they are now a whole 6" tall.

Bluebonnets

2011-04-03T12:34:00.000-05:00

If you haven't already heard (and who hasn't?), this year is not a great year for bluebonnets - we hardly got any rain the fall and winter which usually means that the wildflowers won't put on as great of a show. And considering that last year, the medians and sides of Mopac were COVERED in flowers, it seems a little weird to only see smatterings of wildflowers. Admittedly the coreopsis or tick seed or black eyed susans or whatever the yellow daisy-esque flower is is having quite the year.

But this isn't about wildflowers elsewhere. This is about wildflowers here, at my house.

In the fall, I got some bluebonnet seeds from MSS at Zanthan Gardens. I put them with my other seeds, and promptly forgot about them. I remembered them in January or so. Generally, much too late to put them out. I figured what the hell, they'll either germinate or they won't. So I threw them all about the yard and the flower bed areas.

In hindsight, this probably wasn't the smartest idea since the husband gets all protective of his lawn.

On March 26, I decided to go for a flower hunt in my yard - my other flowers that reseed themselves (such as cedar sage), have the bad habit of seeding in the lawn just outside of the flower bed and the husband will mow them over. Because of this, I have to make the rounds at the edges of the flowerbeds digging up all plants and planting them in the flowerbed. And yes, I have transplanted weeds before.

As I was checking the areas where I had dispersed bluebonnet seeds, I noticed that there was a funny looking plant outside of the bluebonnet area, but what do you know, it looks like a bluebonnet! So I went and dug it up and plopped it in one of the flower beds.

Grow little bluebonnet, grow!

The Powers That Be Hate Me or Why I will Never Have Habaneros

2011-04-02T11:13:00.006-05:00

In fall of 2009, I purchased some Red Savina Habanero seeds from Renee's Garden.

I planted 3 seeds in early 2010. They all died.

I planted 5 seeds in early 2011. They all sprouted and I was all like "YAY Habaneros!"

On March 3, a squirrel went and dug in this box ripping up all the habaneros save one. I tried to save as many as I could (3 of them), but alas, they all died except for the one that the squirrel missed.

I transplanted my lone habanero into a 4" pot on March 26.

On the 29th, I came home from work and moved my potted plants (including all the 4" transplants) closer to the house (to be under the roof overhang) as we were supposed to get some hail. We did not get any hail.

On the 30th, I came home from work and decided I should move all my plants that were under the overhang back to their normal location.

I noticed that one of my pots had been messed with. Only one. Can you guess which one it was? That's right. It was the habanero. There was no plant to be found anywhere, just a plant-less 4" pot that was sitting RIGHT NEXT TO THE SLIDING DOOR. Like, what the hell? Weren't the cats sitting there staring down the varmint? Was it during the time that the neighbor's dog found a hole in the fence and spent the afternoon in our yard? I mean, REALLY!?!? COME ON!

I planted another seed in the 4" pot on Friday the 1st.

Colorado - March 2011

2011-03-28T21:54:00.001-05:00

Beans, Squash, Watermelon

2011-03-27T21:47:00.003-05:00

Saw some Bush Provider, Yellow Crookneck, Delicata/Butternut and Watermelon seedlings this afternoon.

Planted: 3/20. Sprouted: 3/27.

Still waiting on those pumpkin seeds though...

Corn: Sugar Dots

2011-03-26T19:14:00.004-05:00

When I planted the corn seeds (which are from 2007), I didn't expect them all to come up. But they have. So now I need to do something I HATE doing - thinning. It's not that I hate the time it takes. It's more like I hate doing it because I'm killing a plant. The only time I don't feel bad about it is when I'm thinning the beets, but that's because each seed will send up multiple shoots.

Planted 3/20. Sprouted 3/25.

Spring Growing Season 2011

2011-03-20T11:00:00.007-05:00

Icebox Watermelons: Rainbow Sherbet. Renee's Garden.
Description: Grow three varieties of early maturing "icebox" watermelons with delicious pastel yellow, orange, or pink flesh. These extra fancy beauties weigh in at only 4-7 pounds with thing, green-striped rinds and dense, crisp flesh. Their party colors and refreshing sweet, sherbet-like taste make them wonderful everyday treats or gorgeous summer desserts. Pick melons when the tendril closest to the fruit turns brown, and the light pathc on the bottom o fthe melon changes from cream to tan. Days to Maturity: approx 75. Year Opened: 2009. Number Planted: remainder of packet (about 6) on 3/20. Sprouted 3/27. Seeds always stored in the fridge.
Experience: In the past, the damn varmints have always gotten the watermelons - either because they actually bit into the watermelon, or because the watermelon split due to too much water.
Update -7/21/11: Finally found my first female flower. Which I fertilized.

Pumpkin: Casper - White. Page's Seeds.
Description: Casper, a white skinned ornamental pumpkin with thick orange flesh o fexcellent eating quality. Grows 8"-12" in diameter, 10-16 lbs. Casper's skin has less bluing than many other whites. the handle is tan with a corky texture. Days to Maturity: 100. Year Opened: 2011 (packed for 2009). Number Planted: 4 (entire packet). Seeds stored at room temperature.
Experience: Kept forgetting I had these seeds until I found them again this morning (3/20). Sprouted (1) on 4/1. Go 25% success rate!
Update: 07/21/11 - Piddly. but still alive

True Thai Chiles: Orange Fogo and Red Dragon. Renee's Garden.
Description: We import these brilliantly colored, authentic Thai chiles direct from the source! Vigorous Fogo ripens bright orange with delicious medium hot/sweet pungency, perfect minced in sauces and salads. Red Demon's fiery little fruits point up like flames, with that nutty, incendiary pungency just right for stirfries. Use fresh or air dry for tantalizing Asian-style dishes. Days to Maturity: Approx 85. Year Opened: 2008. Number Planted: 4 Red Demon, 6 Orange Fogo (planted 1/5/11, sprouted 1/18/11). Seeds stored at room temperature in 2008, stored in the fridge since 2009.
Experience: Just transplanted all the chiles into 6-pack-sized thingies 3/19. Just transplanted the chiles AGAIN into 4" pots on 3/26 in order to give orange fogo plants to other garden bloggers and to give some cayenne, red demon, and orange fogo plants to my coworkers.
Update 07/21/11: Best year yet for the Red Demon. Like the entire plant is COVERED in chiles. I didn't want to plant this plant again since I had never had super great success with it...but hell, I may need to buy more seeds and grow it again next year...or save the seeds...hmmmm....

Habanero Chile: Red Savina. Renee's Garden.
Description: Bred exclusively by Frank Garcias at GNS Spices, incendiary Red Savina is the hottest habanero known, tipping the scale at 380,000 to 500,000 Scoville units which put it in the Guinness Book of World Records. Along with brilliant red color and intense heat, Red Savina's flesh has that special tantalizing fiery fruitiness that characterizes habanero chiles from the Yucatan. The Chinese lantern-shaped fruits grow on sturdy 3 to 3.5 foot plants that do best in long hot summer areas. Days to Maturity: Approx 90. Year Opened: 2009. Number Planted: 5, Took a while for them to sprout - I planted on 1/5 and by 1/18, only 1 had sprouted. Seeds always stored in the fridge
Experience: As I posted earlier, they all came up and then a squirrel went and dug in the box I was growing the seeds and ripped up all of the habanero seedlings (leaving the other ones alone, naturally). I tried to save 3 of them (2 were obviously goners). Of those, only 1 made it. I just transplanted it into a 4" pot yesterday (3/19). The remaining plant was killed off by varmints on 3/31. Planted 1 lone seed in the 4" pot on 4/1
Update 07/21/11: The plant is still alive. And still in the 4" pot.

Specialty Eggplants: Italian Trio. Renee's Garden
Description: Our trio of delicious Italian eggplants combines teardrop-shaped, purple-black "Nadia," gorgeous, oval-shaped magenta "Beatrice" and heirloom rose and white, globe-shaped "Rosa Bianca." The strong plants with velvety leaves and lavender blossoms bear abundant crops of curvaceous glossy fruits with tender skins and succulent flesh that is never bitter or seedy. Enjoy in recipes from all Mediterranean cuisines. Days to Maturity: Approx 80. Year opened: 2009. Number Planted: 6. Two of each variety. Seeds always stored in the fridge.
Experience: 5 of the plants sprouted by 1/18 (planted on 1/5). 2 made it to transplanting time (3/19). Both are the Beatrice variety (same variety that survived last year).
Update 07/21/11: Have yet to set fruit, though one of them may have finally set one fruit.

True Thai Basil: Queenette. Renee's Garden
Description: This tropical-looking ornamental basil has dense .5" leaves that grow in clusters around distinctive purple stems. Imported directly from our best Thai seed producer, Queenette's exotic flavor combines aromatic mild sweet spices with clove/mint basil flavor. It is a critical ingredient in Southeast Asian dishes and marvellous in stirfries, chutneys and marinades. An eye-catching herb to interplant with flowers for "edible landscaping." Plant Queenette basil to enjoy growing and cooking with authentic Thai ingredients. Days to Maturity: NA. Year opened: 2009. Number Planted: A crap-load. Seeds always stored in the fridge
Experience: 19 Thai basils as of 1/19 (planted 1/5). I don't know how many I have left because they're all in one flowerpot at work. I just "planted" all the seeds I saved from last year's plants (3/19). Obviously, when I say "planted" I mean "throw the seeds to the wind in a couple areas where basil may grow in the back yard." As an added bonus, I still have 2 full jars of dried basil and about one quart of frozen basil cubes from last year. As the combo basil has Thai Basil in it, I've decided that I'm not going to plant any of the Thai Basil in the normal garden bed.
Update 07/21/11: I still have maybe 5 in the flowerpot at work.

