Thursday, April 30, 2009

Flower Pot Arrangement

Four seasons flower pot arrangement - I try to plant a permanent small shrubs / evergreen, grasses, and surrounded with trailing plants, then fill in with different seasons of annuals or perennials. The trick is to combine tall plants with lower ones, let the trailing plants to spill over pot sides, and enjoy the beauty of your own flower pot arrangement!
What do you plant in your flower pot?

Let's talk flower pot arrangements!






Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Squash

First thing to remember is to harvest the squash when it is younger and tender. Squash does like too much water (this is the lesson I learned from last year). Either stuffed or steamed squash, salad, and baking cake, home grown squash always taste better.
World Community Cookbook - Squash

Squash / zucchini cake recipe from my mother-in-law
Ingredients
* 4 squash/ zucchini
* 4 eggs
* 1 3/4 cups sugar
* 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
* 3 cups flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 3/4 cup raisins
* 1/2 cup walnuts

Directions
1. Beat the squash/ zucchini, eggs, sugar and oil.
2. In another bowl, beat flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
3. Gradually mix together.
4. When mixed, add raisins and walnuts.
5. Put in baking pan.
6. Bake at 350°F degrees for 1 hour.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Amazing One-Tree Orchard! Persimmon Dwarf Cocktail Fruit Tree

Three varieties from this unusual fruit cocktail tree - it is persimmons, nectarines, and peaches all from the same tree. Possible it's three separate varieties grafted onto one rootstock. It's self-pollinating and grows about 7 feet tall. I can reach fruits from this little one tree orchard standing right on the ground. It's especially nice when someone doesn't have room for an orchard, a spectacular sight to enjoy.


Fruit Cocktail Tree Discussion
Cocktail Tree Discussion 2
Producing a Multi-Grafted Tree

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Spinach, Okra, Yellow Squash Seeds Begin To Germinata

The tiny seedling emerge from a dry, wrinkled seed and watching its growth and transform into small plants. I mixed all spinach, okra, yellow squash seeds in a pot, now it's hard to sort it out :P



Saturday, April 25, 2009

Updates on Brazos Blackberry (Rubus Ursinus Brazos)

See the blackberry plant just arrived from the nursery last month.
It is now growing quite well and blooming with some large white flowers. It loves full sun and 10-10-10 fertilizer. This type of blackberry production is initially expended from Mexico, the name is based on 'Brazos', an old erect blackberry cultivar later developed in Texas in 1959.

Interesting History Of Blackberry Plants



Blackberry Planting Information
Blackberry plant care guide
Harvesting Blackberries

Friday, April 24, 2009

White Azalea Flowers In Bloom

White Azalea flowers is blooming now. What a progress from previous week (see photos)










Thursday, April 23, 2009

Possible to grow a tree from a branch?

When you snip off a branch off a tree, stick it in soil, will the branch grow roots?

I place a branch from Kieffer pear tree in a flower pot with potting soil to keep it from compacting, and make sure the soil is wet. Then, keep it in a shaded area with minimum sunlight. I didn't use the rooting hormone, but it starts to grow tiny green leaves and new roots in a month. Amazing!

Some simple techniques:

Propagation of Woody Plants/ Tree by Cuttings Branch

Grow Cuttings from Established Plants

Grow more plants with root cuttings

Will cuttings grow?

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Armeria, Sea Pink, Thrift, Armeria Maritima, Armeria Vulgaris, Statice Armeria

Sea Pink is doing good, see how beautiful in full bloom compared to last month.
Happy Earth Day!



Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Cocktail Tree?

The new tree begins to bear small fruit. It seems to have two fruits with velvety skin, one small fruit looks like peach with fuzzy skin, and the rest look like smoother skin. I ordered this tree online a year ago, not sure if it's a cocktail tree (it's listed on the the website as dwarf Fuyu persimmon tree). This tree starts to bloom with pink and white flowers (see previous photos). Is it possible to have this type of cocktail tree???

Monday, April 20, 2009

Updates on new herbs and tomatoes

New tomatoes and herbs are in the ground. I am adding more herbs in the garden this year (plan to use more herbs like basil, pepper, rosemary, and mint to add flavor and put less salt in cooking). Stevia can be used as sweetener. It is a 100% natural zero calorie sweetener, a good alternative to sugar, it costs less and safe for everyone.







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