Despite the hot and dry weather lately, with the monsoon taking an extended week or two off, blooms are popping up in the garden.
My tecoma stans are showing its first yellow bells. My crape myrtle is growing red buds. And the bottlebrush shrub once again is in red bloom. Only my Mexican sage is bloomless and below its normal growth rate. Perhaps it is not getting enough sun?
The treatment on the cactus bugs yesterday morning seems to have worked. I checked on the beavertail cactus several times yesterday and after applying the fly-mosquito repellent saw only two more bugs on any pads for the rest of the day.
I also noted a few more red and yellow Mexican birds of Paradise popping up around the property. I am going to let them all grow in place. In ten years the front yard will be a shady area where both of us are going to sit and watch time go by. Several of the agave are also growing pups. With each passing year I'm spending less and less on plants for the landscape because enough plants are reproducing on their own. That's how I like it to be.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Bugs
The monsoon's taken a bit of a break this week. It was over 100F again yesterday and even I was suffering with the dogs.
But this lack of rain also is keeping the bugs away, sort of. This morning, however, I noticed that my beaver cactus was infected with the cactus bug Chelinidea vittiger aequoris. Most of the pads are already showing lighter circular spots on the cactus joints (pads), something I noted before I went on my road trip but never saw any bugs or insects on them. I sprayed the cactus down with my garden hose set on jetspray, the bugs returned, and then applied a fly/mosquito repellent containing Permethrin on the infected pads. That seems to have slowed down the wet bugs but I know that's not the best defense. I may have to remove the severely-infected pads to prevent the disease that's causing the discoloration from spreading. What a shame, as the cactus showed phenomenal growth this year whereas the other cactus still has its two pads from last year without new growth this year.
http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/c_v_aequoris01.htm
I also transplanted my Iraqi acacia into a larger pot, removed the stray Texas mountain laurel (reluctantly, but otherwise the additional root growth would have sacrificed one of the plants).
The monsoon has taken a break this year. Things are starting to wilt in the garden without additional water. It's already 82F at 8am with 45%. We may get a sprinkle...
But this lack of rain also is keeping the bugs away, sort of. This morning, however, I noticed that my beaver cactus was infected with the cactus bug Chelinidea vittiger aequoris. Most of the pads are already showing lighter circular spots on the cactus joints (pads), something I noted before I went on my road trip but never saw any bugs or insects on them. I sprayed the cactus down with my garden hose set on jetspray, the bugs returned, and then applied a fly/mosquito repellent containing Permethrin on the infected pads. That seems to have slowed down the wet bugs but I know that's not the best defense. I may have to remove the severely-infected pads to prevent the disease that's causing the discoloration from spreading. What a shame, as the cactus showed phenomenal growth this year whereas the other cactus still has its two pads from last year without new growth this year.
http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/c_v_aequoris01.htm
I also transplanted my Iraqi acacia into a larger pot, removed the stray Texas mountain laurel (reluctantly, but otherwise the additional root growth would have sacrificed one of the plants).
The monsoon has taken a break this year. Things are starting to wilt in the garden without additional water. It's already 82F at 8am with 45%. We may get a sprinkle...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
County Extension office
Yesterday morning I stopped by the county extension office to volunteer for two hours as a Master Gardener. It felt so good to be back, and Joyce, the manager there, was also happy.
"It's so good for you to stop by!" said Joyce. I really like the people who work in that office, and I also really like learning more about gardening. I would love to take horticultural classes at the county college but they are only offered to the prison inmates out in Douglas.
There are only two full-time volunteers there Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I will try to put in one day a week there, preferably Mondays, to help with the backlog. People were leaving messages a week ago that no one got to! Other callers were hard to get back to, wouldn't answer, or the phone numbers didn't work.
I answered a question about tree suckers and health of Navajo Globe willows before my old mentor, Jim, came in for his 1pm shift.
"It's so good for you to stop by!" said Joyce. I really like the people who work in that office, and I also really like learning more about gardening. I would love to take horticultural classes at the county college but they are only offered to the prison inmates out in Douglas.
There are only two full-time volunteers there Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I will try to put in one day a week there, preferably Mondays, to help with the backlog. People were leaving messages a week ago that no one got to! Other callers were hard to get back to, wouldn't answer, or the phone numbers didn't work.
I answered a question about tree suckers and health of Navajo Globe willows before my old mentor, Jim, came in for his 1pm shift.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Cleaning up the back yard
Kevin started cleaning the patio at 7am, two hours ago. "Gotta do it while it's still cool" he said. He's still working back there. I seldom see him so diligently.
