Spring Planting - 2014

Hello folks!

I apologize for not making any post lately, I've been very busy trying to make a living and just didn't have the time or the will to do so. But we are into the growing season now and I will try to do better. I've been so busy that I'm a little late in getting my garden planted, but I have done some planting, so here we go!

                                          This is how my winter garden bed looks now.

Some of the Collards have started to bolt. The tall plants are Cilantro and Dill that are blooming. Both are good for drawing in beneficial insects and I've seen mason bees on the Cilantro. I'm letting them go to seed so I can harvest fresh seed.

 I've harvested all of the Turnips and Carrots and planted Eggplants. That's  Eggplant on the left and Dill on the right.

 One of my new beds now has 18 Tomato plants that are doing very well with our warmer weather

I really like these Spanish Brocade Marigolds... they have nice color and should dress up the garden a little.

In the bed on the south end of my home I have planted some Cassava plants. They will grow tall and shade the south wall to help keep the house cooler. I received these as cuttings back in the fall from David the Good of Florida Survival Gardening blog. He will have to teach me how to make use of the roots.

In front of the Cassava. I sewed seeds for Hill Country Heirloom Red Okra. They are just starting to sprout. I can't wait to see how they look with their red stalks and pods. Soon I will be adding Sweet Potatoes to this bed.

On the ornamental side, my Knockout Rose is blooming well. I love the old fashion type blooms.

My Redbud trees are blooming for the first time. They aren't fully loaded with blooms, but I bet they will look great next year.

Back during the holidays, while eating at my favorite seafood place, the waitress gave me a Lemon/Lime fruit. I brought it home and planted 10 seeds. I now have 7 Lemon/ Lime seedlings. At least 2 will be added to the food forest.

Finally, this has nothing to do with gardening, but on a recent fishing outing I got this shot of a Red Eared Slider. Its not easy to get close to one, they usually slide off their log into the water before you can get this close. Maybe it was because I silently move in with my kayak.

I still have more seeds to sew....there will be more to come!

Soooo......Until next time......HAPPY GARDENING!

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Fall Bloomers Part 2

The name of this plant escapes me at the moment ( when I look up the name I'll do an update), but it is one of my favorites because it draws in Zebra Longwing Butterflies.

UP DATE: The name of this plant is Firebush (Hamelia patens). Its related to Gardenia and Coffee. 

 

 

This plant dies back to the ground every winter, then grows back during the summer to a size of 8 feet high and 10 feet wide.

 

It has tubular blooms that also brings in Hummingbirds

 

 

 

Cannas are still blooming..... starting to look tattered at this time of year.

 

 

 

 

Here is a Knock-Out rose that needs to be cut back.....it makes long lasting Roses for a vase.

Then we have Milkweed which is a host plant for Monarch Butterflies. They lay eggs on them, then when the young hatch they eat all the leaves, but the plants always recover.

I found this bug on the Milkweed. I also found one laying eggs on my Collard Greens.

 

                                            Can anyone identify this bug?


And finally, this isn't a bloomer, but I'm happy with the way this turned out. I planted a few sprigs of Fern around an Oak tree in my front yard about 4 years ago. This is what it looks like now.

Soooo...... Until next time.......HAPPY GARDENING!