All Hail the Grapes, for They Have Joined Us for Spring

Almost forgot to note that the Grapes have sprung forth.  My grapes are 'Champanelle' given to me as cutting from my late neighbor Mr. Picard.   I would stop short of calling them robust, but each year they continue to grow larger with better crops.   I propagated some cuttings last year as an experiment, but they did not make the wnter, which was my fault.  Next year, I hope to expand the vinyard a bit.  

A Rain, A Small Rain, But Rain Non-the-Less

Seems like yesterday I was whining from the rainiest winter on record, and seems like forever since we had a good rain.  A few weeks for sure.  The clay was cracking already.  We got a little rain tonight, not enough to do any good, but it made me feel better.   Maybe they'll be more later.

Fire Reared Its Ugly Head at New Dawn, Fire Blight That Is

No doubt due to the hard winter, fire blight has reared its head here and there.  I fought this battle once in a previous garden, but it is a tough one to win short of a chainsaw.   Triple Action 20 did the trick last time, and that is what I will use again, but I have to move quick.

Dentist and Camellias Don't Go Together, But 2 Out of 3 Ain't Bad

After a tortuous trip to the dentist.  Nothing wrong with the dentist, it is just I consider all trips to the dentist torture.  I had hoped to get the 3 new Camellias planted after work today, but after the dentist trip I thought I was done for the day.   Then it happened, right around 6pm I got this little burst of energy, so out I went.  I planted the 2 white Camellias, leaving the 3rd for tomorrow.   You know everytime I write Camellias, I feel like it should be Camellia, as in the same word for both plural and singular.

So, back to the planting.  The White Camellia in the center was planted in a normal fashion with minimal soil amendments consisting mostly of Black Kow.  I watered it in with Compost Tea brewed with Thrive cultures.   The second white Camellia planted to the right had the same soil amendments but 1-Step was added and it was watered in with plain water.  The soils in both holes was the same, black with little organic matter or visible soil life.  In each 24 inch diameter hole I count only 1 Earthworm.  Not good, but I know how to build soil.

Easter Sunday Puttering

So, I am not supposed to work on Easter Sunday, thus I did lots and lots of puttering.

First I trimmed the winter damage on the Phoenix sylvestris palms.  They are fine.   The I trimmed the Bizmarckia palms.  They are dead.  Since I have tons of Tomato seedlings, I got the old Earthbox out of mothballs just to have a place to grow a couple more.  Of course I have no idea what I'll do with the other 60 seedlings.  I think I'll just put them here and there in the ornamental beds and leave them to there own devices. 

I decided to convert an old burn area in front of the barn to flower area.  I put in the yellow Dahlia's there.  They are going in a bit late, but I got them on sale, and I know my boogs loves yellow and Dahlias.

My frst potatoes are looking good., but the onions are pathetic.  My fault on the Onions as they were planted far too late with all of the winter rains.

Even later than that are the Purple Potatoes I planted today.   I got them last week at the grocery store and they were just too cute.  I ate a few, but saved most to plant.   Probably won't grow here, and planted much to late, but ce la vie'.   This is what gardeners do.

Holy Saturday's Crawfish Boil

This used to be Good Friday's Crawfish Boil until it became popular to add Sausage to the Crawfish Boil.   Well, you know there is that meat thing on Good Friday, so it became a drop the sausage or move the boil thing.  Well, the boil got moved.  But the most magical part did not get moved, which is the location Ca' Pete.   It is hard to describe the place, but it is not of this time.   It is as close to a time machine as exist.   One step on the property is a step back in time.  And each step takes you further back.

I was feeling a bit artistic, so here goes.  First shot is a view through the weeping willow.

And my father-in-law holding court while making some Hog Cracklings.  

Good Friday

Today was mostly a day of recuperation from a long work week. 

It was a nice day out, but with strong winds that wear on you. I got no major jobs done, but lots of little ones. I spread out about 20 bags of Oak Leaves I had collected. Watered this and that. Things are really dry out. We could use a good rain.

I put the Thrive enzymes in the fountain pond and started the pump running with an extension cord.  Before pictures were taken so progress compared week by week.   I fixed another wheelbarrow of Organic Potting Soil and Black Kow.  I have found this to be a very useful mixture for everything from soil amendments to potting soil for houseplants.

3-Day Weekend, Yahoo!

It was a long short week at work, so I didn't get much done in the evenings.   So, I am really looking forward to this 3 day weekend.   I did get my Soil Soup Compost Tea Brewer repaired and back online.  All I can say on that repair is God Bless Silicone Rubber in a tube.  I'll be happy if it'll finish the season.  Then I can replace it over the winter.

