Garden Upgrade Continued

In order to get this clean line. I had to go through several gyrations in order
to achieve this sweep of texture.

First thing was to make room for the Mexican Heather, a favorite that had stuck
around for nearly twenty years. The majority of these plantings did not have to
go far, whereas one of them went to the back yard.

The Domino effect is in play here. In order to find a spot for my far traveled Mexican
Heather I had to remove a newly established cuttings of Rosemary.

Rosemary's new home , in some well needed sunlight and tucked amongst
the Eggplant, Tomato and Fig.

One more specimen moved to an alternate location in order to complete this
upgrade.

Some Hawaiian Awaphui Ginger salvaged. This plant multiplies and divides
quite readily on it's own. As most gingers this plant smells great when ever
the leaves are brushed against. Being out of the way makes a less change of
that happening but still welcome to this garden.

Contained in this black pot is some gifted Crocosmia. Although it can get
away and be considered invasive, but I'm told that the hot climate keeps it
confined. The container only adds an extra measure of insurance.

Some Ibis wanted to get into the act too. Aerating my grass is always welcomed.

Today's Garden Upgrade

Last week I added this Tricolor Ginger, top left in order
to gain access to the pots needed for some Tomato plantings.

Then yesterday added to this cluster of plants,  a Foxtail Fern.

A volunteer Strawberry Hibiscus? bottom center rounds out
this upgraded planting.

Not mentioned originally, a gifted purple Wandering Jew.

The City Proposes

Not one to get too excited when things are proposed when
the first shovel has yet to hit the dirt.

Having wrote that, there are two ambitious proposals the has
been brought to light.

Our city's next Traffic Circle? This almost went unnoticed unil
I looked again. It also so happens that I sent off a nasty gram
to the city to as why they haven't upgraded our intersection lighting's
lumens. Due to the increase of pedestrian and bicycle traffic brought
on by our terrific new Traffic Circle.

 The proposed little guy
is at the bottom right.










What brought me to this article was a private investment for a
proposed Bonnet Springs Park just north northwest of downtown.
Low and behold....

The County is on it too...but with a park opening.

I do need to get out of my comfort zone and see what the
county has to offer.

Today's First Meal

Bulk Nation is new in town and bought a couple of items from them and helped
with today's meal.

Black Thai rice, Cashews along with the Lemon Cubes are from BK. Sesame seeds,
Walnuts, Coconut Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar with Green Beans, from our Curbside
Market downtown.

Latest From My Test Kitchen...What's Blue, Black and With Cinnamon All Over?

Quick and traditional Steel Cut Oats, rolled Barley marinatde in the refrigerator.
Almonds, Walnuts, Pepita's and Black Thai Rice with Cinnamon. Here's the kicker,
dark chocolate covered coffee beans and a dash of Himalayan salt. YUm!

Oops, almost forget to mention a heaping spoonful of Coconut Sugar.

Yesterday's Nursery is Today's Plantings

I almost gave up on my recent sowing of a Turkish tomato. When
I spotted a glimmer of green that made my afternoon. It will be weeks
before I can transfer them to their new awaiting digs.

Took advantage of this afternoon's overcast to pot up some Tomatoes,
Spaghetti Squash and Peppers. In the foreground the 'Long' Eggplant finally
got itself established and is growing like a weed.

Side yard beauties, Sweet One Hundreds cherry tomatoes got a top dressing
of food and compost to minimize evaporation.

This Florida native, Everglades Tomato is quite elegant, if I might say so.



Just was outdoors to catch a some gentle rain.

Today's Nursery , Tomorrow's Harvest

Tomato seedlings to Tomato cuttings, along with some mini bell pepper seedlings.

As highlighted in a previous post some amazing Spaghetti Squash seedlings.

There's a white violet seedling sharing a pot with a monstrous Euphorbia. This
violet seedling is going to make a great birthday gift for a friend.

Another what may seem like a seedling but it must be going on four years now.
This Tabebuia (pot with black beach stones) was started from seed and there for
subjected to chance to as what genetic shuffle may be involved. It appears to be
a natural for 'Bonsai' culture and time will tell.

To the far right is a rescued Florida native fern, called a Whisk fern. Rescued
from a homogeneous, ubiquitous commercial landscaping , courteous of Aldi's. 

Old and the New

This long time ginger favorite needed to move out of it's long time
digs of being in a pot. A pot now being prized for my Tomato
potted culture.

Pairing this Tri-colored Ginger - Ginger stomathe with a 'Purple Heart'
wandering jew sets both off with a blaze of new color.

I prefer to paint my plantings with different textures. With the added relative
cool colors as not to compete with our soon to be hot temperatures.

Singapore's Man Made Tree Like Structures

An inspiration for my rendition of a Tree of Life.

Crape Myrtle started from cuttings and some weaving of said limbs. Years later
adding some potted specimens and at last count, ten varieties. Some are cuttings
which also makes this a some what of a controlled environment, for a plant nursery.

Clivia In Bloom - Clivia miniata

  This has been emerging for over a week and half already. The lighting this
time of day caught my eye and now for your eyes too.

Three's the Charm

This Paw Paw tree is my third attempt and first time to
come back the following year. I noticed this almost a week
ago, but not enough to get me back to this Blog. Not until
I saw more green was I most certain of it's return for another
year.

Certainly not the best photo, but record of it's return. This also shows a brown
colored first leaf sprout. Thinking that this could be a survival mechanism in not
showing it's sprout as bright green and signaling to any and all hungry bugs
that their first meal is being served.

A Bountiful Beavy of Tomatoes

I've been feasting on some mystery tomato I started from seed.
Mystery because I can't seem to find the so called name of this
tomato on line.Was told it was a Turkish Delight. Delightful it
is. Served up with some Cucumber, olive oil, salt and pepper.

A tinge of orange and a creamy texture with the right balance of acid.

Which brings me to my next harvest. These are Brandywine and I've yet
to try this one. This tomato is becoming very aromatic as the each day goes
by, so what's one more day?

A touch of pink and a lot of 'How great this Tomato is' will make it tough
to not put this on a pedestal.

This is the second time now that I've been harvesting my tomatoes green.
I've notice no difference in ripening with the Turkish variety from picked
to as on the vine. Besides why keep an open invitation to our Florida bugs
when I can minimize the collateral damage.

Mites have taken their toll and soapy water only goes so far along with diligence.

Needless to say I have started some more seedlings of my most successful and tastey
Florida grown variety as of today.

This Was Almost A Tie

Had I not had known about the origins to my sun deprived
specimen at the opposite end of the yard whose true identity
has yet to be revealed. There would have been a tie of events
that brought me back to this Blog.

These Spaghetti Squash seedlings are not just any sprouts. The
seeds are from a squash that has been in my refrigerator for
at least month, may be two. Also in the same pot are some
failed seeds from a pod that belonged to a variegated Confederate
Jasmine.

Just When You Seen Everything

What would it take to bring me back to this Blog.

Note the dry conditions. Not only is this the driest part of the
yard and in the midst of our seasonal dry season I spy this!

 A last gasp for life, which doesn't explain the lack of chlorophyll?

The funny thing it didn't occur to me until I was doing two things in
the kitchen. The inverted gray pot to the left? Note the height, same
as our no pigmented specimen.

Two days ago I was needing a pot to cover my yard trash. So a shuffle
of pots and not knowing the reveal of this naked of its color young
sort.

Mystery solved, now curious to has how many days for this unforunate
to regain some color so as to reveal it's true identity.