Consider the intimate and curious acquaintance one makes with various kinds of weeds — it will bear some iteration in the account, for there was no little iteration in the labor — disturbing their delicate organizations so ruthlessly, and making such invidious distinctions with his hoe, levelling whole ranks of one species, and sedulously cultivating another. That's Roman wormwood — that's pigweed — that's sorrel — that's piper-grass — have at him, chop him up, turn his roots upward to the sun, don't let him have a fibre in the shade, if you do he'll turn himself t'other side up and be as green as a leek in two days. A long war, not with cranes, but with weeds, those Trojans who had sun and rain and dews on their side. Daily the beans saw me come to their rescue armed with a hoe, and thin the ranks of their enemies, filling up the trenches with weedy dead. Many a lusty crest-waving Hector,(12) that towered a whole foot above his crowding comrades, fell before my weapon and rolled in the dust.
The outdoor adventures of a California native putting down roots along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thoreau on Weeds
Spent some time in the yard today building beds, planting seeds, and pulling weeds, which made me want to share this little passage from Walden:
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Poison Ivy in the Fall
Someone I know identified this plant growing near (but not on) our property as poison ivy. The tree that it its using for support is taller than a two story house. The vine itself has grown up to about two thirds of the height of the tree.
The pictures were taken in fall, before the plant dropped its leaves, which scattered everywhere.
Unfortunately, the vine grows in somebody's front yard, near the street, where the leaves fall all over the sidewalk.
The pictures were taken in fall, before the plant dropped its leaves, which scattered everywhere.Unfortunately, the vine grows in somebody's front yard, near the street, where the leaves fall all over the sidewalk.
Yet another mystery weed.
This is popping up all over the place in one of my flowerbeds. Anybody have any ideas?
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Waiting games.
No digging until the ground dries out some more. Rats.
For some reason the rain does not check with me before it comes. :)
For some reason the rain does not check with me before it comes. :)
Knockout Roses
I am looking forward to seeing these in my garden again:
Right now my Double Knockouts are taking a blooming break. In the meantime I suppose pictures will have to do.
I still love these plants. They have already survived a significant episode of leaf spot with most of their leaves intact.
Right now my Double Knockouts are taking a blooming break. In the meantime I suppose pictures will have to do.
I still love these plants. They have already survived a significant episode of leaf spot with most of their leaves intact.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
More Bauhinia Pictures
Here are some photos I took of the Bauhinia I saw last December:
I'm still determined to get one if I possibly can, once I get my new fruit trees in the ground.
For more info on these, see my other post.
I'm still determined to get one if I possibly can, once I get my new fruit trees in the ground.
For more info on these, see my other post.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day!
Time to prune those roses! (And other shrubs)
This is also a great time for transplanting any tropical fruit or citrus trees.
This is also a great time for transplanting any tropical fruit or citrus trees.
Template Annoyances
Excuse the fluctuating colors as I try to restore my old background here. For now, at least, I have managed to get some color displayed. :)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Bauhinia variegata (Orchid Tree)
While out walking with my husband last December, I saw one of these (or something very similar) in someone's garden. I think I'm in love!
Why grow tropical flowers in a greenhouse when you can have them on trees?
Factoids:
Common Names: orchid tree, purple orchid tree, mountain ebony, poor man's orchid
Height: 20-40 ft (sometimes smaller if subjected to winter freezes)
Width: 10-20 ft
Spacing:
Habit: Tree
Nativity: Introduced to US from Asia (I have heard some say it is a Texas native)
Duration: Deciduous in freezing temperatures or winter drought
Flowers: Pink, variegated. Winter-Spring.
Light: Full sun-light shade
Moisture: Keep moist during summer months, water less frequently in winter. (Fortunately for us in southeast Texas, this happens quite naturally). Needs very good drainage.
Hardiness Zones: USDA 9-11, Sunset: 13,18-23
Propagation: Seed, cuttings, suckers (occasional)
Soil:
This tree is categorized as invasive and disruptive of native plant habitats in Florida, and should not be planted in that state.
Another tree with flowers resembling orchids is Texas native Chilopsis linearis (a.k.a. Desert Willow or Desert Catalpa), which, according to its USDA profile, likes the drier regions of West Texas. It has also been known to grow in other parts of Texas, including the Houston area, and in parts of California.
