Messages

151

Chit Chat / Re: vanilla beans

« on: January 26, 2007, 11:47:38 PM »

Back again Esther,

I buy the taro in the photo at the asian market at a whopping 98cents a pound!  The stand of taro in the photo must of set me back a couple of dollars.  HE HE 

Paul

152

Chit Chat / Re: vanilla beans

« on: January 26, 2007, 11:35:16 PM »

Hi Esther,

Our local asian market offers everything exotic cheaper and ingreater abundance than the other grocers.  Cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and so on in big bags CHEAP!!
At least here anyway.

Paul

153

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: A bit of the jungle

« on: January 26, 2007, 11:24:19 PM »

I would never have expected a tropical paradise growing in Oklahoma.....

You’re not the only one Mikey,   From 1996 thru 2003 we participated in the public water garden tour.  Anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five  hundred locals passed through the yard any given year on that week-end and most everyone said the same thing,   Most folks around here go for the plant materials used  in European cottage gardens and they are usually past peak by the end of June and toast by July.  So we thought it would be fun to have the fall frost dictate  both the peak and  end of our season.   The main thing that allows our plants respite from the heat is the incorporation of wholesale amounts of compost (no manure needed with half shredded leaves and halve cottonseed hulls).  Copious amounts buffer the heat on the roots when we shoot above 100 degrees for days on end, and allows us to grow things we’re told don’t grow in Oklahoma.  My deep shade thermometer read 112 degrees  four times last summer.

Thanks Paul.

154

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: A bit of the jungle

« on: January 26, 2007, 08:45:24 PM »

is that a lotus in pic #3?? 

Hi..er..uh...is it Dorys?

Yes it is a lotus...angel wing I think...nice plush white.

155

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: A bit of the jungle

« on: January 26, 2007, 08:36:48 PM »

a lot of work, but we love it don't we?

Sure do Jerry.   
I tell my wife if the good lord doesn't take me in bed asleep then maybe I can hope for the next best thing....in the garden at the end of a shovel or hoe.

156

Pond Chat / Re: My old pond photos

« on: January 26, 2007, 08:10:15 PM »

OK, that's your old pond in pic 1???  It's gorgeous... and I love how you have the lily and fish pond together.  do they share water or are they on separate systems?


The lily pond and bog bed are separate but adjacent  to the koi pond.  I quit putting plants with the koi when the koi got large and numerous enough to make vegetable confetti out of everything I put in.
 

157

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: A bit of the jungle

« on: January 25, 2007, 11:49:07 PM »

Hi Kay and Jerry

Sorry to answer so late.  The bananas go in the garage every winter, dug up, cleaned and dried, then stored.  I’ve stored as many as 150 banana plants  in a single season ranging in size from small shoots to 10-12 inch diameter bases that reached at times to the eaves of the second story of our home.  The hyacinth beans are planted each year when the soil warms and they tend to cover well by fall.  We select our plantings for a lush fall display rather than selections that peak by June and then are toast the rest of the long hot summer.  If you’re familiar with central Oklahoma climate, you know most tropicals do not fare well in winter here.  The ones that do survive the occasional consecutive mild seasons still have to wait till the soil warms and make a disappointing delayed appearance.    Many of our plants are not offered consistently  each year so those tropical plants we dig and repot, then hold in the greenhouse, while the rest are purchased every year.  A Caribbean cruise or any other vacation doesn’t last very long , so my sweetie and I put  our cruise money into the yard and vacation each time we step out the back door.  We do like to gamble to  some degree but we decided that we have better odds putting our money on the plants rather than watching is evaporate in Vegas.  He he.

Paul

158

Terrestrial Gardening / A bit of the jungle

« on: January 23, 2007, 07:37:11 PM »

Hope you enjoy

159

Pond Chat / My old pond photos

« on: January 23, 2007, 05:02:06 PM »

I bought a new scanner in hopes of  better quality scans to archive my old 35 mm photos.   My other scanner left the images too dark and the details in shade or shadows were lost.  I think this new one does the photos a little more justice ,but now to see how they look posted.   

160

Chit Chat / Heck of a way to unload!

« on: January 17, 2007, 01:09:44 AM »

Fresh load of cotton seed to be pressed for oil.  I can hardly wait to get more hulls for compost and bedding mulch and the worms love as much as I do......in a different way of course.   

161

Hybridizing How To's... / Re: Seeds sprouting here

« on: January 15, 2007, 04:47:49 PM »

Craig, I made a hookah once in the early 70,s using a 5 gallon water bottle,
1 get a cork for the bottle,
2 get two brass tubes  one long enough to insert through the cork and down into the water reservoir and threaded on one end.  One
     short tube inserted through the cork that does not extend into the water.
3 using brass hardware and fittings a bowl for the burning material can be fashioned and attached to the threaded end of the long tube
4  insert a screen of brass or stainless steel to prevent the tobacco or burning material from drawing down  into the water,
5 fix a flexible tube onto the short brass tube in the cork, add water and presto “home made hookah”   

162

Terrestrial Gardening / Papaya seeds are sprouting

« on: January 14, 2007, 09:21:07 PM »

One plant just doesn't make enough fruit to keep us through the winter!

