Unexpected

I'd say about one half of my neighborhood is vacant and for sale. It's pretty much like that in the majority or my area. The economy has not been kind. I really don't know too many of my neighbors even though we've been in this house 3 years.

We've been doing some major gardening and transplanting the last few days. I can't even remember when we did what. We had just finished planting a new tree in our front yard and were getting ready to water. At some point, someone had left us a beautiful pot with a very sad looking plant in it. The plant is definitely alive, but needs some care. No one was around, and there was no note. I'm not sure if we even were home when they came, or perhaps they didn't want to speak and just left it by the front door.

Either way I do not know what it is. But, I'm going to try to find out and get it to bloom again. It really made me smile that someone left it for us. I just wish I could thank them.

Arbor Day

Happy Arbor Day!

Thanks to a fellow gardener, my Husband, son and I headed out to a local Arbor Day festival. Not the type of festival most people would think of, but a festival full of the most helpful master gardeners and native trees. I learned a lot about Florida gardening and trees from a wonderful master gardener. He gave us great advice of finally ridding our yard from the invasive Brazilian Pepper Tree. We of course couldn't leave without a couple new native plants. He helped us pick out a lovely Dahoon Holly Tree, and a hummingbird attracting Firebush.

We haven't planted either yet. We spent the day sawing/trimming/cleaning up our Cabbage Palm. They aren't very spectacular, but do look much better cleaned up.

I'll leave you with a link that is fitting for Arbor Day, I think.

Blueberry Tree

We added another fruit tree to our yard. It is right next to our Mulberry tree. Since I grew up in Maine, blueberries used to be one of my favorite parts of summer. I used to go out to an area behind our house with my Gram to pick blueberries. We'd bring home a bucket or two each trip, and would make blueberry biscuits with some of them. Or course, we'd eat them fresh too.

I've missed blueberries since living in Florida. They are very expensive to buy, and usually shipped from across the globe. So, I've been buying more locally grown fruits. When we found the blueberry tree, I was skeptical. I've always thought it was strictly a northern plant. Thankfully, the University of Florida has come up with some tropical blueberry varieties.

Blueberries need acidic soil. So, after some advice, we planted it with peat moss, pine needles and pine bark. I believe our soil still needs some more acidity so we are picking up a soil test kit today.

Here are some photos of our new "baby".

Tomato Plant

We were pretty excited last night. Alongside some delicious black bean and avocado burritos, we had something fresh from the garden. Clearly, I'm proud.

From plant~



To the table~



First Slice~



Ready to serve~



It was only one, but there are a few more getting ripe at the moment. Most delicious tomato we have eaten, not including the ones from our local farm!

In the Garden...... well almost

I have a lot of ideas on how I'd like my backyard garden to look. It's pretty funny because it always turns into something completely different. I have a lot of open space to work with, but I cannot turn my whole back yard into a sea of flowers. The Boy would be very upset that he couldn't swing or play soccer. So, I perimeter garden. Or, I rip up things and move them so I can add even more new plants.

It's never good when I make a trip to the local garden store. I can always find a reason to pick up just one more plant. So, while there with the Husband and Boy yesterday, I was trying to be good. Until my husband pulled out the most beautiful tree. He thought it would work in the front yard, and I didn't need convincing. So, we brought our new tree home.

It's not planted yet, but I will take shots when we get it in. We also got some new mulch made of rubber. Supposedly it won't attract ants and doesn't need to be replaced each year. We shall see.

~Bougainvillea~

In the Garden

I was feeling a little bit down this weekend, and add TMJD to the mix......a trip to the plant store was in order. I tend to pick simple plants out. Usually these plants are ones that will grow under Florida conditions, and are fairly drought tolerant. Sometimes, I feel I should bring one of each home with me. It has been so relaxing and gratifying to garden.

Here are some photos from the backyard garden. Some of these are not new, but I am so happy to see them when I step out back in the morning. This "hobby" called gardening is quite addictive.

~Tomato Plant~



~Green Bell Pepper~


~Caladium~



~Caladium~



~Squirrel in front of new croton hedge~

Spring is here

I'm still not used to Florida seasons. But, there are changes. Lately, we've been enjoying the not so subtle spring changes here. Our tomato plant has a lot of tomatoes on it, and the largest one is just beautiful. The bell pepper plant that was attacked by the peacock is now filled with teeny tiny bell peppers. And, the birds are nesting. Something I have always enjoyed, and am especially enjoying sharing with the Boy. Along with spring here, comes the mosquitoes. This fact is not something I enjoy. It is a long battle with mosquitoes here, because we are a deet-free family. I won't end on an unhappy note though. The plants are just thriving right now, and that is something I can enjoy even through the windows.

The Honey Tree

After failing to keep a sickly yellow hibiscus alive, even after transplanting and extra special care, the Boy and I found a Jasmine tree we loved. The Boy calls it our "Honey Tree" because while picking one out it was covered in honey bees. It attracts honey bees and butterflies, which we love to have in the garden. I cannot describe the scent with words, but I'm sure it is a focal scent in a quite a few perfumes out there. It is planted between our Loquat tree and the lone surviving yellow hibiscus. It's gardening time here, and I have a lot of pictures to show. I'm also trying to keep my gardening bug in check!

