University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Archive for August, 2021
Largus californicus
Tuesday, August 24th, 2021Cactus Growths
Monday, August 23rd, 2021Cactus Gift Posted 2021 May 31
After bloom, potted, and placed in a sunny location in the garden.
Recently noticed five growths on the leaf. It will be fun to watch them evolve.
Succulent Plant with Bud
Friday, August 20th, 20212019 March 9
The plant was purchased from Farm Supply for fifty cents.
Bean Plant
Friday, August 20th, 20212021 May 27 Bean Found in Pot
The bean was found in the same pot that it had been a volunteer in 2020. It is from bean seeds purchased from neighborhood kids for twenty-five cents in 2019.
2021 August 19
The plant is growing so tall, I started wrapping it around the six foot bamboo stake.
Halved Leaf
Friday, August 20th, 2021Leaf Found on Driveway
Surprise Variegated Datura Seedling
Tuesday, August 17th, 2021Datura Bud
Volunteer Hibiscus
Tuesday, August 17th, 2021Hibiscus Pod
Saturday, August 14th, 2021Rats, a Raccoon, and a Squirrel
Friday, August 13th, 2021Rats moved into the courtyard again. Relocated a large rat. Then saw at least three small rats visiting the bird feeder and several plants were eaten. Removed all food from the bird feeder. Sorry birds.
Baited the trap, but for some reason the little rats were able to snag the bait and not spring the trap. I suspect it was their size, or lack of.
Tried adding weight to the spring and bound the bait into the trap. The rats still managed to clear out the bait.
About the bait. I tried fresh fruit. I tried saltines smeared with peanut butter and sprinkled with seeds. Something interesting happened. One of the rats snagged the bait from the large trap. Apparently the rats really love cheese covered beef flavored Snausages.
Back to the trap–placed a block of wood in front of the trap.
The rat stood on the block of wood and removed the suspended bait.
I moved the block of wood closer to the weighted spring with the hope that the obstacle would force the rats to jump onto and stay on the spring while grabbing the bait.
Success
Rat 1 August 9 8:12 pm
Rat 2 August 9 8:40 pm
Rat 3 August 10 9:50 am
Rat 4 August 11 9:16 am
Just when I thought we were done with furry ones eating everything in the garden, I found one of my bromeliads shredded.
That night a raccoon ran across the roof and onto the wisteria covered deck. Pretty sure the raccoon was the culprit. Hope there is only one and that it is not living under the deck.
Today, after cleaning the courtyard patio, I moved several Datura and Milkweed seedlings to a protected area to prepare them for transplant to the garden.
I looked out to see this little one. It gave my Datura and Milkweed seedlings a long sniff and then disappeared.
It would be great if it doesn’t find my pots of kale, basil, beans, peas, carrots, and parsley that I am growing for my house bunnies.
If I am lucky the squirrel was passing through. More likely it will move in and invite its friends.
Lovely Gift of Succulents
Friday, August 13th, 2021Dioscorea elephantipes
Wikipedia–Dioscorea elephantipes
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Lapidaria margaretae
Wikipedia–Lapidaria margaretae
World of Succulents–Lapidaria margaretae
Lecanopteris luzonensis
Wikipedia–Lecanopteris luzonensis
Wistuba–Lecanopteris luzonensis
Sansevieria fischeri
Garden.org–Sansevieria fischeri
Sansevieria grandis
Planting Man–Sansevieria grandis
San Marcus Growers–Sansevieria grandis
Sansevieria pinguicula
Plantophiles–Sansevieria pinguicula/
Sansevieria rorida
Wikipedia–Dracaena hanningtonii
World of Succulents–Sansevieria ehrenbergii