Wisteria and a Brug
Category: Gardens
Pumpkin Seed Activity
Made a decision that this Spring I would clear out my box of seed. Some of the seed was either purchased or harvested as long ago as 1999, so quite old. They were not kept in the best of conditions, just a box in the garage where they were forced to endure all temperature changes.
Are Pumpkin Seeds Harvested in 2011 Viable?
I popped the pumpkin seed in a tray on 3/21/18.
This is what I found this morning, 4/4/18.
The small out of focus sprouts next to the pumpkins are carrots.
Loads can go wrong from planting to harvest. First comes seedlings, followed by vines, transplanting to garden, then pumpkins.
Since beans are usually quick to grow, pretty sure they are no longer viable. There isn’t a single sprout.
This is the first time using trays from Plantel Nurseries. I like that the trays are sturdy, less soil is used per cell, and the trays are a great space saver. When I rotate them, they are a tad heavier than they appear, but again very sturdy.
I became aware of the trays when I visited the Santa Maria fair last summer. Plantel Nurseries was giving away free vegetable plants and the plants were in their trays. The plants were easy to slip out of the cells. Still taking cuttings from the kale, chard, and celery plants I brought home from the fair.
Pumpkin Seed Sprouts 4/4/18 Evening
Beauty Found in a Dying Plant
Succulent Near Drive
June 2017
Succulent Near Drive
April 2018
Spring Planting and Folded Paper Pots for Seed Starting
I recently read through all of the seed planting recommendations for plants that I plan to add to my gardens.
Most of the seed will be planted in Plantel Plant Trays from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply.
It is recommended that some of the seed be planted in biodegradable pots, to prevent disturbing the roots of the seedlings.
Rather than purchasing peat or coconut fiber pots, I decided to use the Yellow Pages that have been piling up in my studio. Does anyone actually use printed paper phone books?
I viewed several, how to fold paper pot tutorials. DIY: Newspaper Pots for Seed Starting/Cuttings on Youtube is the best tutorial I found. The instructions are clear and easy peasy. Before beginning to fold a sheet from the Yellow Pages, I removed a strip from the side to alter the proportions.
The pages were torn to 4.25″ x 8.5″
The strips will saved for use when working in clay.
The finished folded pot is 1″x1″x1″.
Whenever I learn a new skill or technique, I always think about how it can be used in the studio.
I have made loads of boxes in the past, but rarely a square. This is a square box, roughly 3.5″, that I never quite completed. It is tree wrap with some dried plant bits and twine.
49 Paper Pots Ready to Use
Pleasant Surprise
Several years ago I purchased a Solandra maxima from a fellow at the Saturday Farmers’ Market.
April 4, 2013 Bloom
It became a 12 foot long plant on a trellis. Numerous cuttings were taken to make more plants that are growing in a numerous locations in my gardens and gardens of friends.
Last year after the annual bloom, the plant lost all of its leaves. I meant to remove it, but just couldn’t find the time.
This evening I was photographing the Brugmansia growing in front of the Solandra maxima.
To my surprise I found that the Solandra maxima is leafing out.
Don’t know why it was without leaves for nearly a year, but I am glad I didn’t remove the plant. Maybe it will even bloom this year.
After the Rain
Iron Bunny with New Aloe
New Cactus
Dead or Alive?
Bunny Memorial Patina 5 February 2018
Bunny Memorial Patina Today
New Plants for Succulent Gardens
I have been looking at the little iron bunny in one of my succulent gardens. It seems to disappear into the soil. Had thought that laying a bed of flat grey rocks for it to sit on. Today when I was visiting the neighborhood nursery, I saw this plant.
I have a rule when purchasing plants. They must be planted the day they are purchased.
Today was unusual because it was and still is raining. Rainfall on the CA Central Coast is a bit of an odd occurrence.
I slipped on my seldom used raincoat, pulled the plants out of the pot…
Eight aloe and a cactus.
…and popped them in the garden.
Placed one directly in front of the little iron bunny with two more plants in an imperfect triangle.
Three aloe in a previously open space in the garden.
Two small aloe juxtaposed with some plantlets in the making, all near the memorial bunny.
The volunteer cactus could use a dusting.
Tomorrow when it is no longer raining, I will remove the soil from its spines.
Washington State University Alumni Magazine
I received my MFA from Washington State University in Pullman, WA. While there, I was using cuttings from trees and plants in my mixed media work. I became a bit familiar with some of the folks in the Horticulture Department when I was looking for potential sources for art materials. Not only did I find great materials, I also found starts of numerous plants that I grew in my studio.
While I was traveling over the weekend I read the Washington State Magazine Summer 2017 issue. The magazine is full of interesting information about folks at WSU and alumni. Since I have been caring for Monarchs in my gardens, I specifically wanted to read the article about Monarchs.
After reading a number of interesting articles, I read an article on the Newsmedia page about Linda Chalker-Scott’s book, How Plants Work: The Science Behind the Amazing Things Plants Do (Science for Gardeners).
I read the excerpt available on the amazon site and decided to purchase the kindle version of her text. Even though I love books, especially beautiful Timber Press books, I didn’t want to wait 2 days for delivery.
Linda Chalker-Scott also posts on the Garden Professors blog. After reading a couple of posts, decided to subscribe.
Patina Gone Crazy
After a short time this occurred–
What was the patina used for? I strung together 3 kinds of shiny steel washers in code for a 3-bunny gravemarker.
This is what the washers looked like when they were removed from the solution.
And now as part of the grave marker–
Eventually the piece should become rustier, more aged, a bit more similar to the oxidized bunny marker.
This is another memorial for a bunny burial space.
Used the same washers to make the coded memorial piece. I suspect that they have oxidized because the area of the garden gets watered frequently and the little inlaid ceramic cup does not have a drainage hole.
How many bunnies do I have buried in my courtyard? Eight. That sounds like a lot of bunnies. Eight bunnies have lived with me during the past 25 years. My oldest bunny lived a long, but not long enough 13 years.
The simple rust promoter formula found online.
Sweet Essence of the Magnolia and Brugmansia
The small Magnolia in the back garden is in bloom. Last evening I noticed the fragrance of the Magnolia was combining nicely with the delicious fragrance of the Brugmansia.
The tall tilting tree is actually a Brugmansia.
The Wisteria covering the deck was quite heavy last year, casting shade. So the Brug is growing toward the light. When the flower cycle ends, I will cut it back.
I grew the Brug from seed several years ago. I have taken cuttings and harvested seed pods to make more plants.
A recently harvested Brugmansia seed pod.
I remove Brugmansia and Datura pods to prevent anyone from snagging them to use inappropriately.
The Brug was grown from seed purchased from Seedman.com. The site has seed for a variety of plants and a great place to find seed for unusual plants.