Long Red Cayenne Pepper: Free from the Allandale plant sale in 2010. Heirloom Seeds Company. packed for 2009, opened in 2011. Seeds stored in the fridge since I obtained them in 2010.
Description: No description on seed packet.
Experience: I planted 3 seeds, all three did germinate. just transplanted into a 6-pack on 3/19. Transplanted into 4" pots on 3/26. gave two to Janna and Pam. Kept 1 for myself.
Update 07/21/11: The plant has produced a handful of peppers with another handful on the plant. It is about half the size of the Red Demon which is in the same pot.

Black Krim Tomato: Planted 9 (planted 1/5, sprouted by 1/18), 3 are still alive, but tiny (Botanical Interests Organic, opened 2011). Bought 1 at the Sunshine Community Garden sale and planted on 3/19. Seeds always stored in the fridge.
Description: Large brown-red fruit with rich sweet flavor. Sets well in heat. Heirloom from Crimea. (from the Sunshine Gardens info sheet) Dark-brown, red fruit, large (10-12 oz), Russian. Heavy Producer, prone to cracking. Likes hot weather. Rich complex flavor, sweet-tasting fruit. Indeterminate. 75-90 days. Status: Heirloom
Experience: Growing these from seed isn't going so well...perhaps I'll have better luck in the summer when the squirrels aren't trying to dig up all my plants. And it's a bit too early to make a call on the one that I planted.
04/02/11 - I had 3 Krims in little pots - 2 are piddly, and the 3rd looks pretty good. I'm keeping it in a pot until fall though. The one I planted in the garden is already flowering.
Update 07/21/11: Pulled out the plant in the garden (it was looking pitiful) and planted two of the plants I grew from seed in the garden - replacing the Krim and one Roma. Also took a cutting from the plant I bought and planted in a pot. Will be giving away the cutting and one from seed. The plant in the garden produced 5 tomatoes, but 3 were marred by birds. I put up bird netting and also set out bowls of water for the animals.

Provider Bush Bean: Free from the Master Gardeners. High Mowing Organic Seeds Company. Packed for 2010, opened 2011. Seeds stored at room temperature for 2010. Stored in fridge since 2011.
Description: Standard green bean, always reliable even in poor weather. Comes through every year with early, heavy yields of attractive stringless beans. Concentrated sets. Days to Maturity: 50
Experience: Surprised me that the seeds are purple. direct sowed 3/20. Noticed plants on 3/27

Black Eyed Peas: Free from my friend, Ross. Seeds stored at room temperature.
Description: Cowpeas, also called Black Eyed Peas, are a favorite southern bean. Although the young leaves are edible, most gardeners grow them for the bean inside. Cowpeas are native to Africa, where it is an important food crop. The plant thrives in warmer climates. There are vining and non-vining varieties. Maturity in 80-90 days.
Experience: planted for the nitrogen fixing properties.

Basil (Custom Blend): Bontanical Interests. Packed for 2010. opened 2011. Seeds always stored in the fridge.
Description: This unique blend of basils will provide you with exquisite culinary delights for your kitchen, texture and scent for your flower arrangements, color and form for you flower beds. Includes: Lemon Basil, Anise Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Red Rubin Basil, Dark Opal Basil, Thai Basil, and Genovese Basil.
Experience: I had a ton of these at work, but then a bunch of them died. just planted some seeds in a 6-pack thingy on 3/19.
04/2/11 - I don't feel that they came up quite as quick as they did at work (I guess they really do like warmer temperatures). But they have all come up as far as I can tell. Just waiting for them to get bigger so I can transplant them.
Update 07/21/11: The only two to make it were a Thai Basil and a Cinnamon Basil.

Roma Tomato: Botanical Interests Organic. Opened 2011. Seeds always stored in the fridge.
Description: An absolutely excellent, old heirloom tomato used for sauce or canning. Very firm, meaty 3 inche oblong fruits with very few seeds. Very productive - up to 200 fruits per plant!
Experience: planted on 1/5, 7 plants by 1/18. All have since died. Ended up buying a plant a the Sunshine Community Gardens plant sale (transplanted to garden on 3/19).
04-02-11 - Ross gave me a Roma tomato seedling (from Red Barn) in exchange for a pepper plant and some lemon balm.
Update 07/21/11: Pulled the plant I had bought as it looked pitiful (only produced maybe 5 tomatoes). The plant I got from Ross has flowered, but not until after the night-time temps were too hot to set fruit.

Early Summer Crookneck Squash: Free from the Allandale plant sale in 2010. packed for 2009, opened 2010. Seeds stored in the fridge since I got them in 2010.
Description: the standard variety for many years. Summer Crookneck has been improved to have a smoother, less waterd skin and a more compact bush type plant. This variety is very popular, easy to grow and fast maturing. Many gardeners feel that this variety is more flavorful than the straight-neck types.
Experience: Previously planted some of this in the fall, but they never sprouted (likely because of my lackluster watering skills). planted on 3/20. Sprouted on 3/27
Update 07/21/11: A few of the plants have finally taken off and I noticed my first female flower the other day (now I'm just waiting for it to bloom....). The bees visit the garden specifically for the crookneck pollen...which is plentiful.

Sweet Corn, Sugar Dots: Unknown Variety (likely from Lowe's or Walmart)
Description: Yellow kernels that are sweet and tender. Mid to late season. Ears are 8 inches long with 16-18 rows. Seeds always stored in the fridge.
Experience: I opened this packet years ago, so they may not even sprout. In fact, I think I have a picture of the corn last time I grew it - I never did get any ears from it, but it sure did look nice for the first couple of months it was growing. direct sow 3/20, sprouted 3/25
Update 07/21/11: It seemed like all the seeds sprouted, and I even thinned them. But they were in a part of the garden that didn't get much sun and so they were stunted. The ears produced were maybe only 2" long and I never even bothered pulling them off the plants.

Lemon Balm: Originally paid $2.99 for each plant at Red Barn in 2010. Plant survived the winter so I did not purchase in 2011.
Description: Lemon balm (Melissa officianlis L.) is a lemon scented member of the mint family. A native to southern Europe, it is a perennial which will over-winter in hardiness zones 4 to 5. The plant develops many branches and grows to a height of about 2 feet. The leaves are 2-3 inches long, oval to almost heart shaped, shiny and wrinkled with scalloped edges. Small light blue to white flowers appear in late spring through midsummer.
Experience: I didn't buy this - it managed to survive the winter. That's one hardy plant, yo. I already can foresee that I'll have to do some major cutting back of the plants as they're starting to spread everywhere (which for now is okay since it acts as a ground cover).
04-02-11 - Took some cuttings for coworkers (3-27). Currently the cuttings are sitting in some water on my windowsill.
Update 07/21/11: The lemon balm is looking a little pitiful--like crispy. but it's still alive and it's only the top that's crispy.

Delicata and Early Butternut Squash: Compact Winter Squash, Renee's Garden. Opened 2009. Seeds always stored in the fridge.
Description: This duo of All-America winners are the best space-saving varieties of nutty, sweet-tasting, vitamin-rich winter squash. the compact vines of productive Early Butternut Bush produce fruits with tan rinds that have moist, smooth, creamy-orange flesh. Compact Bush Delicata has oblong fruits with handsome striped rinds and rich golden flesh with a delicious sweet potato-like texture.
Experience: direct sow planted on 3/20. Used up the rest of the pack - 3 butternut, 2 delicata. Sprouted on 3/27
Update 07/21/11: Dead.

Quinoa: Brightest Brilliant Rainbow, Botanical Interest Organic. Opened 2010. Seeds always stored in the fridge.
Description: Our Quinoa (pronounced "keen-wa") has striking colors of hot pink, burgundy, red, orange, yellow, white and green. Harvest the young leaves to eat raw or cooked. Colorful seed heads appear in 90-120 days. Their nutty and deliciuos grains have as much protein as milk!
Experience: planted in the fall, but they didn't do very well. I planted again in the early spring, but they never germinated (because of my lack of watering). Planted again in a 6-pack container 3/19. All seeds have sprouted as of 04-02-11
Update 07/21/11: Only 3 plants ever looked like they were doing okay. Grew to a maximum height of 6". May get a tiny itty bitty harvest from one plant...assuming the birds don't eat all the seed (which, which the year we're having, I wouldn't fault them for it at all).

Yellow Hot Pepper Plant: From my coworker, Charlie in 2010.
Experience: The plant never even fruited last year so I dug it up and potted it and managed to keep it alive through the winter. I just transplanted it into the garden on 3/19.
04-02-11 - This plant is actually looking worse instead of better. GROW PLANT, DAMN YOU!
04-09-11 - I think the plant may have given up the ghost.
Update 07/21/11: Yep...it died. Sad.