Bauhinia Variegata Links:
Floridata
Dave's Garden
Wikipedia
Desert-Tropicals.com
USDA Plants Database
Stanford University
University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
------------------------------------------------------------
Update: I have posted pictures of the actual specimen I saw. Maybe someone who knows more about this genus can tell me if they are the same species or not.
Troublesome background...
Blogger has for some weeks now flatly refused to display either background images or colors on this blog. I have no idea why this glitch is happening only here, as the graphics on my other blog are unaffected.
Template changes may be in order.
Template changes may be in order.
Catnip update
So last spring I planted some catnip plants I picked up at the home improvement store.
They did great until the heavy rains came. Then root rot took them.
But not before they went to seed.
Little tiny catnip plants are now making appearances in the bed where the original two plants were.
The lessons here?
1. The people who tell you not to put good soil below ground level in gumbo are not kidding.
2. Catnip seeds grow spontaneously (and happily from the looks of things) when scattered in summertime.
3. Some plants do okay with their roots in gumbo, as long as they are in an area that is slightly higher than others, allowing for drainage.
They did great until the heavy rains came. Then root rot took them.
But not before they went to seed.
Little tiny catnip plants are now making appearances in the bed where the original two plants were.
The lessons here?
1. The people who tell you not to put good soil below ground level in gumbo are not kidding.
2. Catnip seeds grow spontaneously (and happily from the looks of things) when scattered in summertime.
3. Some plants do okay with their roots in gumbo, as long as they are in an area that is slightly higher than others, allowing for drainage.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Bluebonnet update
I scattered the seeds in the fall this time, and there are now several little baby bluebonnet plants popping up in my flowerbeds.
Rather than meticulously starting them in peat pots, I decided to just toss them out there. I figure if that works well enough for mother nature, it's good enough for me. After that, I did little else to them. I figure if they're Texas natives and I'm not, the bluebonnets probably know what's good for them, especially since they've been around here longer. :)
They began to come up in December, and they are still there. Even some of the Russell hybrids (which were all eaten last year) are surviving so far. Hopefully, we'll have flowers this time around!
Rather than meticulously starting them in peat pots, I decided to just toss them out there. I figure if that works well enough for mother nature, it's good enough for me. After that, I did little else to them. I figure if they're Texas natives and I'm not, the bluebonnets probably know what's good for them, especially since they've been around here longer. :)
They began to come up in December, and they are still there. Even some of the Russell hybrids (which were all eaten last year) are surviving so far. Hopefully, we'll have flowers this time around!
Playing in the dirt.
The ground finally dried out enough to allow me to plant the two muscadines I obtained at the fruit tree sale. I've been keeping them in mulch up till now. A few of the roots (but thankfully not all) did get a little dry on one of them, so I hope no permanent damage was done. Time will tell.
Either way, it was a perfect day for it. Warm, with just enough of a breeze to keep me from getting overheated, and ground that was moist enough that I could dig in it, but not so moist that my digging would damage the soil structure.
And I cannot overemphasize the usefulness of wheelbarrows when one is taking out grass and putting in even themost slightly raised of beds.
There is something wonderful about being tired, covered in smudges of dirt, looking at a brand new bed with fresh plants in it and thinking, "Yeah, I did that.".
Either way, it was a perfect day for it. Warm, with just enough of a breeze to keep me from getting overheated, and ground that was moist enough that I could dig in it, but not so moist that my digging would damage the soil structure.
And I cannot overemphasize the usefulness of wheelbarrows when one is taking out grass and putting in even themost slightly raised of beds.
There is something wonderful about being tired, covered in smudges of dirt, looking at a brand new bed with fresh plants in it and thinking, "Yeah, I did that.".
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Search: Bluebonnets in California
I got a search hit from Google from someone looking for "bluebonnets in cal".
California has its own native variety of Lupinus, known here in Texas by the common name "bluebonnet". People call them "Lupines" out there. The California variety grows wild in many parts of the state. It has a mild, sweet scent, and if you find yourself in the immediate vicinity of a large field full of them, the experience will be very pleasant for your nose.
