More new grass is growing

I removed the clear plastic sheet from the backyard where I planted Tall Fescue. And to my surpirse there is more grass growing there now than I thought. This system really helped keep the heat in and the birds out. I am impressed. With the rain we've had yesterday and the mild temperatures we've had all week with another mild week predicted, I removed the plastic to let more rain and direct sunlight in. By summer I hope the grass in that section will have covered over what was partially a rought area to garden in.

It's 10:20am right now and the current temperature is 56F with 90% humidity. I can't see the mountains from all the low-lying fog.

The ACE Gardenshop is closing!!!

One of the Master Gardeners at last night's meeting said that the local gardenshop is closing. Our ACE, although pricy, has always sold the healthiest plants in town. Most of my long-living plants came from ACE, especially the Green Palo Verde that Kevin and I planted in Februrary 2005 and which is now a stately ten feet tall and growing well. Whenever I look at that tree I remember the sweat we both put into planting that tree; it was one of the few projects we both did together in the yard. (The rest is mostly my work.)

I could not believe that ACE was closing. I went there this afternoon and a cashier confirmed the myth. Due to the economy and the high price of tranporting everything, ACE is closing. The gardenshop is no longer profitable. The gardenshop will close when all the plants are gone.

There are still plenty of plants there. There is no room anywhere in the yard for another tree, or even a 6' shrub, without the yards looking crowded and too hippie-like. I've love a cactus or two. I may even go back there tomorrow and buy an ocotillo, to replace the one that was blown over in a winter storm in November 2006.

When ACE closes the town will no longer have a decent gardenshop. Places like HomeDepot sell over-fertilized plants (so that they look good on the counter and for three weeks afterwards) and often sell plants that don't even grow here well. KMart doesn't take care of its plants. Wal-Mart does OK with the grasses and pots but it, too, sells plants en masse with little care to long-term maintenance.

The only alternative would be to sell plants at the weekly Swap Meet Saturday mornings...

Deep Freeze

It's been in the low 30s now since Sunday. Two succulents against the south wall have partial frostbite. A pepper plant succumbed as well. The large planter of varied peppers, though, is thriving. It's thriving so much from the extra coffee I give it that larvae are now spotted on the lush green leaves!!! Several new Anaheims are ready for plucking. These plants were looking nutrient-starved just a few months ago, with yellow leaves and shriveled fruit. Getting them indoors may just allow them to survive the winter indoors.

My two largest citrus plants are growing new leaves. That's amazing as they are in the living room getting only partial sun during the day. Most of the light is filtered.

Warmer temps are expected back this weekend. I have to remember to get more birdseed for our feathered friends. We seem to have a flock of sparrows now living in our front yard.




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