Naga Jolokia: $2 from the Sunshine Community Garden plant sale.
Description: No matter what you call it, it's the world's HOTTEST pepper with a record breaking heat of over 1 million Scoville units. That's more than double the old record holder, the Red Savina Habanero. If you like HOT, then this one's for you. Fruits are 2-3" long and 1-1.5" wide. Ripens from light green to orange to red.
Experience: Tis but a tiny thing. Transplanted into the flower pot by the garden on 3/19. I don't really know why we're trying this one (but when you've got Thai chiles at up to 100,000, have had habaneros at 350,000, and have been trying to grow a Red Savina at 577,000, you might as well throw in the Naga Jolokia at 1,040,000 - but the Naga Viper is now the world's hottest pepper as of 2/25/2011 at 1,380,000). We once tried a hot sauce made from this pepper, and while it was delicious, I couldn't handle more than five drops in the tomato sauce we were making. That's right about 5 drops with one can of tomato sauce is enough to give a nice kick.
04-02-11 - The plant looked tiny and piddly and then all of the sudden this last week it seemed like it doubled in size...which isn't saying a whole lot considering how small it was to begin with. But I'm starting to think it might make it.
Update 07/21/11: The plant is quite large, but it hasn't ever flowered and I think the parsley in the same pot is taking all the nutrients and water...I really need to pull it out.

Jalapeno M: $2 from the Sunshine Community Garden plant sale
Description: Fiery, thick walled peppers grow 3" with rounded tips. Dark green at first then red. Good for nachos and other Tex-Mex dishes. Days to Maturity: 75
Experience: Best looking pepper of all the ones I have this year. Transplanted into the garden on 3/19.
Update 07/21/11: Has been producing peppers consistently, but only provided a handful. The hotter it's been getting, the smaller the peppers are - they're now almost the size of the red hot peppers that Charlie gave me...

Tulips

2011-03-06T14:49:00.000-06:00

my friend and coworker, Bond, gave me some tulips as a gift. Seeing as how I haven't been taking photos, I decided the other day that I should dust off the ol' SLR. Of course, I waited until the time when the tulips are just about to drop their petals. Pictures shown are my favorites.

Time Line

2011-03-05T14:20:00.003-06:00

Seed Starting for Spring 2011:

Seeds planted: Krim Tomato, Roma Tomato, Basil (Thai and a Custom Blend by Botanical Interests), Torch Tithonia, catchfly, Orange Fogo pepper, Red Demon Pepper, Italian Trio Eggplants, Red Savina Habanero

Date planted: January 5, 2011.

Sprouts (total):
9am 1/13: 1 combo Basil, 1 Roma, 1 Krim
3pm 1/13: 8 combo Basil, 4 Roma, 4 Krim, 2 Thai Basil, 1 Torch

3pm 1/14: 15 combo Basil, 5 Roma, 6 Krim, 9 Thai Basil, 4 Torch

9am 1/18: 24 combo Basil, 7 Roma, 9 Krim, 19 Thai Basil, 9 Torch, 3 Fogo, 4 Demon, 5 Eggplant, 1 Habanero, 1 catchfly

1/19: brought veggie seedlings home and moved outside

1/23: transplanted Krim and Roma tomatoes to 4" pots

2/13: transplanted Torch Tithonia to 4" pots, mostly in the pots that the Romas and Krims didn't make it.

2/14: catchfly and the non-thai basils all died because of lack of water (both at work, and I was out sick 3 days, then there was the weekend; so at least 5 days without water does not make for happy seedlings).

2/27: Attend the Green Garden Festival at Zilker with my Inlaws. Stop by the Sunshine Community Gardens booth to look at their list of plants. See a postcard with information about the sale. I grab it and hand it to my mother in law. I notice that it has a "get a free tomato plant" coupon with it. Not a problem, I have like 6 good tomato plants at home, I don't need any other tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants.

3/1: Notice that I only have 4 tomatoes left alive - 1 Roma and 3 Krims

3/3: Birds or squirrels ripped up 2 more of the tomatoes. Also a squirrel went and dug a hole in my box where I'm growing the rest of the veggie seedlings, so all the habanero seedlings were ripped out. DAMN VARMINTS! I put the habaneros back in the dirt and pressed it down and everything and am hoping for the best

3/5: Go to the Sunshine Community Gardens plant sale to look for a birthday gift for my mom (I had remembered there being artisans at the sale in years past). End up buying 2 tomatoes (Roma and Krim), a Jalapeno plant, and a Naga Jolokia plant. Didn't find anything for my mom. Get home. Talk to mother in law on phone. She's decided that she's not going to go to the plant sale and she'll just buy the plants at the Georgetown Farm Supply. Could have used that coupon. dangnabbit.

When to plant: When you're sick

2011-02-13T15:56:00.003-06:00

As I've been sick since Thursday with some nasty coughing up a lung disease, I naturally started suffering from cabin fever today. So I decided that the perfect cure was to plant a bunch of marigolds I bought a few weeks ago for 50 cents a 6-pack.

And man, did that tucker me out.

But I now have all the marigolds planted, and I also went a bit crazy with spreading out seeds that I was supposed to plant in October instead of February, but they're also like 5 years old so I figure it probably doesn't matter much either way.

I also planted more quinoa in the garden (and some poppies and some lemon mint).

OH! AND I transplanted some torch tithonia seedlings which I started in January into 4" pots. I also watered everything that I transplanted with seaweed emulsion.

Second Round of Hard Freezes

2011-02-11T15:28:00.002-06:00

After last week's round of multiple days of below freezing weather, I figured that was going to be it for the year. But no, I was wrong. Instead we had another round of night time temps in the teens and not warming up until the middle of the afternoon.

After this last round, my Americana Variegata agave is likely a goner and the broccoli is toast. The onions aren't looking so good, but I'll give them a day or two to recover before writing them off.

Sigh...oh this crazy gardening roller coaster.

Post Freezer

2011-02-06T13:12:00.005-06:00

I haven't had the heart to go out and REALLY look at what's done in and what isn't. The agaves don't look good, that's for sure. The society garlic isn't looking so hot. The fennel and peas are done for. The shrimp plant, oregano, and cedar sage have finally blackened.

Shrimp plant. This plant managed to make it through the previous freezes no problem - really it seemed like the wind is what did it in.

On the other hand, the garlic, onions, and broccoli look fairly unaffected. The rock rose and artemisia don't seem to even have known there was some seriously cold weather (for Austin).

My favorite part about having snowfall of less than an inch is how it melts once the sun hits it. Of course, my kitchen thermometer also tried to tell me it was 117 degrees out...I'm pretty sure that it's broken, though.

To tide you over while I get pictures loaded...

2011-02-06T12:27:00.001-06:00

"When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant." Author Unknown

Ricing

2011-02-01T18:03:00.005-06:00

One of my friends from high school wanted to know what its called when it's raining ice. Ice storms aren't all that common in Colorado - There's usually your blizzard, the snow storm, the flurry, sleeting, hailing and raining. There is rarely ever any raining ice (well, I guess hail is technically raining ice, but those are large ice chunks, not the small rain drop sized ice). Hence, "ricing".

It was COLD today. Bright, sunny, and 30 degrees. That's Colorado weather, right there (especially when you add in the fact that it was 78 the day before). The only way it could have possibly been even more like Colorado weather would be if it had been sunny and 60 at 9 am but 30 and snowing by 2pm.

To show you how cold it was when I came home (27, by the way), here is a picture of a drop of water on my broccoli plant:

THAT, ladies and gents, is a drop of ice. Also, the plant, it is hard, and snappy. Not a good sign.

In similar news, I had to put the grill cover back on the grill this afternoon (as it blew off last night), and there was some water that was pooled in some of the recessed areas. That water fell onto the deck and was frozen not 5 minutes later.

I went ahead and covered the onions and garlic in the garden with some sheets, but it's likely not going to do a whole bunch of good (though I guess it's better that the plants be at 20 instead of 17)...

Updates

2011-01-23T21:57:00.003-06:00

On the garden front:
-I planted the fennel.
-I transplanted most of the tomato seedling starts into 4" pots. I have one left to do.
-I bought marigolds at Home Depot for $0.50/6-pack. I will plant these in the garden in the area where I had the tomato with nematode problems.

On the experiment front:
-I want to try growing ginger (Zingiber officinale). I figure I can use the pot from the avocado tree...once I get the avocado planted either in a different pot or in the yard.
-I also want to try growing saffron (crocus sativus)
-Plus I still need to do potatoes and quinoa again...Maybe I just need to build a whole new "experiment garden". hmmm....

Foliage Follow-Up: Jan 2011

2011-01-16T17:29:00.000-06:00

On the 16th of every month, Pam at Digging asks us to look at the foliage in our yard as opposed to the flowers. And let me tell you, in January, foliage is about all you have.

I moved my two passion vines I had bought to a different location, but then this has popped up in the old location. I've read that passion vine can also spread via runners and so this is likely an offshoot from the old plant. I'll be moving this to the new location at some point in the near future.