I will start on planting more Bermuda grass seeds where the boards have for months killed off the weedy growth underneath. There are still too many bald spots in the yard that should have filled in with new grass growth.
The orange honeysuckle that I transplanted two days ago seems to have taken; it's not showing any wilt. The seedless mulberry tree, however, may have suffered from taproot damage when I moved the pot and noticed that six inches of tap root had snaked through the drainage hole on the bottom and grown into the soil. I had to move that pot because it's too close to the house and that tree could potentially grow into a large tree.
I also transplanted four strawberry offshots from two mother plants. At this rate next year's yield will double. I still have berries growing on the Quinalts.
The lime tree in the front, in its small black five-gallon pot, got added soil to its pot. That should help the little guy grow a little better.
I will start on planting more Bermuda grass seeds where the boards have for months killed off the weedy growth underneath. There are still too many bald spots in the yard that should have filled in with new grass growth.
The orange honeysuckle that I transplanted two days ago seems to have taken; it's not showing any wilt. The seedless mulberry tree, however, may have suffered from taproot damage when I moved the pot and noticed that six inches of tap root had snaked through the drainage hole on the bottom and grown into the soil. I had to move that pot because it's too close to the house and that tree could potentially grow into a large tree.
I also transplanted four strawberry offshots from two mother plants. At this rate next year's yield will double. I still have berries growing on the Quinalts.
The lime tree in the front, in its small black five-gallon pot, got added soil to its pot. That should help the little guy grow a little better.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Harvest
Kevin uprooted all his mature turnips and beets: an entire five-gallon bucket full of the treats! He planted new seeds in its place. Turnips and beets are best left in the soil until ready to eat, at least for a month or so after pulling.
I planted new Alysseum seeds where the Lindheimeri grew for four years.
More and more weeds are getting pulled, now that more of them are flowering and easier to pull in the moist soil. More rain is due today, which means more weeding tomorrow. Fun.
It's time I transplant my Iraqi Acacia into a larger pot; it's starting to grow out of its five-gallon confinement.
I threw a bunch of yellow palo verde along our eastern fence. If one out of 20 sprouts, I'll be happy. Our eastern boundary tends to get neglected.
I planted new Alysseum seeds where the Lindheimeri grew for four years.
More and more weeds are getting pulled, now that more of them are flowering and easier to pull in the moist soil. More rain is due today, which means more weeding tomorrow. Fun.
It's time I transplant my Iraqi Acacia into a larger pot; it's starting to grow out of its five-gallon confinement.
I threw a bunch of yellow palo verde along our eastern fence. If one out of 20 sprouts, I'll be happy. Our eastern boundary tends to get neglected.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Echinacea
I pulled out the dead pineapple sage plants from last year and planted echinacea seeds there. They should hopefully sprout in about three weeks. Those plants are such robust and pretty flowers.
It looks like half of my beloved sinewy plants died this year, so I pulled out the dead plants. They had lived four years, standard for perennials.
I used up all the harvested water to water the garden beds, as they were infested with mosquito larvae. Dug up five Russet potatoes (enough for one meal!).
Pulled a 30-gallon bin full of weeds this morning. There were so many weeds growing south of the shed!
Also planted a regrowth from the orange honeysuckle that had rerooted a second plant I didn't see when I inadvertently pulled out what I thought was one long, dead stalk.
Planted five more bean stalks from seed from dead plants.
Set two Quinalt strawberry plants so that they can grow into their own plants. I may have to get more planters for the strawberries. They are doing so greatly where they are growing now under the Palownia trees.
More rains are forecasted for later today. It's currently 86F at 34% humidity.
It looks like half of my beloved sinewy plants died this year, so I pulled out the dead plants. They had lived four years, standard for perennials.
I used up all the harvested water to water the garden beds, as they were infested with mosquito larvae. Dug up five Russet potatoes (enough for one meal!).
Pulled a 30-gallon bin full of weeds this morning. There were so many weeds growing south of the shed!
Also planted a regrowth from the orange honeysuckle that had rerooted a second plant I didn't see when I inadvertently pulled out what I thought was one long, dead stalk.
Planted five more bean stalks from seed from dead plants.
Set two Quinalt strawberry plants so that they can grow into their own plants. I may have to get more planters for the strawberries. They are doing so greatly where they are growing now under the Palownia trees.
More rains are forecasted for later today. It's currently 86F at 34% humidity.