163

Hybridizing How To's... / Re: Seeds sprouting here

« on: January 14, 2007, 09:05:39 PM »

Hi Maryvonne,

Kit sent V. cruziana from 3 different lots last season.  There were 30 seeds  from each lot and as in seasons past were placed in 88 degree  water along with my Vamazonica seed but not without the ritual lifting of the operculum.  As usual, the V. amazonica germinated in fair numbers but not a single V. cruziana appeared to even grunt.   I set the V. amazonica outdoors at the usual time but a late two week cold snap left me with but one.

164

Pond Chat / Re: Pond Plants at Wal Mart? Has anyone tried these??

« on: January 14, 2007, 08:26:54 PM »

When after one buys all the pond equipment, plants, and fish on the cheap at Lowes, Walmart, and Home Depot, a year or two passes and the need for qualified, really reliable information arises, does one get it at the places one bought the stuff or from the guy that sells the $25.00 lilies?   In most cases, hard earned, reliable information is not available at Lowes, Walmart, or Home Depot.   

The seasoned patron that pays the price knows that good information cannot be found at those other places at ANY price!

165

Terrestrial Gardening / My season started early this year

« on: January 12, 2007, 10:28:13 PM »

Got word Wednesday morning that cotton seed hulls were available for me if I wanted them.  The days forecast called for a high in the low 60’s and south wind at 25 gusting to 35mph……perfect!!   Thursday was still windy but got up to 72 for the high.  I managed to get five loads in the old clunker truck by Thursday evening.  Six and three fourths  tons of gardeners gold!!!!   Woke up this morning to 25 degrees and a load of sleet.    It’s 19 degrees outside now and probably will stay below freezing until next Wednesday or Thursday.  So I’ll have to wait awhile before getting  more, but it sure is nice to get started this early.   If my luck holds out I’ll try for another 15 loads.    Happy freezer burn everybody!!! 

166

Pond Chat / Re: Which water lily?

« on: January 09, 2007, 05:43:29 PM »

I see that I need to learn how to do this quote thing.

167

Pond Chat / Re: Which water lily?

« on: January 09, 2007, 05:34:55 PM »

[/I also would not reccomend Trickers if you want to get the actual plant you are ordering, they have been on a bad list of suppliers who send out anything that looks similar. There are many other suppliers out there that are trustworthy. quote]

As for me, I fully agree!

Twice burned.....thrice shy!

(I know....it's once burned, twice shy, but anybody can get their dress all up in their face once in a while.  I'll give most anyone a second chance, even as in this case.....to my chagrin. )

168

Terrestrial Gardening / Adenium surprise!!

« on: November 25, 2006, 08:27:55 PM »

What a surprise!  I noticed that the bud tips on this plant seemed a darker red than most but it has happened before, so I paid it no mind and left for a trip to Tulsa Oklahoma to build a fence or actually replace a fence that had blown down at my daughters home.  I left the seventeenth with my implements of destruction and pulled posts and or dug out remaining concrete, and installed new posts and fence ‘till the afternoon of the twenty-second.  I arrived home that evening and scurried out to look the plants over before dark and what a beautiful sight!  I just love happy accidents!  Last spring my wife saw this lonely healthy Adenium in the midst of a very poorly kept display , as many plant displays at our local Home Depots often are, and decided to fork over the ten bucks they were asking in order to rescue the plant from a fate worse than death.  We just knew it would be the same red and white that we often see when shopping for Adenium.   No tag, or name but obviously akin to ‘Ruby’ cultivars that I’ve seen on the world wide web!  Keep an eye peeled Kay!

169

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Datura

« on: November 11, 2006, 12:34:16 AM »

Nice Black Currant Swirl, koi Boi,

While Brugmansia and Datura were once considered to be within the same genus, they were separated many years ago.  While both are in the family Solonaceae, they are really quite different, and crosses between them have been rare.

I had one Brugmansia flower by July 4, this year (Usually they flower in late August through frost here in zone 7a.)  I have the old fashioned white datura and the purple double (which is generally late flowering for me), and several Brugs, including  Super Nova, Charles Grimaldi, Jamaican yellow, Insignis Orange, Insignis Pink, and Ecuadorian Pink.

Daturas grow best from seeds, although I have had them come back from last years root stock.  The yellow Brugmansias are root hardy here, coming back from winter freeze down to the ground.  The pink varieties are less hardy for me.  All are easy to root from cuttings. Anyone who wishes cuttings this spring, e-mail me.  Brugs are tricky to grow from seed and are rarely true to form. 