Being a technologist at heart, I have to bring some new tech into the garden, that being modern enzymes.   I got my first "Thrive" products today.  So, here's the propaganda:

Thrive Concentrate

An Earth-friendly living microbial treatment with Mycorrhizal fungi for the health of your soil. Safe for use around pets. Available for flowers, vegetables, tomatoes, tree & shrub, and new plants.
 
Detailed Description

THRIVE works from the roots up. The microbial activity introduced into the soil stimulates root growth, mass and length. THRIVE can be used with all types of fertilizers. In addition to enhancing the bioavailability of fertilizer and decaying organic matter, the bacteria in THRIVE colonize on the hair like structures of the plant root to increase nutrient absorption and stimulate growth. The result is more resilient and robust plants that are better able to withstand transplant stress, excessive heat and disease.

You will find outstanding results with increased flowering and fruit bearing. THRIVE can be mixed with water or applied directly to the soil. THRIVE contains no fertilizer, herbicide or pesticide. It is environmentally friendly, safe to use around children and pets and will not interfere with other treatments. The bacteria in THRIVE will remain viable between 35 and 120 degrees with as little as 18% soil moisture.

God in the Garden #2

I could hardly sleep last night, what with all the racket the Cayotes were making howling at the full Moon. So, I walked out to shoo them away, and yep, sure enough God was out there just a howling. God looked back at me and said, "what? I created the Cayotes so I could have a chorus."

This is the #2 post of God in the Garden, but many more preceded it as status updates on my Facebook account.  I just didn't save them.  Several folks said I should, so as part of my Garden Blog here goes.  Which is as it should be, as I re-discovered God, or maybe discovered him for the first time in my garden many years ago.

We're Both Hurting, Big Time

Today was a massive spring cleaning on the property, and my wife, not me, pulled the biggest load.  I don't know how she kept going, but one thing I do know is that we is gonna regret it tomorrow.   First, the 40 foot Pine Tree that had split a couple of yearsa ago in the hurricanes and was cut down was hauled to burn pile.  The same for some massive trimmings from a hurricane damaged Oak as well.   Then came the Banana and Ginger remains.   And lots of freeze dead other things that were cut down as well had to be hauled off.   About 20 large bags of Oak leaves picked up here and there alongside the road were distributed out into the garden beds. 

The only planting today was the replacement GG Gerbing Azalea.  I hope the third time is a charm on this one.  Not sure what took the first one out, but last year it was early heat and drought that it in.   I was amazed to find the soil dry down 12 inches already in this spot.  I did use the 1-Step on this planting.   Since using this product I have not lost a single new planting and had outstanding growth in the first year and second year as well. 

We have 3 new Camellia to add to the Camellia room.  I would have planted them today, but I only had 1 pack of 1-Step left and it was used on the Azalea.   Getting those is first on the to-do list tomorrow.

Do, Do, Do, Lookin' Out My Back Door

Well, on this beautiful spring Saturday I was particularly useless.   Not sure why, but I just never got into anything.  Maybe tomorrow will bring more energy and enthusiasm.   We have some new Camellia's to plant, vegetables to water, bags upon bags of Oak Leaves to put out, and many palms and other plants to clean the winter dead from.  Oh, and about a thousand other things as well.   No problem, it'll still be waiting on us tomorrow.

So, I'll leave you with the landscape view from my back door.  God has blessed me.

Oh, I almost forgot.  I did get something done.  I woke up this morning, walked out and did not hear the familiar hum of my Soil Soup Compost Tea Maker.   The Bio-Blender was not turning and just about to burn up.   It failed last year, and when I had the motor rebuilt I got a spare as well.   Good thing as the old motor was fried this time.  I suspect it was a failed bearing.  Well, as I went to install the new motor, I discovered the old motor was reinstalled in a less than optimal manner.  It was over torgued and the plastic seat distorted.   Another screw was stripped too.  So, after a quick trip to Lowe's for a new screw and some high heat Silcon to create a new seat for the motor, I think I am back in the saddle.  We'll know on Monday morning, after the Silicon dries and I can crank it off.   Either way this is the last hayride for the current housing, so I need to start budgeting for a new Bio Blender.  Hopefully, this one will make the summer.  Now, please note that I am not complaining, but I am guessing the Bio Blenders has a 4 to 5 year life.  More to come.