My potted succulents and cacti. I haven't babied any of them this year (last year I pulled in the ghost plant every time the temperature dropped below 40). These plants all came from Bob at Draco Gardens.

Here's my avocado tree that I grew from a pit. It's almost 6-years-old and is obviously way too big for the pot. The husband has stated that we are to plant it rather than re-pot it. I've been covering this plant with a sheet every time it might possibly freeze, plus it's in a VERY protected area right next to the house.

And here are all my freeze sensitive plants - Plumeria and Lemon Balm in the very front, agaves and succulents in the low green pot (the largest is from Jenny at Rock Rose while the small ones are from the plant that died at my office), and I have garlic chives, lemon balm, and a yellow hot pepper plant that I'm trying to save through the winter so I can get some peppers off of it in the background.

Veggie Gardening

2011-01-15T17:50:00.000-06:00

I'm a little behind in getting this guy into the ground, but I hope it will do fine once I plant it.

Broccoli

GBBD: January 2011

2011-01-15T17:00:00.005-06:00

Not much blooming around these parts, what with the weather being all cold and everything. The only plant actively blooming is the Shrimp Plant, and I don't know how it does it since I don't provide ANY care for this plant. Chalk one up for the natives.

Shrimp Plant, Cast Iron plant on the left

Nandina (the invasive kind), Cast Iron plant in the background.

Spring Garden Growing Season 2010: Season Roundup

2011-01-09T12:54:00.001-06:00

Here is my semi-official list of everything I'm growing this year in the garden. This ought to be fun since I didn't really buy plants from garden stores or sales that gave out fliers of information. Also, I don't have prices with the seeds because almost all of them were either purchased with a discount online, or were purchased for previous growing seasons.

Jewel Toned Bell Peppers: Crimson, Gold, & Orange. Renee's Garden.
Description: Our mixed seed packet offers you an easy way to grow three different colored sweet bell peppers. Vidi ripens up deep crimson red, Admiral turns glossy golden yellow and Valencia matures glowing orange. These plump vigorous varieties combine mouth-watering rich flavor and juicy texture with high yields and excellent disease resistance. Days to Maturity: approx 75. Year Opened: 2009. Number Planted: 1 of each variety
Experience: All varieties have sprouted as of Jan 22. I gave the red bell pepper variety to Jen at Rebar and Roses.
Experience Update 07-26-10: The two I kept have flowered, but have not produced any peppers. I think the temperatures were too hot (not surprising since these are non-recommended varieties for Austin). I have high hopes for the fall.
Experience Update 10-16-10: The plants are HUGE but they still haven't been flowering. grrr...
End result: I got about 10 peppers off of the plants before they were killed by frost. all the peppers, however, were green and not at their full potential. Also, sadly, they did not taste as good as the store-bought ones so i'm saving some to wait for them to fully ripen to see if they taste any better. UPDATE: They never got better, in fact, they got worse. The peppers were too bitter to ever even eat.

Heirloom Tomatoes: Rainbow's End. Renee's Garden.
Description: Our mixed seed packet delivers mouth watering heirloom varieties saved and savored for generations. Luscious Brandywine's tender skinned fruits burts with quintessential rich tomato flavor. Big bi-colored Marvel Stripe is rosy-red marbled in gold with meltingly smooth, mild tasting, sweet flesh. Unique Green Zebra's smaller fruits are a wonderful emerald overlaid in golden-amber stripes with a zesty sweet/tart flavor balance to make you smile. Days to Maturity: Approx 80. Year Opened: 2008. Number Planted: 1 Brandywine and Marvel, 2 Zebra
Experience: All varieties have sprouted as of Jan 22. The Brandywine variety died, the two zebras made it, the Marvel died too. I did plant another green zebra in it's place. You know, I hope I like green zebras since I've got 3 plants...
Experience Update 07-26-10: I had one producing Green Zebra in the spring. I got maybe 10 tomatoes off of it. They turn an orangish-yellow color with green stripes when ripe. They are tart and lime green on the inside. I added them to tomato sauces, and it did seem to sweeten the sauce some. I never did have a green zebra sliced and on a sandwich. The husband did, but he said he doesn't like it as much as regular tomato.
Experience Update 08-08-10: I ended up deciding that I didn't want to have the seeds around for another year so I went ahead and planted all of them in an old blueberry container. When they were about 3" tall, I transplanted them to individual 4" pots. I then gave all of these away--2 brandywine and 2 of the green zebra went to Cynthia, a green zebra and a brandywine went to my friend/coworker, Pam, I think I gave 1 green zebra and a cutting from the Lemon Boy to my friend/coworker, Ross, and then I believe WabiSabi took the remaining 2 green zebras. This year was a great experience as it taught me that I can indeed grow my own tomatoes from seed.
End Result: I was very glad to be able to prove to myself that I can, in fact, start tomatoes from seeds. So, while I will not buy this variety again, I did buy some Roma Tomato seeds and Black Krim seeds for this next growing seasons (planted on Jan 5)

True Thai Chiles: Orange Fogo and Red Dragon. Renee's Garden.
Description: We import these brilliantly colored, authentic Thai chiles direct from the source! Vigorous Fogo ripens bright orange with delicious medium hot/sweet pungency, perfect minced in sauces and salads. Red Demon's fiery little fruits point up like flames, with that nutty, incendiary pungency just right for stirfries. Use fresh or air dry for tantalizing Asian-style dishes. Days to Maturity: Approx 85. Year Opened: 2008. Number Planted: 1 Orange Fogo
Experience: All varieties have sprouted as of Jan 22. All varieties died this year, too.
Experience Update 07-26-10: not much to say, they all died. Sad really, I like them. I went and got a Cayenne pepper plant as a replacement. It is doing well, it did produce a pepper in the spring but it touched the ground and was eaten by a caterpillar. It currently has a pepper or two on it, now we're just waiting for them to turn red. Also, in June, my coworker did give me 3 pepper plants, cayenne, red hot (probably chile pequin) and the yellow hot pepper that he was originally trying to give me when he gave me the tomato plant. The cayenne that Charlie gave me did die, the other two are doing well. The pequin has a pepper or two on it.
End Result: I will be trying these again this year as I had left over seed (planted on Jan 5)

Habanero Chile: Red Savina. Renee's Garden.
Description: Bred exclusively by Frank Garcias at GNS Spices, incendiary Red Savina is the hottest habanero known, tipping the scale at 380,000 to 500,000 Scoville units which put it in the Guinness Book of World Records. Along with brilliant red color and intense heat, Red Savina's flesh has that special tantalizing fiery fruitiness that characterizes habanero chiles from the Yucatan. The Chinese lantern-shaped fruits grow on sturdy 3 to 3.5 foot plants that do best in long hot summer areas. Days to Maturity: Approx 90. Year Opened: 2009. Number Planted: 2
Experience: Both pots have sprouted as of Jan 27. Both pots died. As did the one that I started after the fact. I ended up buying a habanero plant from Red Barn for about $3.
Experience Update 07-26-10: As mentioned above, the Red Savina all died, so I broke down and bought a habanero plant. The plant is growing quite well, but never really flowered in the spring. I have hopes for the fall as the plant has a bunch of flower buds on it.
Experience Update 10-16-10: We got two orange habaneros off of this plant, it has a bunch of flower buds on it so hopefully it will produce some more this fall.
End Result: I was able to get one more habanero off of the plant before the cold weather really set in. I will be trying the red savina again since I still have seeds (just started on Jan 5).

Specialty Eggplants: Italian Trio. Renee's Garden
Description: Our trio of delicious Italian eggplants combines teardrop-shaped, purple-black "Nadia," gorgeous, oval-shaped magenta "Beatrice" and heirloom rose and white, globe-shaped "Rosa Bianca." The strong plants with velvety leaves and lavender blossoms bear abundant crops of curvaceous glossy fruits with tender skins and succulent flesh that is never bitter or seedy. Enjoy in recipes from all Mediterranean cuisines. Days to Maturity: Approx 80. Year opened: 2009. Number Planted: 1 of the Nadia and Beatrice.
Experience: Nadia sprouted by Jan 22, Beatrice finally sprouted on Jan 29. Beatrice was "emergency planted", and is the only one that's still alive. Nadia was killed off shortly after planting in the garden.
Experience Update 07-26-10: The Beatrice is doing quite well with 2 eggplants on it right now. I think it will perk back up soon and will start flowering again. Maybe I can force it to flower again when I cut off the current eggplants...
Experience Update 10-16-10: Beatrice did flower again, but it didn't set. This doesn't surprise me since that was in August. The problem now is that it's starting too look good, but it's probably much too late for it to actually really produce anything. damn.
End Result: The plant never set anymore fruit. The Cloud 9 was much more prolific. I will end up with more of this variety since I have seeds left over and I just started them on Wednesday (Jan 5).