El Nino?
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2009/07/23/news/doc4a680d04da311711223310.txt
We finally had some decent rains yesterday afternoon!
Weather patterns raise possibility of El Niño
By Derek JordanHerald/Review
Published: Thursday, July 23, 2009 3:19 AM MST
SIERRA VISTA — Showers such as Wednesday’s estimated maximum of 2 inches of rainfall will be less likely as the week progresses, a meteorologist said. But unusual weather could be in store for some time.The chances of significant precipitation will fall to 20 percent by the weekend, compared with the estimated 50 percent chance Wednesday, said Steven Reedy of the National Weather Service.
“This monsoon has been a little weird. We’re starting to see now what we were expecting in late June, early July,” he said. “In June, we were far more active than what we’d anticipated.”
Chatter around the National Weather Service office has raised a possibility: “The onset of El Niño is being looked at as a possibility of explaining the weather,” he said.
Warming surface waters of the Pacific have been singled out as the cause of past major weather events.The National Weather Service has measured surface water temperatures to be “about, on average, 1 to 2 degrees above normal,” Reedy said. That rise would be enough to cause the changes we’re seeing, he said.If El Niño does turn out to be in effect, we may have a wet winter.
“If this is a result of the El Niño, it may stifle some of the remaining precipitation for the rest of the monsoon, but it may help out in the winter,” he said.
We finally had some decent rains yesterday afternoon!
Weather patterns raise possibility of El Niño
By Derek JordanHerald/Review
Published: Thursday, July 23, 2009 3:19 AM MST
SIERRA VISTA — Showers such as Wednesday’s estimated maximum of 2 inches of rainfall will be less likely as the week progresses, a meteorologist said. But unusual weather could be in store for some time.The chances of significant precipitation will fall to 20 percent by the weekend, compared with the estimated 50 percent chance Wednesday, said Steven Reedy of the National Weather Service.
“This monsoon has been a little weird. We’re starting to see now what we were expecting in late June, early July,” he said. “In June, we were far more active than what we’d anticipated.”
Chatter around the National Weather Service office has raised a possibility: “The onset of El Niño is being looked at as a possibility of explaining the weather,” he said.
Warming surface waters of the Pacific have been singled out as the cause of past major weather events.The National Weather Service has measured surface water temperatures to be “about, on average, 1 to 2 degrees above normal,” Reedy said. That rise would be enough to cause the changes we’re seeing, he said.If El Niño does turn out to be in effect, we may have a wet winter.
“If this is a result of the El Niño, it may stifle some of the remaining precipitation for the rest of the monsoon, but it may help out in the winter,” he said.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Two months later...
I got back from my two-month road trip yesterday morning, fearing for a disastrous garden. But this time I was pleasantly surprised: Kevin had taking over the responsibility of watering the garden quite well!
There were a few casualties, though. The more northern Fuji Apple tree died, as well as my Turkey fig tree. There weren't as many tomatoes as I had hoped, although we do have a few large Beef Eaters ready for picking. All the apricots had been eaten by the birds but there were blueberries and strawberries ready!
And I'm amazed at how many BIG peppers we got this year, bigger than last year. Perhaps they need deep pots after all, as all the large fruit are in five-gallon pots. We will definitely overwinter those potted plants for next year!
Weeds weren't so bad, either. I only had to pull out one Russian thistle (tumbleweed) and a few young desert brooms. The rest are small weeds that I can pull a little every day unless they go to flower. My attention will be to pull out the Johnson Love grass growing everywhere. That stuff is as persistent as a Muslim insurgent.
We hadn't had the rain like we did last year. The Burmuda grass grew in nicely but there are still patchy areas that need special attention. I will focus on that this week, so that grass can grow there before the season ends.
Kevin harvested some of the Russet potatoes. Some were grape size, which I told him where best left in the soil for regrowth. It looks like some of the plants are ready for harvesting.
"Those potato plants were so beautiful when they were in bloom" said Kevin. I'm sorry I missed that.
My Quinalt strawberries are doing very, very well. Some have already multiplied, which means next year the older plants will bear fruit. Those plants do like shade and deep soil.
"I really like those turnips and beets!" said Kevin. Those are his favorite. But next to the turnips is a naked area, eaten away by large grubs that the thrashers (birds) had been digging after. They left their burying holes quite visibly in the open. What I don't want is another infestation of beetles in August like last year.
Corn is ready for harvest. So are some beans.
