Snap!

Lemon grass

Belinda's Dream

Salvia

more lemon grass

jasmine

Taking pictures of plants covered in frost and the odd snowflake and ice crystal is not the normal course of events for either 'Pup or me. Still, we walked out Saturday morning and did our best, trying to beat the sun. It was still below freezing, but where the sun could reach the leaves, the ice was melting. Some of it, the most delicate of the frost crystals seemed to be immediately sublimated into the air, evaporating at the first touch of sunlight.

I swear, I do not know what the world would be like without digital cameras. They, along with computers, are some of the most wonderful technology out there. It allows even me to take some halfway decent pictures and allows me the freedom to take as many as I need to get a decent picture.

How'd I do?

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, April 2009

I hardly know where to start with this month's Garden Blogger's Bloom Day. Carole at May Dreams Garden hosts this monthly tour around the world, looking at everything going on in our gardens.

The overwhelmingly predominant color this month is Green. Note: that is GREEN with capitals, 'cause ya'll...it's GREEN!

The nasturtiums kinda...exploded in size with a little more rain and a little fertilizer. And yet, that one, stubborn petunia from last spring is still hanging in there and blooming. Bless it's little heart.

I'm trying to grow squash in the front yard again, this time some patty pan, and they're growing in some pots, in hopes that it will lessen the chance of squash borer..

The morning glories are the only thing bluer than the sky today.

The Angel Wing Jasmine is blooming profusely and has a wonderful scent.


The day lilies are putting up scapes and it won't be long till they're all blooming. Yes, these are growing in the end of the bed that I've NOT been able to weed yet, and I'm dreading going there. But, it will need to be done. Soon.

In the other end of that same bed, I've got three bluebonnet plants growing. I bought them. I couldn't resist. Yes, I'm a plantaholic.

Another acquisition is three Indian Blanket plants...they'll be perennials.

'Pup picked out some dahlias at Wal*mart. We'll see how long it takes me to kill them. Dahlia's are one of those plants that don't seem to do well for me.

Is this not a glorious rose? Fragrance Delight is what the tag says it's called. It's just the shade of pink my niece and grandnieces adore.

I like this pink better. But both have a nice scent, and the Belinda's Dream is near a place I have to sit outside. Humm.. I'm going to have to do a post on sitting spots...


The Blue Eyes are blue.

The salvia is red, and the allysium is white. I'll have more flowers in that theme in that bed soon.

My little winter flowers (here), violas are perking up again after the nice deluges we have had recently.

A nice surprise is that the bougainvillea is blooming better than it's bloomed in years. Half of the stems have regressed to solid green, but as they're the ones that will bloom, I'll let them stay and it just looks like I have two plants there, one solid green leafed one and one variegated.

My citrus trees are blooming. They're all rather tiny trees as of yet. It will be a few years before they're of any size for any really good fruiting. Till then, I'll enjoy the flowers and the rare fruit I do get.

The tag on the plant below claims that it is an "Origami Columbine". I don't really know what it is, but it looks like something a hummingbird might be attracted to, so I snagged it as well.

Any ideas?

The Hyacinth bean is blooming, but growing very slowly. When I broke the main stem, I think it damaged the somewhat elderly vine's vigor. Still, my money is on the vine.

Behind it, you saw this canna. It's the first canna bloom of the season for me.

'Pup also picked out the New Guinea impatiens. I like them too...sigh...I hope it lives.

A few weeks ago, I woke up from a bad dream in which snails had eaten all my peas and beans. The next morning, I went outside to check and all was well. It didn't stay that way. But, look.. one little green bean. Time to plant some more in a sunnier spot. The pot of mesclun lettuce behind it was raided yesterday for a salad and looks a little sad.. but it will perk up again.

Some type of kolanche is blooming here, but dang if I know what it is...

The Citronella pelargonium is so pretty. The flowers are tiny, but perfect.

Viola odorata... I bought it because it promised to be a good shady ground cover, but I'm not ready to put it in the ground yet...oh well, it is pretty.

The Chenille plant is waking up from a winter's slumber and filling out slowly.

I have several of these Maid d'Orleans jasmine plants and they all have buds. I know they bloom, but like my four o'clocks (which have also come back this year! With Flowers!), I can't actually CATCH it with open blooms.

My sage is in bloom though! I've never had sage do so well. I think I finally found it's perfect spot.

This is actually a miniature rose, about the size of a dollar coin.

The hibiscus is still blooming, as it has all winter.

Another acquisition, one I couldn't resist. This is a "Songbird(?)" columbine.

AND the nicotiana hasn't died yet! Yeah, ME!

Those big, fat banana looking things are buds of the flower of the split leaved philodendron. It's the plant I call monster. It's about 6 1/2 feet tall now.

And hope is in bloom in my back yard and in the front yard as well.

The Pinata climbing rose is blooming, as is the climbing Golden Showers. The pink jasmine has finished it's bloom for this year. I miss it already.

I end this post with an update on the tomato plants that I overwintered. They are getting huge and have put on a heavy load of tomatoes.

The vines are bend from their weight, but seem able to support them so far.

I do not know why this plant is putting on such odd looking fruit. They seem to be doubled and tripled fruits. Is there a virus that causes this? They taste good when they get red, and that's all that matters. But I do seem to have a shot at ugliest tomatoes...

Now, I'm off to go travel around the world, looking at what's blooming!

Tomato Update

The tomatoes I overwintered are doing remarkably well. I've never had such success with tomatoes I've started in the fall. Usually, they peter out fairly quickly. This year, I think the difference was where they were and how well I protected them.

There are two ripening in the bright sun. That may be another difference. After Ike, the ash trees were pruned fairly heavily, leaving the tomatoes in full sun all day long (that's an exception, not the rule in my back yard.)

I also have several green tomatoes promising some bounty later on.

Oops.. do you see what I see?

Yep, looks like another tomato is mooning me.

I also have a volunteer that grew over the winter. It is in the pot that I have my dwarf Cavendish banana, and from the look of the tiny blooms, it may be a Mexican miniature from a couple of years ago. I hope it is, as the tomatoes are tiny, but intensely flavored. I've not found anyone selling seeds or sets of that variety, so I'll be saving seeds from this one.

There's more going on in the backyard, but I'm going to be sitting down (gingerly) for a while, as I fell down as I was working (alone). I had re potted a clivia, Orange Bush Lily, and planted a Bird of Paradise (both of them were bought end of the year and overwintered in my surround shelter. I was also able to re pot some begonias (also over wintered). More news later. I need to go find a pillow...

Spring Harvests

No, can't harvest cross vines, though they are kinda pretty...

they're not something that will feed anything but your soul.

Lemon grass, on the other hand,

tastes just fine. I could harvest this much about 10 times and I'd still have a respectable stand of lemon grass. Anyone need some lemon grass? I've been sharing it with some Vietnamese neighbors and my hairdresser, and a parent of one of the students I tutor.

Another tasty harvest.. some tomatoes. They aren't pretty, but they're not as ugly as some! And they tasted juuuuust fine, thank you.

Finally, I also did some more radish thinning. I'm developing a fondness for these sprouts. Nom, nom, nom.

The beets are up, as are the carrots, peas, beans and lettuce. I've not transplanted the tomatoes yet, but that's something I think I'll save for Friday when it's supposed to be a lot cooler (50's) and..and.. and...

IT'S GONNA RAIN!!