When I pulled the plant out of the pot I found this–
What happened to the soil?!
Sliced the roots and popped it in the ground in its new location.
Archive for the ‘Gardens’ Category
What happened to the soil?
Tuesday, August 15th, 2017Garden Visitor
Tuesday, August 15th, 2017
Volunteers in the Succulent Garden
Friday, August 11th, 2017Where are the succulents? Most are small plants and starts from a variety of sources.
Recent Post Succulent Garden Progress
Hibiscus trionum, Flower of the Hour
Appears and actually smells like a Datura.
Where did it come from?
Another
And Another, may be a Datura metel.
Not a Volunteer. Peony seed found on hike.
May be Paeonia californica.
Bit yellow, but still hopeful it will survive.
Previous post on Paeonia californica
Succulent Garden In Progress
Friday, August 11th, 2017Because, is a garden ever finished?
Succulent Garden in Progress, Removal of Oak Roots Took Nearly 2 Weeks!
Succulent Garden From Above
July 5, 2017
I decided to remove the drip irrigation before I started using it. I was concerned that since the line would be attached to the courtyard, the succulents would be overwatered. Easy and enjoyable to hand water.
Most of the plants are small or starts from a variety of sources. I prefer to purchase small plants and allow them to grow and fill the garden.
Succulent Garden In Progress
The plant in the central location may become as large as its parent.
Parent Plant
The plant has been in the space for several years.
The parent plant is in full sun nearly all day. The succulent garden gets morning and early afternoon sun, then shade.
Succulent Garden Detail
First Starts of Trapped Cactus
Tall plants staked in the upper right.
Second Starts of Trapped Cactus
Staked with a Start of Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’
Previous Trapped Cactus Posts
Trapped Cactus Growth and Buds
Trapped Cactus in Bloom
Why is the chicken wearing a wool yarn flower?
Every time I watered my garden I tripped over the chicken. Why leave the chicken there? It is to prevent the hose from dragging through the garden.
When I placed the rocks and added mulch to the succulent garden, the oxidized chicken became part of the ground. Every time I walked down the steps I tripped over the chicken and knocked it off of its stake. My hope is the bright colors will visually remind me that the chicken is there. So far it is working.
Yes, those are pine needles. We have large pines on the outside of the courtyard and this time of the year there are a lot of needles in the garden. I added mulch to the succulent garden with the notion the dropped pine needles and also the oak leaves would not be as noticeable.
This year I am trying something new. I am planting and then allowing nature to work its will. Also, I am a bit weary of cleaning up after the trees.
Caterpillars on Milkweed
Thursday, August 10th, 2017Thursday, August 10
Friday, August 11 Early Morning
Milkweed, a Caterpillar, and Lots of Aphids
Wednesday, August 9th, 2017Last week I noticed that my milkweed wasn’t looking quite right. The lower leaves were turning yellow and dropping. And most of the flowers had gone missing. The heat of the past days?
I took a quick look and one of the problems seemed to be aphids. When I was nearly finished spraying the aphids, I saw a caterpillar. Concerned that I might have accidentally sprayed the caterpillar, I gave the it a bit of a shower. Shortly after its shower, the caterpillar began to move quickly down the stem. And then it seemed to disappear.
I looked for it for three days. Couldn’t find it until maybe today. I found this caterpillar in the same location.
Coincidence or the same caterpillar?
I would like to believe that it is the same caterpillar. That the spray that I used on the milkweed had not harmed it. And it appears that the caterpillar loves the milkweed flowers.
Unfortunately, the spray didn’t take care of the aphid problem. This is what I found today.
Gosh there are a lot of them, but it is interesting that the bodies are yellow with black legs.
Previous posts on Milkweed and caterpillars–
Monarch Caterpillars and Milkweed
Planted Seedlings From Unidentified Seeds
Thursday, August 3rd, 2017
Seedlings From Unidentified Seeds
A Seedling Prior to Planting
In order to quickly see the seedlings after planting, I added a small bamboo marker. The markers seemed to disappear into the garden, so I decided to add a bit of color.
Dipped the Top of the First Bamboo Marker in Paint
Result–Messy
Second Marker–Applied Paint With Brush Below Top to Allow for Finger Hold
Popped Brush in Ground to Prevent Contamination
Three Days after Planting
Most of the Seedlings Look Like This
One of Two Survivors
Previous post on a recent attempt to grow plants from the mystery seed followed by a photo of the seed and a plant.
What I Found Today
Thursday, August 3rd, 2017
Aphids and Other Damage
Tuesday, August 1st, 2017Recently noticed that this plant had aphids.
I sprayed the plant with a solution of 8 ounces of water, 8 ounces of alcohol, and 1 tablespoon of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap.
After the Application of Alcohol/Soap Solution
Other Damaged Plants
A ding and Suntan
Leaf Tip Damage
Sun Damage and More
Accidentally bumped this plant and two section fell off. But that isn’t really damage.
It is one way succulents can be propagated.
Popped the two pieces in the ground. Now I wait for them to root.
Taxus
Sunday, July 30th, 2017Today I removed the soil from my Taxus to find this–
Over 20 years in the ground, with plenty of space to spread its roots.
So, why didn’t it?
Maybe it will become part of an art piece.