Turning Blue

Little Red Orbs

I don't think I've ever posted a picture of my cherry tree with fruit. Aren't the the little red orbs among the leaves just lovely? I picked the tree right before I took the picture (should'have been the other way) and got about a quart of fruit, so in the picture, there isn't as much fruit on it. Compared to previous years, I've gotten a lot of fruit this year. I've already made strawberry-cherry jam (a future post about jamming will be forthcoming) with the cherries I picked this morning.

I currently have a half-pint of cherries I picked earlier in the week (if I didn't pick the cherries the birds would've gotten to it). I'll add more to it, but I'm waiting for the rest of the cherries to ripen before picking. At this point, I'm trying to decide what I'll use the cherries for. I want to make a pie or turn it into maraschino cherries. Oh the dilemma.

I also can't wait for the neighbor's sour cherry tree to ripen. Apparently, we are allowed to pick their cherry tree because they don't do anything with their cherries. I'm pretty excited. Last year was the first time I've ever picked their cherry tree and the first time I discovered that I could. Well, I'll post more once I start picking.

Clematis in Bloom

[Taken May 31, 2010]

Containerized Citrus Trees

I've decided to try growing citrus trees in containers one more time. Previously, I had a lime tree and an orange tree. Unfortunately, the two did not survive this past winter while I was visiting my family in California because my beau didn't water the plants while I was gone (although, after reading an internet thread I now wonder if the plants were really dead or just really dormant). To make the long story short, I no longer have these two plants.

So earlier this month, after some prompting from my brother, I decided to try growing citrus plants in containers again. I purchased an Improved Meyer Lemon tree and a Bearss Seedless Lime tree. Today, I finally got around to repotting the two plants into bigger containers. The lemon tree already came with flowers and mini fruit (probably due to the greenhouse's perfect greenhouse environment and overfertilization), while the lime tree just needs more time to grow. I must say, the lemon flowers are very fragrant and reminds me of gardenias. Hopefully, this time around my trees will survive and have a longer life span.

Rain Barrels

I purchased two rain barrels today. Yes, they are BLUE (Smurf-like blue), and may be unsightly, but I've been wanting some rain barrels for the longest time. It's a wonderful and economical way to collect rainwater to water the garden. You can find out more about rain barrels at this website http://www.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes/rainbsources.html.

I've been searching on Craigslist and yesterday I finally found a seller, selling one rain barrel (able to hold 55 gallons) for $45.00 that already came with a spigot and ready for immediate use. I felt that the price was reasonable since I really was in no mood to try and outfit a 55 gallon barrel with a spigot, cut out a hole on the top and cover it with mesh (to minimize mosquitoes breeding) and an outflow spout. Seriously, I've been wanting to build/assemble my own rain barrel, but with my other major project still in progress (note: home renovations are not for the faint of heart), I just don't have enough energy as of late.

Last night would've been a great time to have a rain barrel handy (it was the first fierce thunderstorm in the city with thunder and lightning). Today has been overcast and I believe tomorrow will be overcast too. Hopefully, we'll get some more rain and hopefully fill up my rain barrels.

Strawberries, Yum!

[From my own garden.]

An Experiment

I came across this posting (http://www.growbetterveggies.com/growbetterveggies/2008/05/how-i-plant-a-t.html) about two years ago and was quite intrigued. The testimonials on the the website swear that this method produces five-feet tomato plants and loads of tomatoes. So, this year, I decided that I will try out this method (or at least come close to it).

In the past, I've tried to start my tomato plants early by planting my tomato seeds in little containers indoors, but I wasn't too successful with that method. I'm a bad gardener because I sometimes I forget to water consistently and they wilt and die. So, the method I've found to be successful (at least for me), is to plant the tomato seeds in my garden and to move the plants once they have sprouted. This method works for me because the plants are exposed to a harsher environment and becomes much more hardy. Furthermore, the plant actually survives if I don't water it every day. At the same time, the moving of the plants helps me with my dilemma of wanting to keep as many of the sprouts as possible. See, I often feel bad when I have to thin out the seedlings that have grown too close (it's worked so hard to germinate and grow), so it's great if I can replant the seedling elsewhere.

