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July 31, 2005
Artichoke
We haven't eaten any this year, because we like seeing the flowers.
Posted by Bob at 07:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 29, 2005
Gotta have it
I've been plotting the next garden project
(pending a cooling trend)...
Sunset says:
A. circinatum. VINE MAPLE. Deciduous shrub or small ree. Zones 1-6, 14-17. Native to moist woods, stream banks in coastal mountains of British Columbia south to Northern California. Crooked, sprawling, and vinelike in the forest shade, with many stems from the base; single-trunked small tree 5-35 ft high in full sun. Loses its vinelike characteristics in open situations. Leaves with 5 to 11 lobes, 2 - 6 in. wide as long, light green turning orange, scarlet, or yellow in the fall. New spring foliage usually has reddish tints. Tiny reddish purple flowers in clusters, April - May, followed by paired winged seeds that look like little red bow ties among the green leaves. One of the most airy and delicate western natives. The rare variety 'Monroe' has finely cut leaves.
Let it go untrimmed to make natural bowers, ideal settings for ferns and woodland flowers. Use under a canopy of tall confers where its blazing fall color offers brilliant contrast. Can be espaliered against shady side of a wall. Its contorted leafless branches make an intricate pattern in winter. Select in fall to get best autumn color.
Wayside Gardens catalogue says:
Changes color every season! A stunning dwarf selection of seldom-seen Vine Maple, this native American tree regales you with fan-shaped foliage that emerges yellow with coral hues in spring, turns fresh green for summer, and then burns a rich plum-red in autumn. Resembles a Japanese Maple, but is far more tolerant of heat and humidity. Exquisite!
Posted by Sue at 08:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Yet another Dahlia
Posted by Bob at 08:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 27, 2005
What can go wrong in the garden, part II
Frankenpumkin!
Seed saving produces mixed results, and we mean mixed, when giant pumpkin seeds we saved from last year apparently cross-bred with squash or gourds. The gnarly result is currently about 18" long.
Posted by Bob at 08:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2005
What Can Go Wrong In The Garden, Part I
Caveat emptor, when buying seeds on Ebay.
Based on the package label, this should have been tabasco.
We've been informed by a laughing friend that it is, instead, milkweed.
At least the monarch butterflies are happy...
Posted by Sue at 12:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2005
Dahlia close up
Amazing flowers, aren't they. Even if they do require much staking up because they're so floppy.
Posted by Bob at 05:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 22, 2005
Another Dahlia close-up
Posted by Bob at 03:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 21, 2005
Dahlia bud close-up
Posted by Bob at 08:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2005
Beating the Heat?
Darwin Falls, Death Valley, CA
Year-round falls, and quite cold when you finally arrive after a 2-mile hike in. The current daytime temperature high is about 125F, and there is speculation that this week they'll beat the record high of 134F -- so I'd postpone that trip.
I think we need more trees in our San Fernando Valley garden. Many more.
Posted by Sue at 09:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 19, 2005
Hot Days ... Cool Daydreams
Idaho Falls, a picture by Berte
As I recall, the gorgeous falls in the center of Twin Falls is a cleverly camoflaged dam.
Which highlights our criminal Los Angeles Cement Trench ... err ... River.
Something to contemplate when it's still about 90F at 9pm.
Posted by Sue at 09:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 18, 2005
Banana Art
A fruity distraction for those
too-hot-to-garden days.
Drawing on Bananas (Portrait) by Tonico Lemo Auad.
Banananarian Brazilian sculptor Tonico Lemo Auad, a resident of London, made the short list for Beck's Futures modern art prize.
Auad’s faces, "painted" with pins on banana’s skins, only emerge as the fruit begins to rot.
Posted by Sue at 09:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 17, 2005
Can you even dye my eyes to match my dress?
Yes!
Still fondling the dahlia catalogs,
trying to match to the snail vine.
(95F+ today, gardening is imaginary...)
Pictures are courtesy of
The American Dahlia Society
and Oldhouse Gardens
Posted by Sue at 11:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2005
The purple piquin pepper!
