Fall Projects

Now that the plants are in it's time to finish up on the fall projects.  Early Sept. dh took a week off from work and decided to do replace the south wooden fence.  His boss told him he could take off the week if only he did something fun too besides the fence.  She knows we work doing projects here or up at the folks, but this time he was to do something fun.  So we also decided take a road trip to the beach if the fence got done first.  We got it down and back up faster than dh thought he would so that meant that he would have some fun time.  When we also knew that some to the south of the garden fence needed new boards and since it was going so well we might look at that too.  But we decided it was time for phase 4 of the PVC fence to come into play.  So we got a couple estimates after deciding it was time to do the whole yard.  We have been fighting that neighbors that think they can play ball in our and other neighbor's yards.  After finding the ball in our yard this past weekend we were shocked that they had the nerve to stand at the end of our driveway and scream at us to come out and get their ball for them!  You want me to get your ball that has no rights being in my yard, you have got to be kidding!  We have watched how you and you kid plus the other kids trample in the other yards and hit vehicles with the ball.  You are totally nuts!!  So far no damage to the plants but when it comes to that there will be the courts to deal with.

So we once the estimates were in we decided a two weeks ago last Monday it was time to get ready!!  First was the removal of the Variegated Weigela, removing the cement edging and pulling the bark back on the east side of the wooden fence.

 The whole 3/4 of the lot line is lined with this and it was well over 5 foot tall.  Here is the last few plants.  What fun!!  Then a week ago Monday it was time to take out the fence, while dh dug the posts I was given the task to take the fence down and load it up to take it out.  This side of the fence was in really bad shape due to the trees and had a couple sections blown down in a bad storm a few years back when we lost the front tree.  It was time to replace it all so the option was given.  Here is the section after it was removed.  We old folks had a heck of a time getting the poles out due to how the last repair was done, let's just say the thought was add more cement to hold them up!  Someone never thought he would have to remove them.  It was hard but we did it without having the kids come help!  We had a full truck load last weekend to take to the recycler.

We are going to have them tie into the phase 2 end of the project and have them bring it all the way down to the electrical box on the northeast side of the property.  We are tied of the kid climbing the tree and the mess we have to see on that side.  So on Monday that all had to be cleaned out so the guys can put in the posts today.  We put up netting to keep them out of the yard.  We also have a couple other neighbors' that have animals that are allow to run as they don't care either.  I am not a happy camper if I have to pick up animal waste from my yard!!   More to come when things progress.

Progress today10/14/2014, the poles are in and now we wait a few day before they finish to make sure the cement sets up.

Today was the day that the panels when in and they redid the back Northwest corner to now match the other corner instead of the two not being attached.  So now the back yard is completed and time to work on the front.  We are in hopes to do phase 5 early next year, picket the remainder.  We are just tried of the neighbor's ball going into our yard and need a permanent way to keep the wondering dogs from getting into the yard when they should be on a leash and have no business doing their business in our yard.  See fences do make for good neighbors.  :  )

B. Sanguinea 'Karma' Seedpod

Some of you were waiting for seeds off our crossing of the above this past spring.  So sorry to say this past weekend the seedpod was found laying on the ground and didn't get any bigger since moving her to the Brug House.  When we opened it we found this:

As you can see the seeds didn't form.  What we are going to do is plant these and see what happens.

This cross was our B. Sanguinea 'Karma' X Datmansia so we think it's best we just plant them here.

We are currently keeping our toes cross for a couple more crosses we have just done prior to moving some to the Brug house.

B. Frosty Pink X B. Wild Thing

TNN's solid sport off the Reverse Variegated X B. Wild Thing

Let us know if you are interested in testing either of these seedpods.

We also took from TNN's reverse Variegated another solid sport this fall and keeping our toes crossed that she will root and grow as the other sport has.   The first one has made an awesome plant.

When we removed this last sport we were forced to cut the mom plant back to the white sport due

to the trunk was stating to decay.  Here is what we have today.

I am wanting to see this sport bloom and see if we can get seeds, I know sports are tricky and not worth some folks time, but I have time!!

This sport attracted a lot of attention when folks were here to tour.  Most folks just don't understand why variegation come from and the fact that folks need to test them.  This spot is just breath taking to see her grow and do what she does.  She was up under the solid sport so she had shade and grew like crazy.  Now that she is in the brug house we are seeing more leaves grow.  This one is the one we will allow the leaves to grow and we strip all the others once a month during the fall and winter months so they don't take over and there is a bug issue.

karma 'Happy Toes' Garden Closes for the Season!!