People living in California who want to grow them can easily find seeds at local nurseries. The more adventurous can try to collect the seeds from wild ones themselves (watch for rattlesnakes and wear plenty of deer tick repellent if you do).
California has its own native variety of Lupinus, known here in Texas by the common name "bluebonnet". People call them "Lupines" out there. The California variety grows wild in many parts of the state. It has a mild, sweet scent, and if you find yourself in the immediate vicinity of a large field full of them, the experience will be very pleasant for your nose.
People living in California who want to grow them can easily find seeds at local nurseries. The more adventurous can try to collect the seeds from wild ones themselves (watch for rattlesnakes and wear plenty of deer tick repellent if you do).
Garden Tools and Poetry
This poem makes me think William Carlos Williams must have tried to build raised flower beds at some point. :)
The Red Wheelbarrow
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.
-- William Carlos Williams
Crassula Gollum: A Plant for Hobbit Lovers
"Herself" posts about her own specimen of Hobbits Pipe Jade Plant.
This one is probably worth planting just for the name.
This one is probably worth planting just for the name.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Water, Water everywhere--almost
It's the winter rainy season on the west coast.
I often track the weather in places along the Pacific where I know people. Today, it would seem, rain is predicted for all of the locations I watch, with the exception of Portland, OR and Seattle, WA. Quite the opposite of what most would expect given the sunny reputation of California, and the damp, rainy reputation of the Pacific Northwest.
Speaking of rain, my lawn is super-soggy right now. I stepped outside yesterday, only for a couple of minutes to check on a few plants, and when I returned to the house, I had mud spatters up to my knees, and caked mud around the cuffs of my pants. It's amazing what that Gumbo can do.
I often track the weather in places along the Pacific where I know people. Today, it would seem, rain is predicted for all of the locations I watch, with the exception of Portland, OR and Seattle, WA. Quite the opposite of what most would expect given the sunny reputation of California, and the damp, rainy reputation of the Pacific Northwest.
Speaking of rain, my lawn is super-soggy right now. I stepped outside yesterday, only for a couple of minutes to check on a few plants, and when I returned to the house, I had mud spatters up to my knees, and caked mud around the cuffs of my pants. It's amazing what that Gumbo can do.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Fruity Madness
Yesterday was my first time at an Urban Harvest fruit tree sale. The stories are true. They have lots of trees, and LOTS of people. It was crowded, and the many people there were quite determined to get their trees, even to the point of pushing and shoving. I overheard at least two people saying that the plants they had picked up had been taken right out from under their noses.
I suppose when you get that many people in one place who are willing to stand outside in 40-something degree weather for over an hour just waiting for a tree sale to start, things are going to be pretty interesting.
It wasn't all rudeness though. Many of the customers took the madness in stride. The volunteers were very friendly and helpful, and I suspect that one of the ones that helped me out was Bob Randall himself, but I didn't want to ask him. The entire scene was surreal enough without me behaving like a garden groupie.
In any case, I am now the proud owner of a Saigo (Saijo?) persimmon, a Cloud Pomegranate, two muscadine vines, and a banana fig. Thanks to my husband, who assembled the wheelbarrow ahead of time, I was able to get that persimmon in the ground today. Now to get the others planted before the end of February! Woohoo!
I suppose when you get that many people in one place who are willing to stand outside in 40-something degree weather for over an hour just waiting for a tree sale to start, things are going to be pretty interesting.
It wasn't all rudeness though. Many of the customers took the madness in stride. The volunteers were very friendly and helpful, and I suspect that one of the ones that helped me out was Bob Randall himself, but I didn't want to ask him. The entire scene was surreal enough without me behaving like a garden groupie.
In any case, I am now the proud owner of a Saigo (Saijo?) persimmon, a Cloud Pomegranate, two muscadine vines, and a banana fig. Thanks to my husband, who assembled the wheelbarrow ahead of time, I was able to get that persimmon in the ground today. Now to get the others planted before the end of February! Woohoo!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
When you have a little lawn in your winter weeds...
Someone at the home improvement store recommended a liquid post-emergent broad-leaf herbicide for Southern lawns over a granular one for this time of year.