This is the Firecracker Piquin, it produces purple peppers, reputed to be quite hot. We'll have a full report in a week or so!
Posted by Bob at 09:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 15, 2005
Corner of the Garden II
Between the fountain grass, "the brain" --
Green pineapple flowers too --
(Hiding -- but perhaps you can spot them --)
And dahlias up the gazoo.
Posted by Sue at 01:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 14, 2005
Borage is Good Company
Boraginaceae is a terrific growing companion, attracting bees which makes it a good buddy plant for strawberries. Black Flies are also drawn to Borage. Planting it near tomato plants as a way of controlling tomato worms.
What’s in a name? The Welsh name for this herb translates to ; herb of gladness. The Arabic translations is ; father of sweet, and the Celtic word Borrach means courage. Sounds a little like how I’ve heard Cannabis sativa described. The Greeks and Romans regarded Borage as having the power to give comfort to the heart and soul and having the ability to impart courage to men in battle.
Fact or fantasy, Borage is a diaphoretic, but can sweating really make you merry and brave? Perhaps some of the good effects supposedly felt from eating the flowers and leaves from this herb are simply the benefits from eating a food source that’s high in potassium and calcium or possibly from the wine it was usually added to.
Posted by at 10:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Twining up the fence
Vigna caracalla (Snail vine)
The Snail Vine (Vigna Caracalla) is a beautiful vine and well worth growing. It is not very hardy. It generally dies back in winter, doesn't really do well below 50 or 40 degrees. Being a fast grower, it catches up the following spring, growing fast when the weather turns warm and twining up everywhere.
The genus is named after Dominico Vigna an Italian botanist of the 17th century. The species is named after the city of Caracas in Venezuela.
In 1792 [Thomas] Jefferson proclaimed ... "the most beautiful bean in the world is the Caracalla bean ...." ... Jefferson likely knew of the Caracalla through Philip Miller's The Gardener's Dictionary. The 1768 edition, housed in Jefferson's library, described it as follows: ". . . a kidney-bean with a twining stalk . . .. grows naturally in the Brazils, from whence the seeds were brought to Europe." ...
Bernard McMahon included it in the lengthy appendix of the American Gardener's Calendar, which Jefferson owned. McMahon categorized it under "Hot-House Herbaceous Perennial Plants, &c." as Phaseolus caracalla --Twisted-flowered kidney-bean. Other equally unattractive names for this magnificent vine included Caracol, Snail Flower, and Corkscrew Flower.
Posted by Sue at 01:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 13, 2005
Already Fondling Next Year's Dahlia Catalog
Little Bees Wings
Offered by Oldhouse Gardens -- a dahlia first released in 1909.
Gotta have it.
Posted by Sue at 01:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 12, 2005
Drought-Tolerant Beauty
Liatris Spicata
Things I didn't know about Liatris:
1) Most of us know Liatris via the cut-flower industry. It is yet another North American wildflower that Europeans have selected, hybridized, grown in large scale, and exported back to us for mass consumption...
Like the sunflower!
2) The genus Liatris belongs to the Asteraceae, or aster family...
It certainly doesn't look like the standard daisy-flowered Asteraceae!
3) One of the reasons gayfeathers are such popular cut flowers is their unusual mode of blooming. Unlike most plants with a similar inflorescence, they bloom from the top of their flower spikes downward. You can actually cut a good portion off the top of the spike (again about a third) to bring indoors, and the remaining flower heads will continue to open and add color to the garden.
This trait also means they'll continue blooming most of the summer.
Things I did know about Liatris:
1) Besides getting a visual boost, your garden will also hum delightfully from the various insect pollinators that come to feed on Liatris flowers. Butterflies are particularly attracted to the nectar-rich blossoms. Birds will also pay a visit as they relish the fall-ripening seeds.
The honeybees have returned, by the score.
2) Drought tolerance is an especially desirable trait that Liatris species offer. Their water-retentive corms allow them to persist in lean, dry times. And cultivation is very straightforward. Most gayfeathers prefer full sun and well-drained soil of moderate to lean fertility. The majority of the species listed below are hardy from USDA Zones 5 to 9. I have never encountered any insect or disease problems. In fact, I can't think of a reason not to grow these plants!