True Thai Basil: Queenette. Renee's Garden
Description: This tropical-looking ornamental basil has dense .5" leaves that grow in clusters around distinctive purple stems. Imported directly from our best Thai seed producer, Queenette's exotic flavor combines aromatic mild sweet spices with clove/mint basil flavor. It is a critical ingredient in Southeast Asian dishes and marvellous in stirfries, chutneys and marinades. An eye-catching herb to interplant with flowers for "edible landscaping." Plant Queenette basil to enjoy growing and cooking with authentic Thai ingredients. Days to Maturity: NA. Year opened: 2009. Number Planted: 1
Experience: This has sprouted as of Jan 27. I ended up starting 2 more containers of the basil (I have a lot of seed). I planted 2 containers in the garden, and the other is still sitting by my porch.
Experience Update 07-26-10: I finally gave the one container sitting on my porch to my Mother In Law. I ended up with about 8 plants since one of my coworkers started the same variety from seed and brought them in to the office for everyone. I've got 6 plants in the garden and one in my flower beds. I've been drying basil since the middle of June non-stop. Even though it's a Thai variety, I have been using it in Spaghetti sauce with no mention from the husband that it tastes off so I guess that's a good sign.
Experience Update 10-16-10: This was a bumper crop year of the basil. I made a bunch of basil icecubes with the plants when I pulled them out, I also air dried a couple, and the remaining 2 ended up being chopped up and added to the garden directly to decompose.
End Result: VERY prolific and the best basil I've gotten since growing basil. I will try this again, but am also trying another variety (Botanical Interests, Custom Blend)

Ananas Noire Tomato: Given to me by Jen at Rebar and Roses
Description: The skin has shades of green, purple, orange, and yellow. Bright green flesh has bursts of red streaks that will definitely add intrigue to your vegetable platter. The lip smacking flavor starts out sweet and ends with the perfect amount of tang. What's more, the sprawling indeterminate plant yields a tremendous amount of 1 1/2 pound fruits.
Experience: This plant seemed to be doing pretty poorly until very recently. It looks more like a tree too (the bottom leaves kept being attacked by something so I cut them off, thus leaving a bunch of leaves at the top. Thus a tomato tree). No flowers yet either. Hopefully it will make it through the summer and do well in the fall.
Experience Update 07-26-10: The plant quickly outgrew the small tomato cage I had for it and started falling over on the habanero plant. Since I want habaneros, I decided I'd better tie it to the other taller and more sturdy tomato cage with twine. Since I did that, it flowered and even produced one tomato. I took a cutting of this plant back in June and will be planting the cutting sometime during the week. Hopefully it will do well. Of the tomatoes I've taste tested this year, this is my favorite so far - it's definitely on the sweet side, but it's still tart, which is what I like about tomatoes in the first place.
Experience Update 10-16-10: The original plant has put on some great growth recently and is flowering prolifically. As such, I've been going out and flicking the flowers to get them to fertilize. The plant finally started setting fruit recently and I've noticed 2 tiny tomatoes thus far. The cutting plant has taken off in the last few weeks and has started flowering as well (no fruit set yet though)
End Result: The original plant produced a handful of tomatoes before the cold weather (of course I did have to pull them off and let them ripen inside). The cutting ended up producing 2 tomatoes before I got tired of covering the plant every time the weather was going to drop below 40 degrees. When I pulled out the cutting, it was totally overrun with nematodes (which is the reason why I planted the Lemon Boy tomato--which I remembered right after I pulled out the Ananas Noire). If I see this variety, I might try it again, but I'll choose Black Krim first.

Black Krim Tomato: Given to me by Jen at Rebar and Roses, also purchased at Allandale Plant Sale for $1
Description: Large brown-red fruit with rich sweet flavor. Sets well in heat. Heirloom from Crimea. (from the Sunshine Gardens info sheet) Dark-brown, red fruit, large (10-12 oz), Russian. Heavy Producer, prone to cracking. Likes hot weather. Rich complex flavor, sweet-tasting fruit. Indeterminate. 75-90 days. Status: Heirloom
Experience: As I mentioned last year, THIS TOMATO IS AWESOME. And I totally have Annie in Austin to thank for this since it was because of her that I even tried this variety last year. Considering that I bought a fairly puny plant at the Allandale Plant Sale (and I bought it at the end of April), I am very impressed with the growth it's put on. It's flowering and there are even a few small tomatoes on the plant.
Experience Update 07-26-10: I posted to Twitter that I was pretty sure this tomato was not what it said it was. The tomatoes were turning a gold color and never turned red. After being told by Yard Fanatic that it looked more like "Yellow Taxi" I decided to go out and look around for a tag of some sort. Yes, I found the tag. No, I didn't buy this plant from the Allandale plant sale. I bought it at Red Barn for half price. I did think it was a Krim because it was in the Krim section, but it was actually tagged as a Lemon Boy. Though based on the fact that the tomatoes were gold (not lemon yellow) and didn't taste like how I remember Lemon Boys, I figure it was mis labeled anyhow. In any case, it's a gold tomato, it produced fairly well (15 - 20 tomatoes in the spring season). It is a tomato that has the tomato flavor, but not the acid bite...which means the husband and I were both disappointed by it. He likes acid, and I like tang (which is probably acid). So back to the regular red tomatoes for us. I did end up trying this tomato again when it was the lemon yellow color instead of the orange/gold color and I liked it a heck of a lot better.
End Result: The plant wasn't looking so hot at the end of summer so I pulled it out. I will likely choose many other tomatoes over this one.

Purple Cherokee Tomato: Bought at the Allandale Plant Sale for $1
Description: 80 days, indeterminate — Given to heirloom tomato collector Craig LeHoullier by J. D. Green of Tennessee, it is at least 100 years old and was reported as originally grown by the Cherokee Indians. The fruits are large (twelve to sixteen ounces), dark pink with darker purple shoulders. Excellent complex flavor, slight sweet aftertaste, perfect slicer for tomato sandwiches!
Experience: Not as good of a grower as the Krim. I planted them the same day, so there really is no excuse. Not flowering yet. I hope it does well through the summer, and produces in the fall. I would like to do a taste test between the Krim and the Cherokee.
Experience Update 07-26-10: Cherokee has grown, and flowered, but it hasn't produced fruit. Hopefully it does well in the fall.
Experience Update 10-16-10: This plant was looking pretty bad by the end of the summer but it's starting to come around and has started flowering. I've been flicking flowers left and right but no fruit set yet. It should be noted that we've been having cooler nights since mid September so too high of temperatures shouldn't be a problem for fruit set now.
End Result: I ended up getting one whopping tomato of this plant. It was a small tomato and it did have to ripen in the house. I didn't care for it and much prefer the Black Krim...of course it could be because of the fact that it had to ripen inside...

Kentucky Wonder Bean: Bought at the Allandale Plant Sale for $1
Description: Popular, heavy producing Pole Bean. Excellent for eating fresh, freezing or canning when pods are young. Makes a good shell bean when left to mature fully. Approximately 66 days to maturity.
Experience: This bean plant has easily climbed the 5' tomato cage and keeps wanting to go up. It does have a problem with spider mites.
Experience Update 07-26-10: I pulled this plant out at the beginning of July/end of June. It did produce a bunch of beans, but never enough for us to be able to pick them and eat them the same night (I'm sure if I had a couple plants it would be fine). Considering that I planted it for nitrogen fixing purposes more than the vegetable purposes, I think it did well.
End Result: I never did eat any of these beans...so I guess I'd be willing to try it again.

Watermelon: Crimson Sweet (Walmart Gardens)
Description: Exceptionally sweet, deep red flesh with a dark green rind. High in vitamins A, B and C. A main-season favorite. Days to Maturity: 85 days. Year opened: 2007. Number Planted: remainder of packet (maybe 10 seeds)
Experience: The best that my watermelon has ever done. Maybe this year I'll actually get one to grow!
Experience Update 07-26-10: I FINALLY had a watermelon. And then the opposums and/or raccoons got to it. So now I'm back to NO WATERMELONS! sigh. The plants did all start blooming again which makes me think that if I can keep the watermelon on the INSIDE of the bed instead of hanging over the edge all right in their line of sight and stuff it might work out better.
Experience Update 08-08-10: Oh goody! another watermelon! fingers crossed!
Experience Update 10-16-10: FIE! the watermelon was doing well until we had TS Hermine blow through town. Too much water and watermelons tend to split. I ate some anyhow, and it was good.
End Result: I will try this again (seeds left over). One of these years I'll get a watermelon!

Cantaloupe: Hearts of Gold (America's Choice)
Description: This popular heirloom variety produces large fruits with firm, fine-grained salmon-orange flesh and a small seed cavity. The flesh has a delicious spicy flavor. The round fruits average 3-4 pounds each and have finely netted rinds. Days to Maturity: 90 days. Year opened: 2007. Number Planted: remainder of the packet (maybe 8 seeds)
Experience: I haven't noticed any cantaloupe plants, only watermelon. The seeds were old after all.
Experience Update 07-26-10: There was a cantaloupe plant after all. and it even has a cantaloupe on it. A sad, misshapen cantaloupe, but still, a cantaloupe. The only problem is that it's in the way back of the garden, right by the fence, where I can't get to it. oh well, it has a while before it's ripe anyway.
Experience Update 08-08-10: I forgot to check on the sad, misshapen cantaloupe for 3 days this week and it was apparently ripe at some point during that time. I went out today to check on it and it was obviously overripe. I pulled it off the plant and found out that earwigs had taken up residence inside. Ick. I cut the 'loupe and tasted a small piece (in the non-buggy section, thankyouverymuch), it wasn't very good. It at least tasted like cantaloupe, but it wasn't very sweet.
End Result: I may try cantaloupe at some time in the future, but I currently don't have any seeds.