Randy Lemmon, host of GardenLine, strenuously recommends against those very tempting weed-and-feed treatments, as in the long run they can damage other plants, including trees. Click here to see his lawn care schedule. The herbicide tips are toward the bottom. Or, if you prefer, he has an alternate Organic lawn care schedule. In both the organic and synthetic schedules, he recommends that a pre-emergent herbicide be applied in November, to prevent the rather astonishing weed growth that takes place in December and January if nothing is done. Ooops. I guess we'll do better next year. :)
Randy Lemmon, host of GardenLine, strenuously recommends against those very tempting weed-and-feed treatments, as in the long run they can damage other plants, including trees. Click here to see his lawn care schedule. The herbicide tips are toward the bottom. Or, if you prefer, he has an alternate Organic lawn care schedule. In both the organic and synthetic schedules, he recommends that a pre-emergent herbicide be applied in November, to prevent the rather astonishing weed growth that takes place in December and January if nothing is done. Ooops. I guess we'll do better next year. :)
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Search: Tomato Varieties for Houston
Someone dropped by while Googling (I can't believe that's actually a verb now) for "Tomato varieties Houston Texas"
Your county Extension service or local Master Gardener should have some good information on tomato varieties. Also check with your nurseryman.
In her Lazy Gardener's Guide, Brenda Beust Smith recommends the following:
In Year Round Fruits and Vegetables, Bob Randall recommends these (In order from large to small, with some repeats from Smith's list):
For better information on growing tomatoes here in the Houston Metro Area, I strongly recommend getting copies of the books by Smith and Randall. These are most easily obtained by going to Urban Harvest.
Your county Extension service or local Master Gardener should have some good information on tomato varieties. Also check with your nurseryman.
In her Lazy Gardener's Guide, Brenda Beust Smith recommends the following:
- Champion
- Celebrity
- Dona
- Early Goliath
- German Johnson
- Hawaiian
- Sweet Chelsea
- Texas Wild
In Year Round Fruits and Vegetables, Bob Randall recommends these (In order from large to small, with some repeats from Smith's list):
- Super Marmande (early)
- Dona (early)
- Carmello
- Big Beef
- Arkansas Traveler (late)
- Sweet Chelsea
- Sweet 100
- Texas wild (Produces in summer)
- Viva Italia (cooking)
- Sunmaster (Produces in summer)
- Patio
- Pixie
- Tiny tim
- Saladette
- Stakeless
- Atom
For better information on growing tomatoes here in the Houston Metro Area, I strongly recommend getting copies of the books by Smith and Randall. These are most easily obtained by going to Urban Harvest.
Basil in the Greenhouse
Apparently, basil can survive the winter (or at least, what winter we have had so far this year) if kept in a greenhouse or indoors.
The only trouble with the greenhouse strategy, it would appear, is that pests become more of a problem. Something has been nibbling at mine quite enthusiastically. When I had it outside in the summer and fall, it has almost no pest problems at all. There is still plenty left for us to eat, however.
The only trouble with the greenhouse strategy, it would appear, is that pests become more of a problem. Something has been nibbling at mine quite enthusiastically. When I had it outside in the summer and fall, it has almost no pest problems at all. There is still plenty left for us to eat, however.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Companion herbs for tomatoes
While you are getting your seeds spouted and considering where to put your tomatoes once they are ready to be transplanted, here is some interesting information:
According to the Houston Garden Book, tomatoes like to be planted with onions, parsley, carrots, chives, asparagus, marigolds, and nasturtiums. avoid planting them next to cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, potatoes, fennel, and corn.
According to the Houston Garden Book, tomatoes like to be planted with onions, parsley, carrots, chives, asparagus, marigolds, and nasturtiums. avoid planting them next to cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, potatoes, fennel, and corn.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
January is for tomato seeds!
This is the month to start your tomato seeds indoors or in a greenhouse to get the earliest possible jump on the tomato season!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Now that Christmas is over, I have two or more of these pretty plants hanging around my home.
Here are some links for those who would like to keep their plants alive for next year:
The Poinsettia Pages at University of Illinois Extension
Beginner-Gardening.com
Poinsettia Care in the Home
The Helpful Gardener
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