What a year we had and it's time to close the gardens for the season.  We opened the gardens in May with the annual garage/plant sale, didn't have many plants as we were planning on moving so they went really fast.  Many folks told us they look forward to our plant sales as we grow unusual plants
they can't find.  I even had a lady that wanted canna and she wanted me to dig some up but it wasn't going to happen.  Had to promise that we would have some for her next spring.  What a fun few days as we also opened up the whole yard so folks could also see the back, instead of just what they could see from the front.  We had well over 450 folks walk the yard this year. With several plant folks asking if we would join their garden cubs or make arrangements for their clubs to come visit.  I was really surprised how many of the folks stopped and made requests to take photos before bring out their cell phones.  Even the younger generations showed respect by staying on the path and asking questions not running all over the yard.  Even Sable enjoyed the little folks which we don't usually get here.  A learning experience for her too.  I even chuckled when a couple folks returned with their friends to show them the gardens.  I'll tell you it's a lot of work to prepare for this but in the long run it was great to share my passion with so many and to get some of the younger folks excited about gardening.  I even had one lady state our garden was better than any of the gardens on the County's tours all rolled up into one place and not having to travel to many gardens.  It was even suggested that next year we should charge for this.  Not in it for the money, just want folks to know we folks up north can garden, it's about the timing of doing things.

I was able to put a few plants on Craiglist that we decided to remove from the yard or not plant, our
nana were a huge hit but folks are really funny.  They see a huge plant and want that instead of the smaller plant that we were selling.  Trust me, they will get huge in no time!!  Take a smaller one and they will adjust better than a huge one that you will have to baby to make sure it grows.  But I was talked out of a couple larger ones and all I can say is best of luck!!

We got really busy fast with different projects and learning the greenhouse was a lot of fun, completely different from the old one and I had to adjust several times.  Love it!!   But when one finds a hummer inside and they can't figure out how to get out, make one adjust again!  It was fun
getting him out and not letting Sable in the greenhouse.  She loves to go in there due to we have
frogs that have decided they love it in there.

We even decided since we had a very hot /dry year to start putting the plants away due to it was cooler in the brug house then outside.  It has more shade and the temps in there stay cooler which many of the Brugmansia Sanguinea which I mainly grow love.  Once in there they took off like crazy.  So we stared putting the plants away this year in early Sept. with the last ones going in the greenhouse this past week.  I still have a few bloomers out in the yard but they can stay out until frost shows up.  It is nice having all the plants put away already!!  Come on old man winter, I'm ready!!  

My World is Changing!!

                      My world is about to change!!

After many years of desktop computers it's time to move my trusted desktop to the security cameras.  A whole new world with a laptop; HP, 15.6  touch!!  Ya all know how well the cell phone went over, now this??  Please be patient with me as I have lots to learn!!  Already shut off the narrative as she was about to drive me nuts.

Epiphyllum / Orchid Cactus

As some of you know one of my passions is my hanging baskets of Eppies.  This year I found on Craigslist a man that had hanging baskets and pots, the price was reasonable so we went on an adventure to check out what he had.  It was a chance to get all my pots to match!!  Replace the ones that well it was a hazard to stand up under according to my husband.

Once you get your first Eppie to bloom you will be hooked on them. Very easy to care for and they will reward you with some awesome blooms.

Doesn't this look nice, matching pots all around.  Thank You Rod!!

When I talked to my sister yesterday I told here I would put up more photos of our cactus for her to take a look at, so here is more photos for you to enjoy.

 

E. Cereus

As the blooms fade then either drop or produce seedpods.

leaves shapes on one plant may also vary from long and round to really thin.

Partial shade or bright indirect light for best growing conditions in zones 8-9 and 14-24.  Considered a tropical not a desert cactus.  Plant needs rich, quick draining soil with sand.  Let cutting base of cactus dry for a day or two before planting.  Do not over water!!  To over winter these, they need to be in a frost protected area.  To fertilize these use a low-nitrogen fertilizer before and after blooming.  Hope this helps.

10/14/2014

We were surprised this past week when we found a couple more late buds on some of our eppies, it's really late in the season for them to set buds and bloom.

E. Cereus

First Brugmansia Blooms of This Season.

TNN's Reverse Variegated Sport.

The first bloomer to open is on the TNN's Solid Sport of which we currently have three of this plant.  The leaves are a solid color unlike the mother plant that is reverse variegated.

Here are the photos of her last night fully open:

You could smell her this am when one opened up the door, so sweet.

B. 'Karma' starting to show her colors of yellow and orange.