Black Eyed Peas: Free from my friend, Ross
Description: Cowpeas, also called Black Eyed Peas, are a favorite southern bean. Although the young leaves are edible, most gardeners grow them for the bean inside. Cowpeas are native to Africa, where it is an important food crop. The plant thrives in warmer climates. There are vining and non-vining varieties. Maturity in 80-90 days.
Experience: I planted these mostly for the legume soil factor and not so much for food. About half have survived at this point.
Experience Update 07-26-10: I have started collecting the pods, allowing them to dry and then breaking out the peas inside. I currently have them stored in a glass jar on the kitchen counter. I think the hope is to have enough to make one serving.
Experience Update 10-16-10: There's only one plant left and it has one pod on it. Once that pod is ready to be pulled, I'll pull the plant out. I think I'll have gotten about a quarter cup of peas.
End Result: I got about twice the number of peas than what I planted. If I plant all of them again, then I'll get even more! I don't know if I will though since the husband and I are yankees and don't understand these black eyed peas things.

Bush Cucumber: Free via Master Gardeners of Travis County
Description:
Experience: I didn't plant these until pretty late, and they're no where as dark a green color as they were when I first got them, but they are doing okay. One even has a baby cucumber on it.
Experience Update 07-26-10: One of these plants produced the freak watermelon/cucumber baby that I had a picture of on my blog. That same plant has gone on to create another freak of nature cucumber. I'll have to pick it soon...and then I'll have to figure what do to with it since the husband won't eat cucumbers and I'm not THAT fond of them myself. Oh, and the watermelon/cucumber baby? it was so large that when I made myself a bowl of salad, i would put three slices on, and the slices would completely cover the bowl.
End Result: These were quite good and I may have to hunt a plant down for growing this year.

Basil (unknown variety): Free from my coworker, Charlie
Description: Apparently a Thai Basil (but it doesn't look like my Thai basil). It does have purple flowers though.
Experience: Most of these sat in their little pots for weeks before I planted them. I finally planted them and half promptly bolted. Which is fine. I'm content with collecting seeds, or pulling out seedlings when they sprout.
Experience Update 07-26-10: These must be real Thai Basil (same as mine at least) since I can't tell a difference between the plants anymore...and the leaves all taste the same.
End Result: It must have been the same thai basil because it was impossible to tell the difference between them. See entry above about Thai Basil.

Basil (purple variety): $1 from Allandale Plant Sale
Description: mild purple variety
Experience: The plant itself is doing well, I just think I like the stronger flavored basils more.
Experience Update 07-26-10: The plant has continued to do well and i have been pulling branches off and drying them just like I ought to. It does add color and variety. But I do like the stronger flavored basils more.
End Result: I much prefer the other basils I have grown to this one. That's not to say that I wouldn't like to grow more varieties of basil...

Cherry Tomato (unknown variety): Free from my coworker, Charlie
Description: Charlie brought in some seedlings for my friend, Bond, and me. He was positive they were some of the hot yellow peppers he has in his yard because he had taken a whole pepper and just threw it in this pot and about 4 months later, all these little seedlings were growing in the pot. So he separated them, and gave them to Bond and me. A few weeks later, we were pretty sure they were not pepper plants (they had the fjord-like tomato leaf). And when the plants bloomed, it was confirmed. Cherry tomato of some sort. Sprouted from seeds that were put in a pot 8 months ago and forgotten (or something like that). Charlie says he thinks they might be sun gold tomatoes. I'm not sure, I guess I'll know when they fruit.
Experience: One plant has done amazingly well, the other, not so much. They both have flowered, and the larger one has tomatoes on it.
Experience Update 07-26-10: These tomato plants have been prolific. I've been HAVING to make a tomato sauce based meal at least once a week to use up the tomatoes (the husband and I don't like raw tomatoes unless they're on burgers/sandwiches).
Experience Update 10-16-10: I pulled all the cherry tomato plants out of the fall garden because they weren't looking very good, I needed the space, and I don't care for cherry tomatoes.
End Result: I still prefer regular sized tomatoes.

Random Squash Plant: $1 at the Allandale Plant Sale.
Description: I have no idea what this is. The tag was marked W.B. and the one lady said "oh, that means Wonder Bean!" I didn't bother pointing out that it was obviously a squash plant and not a bean plant. But I still bought it (I didn't want to get change so I needed 5 plants).
Experience: Not so great. I don't know if this will make it. It's in front of the lemon balm, and next to the cherry tomato. And I only put this because if it dies, at least I know that I did actually plant something there.
Experience Update 07-26-10: It's still there. It's still flowering. It still hasn't produced fruit. Not as attacked by the Squash Vine Borer as the Delicata was.
Experience Update 10-16-10: I pulled this out of the fall garden because if it was a winter squash variety it wasn't going to be able to produce anything this year anyhow.

Strawberry Popcorn: Botanical Interests
Description: The diminutive strawberry-shaped ruby red ears on these compact 4' stalks are an eye-catching unique addition to the back of the flower border or vegetable garden. Planting them behind flowers is a creative way to add height and architectural structure to the back of your flower border. Then, you can save the ears for fall decor or harvest the kernels for a delicious popcorn. Each Strawberry Corn stalk grows 2 or more 2-3' long ruby red strawberry-shaped ears., maturing in 100-105 days. Kids love to watch the ruby red kernels magically turn white when popped! (Instructions for making stovetop popcorn inside packet.) Days to Maturity: 105 days. Year opened: 2010. Number Planted: 16
Experience: only about 3' tall (give or take half a foot), but considering it's supposed to only be 4' tall, it's probably doing good. It's the best that corn has ever done down here (for me at least). I think it mostly has to do with the fact that it's actually getting full sun.
Experience Update 07-26-10: I finally pulled out the plants yesterday. I planted like 8 plants and got 4 good ears of popcorn off of them. Not great--Some of it is my fault. The plants started looking dried out and I stopped watering them figuring I'd let the ears dry out, I didn't realize that all the plants were starting to produce more ears. Now that I know that I know to continue to water them.
End Result: I still need to actually POP the popcorn. But the important part is that the husband was amazed and astounded at how much i got (in a good way). This only surprises me because it's only enough for one serving...which, considering I planted 8 kernels, I suppose that's a good thing.

Lemon Balm: $2.99 at Red Barn
Description: Lemon balm (Melissa officianlis L.) is a lemon scented member of the mint family. A native to southern Europe, it is a perennial which will over-winter in hardiness zones 4 to 5. The plant develops many branches and grows to a height of about 2 feet. The leaves are 2-3 inches long, oval to almost heart shaped, shiny and wrinkled with scalloped edges. Small light blue to white flowers appear in late spring through midsummer.
Experience: Going ballistic. But I like it. I'll go out there and make sure I run my hands through it just so they end up smelling all lemony. I got this (and nasturtiums) to combat that dreaded squash vine borer. It's all a grand science experience!
Experience Update 07-26-10: I still like this stuff. The SVB experiment seemed to work somewhat--I still got them, but it was about a month after everyone else started complaining about the SVB. I also had a fraction of the eggs that others were finding. I started using this in teas and even took some to work a couple of times to get rid of it. It worked well with hot tea, lemonade and decently with iced tea. Shawn and I started using it as a mosquito repellent (crush a couple of leaves, rub on exposed skin), which, like the SVB experiment, seemed to work somewhat--better than nothing and it didn't require us to take a shower to get DEET off of us right after being outside for a few minutes. I gave some to my Mother In Law, expecting them to use it as mosquito repellent as well, but they ended up eating it in their salads, they liked it enough that I keep being asked to bring more to their house for the salads.
Experience Update 10-16-10: I cut the plants WAY back for the fall garden (and may have to do so again to give the seedlings a fighting chance). I did decide to start a new experiment (you know how I love experiments). The experiment was to take a cutting and overwinter the plant (I've heard that they don't make it through the winter). I opted to try 2 different methods: Method 1) cut growing tip, pull off all but 2 leaves at the tip and plant in growing medium, water well until roots are established. Method 2) cut growing tip, pull off bottom leaves, set in glass of water, change water every couple of days until new roots form, plant in planting medium. And guys? both methods totally worked! Now I just have to keep them alive until next spring.
End Result: I have been able to keep all the cuttings alive and am thinking of creating some more to give away at work...though I guess that depends on if the plants I planted stay alive through the rest of the winter.

Delicata and Early Butternut Squash: Compact Winter Squash, Renee's Garden
Description: "All-America" winning duo of the best space-saving varieties: super productive Early Butternut Bush with creamy-orange flesh and Bush Delicata with striped rinds and delicious flavor. Days to Maturity: 45 days. Year opened: NA. Number Planted: half packet
Experience: They're there, but they haven't taken off like the Watermelon.
Experience Update 07-26-10: As I said, I think the Delicata was decimated by the SVB, which doesn't surprise me as it was the furthest away from the nasturium/lemon balm combo. The Butternut, being the closest to the nasturium/lemon balm, did better, though it did end up with one in the vine. the vine seems to be essentially dead, but there is one butternut on it still (I'm leaving it on until I'm sure the vine is dead or the outer shell hardens, whichever happens first).
End Result: YAY! one whole tiny butternut which is STILL sitting on our kitchen counter...which is probably where it will sit until I finally throw it out...or buy another bigger one to make something and add the little one.