Takes a San Fernando beating, blooms all summer, never needs fussing over, great plant!
Posted by Sue at 01:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 11, 2005
In the heat of the summer
Not much can stand up to the heat of a San Fernando Valley summer in a west facing garden with no shade. Not much except cactus and this succulent, that is. Not sure what it is.
Posted by Bob at 02:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 10, 2005
Mystery Day
Mystery Day
A medium decorative dahlia introduced in 1994, from Holland.
Knee-high bush with decent foliage and strong stems.
It's holding up well in the heat. Keeper.
Posted by Sue at 05:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Japanese cucumbers
These are some of the *less* misshapen ones! They average about 14" inches long.
Posted by Bob at 04:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 09, 2005
Okra in an EarthBox
Okra grows amazingly fast, sometimes an inch or so a day. It is quite tasty sauteed in tomatoes and spices, not slimy at all. The EarthBox requires practically no work, just fill the spout with water until it flows out the drain hole.
An EarthBox of tomatoes is to the left to it.
Posted by Bob at 12:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 08, 2005
Big Orange Beastie
Barbarosa dahlia.
Four foot-long towering stalk and big orange-red flowers. This variety would be great for cut-flower enthusiasts.
I prefer to enjoy flowers in the garden -- so I think I'll swap this for a swath of Bishop of Llandaff next year.
Bishop has bronze foliage and a graceful form -- perfect "back of the bed" material. I stored Bishop tubers from last year, but they failed to resprout.
Posted by Sue at 07:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 07, 2005
Strike Out
Ronde di Nice Zucchini
This French heirloom zuke is supposed to produce round, baseball-sized fruit that are "ideal when stuffed, steamed, fried or baked."
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
The original label said this variety is not as productive as the type that produces fruit shaped more like a baseball bat, but that's an understatement.
It's been growing in our garden since March, and what you see here is what you get. Flowers, bush, that's about it. Zucchini flower fritters, anyone?
Posted by Sue at 07:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 06, 2005
Ursus Undies?
Acanthus
Plant History: Mediterranean native, from the family Acanthaceae, which derives from the Greek "akantha", meaning spine.
The sun in the SFV must be stronger than in Spain: the foliage burned to brown crisps last year. I transplanted all the Acanthus in our yard to a shady wall behind the garage, which seems to help.
But why is this plant called "bear's breeches"??? One source says:
Acanthus leaves have a classical appearance and were the source of the Corinthian leaf motif developed and used as a decoration in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture.
Looking elsewhere:
Acanthi are famed, for a leaf
That's a classical sculpture motif.
These mauve and white bloomers
(According to rumors)
Look great as a teddy bear brief.
Still not buying it.
Posted by Sue at 09:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 05, 2005
We Interrupt This Blog For An Important Announcement!!!
Sportacus & Fluffy Whitewalls
Five little kittens, rescued from the gallows,
and lovingly nursed back to health in our home
during the last month -- coddled, cossetted,
petted, bottle-fed, and all sorts of groovy things....
NEED A HOME...
... YOUR HOME?
Please contact us if you have room in your heart
for a good pal & companion.
Yuli at the Bottle
Little Girl
Moms (only 9 mo old...just a kitten herself)
Posted by Sue at 07:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 04, 2005
Thai peppers
The familiar Thai Pepper, I've sampled a couple and they are indeed fiery.
Posted by Bob at 11:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 03, 2005
Not This Big
Hoping that none of our pumpkins get this big.
Posted by Sue at 11:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kitty Should Stick to Catnip
Catnip flower (against a background of Cocopah corn and Navajo melon).
A cat's been treated for liver problems after regularly getting
drunk at his local pub in Stockton-on-Tees.
Joey developed a taste for lager, cider and a rum-based fruit drink
during trips to the Teal Arms in Ingelby Barwick.
The tomcat is now drinking only milk and has been barred from the
pub by landlady Lynne Thomas.
