Pinellia pedatisecta just showed up in our garden, unbidden... at first I thought it was a patch of seedlings from one of the Asian jack in the pulpits that we grow; perhaps Arisaema consanguineum (the foliage was reminiscent). Then one day these odd inflorescences arose... certainly "jack" like but not like any jack in the pulpit I knew. A hunch led me to a description and picture of Pinellia pedatisecta; also a native of Asia, but not a true jack in the pulpit (Pinellias are sometimes called "green dragons", not to be confused with Arisaema dracontium, one of our two native jacks that is commonly called THE green dragon). . . .
reBlogged
to wildflowers
Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to wildflowers on 2008-01-13, 18:37:36
Having bought my son-in-law a mushroom growing kit for Christmas I couldn't help buying one for myself, too. The first photo is Jan. 9th...cute little mushrooms are looking good...today, the 12th, I realize I need to think about harvesting soon! The kit was set up on Dec. 26th.
reBlogged
to fungi
Posted by Leslie Reblogged by Old Roses to fungi on 2008-01-13, 18:35:55
January 4th we awoke to the strongest winds we've had in over a decade...as well as pouring rain and no electricity. Much of Davis lost power for anywhere from one to three days...ours was out from 4 AM Friday until 11 Pm. We started the storm behind on year-to-date rain but the several inches that arrived helped push us ahead for the season. We still have a way to go to reach normal for the season (and you need to realize our rain comes in the winter...after March we rarely get anything that counts) but for now we're doing well. About 40 finches rode out the storm in my back yard...in the beams of my patio cover and over on the trellis against this wall. The top two rungs must have felt safe...at times there were 20 or more house and gold finches huddled there...but none on the lower rungs. However, even in the midst of the worst of the wind they took turns on the feeder out in the open.
reBlogged
to birds weather
Posted by Leslie Reblogged by Old Roses to birds, weather on 2008-01-13, 18:35:44
A warm day today, though that's predicted to change early this week, with temperatures dipping back into the upper thirties. I spent a couple of hours cleaning up the garden, trying to get things back into shape after the path and patio work. I noticed that my carambola and limão 'Cravo' had finally sprouted, and brought them outside to soak up the rays. . . .
As gardeners I’m sure that some of my readers love of the outdoors extends beyond their gardens. Perhaps some of you have cottages where you enjoy the great outdoors or maybe some of you visit hiking trails. . . .
reBlogged
to tools
on Jan 12, 2008, 11:44PM
Posted by Tricia Reblogged by Old Roses to tools on 2008-01-13, 18:34:12
I love lavender. I grow a few different types in my garden. We’ll perhaps I should say I’ve tried to grow a few different types in my garden. The one that does best is Munstead. It seems to be the hardiest and I suppose the most forgiving?. . .
reBlogged
to flowers
on Jan 12, 2008, 11:25PM
Posted by Tricia Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2008-01-13, 18:33:53
The weather’s been so nice hear in Toronto lately that it’s almost felt like spring!
My husband and I just got back in from taking our Labrador Retriever puppy out for a walk around the neighborhood. Now it’s only 1 Celsius out, just about freezing - but there’s no wind at all and it felt much warmer to me than it really was. We had quite and enjoyable walk!. . .
reBlogged
to weather
on Jan 12, 2008, 11:23PM
Posted by Tricia Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2008-01-13, 18:33:13
I think just about everyone these days does at least a little to conserve resources. Some do it to help save the planet while others might do it to save money or for other benefit. . . .
reBlogged
to watering
on Jan 12, 2008, 11:14PM
Posted by Tricia Reblogged by Old Roses to watering on 2008-01-13, 18:32:54
One thought that comes up all the time during garden tours is, How (the heck) do people afford these expensive places? And you know what? I suspect most can't actually afford them. If you consider how many people crank up the balances on their credit cards, making just minimum payments each month, and use overdraft protection, or rely on loans for new purchases instead of living on a cash basis, it becomes apparent that many who appear 'well off' are living in a state of deception, kidding not only other people about their wealth, but themselves. . . .
I know, I know, I KNOW! Most of you are way ahead of me here. But what can I say? I have a stack of books to read that resembles the Leaning Tower, I kid you not. You know that tee shirt: So many books, so little time? I am all over that. . . .
reBlogged
to books
on Jan 12, 2008, 12:16PM
Posted by Mary Ann Reblogged by Old Roses to books on 2008-01-13, 18:31:50
Now you can have your yogurt and get a free gardening magazine, too! Stonyfield Farm and Organic Gardening are teaming up to offer a special deal for gardeners. From now through January 31, 2008, if you mail in four (clean) specially-marked lids of Stonyfield yogurt, they'll sign you up for a FREE one-year subscription to Organic Gardening magazine.