Late Summer plants:
Zucchini: Dark Green, Hart's Seeds (free from Allandale plant sale)
This variety of summer squash is very popular, easy to grow and fast maturing, producing a generous crop of delicious and delicately flavored fruits. Plants are compact bush type bearing handsome oblong dark green fruits. Plants continue to produce tender, vitamin rich fruit until frost if all fruit are picked before they mature. Fruits are best picked when they are 6-8 inches long. Cooked like summer squash, used fresh or fried in butter. Days to Maturity: 50 days. Year opened: NA. Number Planted: whole packet
Experience 08-08-10: Planted on July 27, 2010. I have squash plants coming up, but I don't know if they're zucchini or yellow squash. I did plant the entire packet of the zucchini and only maybe half of the yellow squash. I planted so much because both packets were for summer 2008 and were stored in deplorable conditions (outside in a greenhouse which eventually broke during a rainstorm and all the seed packs got wet and then were dried out...thus the reason why they were free).
Experience Update 10-16-10: I pulled these out to make room for the fall garden. Tiny pidly things they were.
End Result: I will try more again, but I'd have to buy more seed.

Yellow Squash: Early Summer Crookneck, Hart's Seeds (free from Allandale plant sale)
The standard variety for many years. Summer Crookneck has been improved to have a smoother, less waterd skin and more compact bush type plant. This variety is very popular, easy to grow and fast maturing. Many gardeners feel that this variety is more flavorful than the straight-neck types. Delicious baked, fried, steamed, boiled or served raw. Squash freezes well. Plants will continue to produce tender, vitamin rich fruit until frost if all fruit are picked before tehy mature. Fruits are best picked when harvested young, 5-6 inches long. Days to Maturity: 45 days. Year opened: NA. Number Planted: half packet
Experience 08-08-10: Planted on July 27, 2010. I have squash plants coming up, but I don't know if they're zucchini or yellow squash. I did plant half the packet of the yellow squash while I planted the full packet of the zucchini. I planted so much because both packets were for summer 2008 and were stored in deplorable conditions (outside in a greenhouse which eventually broke during a rainstorm and all the seed packs got wet and then dried out...thus the reason why they were free).
Experience Update 10-16-10: I pulled these to make room for the fall garden. Pidly little things they were.
End Result: I'll plant more as I still have some of the ancient seed left over.

Cayenne Pepper Plant: From my coworker, Charlie
Experience 08-08-10: I planted this a while back (early July maybe). This poor plant wasn't long for this world. I think the planter I put it in wasn't holding water very well by this plant.
End Result: It died. BUT cayenne pepper plants are generally AWESOME.

Red Hot Pepper Plant: From my coworker, Charlie
Experience 08-08-10: I planted this a while back (early July maybe). This plant hasn't grown very much (it's still about 6" tall), but it has flowered and set fruit. I'll probably only get 2 peppers off of the plant, but that's better than the bells and the habanero have been doing...
Experience Update 10-16-10: I LOVE THIS PLANT. I've gotten about 15 peppers off the plant and it has another 15 that are green.
End Result: The plant did so well and I didn't save any seed, so I've gone and dug up the plant, put it in a pot and am trying to keep it alive through the winter. UPDATE: It died.

Yellow Hot Pepper Plant: From my coworker, Charlie
Experience 08-08-10: I planted this a while back (early July maybe). This is the plant that started it all--Charlie brought in some peppers last summer from his garden and I just raved about how much I LOVED the hot yellow peppers. They start out all fruity and then the heat hits you like Emeril throwing garlic in his food, BAM! so the following spring he brought in some plants that he thought were the pepper plants and they ended up being the gold cherry tomatoes so he brought in the REAL pepper plant in June. This hasn't grown much (it's still about 6" tall), but it has flowered before, though no fruit set. I hope to be able to save the seeds from this one and grow my own next year.
Experience Update 10-16-10: Still no fruit, but it's starting to flower.
End Result: The plant never every fruited so I dug it up and potted it and am trying to keep it alive through the winter. So far, so good. UPDATE: I managed to get this to live through the winter and replanted it in the garden on 3/19.

Ananas Noire Cutting: From my plant
Description: The skin has shades of green, purple, orange, and yellow. Bright green flesh has bursts of red streaks that will definitely add intrigue to your vegetable platter. The lip smacking flavor starts out sweet and ends with the perfect amount of tang. What's more, the sprawling indeterminate plant yields a tremendous amount of 1 1/2 pound fruits.
Experience 08-08-10: I cut a small section of stem from the plant in the garden (in June), stuck it in a pot with soil, watered it in, and then placed it in an area that doesn't get direct sun for the next couple of weeks. It eventually started looking decent, which I took to mean that it had finally rooted, and I placed it on the deck where it would get more like 8 hours of direct sun. I finally planted it in the garden on July 26, 2010. So far it hasn't grown noticeably, but it is still dark green and healthy looking.
Experience Update 10-16-10: This plant has taken off in the last couple weeks--it's no where near as tall as the mother plant (3' vs. 6'), but it's healthy looking and it's starting to flower. fingers crossed for fruit set.
End Result: I pulled two tomatoes off of it before I finally let it succumb to the cold weather. When I pulled the plant out a week or so later, I noticed that the roots were completely covered in nematodes. This, of course, was the point where the lightbulb went off in my head and I remembered the reason why I planted the Lemon Boy in that spot in the spring. I have now marked it and I will plant marigolds there for a season or more.

Fall Garden, Growing Season 2011

2011-01-03T16:46:00.012-06:00

The fall garden was planted on October 1st and 2nd this year, since most items are repeats from last year, I'll just copy the same blurb as last year. *note* the colors and formatting is all being wonky and I'll just fix it later...famous last words, I know.*

Broccoli: Renee's Garden, All Season Blend; We've mixed equal amounts of seed for these great tasting, high-yielding hybrid varieties with early, mid, and late season maturities for the longest possible harvests. We've chosen cultivars for flavorful, extra-fancy, tightly beaded main heads and abundant side shoots. All three have excellent disease resistance and weather tolerance. Transplant to Harvest: 60.
Notes: I started the seeds in like July or something and transplanted two plants into the garden. They continue to do well. Both planted next to each other in the 'west garden'
Jan 1 update: one of the plants has a tiny itty bitty broccoli head on it so we should be eating broccoli in another month or so.

Chard: Renee's Garden, Italian Silver Rib; A long time favorite of Italian cooks for its flavor and substance, this fine variety has wide, crisp, silvery-white midribs and crinkled, shiny green leaves. The large-framed, handsome plants grow easily and vigorously from spring through late fall. Heirloom Silver Rib produces an abundance of big succulent leaves with sweet crunchy stalks to enjoy as mild, mellow-tasting greens. You'll find it consistently delicious simply steamed with fresh lemon, sautéed with aromatics or added to stir-fries, soups, and casseroles. Days to harvest: 50. Notes: These are the seeds I got for free from the Planning for Spring Gardens Master Gardener seminar.
Notes 2: Planted four in the "east garden"
Jan 1 update: I think 2 maybe came up but were quickly killed off by lack of water/warm weather.

Beets: Renee's Garden, Jewel-Toned Beets (red sangria, golden, and striped chioggia); Our mixture of burgundy, golden, and candy-striped beets yields big harvets with glowing rich colors, succulent texture and sweet earthy flavor. These beets will become an easy to grow, long keeping staple in your garden and kitchen. The smooth roots can be harvested at any size to bake, boil, or steam and enjoy hot and buttered or chilled in an herb vinaigrette. The nutritious young tops are unrivaled as melt-in-your-mouth steamed greens. Days to Harvest: 55.
Notes: I planted six in a specified spot in the 'west garden' and then planted another 6 or so throughout the 'east garden'
Jan 1 Update: same as the chard. I haven't replanted any since Shawn doesn't care for beets.

Carrot: Renee's Garden, Sunshine Mix (Yellowstone and Nantes Forto); Our novelty mix offers gardeners the fun of growing both sunny yellow and bright orange carrots. You'll have eye catching rich harvests of crisp, smooth, evenly cylindrical roots that reach a full 8 inches in length. Both of these premium European varieties taste sweet and crispy with no soapy off-flavors and you can enjoy them over a long harvest period. Whether fresh sliced into carrot sticks, or quickly cooked, their sunshine bright colors are a kitchen gardener's delight! Days to Harvest: 88.
Notes: planted in 2 areas in the 'west garden' but they only appear to be coming up in one area and that area is severely shaded by the lemon balm. I think this may be because I forgot that carrot seedlings need light to germinate. I'll have to replant some more later. Also, I didn't plant any of the Carnival variety yet.
January 1 update: some came up but not very many, I re-planted in late December.

