Photo of the Day: Autumn Sage “Lipstick”
The past few days have been hotter than Hades, but the natives are thriving (except for yours truly, I'm not happy). This one is a variety of Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) showing off how it got the name "lipstick." It's a little over five feet (1.5 meters) high and equally wide and spreads like crazy if you let it. I only planted one about 10 years ago, but it's managed to colonize areas of the south and west-facing slopes. Good thing they look nice or I'd have a real problem.
Photo of the Day: Welcome to October
We're just a week away from November and it's so hot even the plants in the pond are wilting. It's 96° and 13% humidity outdoors. In the greenhouse it's even worse. 111° and 1% humidity. Not that this is unusual. We usually get one last heatwave right around this time. But, dang. all those seedlings I planted are going to fry.
Photo of the Day: Crazy winter squash hybrid
Just for giggles, last year I grew two winter squashes, Delicata and Spaghetti, next to one another, then took the seeds from a few of the fruit of both types of plants. This year I got a crazy speckled hybrid that tastes sweet like Delicata, but has the noodle-like consistency of Spaghetti. If this "Delighetti" squash stores as well as its parents do, I think I'll grow it again next year.
Photo of the Day: Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia)
Tithonia blooms from March to Novemberhere in zone 9 and over the years has spread into a large showy plant about 15-20 feet (5-6 meters) high and equally wide.
Photo of the Day: Vintage Red Rose
My mom had this rose in her garden for 20 years before she gave it to me. I planted it, and 26 years later, it still looks amazing and smells absolutely intoxicating.
Photo of the Day: Hidden Lake Hot Peppers
Hidden Lake Hot peppers are a Cayenne / Thai hybrid we grow every year for hot sauce Fifty degree swings between day and night temperatures are making tough for the plants remaining in the vegetable garden, but the Cayenne/Thai peppers we call "Hidden Lake Hot" are still hanging in there. They'll continue to produce right up until rain and frost does them in.
Photo of the Day: Mystery Frog on a Lillypad
Mystery baby frog sitting on a lillypad in the pond Walked by our pond this morning and spied this little guy sitting all fairytale like on a lillypad. I have no idea where he came from. There is a small lake nearby, but it seems quite a hop to get here from there.
Plain Old Burlap: The Most Versatile Plant Protection
When it comes to protecting plants and seedlings from nature, burlap is an eco-friendly, versatile and inexpensive choice. Here's how you can use it.
Photo of the Day: Happy Face Bell Peppers
Cut the tops off of a couple Olympus bell peppers we were having with dinner last night and couldn't help but notice that they have "smiley faces" inside. Bonus!
Photo of the Day: Gopher Snake!
Our duck enclosure is covered with a very old, thick orange clock vine (Thumbergia). Looks great in bloom and offers cover for the animals, including this guy, a gopher snake that scared the bejesus out of me when I when to pick it up because I thought it was a hose. Next time, I'll look twice!
Photo of the Day: Autumn Sage “Lipstick”
The past few days have been hotter than Hades, but the natives are thriving (except for yours truly, I'm not happy). This one is a variety of Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) showing off how it got the name "lipstick." It's a little over five feet (1.5 meters) high and equally wide and spreads like crazy if you let it. I only planted one about 10 years ago, but it's managed to colonize areas of the south and west-facing slopes. Good thing they look nice or I'd have a real problem.
Photo of the Day: Welcome to October
We're just a week away from November and it's so hot even the plants in the pond are wilting. It's 96° and 13% humidity outdoors. In the greenhouse it's even worse. 111° and 1% humidity. Not that this is unusual. We usually get one last heatwave right around this time. But, dang. all those seedlings I planted are going to fry.
Photo of the Day: Crazy winter squash hybrid
Just for giggles, last year I grew two winter squashes, Delicata and Spaghetti, next to one another, then took the seeds from a few of the fruit of both types of plants. This year I got a crazy speckled hybrid that tastes sweet like Delicata, but has the noodle-like consistency of Spaghetti. If this "Delighetti" squash stores as well as its parents do, I think I'll grow it again next year.
Photo of the Day: Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia)
Tithonia blooms from March to Novemberhere in zone 9 and over the years has spread into a large showy plant about 15-20 feet (5-6 meters) high and equally wide.
Photo of the Day: Vintage Red Rose
My mom had this rose in her garden for 20 years before she gave it to me. I planted it, and 26 years later, it still looks amazing and smells absolutely intoxicating.
Photo of the Day: Hidden Lake Hot Peppers
Hidden Lake Hot peppers are a Cayenne / Thai hybrid we grow every year for hot sauce Fifty degree swings between day and night temperatures are making tough for the plants remaining in the vegetable garden, but the Cayenne/Thai peppers we call "Hidden Lake Hot" are still hanging in there. They'll continue to produce right up until rain and frost does them in.
Photo of the Day: Mystery Frog on a Lillypad
Mystery baby frog sitting on a lillypad in the pond Walked by our pond this morning and spied this little guy sitting all fairytale like on a lillypad. I have no idea where he came from. There is a small lake nearby, but it seems quite a hop to get here from there.
Plain Old Burlap: The Most Versatile Plant Protection
When it comes to protecting plants and seedlings from nature, burlap is an eco-friendly, versatile and inexpensive choice. Here's how you can use it.
Photo of the Day: Happy Face Bell Peppers
Cut the tops off of a couple Olympus bell peppers we were having with dinner last night and couldn't help but notice that they have "smiley faces" inside. Bonus!
Photo of the Day: Gopher Snake!
Our duck enclosure is covered with a very old, thick orange clock vine (Thumbergia). Looks great in bloom and offers cover for the animals, including this guy, a gopher snake that scared the bejesus out of me when I when to pick it up because I thought it was a hose. Next time, I'll look twice!