I already subscribe to Organic Gardening and I love it. It's one of the few gardening magazines I've seen that has great information on growing vegetables. And they're good articles, too, with detailed information and growing tips that are relevant to "newbies" and "masters." It's not just a bunch of glossy photos of meticulously cared for perennial borders. I'm a big fan.
reBlogged
to magazines
Posted by Christa Reblogged by Old Roses to magazines on 2008-01-13, 18:30:57
Despite the warmer weather, although thankfully not as hot as the southern States, and the continuing dryness, some plants in the garden are providing colour and interest.
David Austin Roses (planted for Zoe's birth)
reBlogged
to roses
Posted by Alice Reblogged by Old Roses to roses on 2008-01-13, 18:30:40
If you take into account the houseplants, bulb-forcing, and plant room efforts, I've got more going indoors this winter than I've ever had before. With many caveats, of course. . . .
reBlogged
to bulbs
Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to bulbs on 2008-01-13, 18:30:04
Whoa! I had no idea nude gardening was such a popular pastime. I must have been living under a rock all this time -- fully clothed, of course.
I can't link to some of the sites that have been brought to my attention because of the photos on those pages. Though not provacative in any way, for the post part, they do depict gardeners in what many would consider vulnerable states. . ..
While at the website of Kiva.org (one of my favourite websites - about making small loans to entrepreneurs in other countries), I visited the website of one of their supporters called GOOD Magazine. How could one pass up the opportunity to see what a business with the name of GOOD is all about? As may be expected, this organization is about presenting subscribers and viewers to the website with info regarding good stuff that is happening in our world. One article that caught my eye was about a young man who makes and markets worm castings. . . .
Readers write in to me with all sorts of shrub problems. Here's one I received earlier this year from Theresa J.:
What can you recommend for a three-year-old rose of sharon...
reBlogged
to shrubs
on Jan 12, 2008, 12:30AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to shrubs on 2008-01-13, 18:27:08
After some very warm days and a lot of rain, my garden has thawed. I'm always surprised how much is growing, even in the middle of the winter. My winter rye crop is growing nicely. I use this as a cover crop over the whole garden - to add some organic matter. That's what all the grass-like shoots are.. .
Once my site meter hits 50,000, I think it will be an occasion for a celebration. Lets see - a nice carrot martini? I always like a cause for toasting.
I liked yesterday's We Don't Get Questions feature so much that I decided to run another one of my own questions to myself. Like yesterday, I have emailed myself a question, and then emailed myself a response, and then posted it here on the blog. Check the timestamps if you don't believe me.
Q: Cactusblog, I found a small cactus in my backyard that I like, and I was wondering, can I pot it up and bring it inside? Thanks, Peter
A: Peter, Well, that depends. Do you want to keep the plant alive? If so, then you should pot it into a good well-draining cactus soil, taking care not to disturb the roots when doing this. And then put it in a sunny south or west-facing window. Keep the soil dry for the first few weeks. And then water every three weeks, allowing the pot to drain completely.
But here's the key to the whole endeavor: Wait 'til Spring. Don't do it now. The cactus is dormant, and won't like being transplanted, and in fact the whole plant will become rot-prone and could catch an infection and could even turn into a lovely little brown ball of mush.
My challenge to you. Grow something. Learn to grow anything, even one bite of food. Start learning. For your family’s food security, it’s important to learn to grow your own food. Economies ebb and flow, jobs ebb and flow, energy ebbs and flows, the climate... you get the picture. It’s certainly better for your health (also click here and here), it’s tastier, it’s rewarding physically and mentally, it’s cheaper than buying food, and you’re cutting out the fossil fuels used and CO2 emitted in transporting and storing that food. . . .
reBlogged
to seeds
on Jan 12, 2008, 3:00AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to seeds on 2008-01-13, 18:23:13
Hosta ‘Patriot’ is on of the best performing variegated hostas around. Seven inch long medium green and slightly rippled leaves with a creamy yellow to white margin are matched well with the awesome lavender flowers, that emerge in late summer. Growing 15-20″ tall and 24″ wide this hosta is excellent for use in mass plantings or even as a specimen focal plant. Hardy in zones 3-9 (USDA). . .
reBlogged
to hosta
on Jan 12, 2008, 12:47AM
Posted by Chris Reblogged by Old Roses to hosta on 2008-01-13, 18:21:35
via Cultivated on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00