This year, I decided that I would try the "everything but the kitchen sink" tomato planting method, as described in the website mentioned above. First, I had most of the stuff mentioned, but not all. I did have the fish heads (fish tails and guts are also acceptable), the aspirin, the bone meal, broken eggshells, some compost (no worm castings), and the fertilizer (although it may not be a time-release fertilizer). I felt that I had most of what was needed, so why not attempt something new, right?

Today was a cloudy overcast day, with a slight drizzle. In other words, a perfect day for transplanting plants (I really don't mind the very light rain). I always recommend that if you intend to transplant any plants into or around your garden, may it be from another part of your garden or from a pot or a start-up kit, do it early in the morning or on an overcast day. The plants are already stressed from the transplant and shouldn't be stressed any further by the sun or its heat.

I dug up the hole and threw in the fish head, aspirin, bone meal, crushed eggshells, compost and fertilizer. I then dug up the tomato plant. In the picture above, there are two tomato plants. Yes, you are seeing a paper towel/toilet paper cardboard tube. I read in a blog (sorry, don't remember which one) that you can cut up the tube into smaller pieces and place it around a plant/seed. This helps you to remember that you already planted something in the spot, to see the plant in the garden (so you don't accidentally step on it), and also may help you to identify that the plant is not a weed. So far, I found this tip to be very helpful.

Anyhow, as I was saying, I then dug up the tomato plant. Now, the method I use involves a hand trowel and digging about an inch or two away from the plant. I dig in and lift up, digging up the dirt along with the plant, trying to keep as much dirt as possible close to the plant. I believe that this helps minimize the stress on the plant and keeps as much of the plant's roots in tact.

I then put the tomato plant into the hole and fill up the hole with dirt. I also cover the stem of the tomato plant, up to the leaves, with dirt. Apparently, the little hairs on the stem will become roots. This is important because the extra roots will provide more support for the plant, ensuring a better chance for the plant to support itself as it matures. Well, I'll keep you posted as to how successful this experiment will be.

May Blooms

With the impending end of May, I decided that I should share pictures of what's going around my garden. Seriously, this time last year I only had little seedlings in the ground and had barely just planted seeds several weeks before. This year is a big difference compared to last year.

Here are pictures of my blueberries. This past winter the rabbits didn't get a chance to eat my blueberry bushes down to the ground; therefore, this year I have lots of blueberries (remember that blueberries grow on second year old and older branches). I can't wait for the blueberries to ripen.


As I previously posted, I have lots of strawberries. I believe that my strawberries are June-bearing plants, meaning that the plants produce strawberries in June. However, with this early spring, my strawberries are already here and ripening at an early pace.


Next, I have pictures of my little vegetable garden. In the foreground of the above picture, you see the loose leaf lettuce, then the tops of my radishes, then more lettuce. Right behind the lettuce, standing tall, are my green onions. To the left behind the green onions, are my raspberry plants.


I had to share this picture of a HUGE parsley plant. In summers' past, my parsley often died in the fall and in the spring I had to replant from seed (bought from the store). For some odd reason, this past winter, my parsley plants did not die. Instead, when spring came around, they were alive and well, and they grew. I've been trying to eat as much parsley as possible, but I think that I will let this parsley flower and develop seeds (so I don't have to purchase the seeds from the store). This will be the first time I may actually harvest my own parsley seeds. How exciting. Oh and that little plant right behind the parsley is an arugula plant.


Lastly, I had to share a picture (yes, somewhat badly taken) of my cherry tree. Can you see the many cherries growing on the tree? You can also see the poppies growing behind the tree. I have orange and salmon colored poppies. I've missed out on the blooming irises, but hopefully I'll be able to post some next year. What's blooming in your life?

The Three Hs: Hot, Hot and Humid

Today was HOT, HOT, and HUMID. The benefits of an early spring may be an early summer. Today is indicative that we may be may on the cusp of a sweltering summer. And I mean, S-s-s weltering. Today's high was about 93 degrees Fahrenheit, although I could swear that it was hotter. My walk from my work place to the court house left me sweating buckets (at 8:30 a.m.). My gosh, I am not looking forward to summer if it's going to be this hot.

Enough about sweating buckets, I also wanted to share pictures of things growing in my garden. Not only are my poppies blooming, but so are my strawberries. I even had a bite of an almost ripe strawberry and it was delicious. It probably would've been even more delicious had I waited an extra day to pick it, but I couldn't help it. It was still delicious and oh so yummy.

Radishes