As for the front yard, things are looking good. The Jujube tree has fruit and it indeed does taste like dates. Perhaps I'll plant the Jujube where the fig tree once grew.
Some of the heliopsis have died (yeah!) and I already pulled out the dead ones. I'm not sure what I want to plant in their place instead; I haven't spent a lot of money on new plants for the front yard this year, knowing I was going to be gone this summer. I do like sage and lavender, though.
The mulberry tree is growing nicely in the pot on the southside. I may transplant that tree next spring somewhere in the garden. The mesquite tree is looking great and so is the smaller yellow palo verde, an offshoot of its mother plant that now is bearing seed pods.
The blue palo verde, ever the rebel tree in the front yard, FINALLY realized it needs to grow UP rather than out like a shrub. That tree may just be the front yard's center piece in a few years.
The Argentinian saguaro under the larger tree is about three feet tall now. Its sibling under the other tree hasn't grown as fast.
There were a few casualties, though. The more northern Fuji Apple tree died, as well as my Turkey fig tree. There weren't as many tomatoes as I had hoped, although we do have a few large Beef Eaters ready for picking. All the apricots had been eaten by the birds but there were blueberries and strawberries ready!
And I'm amazed at how many BIG peppers we got this year, bigger than last year. Perhaps they need deep pots after all, as all the large fruit are in five-gallon pots. We will definitely overwinter those potted plants for next year!
Weeds weren't so bad, either. I only had to pull out one Russian thistle (tumbleweed) and a few young desert brooms. The rest are small weeds that I can pull a little every day unless they go to flower. My attention will be to pull out the Johnson Love grass growing everywhere. That stuff is as persistent as a Muslim insurgent.
We hadn't had the rain like we did last year. The Burmuda grass grew in nicely but there are still patchy areas that need special attention. I will focus on that this week, so that grass can grow there before the season ends.
Kevin harvested some of the Russet potatoes. Some were grape size, which I told him where best left in the soil for regrowth. It looks like some of the plants are ready for harvesting.
"Those potato plants were so beautiful when they were in bloom" said Kevin. I'm sorry I missed that.
My Quinalt strawberries are doing very, very well. Some have already multiplied, which means next year the older plants will bear fruit. Those plants do like shade and deep soil.
"I really like those turnips and beets!" said Kevin. Those are his favorite. But next to the turnips is a naked area, eaten away by large grubs that the thrashers (birds) had been digging after. They left their burying holes quite visibly in the open. What I don't want is another infestation of beetles in August like last year.
Corn is ready for harvest. So are some beans.
As for the front yard, things are looking good. The Jujube tree has fruit and it indeed does taste like dates. Perhaps I'll plant the Jujube where the fig tree once grew.
Some of the heliopsis have died (yeah!) and I already pulled out the dead ones. I'm not sure what I want to plant in their place instead; I haven't spent a lot of money on new plants for the front yard this year, knowing I was going to be gone this summer. I do like sage and lavender, though.
The mulberry tree is growing nicely in the pot on the southside. I may transplant that tree next spring somewhere in the garden. The mesquite tree is looking great and so is the smaller yellow palo verde, an offshoot of its mother plant that now is bearing seed pods.
The blue palo verde, ever the rebel tree in the front yard, FINALLY realized it needs to grow UP rather than out like a shrub. That tree may just be the front yard's center piece in a few years.
The Argentinian saguaro under the larger tree is about three feet tall now. Its sibling under the other tree hasn't grown as fast.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Where's the rain?
Soon the monsoon? Summer rains fall behind the average
By Dana ColeHerald/Review
Published: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 11:34 AM MST
SIERRA VISTA — The area monsoon period has been a little stingy this year.The summer rains, which run from June 15 through Sept. 30, average 8.53 inches for that four-month period, said Jeff Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson.“Sierra Vista has had 1 inch of rain from June 15 through July 19,” the meteorologist said, “but the normal for that time frame is 1.93. So we’re off by 0.93 inches as of July 19.”
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2009/07/21/news/doc4a656ee22ce82432727275.txt
By Dana ColeHerald/Review
Published: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 11:34 AM MST
SIERRA VISTA — The area monsoon period has been a little stingy this year.The summer rains, which run from June 15 through Sept. 30, average 8.53 inches for that four-month period, said Jeff Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson.“Sierra Vista has had 1 inch of rain from June 15 through July 19,” the meteorologist said, “but the normal for that time frame is 1.93. So we’re off by 0.93 inches as of July 19.”
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2009/07/21/news/doc4a656ee22ce82432727275.txt
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