Tiny Greenhouse

First, I apolgize for the pictures. My camera isn't the best of the bunch, and is pretty finicky lately. Actually, I fight with my camera on a daily basis. So, the lighting may look a bit strange.

We picked up a small kit while purchasing some soil for a new project in the backyard garden. It is a tiny cactus growing greenhouse. The Boy did everything himself, even planting the teeny tiny seeds in those little tiny pots. He now is keeping it in his sunny bedroom window. I really think these kits are a lot of fun. We grew sunflowers from a similar kit meant for outside. They did wonderful.

Here are some pictures. Just to show how tiny this kit was. We've been really doing some reading on cactus plants around here lately. Something about the prickly nature of cactus plants has really caught the Boy's attention.

Breathe

There will be rain. And, though it will be pretty stormy weather, we need rain. So, the Boy and I headed out to pick up the plants I had spotted Sunday. Perfect time to plant, and I'm ready to get working in the garden again.

The are where I planted is looking pretty bad at the moment. It is the area where our local "Flame Throwers" like to sneak through. We have a temporary block that my side neighbor is participating in. Soon, we will be putting up something permanent.

The Boy and I raked up mulch that was probably there long before we moved in. We rotated the soil a bit, much to the chagrin of the palmetto bugs that were living back there. Then after ripping and cutting at a vast array of roots, adding some nice new soil, and trying to center everything, our new plants were home.







They are Red Sister Cordyline Terminalis. I have a lot of work to do in that back corner of the yard. Including lots of weeding, which will lead to ripping up the rest of the mulch I suspect. The bird bath needs to be scrubbed out, and possibly relocated. More to come, soon.

The calm

Mr. Nicodemus is feeling much more like himself. A call in to the vet made it clear what I've thought for years. Nicodemus is allergic to Clavamox. So, it's been noted in his chart, and he's back on Zithromax. And, can I tell you he is a completely different cat. He isn't sneezing as much and his tummy is getting better. He's been eating, thank God! And, Our Lovely Life had a wonderful suggestion in the comments before for getting sick kitties to eat. So, thank you again!




The Boy and I finally got around to starting some new avocado seeds this week. My pictures didn't come out very clear, but it was a lot of fun. We had a very big avocado plant in Maine, but since it was winter we never got around to planting it.





After all that hard work, we had three seeds started. Only to be questioned by my husband the next morning about how we had placed them in the water. I put them in upside down. So, we are peeling new ones tomorrow...pointy side of seed up.

If you want to try doing this, it is really fun. Plus, you get to eat the avocado first! Here are some instructions: Growing Avocadoes from Seeds and Grow an Avocado Tree!.

Loquat Tree

My garden has been surviving the drought we are in fairly well. I tried to plant drought resistant plants, but I do have a couple that need to be watered on occasion. I've got the itch to start planting again. Unfortunately, this drought has brought on even stricter water conservation rules. Which, means I will not be putting any new plants in for awhile. I do follow our water regulations.

Which, is why it was quite a happy surprise to spot the loquats forming on our tree! I took a few pictures. This is the first year we have had fruit, and it's an exciting time. We've never eaten loquats before. I've been reading up on harvesting and how to consume them. They sound delicious. We don't have very many, but we are anxious just the same.

Unexpected

We have been having some very cold temperatures here in south Florida. I am talking about actual temperatures that will freeze water and unfortunately, plants. I'm not too familiar with how to prevent freezing of my plants, and I regretted this early this morning.




After doing some research, I believe my banana tree will survive. I'm not sure there was a whole lot I could have done to protect it. The roots are somewhat blanketed by mulch, but I won't know the outcome until we are out of this cold weather. The leaves are definitely damaged.

I was going to talk about my fantastic experience at the Farmer's Market yesterday. And, it was wonderful even in the cold. But, instead I will share what I discovered while cleaning my gigantic head of cauliflower.



He wasn't the only one living inside the head. There were three of them. I took them all outside, although I felt a bit bad they were just going to die in the cold anyways. I realize it is a good sign that they were alive and well inside the cauliflower. This means the pesticides didn't kill them, and I am not eating poisons.

But, I have never been very good with bugs. I am very squeamish and will actually scream when something of this nature happens. I'm fine once the realization of the bug sits in, but initially........watch out. So, the cauliflower is all chopped and soaking in my kitchen sink. I do not want roasted cauliflower with a side of caterpillar as a side dish tonight!

Project

The shovel has been brought back out for our next yard project. And of course, our muscles. Since we moved into this house we've debated on what we wanted to do with a couple "patio" areas in the yard. One has just seemed problematic from the start. The stones wouldn't sit right, so we were constantly tripping over them and falling down. So, we decided to make a change.








Please don't mind the dirt on the house, it really needs to be powerwashed! The stones were ripped out and stacked elsewhere, for some other ideas in the future. We turned all the soil over and about. Now it just needs some sun, and time.




I cannot wait to start putting down some good soil to plant another garden area here. The plants will probably be put in by winter. The boy has some ideas of his own, and we'll be doing lots of research at the library. I sense lots of mud in our future.