Carrot: Carnival Blend by Botanical Interests Organic; Colored carrots are unique but not new. Grown, and eaten in Asia and Europe 1,000 years ago, they are becoming available once again. Just like the popular orange carrots, red, purple, white and yellow carrots contain plenty of vitamin A and healthy nutrients. Carnival Blend carrots can also be harvested when only 3" to 4" long for gourmet baby carrots. Days to Harvest: 75.
Notes: planted in one area in the west garden.
March 19 update: I completely forgot that I did plant some of these carrots until I went and pulled them up to make room for my spring garden plants. The white ones didn't taste like anything, but the purple one was good.

Peas: Ferry Morse Organic, left over from last year
Notes: planted in 2 areas, one in the 'west garden' and one in the 'east garden' They are sprouted and growing.
January 1 update: Actually the peas did come up, they were just slow. I also planted more in the locations that used to house tomatoes and pepper plants in late December (Sunday before Christmas).

Spinach: Ferry Morse Organic, left over from last year
Notes: I don't think these have come up at all. I will have to replant later.
January 1 update: I replanted the spinach at the end of December (the weekend before Christmas).

Garlic: Already blogged about that here.
Notes: As noted in the link above, so far 2 varieties have not sprouted but the rest are between 1" and 3".
January 1 update: All varieties have sprouted, and I think all of the ones I planted came up. YAY!

Cauliflower: Botanical Interests, Chef's Choice Blend; This colorful mix of three varieties will give you a long harvest period from 75 to 120 days. The white "Snowball", an heirloom variety from 1947, has tight 6½-7½ heads on dwarf plants. "Green Macerataï" is an Italian heirloom with a delicious taste. "Purple of Sicily" is also an Italian heirloom with bright purple heads and mild flavor. Healthy minerals give it the purple color which turns green when cooked. Cauliflower is a cool season crop, and we recommend a late summer planting with fall harvest for best results. It grows best in temperatures around 60 degrees and does not do well in heat. Areas with long cool springs and where summers stay relatively cool will have better success with a spring planting. Late summer planting is recommended in hot summer areas or short spring areas.
Notes: it's impossible to tell what colors are going to be produced by the seeds, so it's just a big ol' guessing game. I ended up with 3 plants.
January 1 update: The plants are still on the small side--to be expected since they're in the east garden which doesn't get as much sun in the fall/winter as the west garden.

Quinoa: Botanical Interests, Brightest Brilliant Rainbow; Annual. Blooms late summer to fall. Full sun. 4'-6' tall. The Incas called quinoa, 'the mother of all grains'. It was planted with a golden tool and offered to the sun in golden vases during solstice. This tall vegetable/ornamental has seed plumes with dazzling colors of hot pink, royal burgundy, red, pumpkin orange, light yellow, creamy white, and lime green. It may initially look a little mundane as plants are growing (it is related to the weed, Lamb's Quarters), but you will be amazed when it produces a rainbow of bright seed plumes filled with edible grains. Use at the back of the flower border for a textural splash of bright colors or grow for the delicious, nutty, high protein grains and nutritious young foliage. Quinoa grains can be cooked like rice, and the tender young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. The plumes take around 90-120 days from sowing to appear and will achieve the most intense color when maturing in cool weather.
January 1 update: 4 of the original 6 plants survived and actually started to flower out...at 4" tall instead of the seed packet indicated 4'. I guess that's what the cold weather will do. Unfortunately the seedlings weren't strong enough to hold up their own heads. I guess this is a plant I should re-plant in the spring to see if it does any better.

Onions: Ross once again gave me a handful of onions he had ordered. Experience: The onion were a little harder hit by this year's cold weather - especially the ones in the flower pots. But they appear to be doing fine now (march)

Need to get:

Mustard Greens--specifically the Red Giant or Osaka Purple that Renee Studebaker wrote about earlier this year.
January 1 update: Okay, so I didn't ever make it to anywhere that would have had the greens. gives me something to get next year.

Design

2010-12-21T22:14:00.004-06:00

My inlaws moved to Texas a few months back and of course watered their lawn as good home owners are to do (especially good home owners who live in a neighborhood where the home owners association looks down on those that allow their grass to go dormant in August).

But they have a problem with their yard. The back yard is completely shady (in the summer, in the winter it's okay since the trees lose their leaves). When they first moved down, they were watering the yard 3 times a week, and unfortunately, that meant that the back area was kept pretty wet most of the time. Much like how Mayflowers bring pilgrims, we all know what wet, muggy conditions bring: Mosquitoes.

They had an exterminator come out and spray, they went out and sprayed, they bug-bombed and did other non-eco-friendly things. After asking us multiple times what exactly we did to deal with the mosquitoes; and after us telling them multiple times that the only way we've found to deal with it is to not water the areas we have mosquitoes, or more specifically, STOP WATERING THE GRASS, they finally cut back to watering the back yard shady area once a week.

Now then, the grass they have is buffalo. Which does not grow in shade (also it shouldn't need to be watered 3 x a week, but that's neither here nor there). So obviously now their back yard is a large dirt patch. They don't like having a dirt patch for a yard. My mother in law has decided that after Christmas they will put in a limestone paver patio area just outside their sun room. But she wanted to re-sod the rest of the yard with grass. I think I managed to convince her that she shouldn't plant grass and she should really plant some plants to fill in the space instead.

The problem with this plan? She says she's not good at design--she can't see things or create things the way that some people can (I'm looking at all of you landscape designers out there). The problem is, neither can I. Normally, I tell people to utilize the services of some fellow garden bloggers who do garden design for a living (like Pam, Philip, and Jenny and I'm sure there are many others out there who I can't think of right now) when they have an entire yard that needs to be redone. In this case, however, I know that the recommended plants and the amount needed of them that are shade tolerant and deer resistant are more than likely going to cost enough to cause my mother in law to have a small coronary, and I like to keep the amount of cardiac events that my in laws have to a minimum. So instead I told her about the City of Austin's Grow Green program which came out with some pre-canned designs for various types of gardens. The problem is that they have a Shade Garden plan, a Deer Resistant Garden plan and a Classic Garden plan. You notice that there's not a Shade Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Classic Garden plan.

So, I have now somehow managed to volunteer myself to help her with designing, and quite possibly implementing, her garden. This will be fun? frustrating? will go massively wrong because of our combined ineptitude? Currently I'm predicting all three of those F's.

But stay tuned, I have a feeling I'll be blogging about this every once in a while.

Winter gardening

2010-12-21T21:58:00.005-06:00

So I planted more spinach (the rest of the seeds that I had), more peas (only a handful) and more carrots (yellowstone and whatever the orange variety that is in the packet - nantes, maybe?).

The broccoli is the only thing that seems to be actively growing, though the cauliflower is starting to look robust and the quinoa is looking like an actual plant (maybe if I can keep it alive until February, it will take off and it will be like I started the seed at the right time). All the garlic is doing swimmingly and the onions are green and healthy looking.

I pulled out all the tomatoes and the remainder of the peppers (except for the habanero). I had forgotten that the reason I planted the lemon boy tomato in the spot I did was because I had a problem with root nematodes in that spot last year. And lemon boy, while sometimes marketed as an heirloom, actually isn't and therefore is not as susceptible to the same problems as heirlooms. So yeah, the little Ananas Noire plant that I planted in that spot for the fall didn't fare so well. Or rather the plant seemed to be doing fine until I pulled it out of the ground and realized that it really wasn't.

I transplanted the Red Hot and Hot Yellow peppers into pots so I can bring them in and hopefully overwinter them. Both looked great this morning which is a plus.

Now then, I just have to remember to get to the store to buy some marigolds to put in the nematode spot...

Freezing

2010-11-27T16:53:00.003-06:00

I thought for sure that by me going and picking off all the large-ish tomatoes and peppers that it would for sure guarantee that it would not freeze last night. And oddly enough, I don't think it did. It did, however, get cold enough to kill off the bell peppers (even though they were covered), the cayenne, most of the habanero and obviously the eggplant (I say obviously because it wasn't even covered, and it tends to die as soon as it hits 35 degrees). The tomato plant made it through okay, so i've gone and covered it again along with the little pepper plant and the habanero.

The reason I don't think it made it down to freezing last night? because all the other plants I didn't cover that should have been frost damaged for sure, weren't. So either the microclime in the garden corner is colder than the front yard and the side yard, or the peppers and eggplants die when it's 34 degrees outside.

You know, I really ought to invest in an analog thermometer--the digital ones keep breaking or the batteries keep dying or something.

Also, I planted the onion starts I got from Ross, I ended up with more this year, but not all of them look like they're going to make it...which means I'll probably end up with about the same as last year. Which turned out pretty well--I just used up the last of the garden onions last night.

Frost II

2010-11-26T17:06:00.008-06:00

sorry for the weird formatting, I can't get my phone to play nice with Blogger. Only sad because they're both run by Google

i've covered the plants again in preperation for another freeze (though i question if it actually froze at my house last night since nothing seemed damaged). last night i had covered my 2 larger tomato plants and left the smaller one to fend for itself; today i figurred out most of the tomatoes on the plants could probably be pulled, whereas the ones on the small tomato could not. so out with the big plants and covering the small one it is. of all the covered plants, the vast majority are peppers--I'm hoping to get some more large and/or ripe peppers before the plants die.