However, most must be hand pollinated to produce seed. By the way, there is a Brugmansia/Datura society (of which I am a member) that has a wonderful website at

http://www.abads.net/abadssitemap.htm .  Membership is cheap.  You will be happy you joined.  (Give them my name as by way of introduction, they will treat you no differently than anyone else, proving that they are an egalitarian society.)


By the way:  Here is the secret on getting Brug cuttings to bloom the first year:  Brugs only bloom above the fork.  When taking cuttings, always take them from above the fork.  They will then bloom the first year, albeit above the fork.

Here are some Brug pics from my garden this year:


Super nova.


Insignis Pink


Charles Grimaldi


Wife


Wife with Super Nova and Charles Grimaldi


Ecuadorian Pink


Wife (43 years) with Insignis Pink

Beg your pardon.  it's not Black Currant swirl.  Guess agian.  HINT, Check the corolla.  NOT marbled with puple, thus NO swirl. 

170

Pond Chat / Re: Tucked away for winter

« on: November 09, 2006, 11:05:00 PM »

Looks great ...is that your own design or is it commercially available as a unit ?

It's just something I put together for a little protection from the elements.  Kinda like the greenhouse out of PVC in my 'Taint purdy but.....' post.

171

Pond Chat / Re: Been tweaking the pond again.

« on: November 09, 2006, 08:18:59 PM »

It looked great the last time you posted Gary.  But you did top yerself.

172

Photo Album / Re: Give 'em What They Want

« on: November 09, 2006, 08:02:49 PM »

I agree with the rest.... Give us what we want....Please...pretty please...

You seem to have the midas touch as everything turns to gold.

Tim

Ain't that the Gospel!!!!

173

Pond Chat / Re: Massacree

« on: November 09, 2006, 05:15:29 PM »

Massacree?!!? Shades of Arlo and Alice!

174

Pond Chat / Re: New lotus pond/bog

« on: November 09, 2006, 05:13:17 PM »

I knew you'd be back into it before long.  Looks great Tink!.

175

Pond Chat / Re: Tucked away for winter

« on: November 09, 2006, 05:09:44 PM »

They look very happy, you may have put them to bed a little early.

Cheers,
Sean

Hope not Sean, I got a heater on one end and a pump to cycle the water end to end.

176

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Datura

« on: November 09, 2006, 04:55:39 PM »

Getting seed trays ready
Datura and Brugs aren't the same thing are they or are they? The Datura bloom well but I've yet to see a bloom on my Brugs. Not sure I want to mess with Brugs anymore when Datura bloom quicker. It's probably something I'm doing wrong with the Brugs but God knows I've tried to grow the danged things.

They are in the same family Kay, but here’s a tip for you and Tim on brugs.
A friend of mine with an insatiable curiosity discovered that many brugmansia are young when purchased and require a few years to develop to bloom stage.  Even more so when starting from seed.   He used to take cuttings from his brugs and wait several years for bloom but then he made a cutting of a branch tip that was actively blooming, eureka!  Now he has blooms from his cuttings by the end of the first or second year.  I’ve found the same to be fairly true with my Plumeria cuttings.

177

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Datura

« on: November 09, 2006, 04:29:49 PM »

I keep buying seed off eBay for that double datura and they never germinate. Must be old seed. I have tried four years in a row with no success. Yours looks great!

Cheers,
Sean

I use an inordinate amount of seed when planting Sean.   Even with fresh viable seed I only get sporadic germination in the first two weeks.  I’ll put ten or twenty seeds per cell of a seventy-two cell flat and be lucky to have one plant per cell in two to three weeks.  Funny thing though, seedlings keep popping up for the next three months around the base of the original transplants that germinated first.  I’ve given up on flats in the past and tossed them aside on the greenhouse floor. My wife kept throwing water at them as she watered everything else and up they come weeks and weeks later.   

178

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Desert Rose

« on: November 09, 2006, 11:00:58 AM »

Beautiful! We can grow these in Oklahoma?? ..

Gotta take 'em in for winter Kay.

179

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Desert Rose

« on: November 09, 2006, 10:47:20 AM »

That is just lovely . . . . how hardy is it and is it drought tolerant?

I water one to three times a day for good growth and to prove you can water desert plants as much as you want when it is hot and hold back when it's not.   I have to take them in for winter.  Too many days of 40 degrees F. and they'l die. Mush mush mush.

180

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Datura

« on: November 09, 2006, 10:36:01 AM »

Thanks for the information The frost got my double purple before it could set viable seed. It had pods but they hadn't cracked yet. Yours are lovely. I'll try them again next year. Luckily ebay has lots of datura seed sellers
(Leftovers?? Storage??..isn't Oklahoma on the way to Texas??    )

Start your seed indoors in Oklahoma to improve wyour chances of mature seed.  As you may have found out already found out, the pod production is prolific, if only we could get them to mature.   That Texas comment wouldn' be refering to a joke about how to get ther from the east or west coast would it?