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In the Garden
The Sunflower bud should open any day now.
I love to see the flower follow the sun as it traverses the sky.
Nasturtium
We have both trailing and upright Nasturium. The flowers have just started their show.
Gaura flies across the breeze, barely settling long enough to capture a photograph.
Fragapani, Plumeria Leaf
Pink Turk's cap has been added this year.
The red Turk's cap is budding and should start feeding the hummingbirds soon.
My hummingbird bushes, also known as flame acanthus, (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii) are extremely healthy and tall and I expect it will be full of red blooms this year. It blooms later in the season.
A hummingbird with a great memory visited the site several weeks ago just to be disappointed when there were no red flowers or nectar buffet.
I am using a technique used by cherry fruit growers to protect the plants. The bushes are planted on the back side of a hill. The topography protects the plants somewhat, usually just enough.
The flame acanthus instead of dying back to the ground, maintains enough vigor and adds to last years growth.
We are growing seven varieties of basil this year. So far ALL are thriving. I always have great luck with the standard sweet basil. It grows to about 5' tall even when pinched back for pesto. This is R. black basil. I need to pinch back the flowers if we are to use the basil for culinary purposes.
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Peter's Purple Monarda has started it's prolific flowering. It should be in a sunnier location but there is a limit to sun in our woodland yard.
Starflower Borage
Catnip
Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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1 zone 7b
Flowering: Larkspur,
Abelia, ruelia, datura, rock rose, lantana, roses, blackfoot daisy, sea oats +++
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2
Parsley, cilantro asparagus,and winter greens going to seed.
Harvesting: peas, green beans, tomatillo
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3
First:
daylily
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4
Welcome Visitors:
hummingbird, hummingbird clearwing moth (abelia, larkspur), black swallowtail, bees +++
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5
Container plantings: sedums, Bidens ferulifolia sun drops, coleus, sweet potato, Echeveria, Senecio
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6
First
patty pan squash bloom
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7
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8
1st:
Morning glory,
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9
Harvest:
cherry tomatoes, bean
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10
First:
Marigold, tickseed
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
First:
Gaura, nasturtium
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18
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19
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20
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Mother's Day
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21
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22
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23
Harvest:
peppers, tomatoes, herbs, tomatillos, beans.
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24
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25
Problem: Okra squirrels?
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26
Visitors: bees, giant swallowtail, blue jays, cardinals, hawks.
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27
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28
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29
First:
Starflower borage
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30
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31
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Grassroots Horticulture
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