Notes

February 2019 Lawn

Here's how our lawn looks like this February. It has gotten much greener, because of the recent rains in December and January. It still has some patches of brown dirt. Hopefully, I can cultivate the lawn with some grass seed or patches of grass sod. Obviously, our drought has ended for this year. 

OPEN TUIN / FRUITVERWERKING

Oranges in Mid-January, 2019

This is our orange tree. Fianlly, I have been watering a bit more, thus the fruit hasn't split down the middle. It also seems that the drought must definitely be over in Southern Califonria. This has helped all of the struggling plants and grass. Actually, this whole week has been very rainy.

Grapes in December

Such a surprise to walk out in the garden for December 1st, and see little grapes growing on the vine! I thought I would have to wait until spring or summer. I hope they make it through the coming winter months, even if our temperature is generally moderate for the winter. 

Planting and Gathering

05,11,18 Most of the ‘Red Star’ Cordyline that I planted as cuttings have taken and I have started to plant the out either in the garden or in pots for indoors.  Cordyline’s galore about 20 of them!    Not to be out done, the purple climbing beans are producing, could say ‘bucket ...

Pothos

I don't know how to use this site properly but I need to go ahead and document this before I forget and just give up on it all together.  Yea I know...my brain is just messy and out of control. Rainy afternoon walk to Whitley's florist was amazing.  I stumbled upon a great place to acquire ...

Front Yard, Grass Improvement

Last night It rained, thundered, and the sky lite up with lightening! This is so unusual in Southern California. I wonder if we are still in a drought. Perhaps our lawn will be greener before January or February. I was thinking we had to take out the whole lawn area and replace it with red bark ...

Tomatoes in Autumn

Although our summer tomatoes are gone, this bush seems to have one last harvest! The tomatoes are green thus far, but I hope they ripen. I last counted 25 of them.

Grape Harvest Coming to an End

We were so very happy with our grapes this year! They were sweet and tender, with a melt in your mouth skin. We will have to get used to store bought grapes again, until we try planting and harvesting grapes again.

Greener Lawn Days

Red Dog is sitting on our green lawn. We are trying to get this lawn back to greener days after these few years of water rationing and drought in many Southern California cities.

Broccoli

Plant broccoli 

Grapes in July

These grapes have been ready since mid July. We have been blessed this year with a great crop.

Grape Ladder Make-Shift Trellis

Here is the ladder my husband put in as a make-shift trellis to allow the grapes to have a wider span. (Also to not interude on the neighbor's fence.) Thus far, this seems to be working. 

Just starting

I know next to nothing about plants.  I never really had much of an interest, the garden was always my Dad's domain, but recently I've been diagnosed with a mobility disorder.  Certain tasks are very difficult and there is no cure- the only thing that might help is certain "low impact" exercises. ...

Jasmine Everywhere!

This time of year, we are seeing our jasmine thrive! It smells wondeful, especially in the early evening.

What is this plant.

I hope someone will recognise it!

What is this plant?

PLEASE HELP! I have taken this pic and an actual leaf to multiple garden centers. No one can give me an answer.

what is this plant?

I have recently moved into a home that has plants unusual for our area (upper midwest, USA). This plant is near the house foundation. The feathery leaves are very soft, not stiff like a pine needle. Any ideas what it is? The snow is mostly gone here on 4/30/2018.  Uncertain how the center buds ...

Looking for someone to name this plant! Pleaseeee???

New Orchid Bulbs

I have noticed this past week that I have two more new orchid bulbs! This will be the third year these orchids keep producing. 

Yellow Crooked Squash First Flower

I am so happy to see the first flower growth on the crooked yellow squash. We bought the plant from a garden center about two weeks ago and planted it in our back yard garden.

Collard Greens in the Crock Pot Stew

Just harvested some of our collard greens. We cooked a stew of red beans and ham in the crock pot and added cut-up pieces of the greens to the stew the last two hours of cooking time. It worked out great! Next time we might try doing it with kale. We are trying to develop some better eating ...

New Entrance to Our Garden: Garden Owl

We added an owl to our garden entrance cicular sign blocks.

Fruitless Tangerine Tree Intertwining with California Lilac Bush

All these bees are buzzing around the tangerine tree, now that the lilac bush is close by-- swarming with bees. Could this help pollinate our tangerine tree?

Spring Update: Losses and new additions

After a mild Winter, and the beginning of a somewhat conservative Spring, we took stock of the garden babies, and went to see what had survived and what had not. The patio tubs had been kept on the patio, but moved under the porch, so the worst of the weather (and the frost) could not touch them. ...