Bamboozled by Bamboo

My Moso Bamboo seems to be a total loss.  The first broke in half last year in strong winds.  I duck taped it together with steel rods and it lived till this winter.   The other broke in half during stongs winds early in the spring.  Now it seems that I have nothing left of my investment.    As a last resort, I sprinkled the area around both with a high nitrogen grass fertilizer.  What could it hurt?   Now we wait.

Time to Prepare for the Hummers

I just filled up my Hummingbird feeder. If you have one, go ahead and fill'er up. If you don't, it's the cheapest, fun entertainment you can get for the price of a little sugar water. I took this picture on my feeder last year, which I titled "En Garde - I Challenge You to a Duel."

God in the Garden

God was in the garden last night. It has been a while. He was walking around lightly tapping one dormant plant after another. I had to ask what he was up to, to which he replied, "I'm just waking them up gently." Walking away, he also said, "and if that doesn't work, I'll be sending a big loud thunderstorm along ...in the next few days. That's rattle their chains, lol."

Laid to Waste, but It Will Be Back

This is what remains of my most luscious sub-tropical bed, the result of 3 nights in a row with lows of right at 20 degrees.   There were many more nights below freezing as well in this brutual winter, the coldest in 20 years.   But no fear, these plants will be back, although it will take till fall before they begin to approach their previous beauty.   Unfortunately, many of my marginal palms will not return, and are down for the count.  Such is the evolution of a garden.

Pretty Enough to be a Flower

I planted a few Purple Cabbage in one of the ornamental beds just for the fun of it.  I wish I had planted more as they are quite attractive.

I put out the 3rd batch of Compost Tea/Spray-n-Grow today.  That's 75 gallons and all.  I also pruned up the more heavily damaged Citrus.  One of the Variegated Lemons is toast, and the second probably is, but has a slight chance of survival.   The Ponderosa Lemon was heavily damaged as well, but should come back.   The Rio Red Grapefruit is not only undamaged, but already putting on a tremendous growth surge.  The Meyer Lemon is fine as well, but was full of suckers which I pruned off today.

Strange Things Plant People Do

For several years I attended a conference in Many, La.   Of course I took leasurely walks out in the woods of the area anytime I got the chance just to see what was growing.   A shrubby plant with great green leaves and fantastic little red flowers was everywhere.   I dug up a small seedling with a spoon the first year, but it did not make it.   The following year, 3 years ago, I refined my technique and used a butterknife to dig this seedling.  It was tiny.  I knew it was an understory plant, but I have no Piney woods in which to plant it, so I chose  2/3rds out, but still under the canopy, of a large Live Oak.  There was lots of drought that year, so when it was all but dead by mid summer, I dug it back up and potted it   It thrived, and I again planted it in the fall.   The next year it survived, but barely.   But this spring, it has sprung to life in a big way, and is going to flower.  I think this little Red Buckeye is gonna make it.

Texas Mountain Laurel, an Early Sign of Spring

After a brutal winter, things continue to wake up.  This Texas Mountain Laurel showed little to no damage.  Indeed a seedling I have that is less than a foot tall and planted out in the open showed little damage as well.  The flower pictured above is astounding as well.   I think I am seeing a few more of these in my future visions of this landscape.

There is the strangest very loud bug out there tonight.  Not sure I have ever heard it before, rhythm like a Cicadia, but much higher pitched coming from the Twin Oaks Bed.

Early Spring Veggie Classic Combo, Potatoes and Onions.

We're off to a good start on the new veggie gardens.   Here is a shot at a row of Potatoes and Onions.   This bed started off as a till bed, but after an hour with a hoe, I quickly mulched it down with about 6 inches of Oak Leaves for an early season conversion.   We'll see what happens, haha.

Things are Waking Up, Out Comes the Tung Oil Trees

Brave Young Plants open their sensitive growth to an unpredictable world. Spring has retreated again, allowing winter to return for a brief 3 day encore. Temps dropped suddenly to lows in the upper 30s and brutal westerly winds near 30 miles per hour. In the little time it took water the newly planted Golden Rain trees and Blueberries, my ears were stinging from the cold. Hard to believe in a couple of days will be back to sunny days and highs in the low 70s again. Which brings me back to the photo. This 1 year old Tung Oil tree seedling is particularly attractive at this stage with the two little red dots at the base of each leaf, and the center looking like a tiny cabbage. Click the photo for enlargement. 

The Tung Oil trees, which are incredibly beautiful when they flower, caught my eye a few years ago.  I was not sure what they were until last year.  I collected some seeds under one and found them quite easy to germinate and grow, reaching 5 to 7 feet tall in their first full year in the ground.