Owner Katie Perfitt said she was unable to explain her pet's hyper
night-time behaviour until she followed and spotted him going into
the pub, reports The Sun.
Katie said: "The landlady asked, 'Is that your cat?' When I asked
why, she said, 'Well, he's a regular. He's in here every night
helping himself to everyone's drinks'."
She said: "He was a nutter when he came back - totally hyper. He'd
attack the duvet on my bed, then jump on my plate while I was
eating. Next minute he'd be flat out snoring his head off and nothing would wake him. I couldn't work out what was wrong."
When she took Joey to the vet, she said she was told his liver was
swollen from alcohol abuse.
-Sun Online, reprinted without permission.
Posted by Sue at 11:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 02, 2005
Malo the Flesh-Eating Turtle From Hell
Action shot of Malo lunging for a finger-shaped carrot.
We've posted this sign on the fence surrounding Malo's pond:
MALO FAQ:
1. WHAT KIND OF TURTLE IS MALO?
A "red-eared slider" -- Trachemys scripta elegans -- which gets its name from the red stripes on either side of its head, and its habit of sliding into the water whenever startled.
He is an aquatic turtle. The species are naturally found in the gulf coast area, predominantly in Texas and Louisiana, but extending into Florida. The pet trade has exported this turtle to every continent on the planet, and people have released these turtles into the wild, so it is now found everywhere -- even in France, where they hate American species, especially Texans.
2. WHY DID YOU NAME YOUR TURTLE "MALO"?
"Malo the Flesh-eating Turtle from Hell" used to be named "Debit", because he is green and Sue is an accountant. After the Unfortunate Incident, he was renamed.
3. IS MALO FRIENDLY?
No.
4. CAN I TOUCH OR PET MALO?
I wouldn't recommend it.
5. DOES MALO BITE?
Yes. All turtles bite. They bite, hold on, and retract their heads into their shells. If you are bitten by a turtle, your finger will end up inside of the turtle. It will seem like an eternity.
6. WHY DO TURTLES BITE?
Because they are all brain stem and bad attitude.
7. DOES A TURTLE BITE HURT?
Yes.
8. HOW MUCH DOES A TURTLE BITE HURT?
Worse than a tax audit with deficiencies, according to Sue.
9. WHAT CAN I DO IF I HAVE IGNORED YOUR ADVICE AND MALO IS CHEWING ONE OF MY BODY PARTS?
Wait for him to become bored or full.
A Mexican folk-remedy says that a braying donkey will cause a turtle to open its mouth. How good is your donkey imitation?
Posted by Sue at 12:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 01, 2005
Baby Great Pumpkins
With luck, they'll be at least 300 pounds. Each.
From left to right: Bobkin, Kirstikin, Woodchipkin.
(Not pictured: Bosankin, Cricketkin.)
All in a dead heat at present, for size & weight.
(Cheer for your favorite!)
Honeydo List: fertilize & truncate the vines
at about 10' and bury them, so more roots will form.
Last year's pumpkins were plagued with downy mildew.
This year I'm going to test the bicarbonate of soda cure:
There has been considerable interest in the use of
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3) and potassium
bicarbonate (KHCO3) to control powdery mildew and other
fungal diseases of plants...
Some of the work at Cornell has focused on controlling
fungal diseases on cucurbits. A single spray application
(to runoff) of 0.5% (wt./vol. of water) baking soda,
plus 0.5% (vol./vol. of water) SunSpray UFP® horticultural
oil almost completely inhibited PM on heavily infected
pumpkin foliage. Baking soda without spray oil was
ineffective, and a 2% (wt./vol. of water) solution
of baking soda damaged the leaves. ...
Posted by Sue at 08:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Corner of the Garden I
In this picture:
Coreopsis, Liatris, Dahlias, Climbing Nasturtium,
Cylindrical Apple Trees, Tea Rose (Passion),
Floribunda Rose (Knock Out), French Marigold,
Gazania, Zinnia (Candy Striped and Envy),
Butterfly Bush ... and 3 BEES!!
Posted by Sue at 01:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack