We’ve been having a nice stretch of weather, so today I got outside to take some pictures and do a bit of digging and repotting. Because winter’s been quite warm, growth in the Ranchero is a good month ahead of what I’ve seen during my previous two winters here…..take a look:
This is a side of the garden from which I rarely take photos, and I’m surprised by how full it looks! In years past, the curly croton (foreground) and dracena marginata (left-rear) have died back to ground level; the amaryllis had 2 leaves at most, and the cosmos were nowhere near blooming. Ditto for a sunflower located on the other side of the purple oyster plants….see?
An open sunflower on the second day in February? Surely this is a sign the ground is ALOT warmer this year…. and here’s another one, from a part of the vegetable garden you haven’t seen before:
Pick me!! Pick me!!
Thai Peppers! Red, HOT and definitely ahead of schedule….we’ve been pulling these off (and eating them) for the past two weeks!
Maybe the planting “zone creep” announced last week is real, or perhaps recent events in my garden are randomly anectdotal. Only time and scientific data will tell, but I guarantee this last example will have you thinking about both sides, now!
Just before Christmas, I took a cutting from my very well established almond bush, dipped it in root hormone and placed it directly in my rear cutting garden instead of a pot. I’ve noticed this past month how big it’s grown; in the past week it even set some small buds!. Today I dug it up to have a look:
Holy Canoli, Batman!!!!! You are looking at the cutting (with extensive roots!!) being held above the spot on the branch from which it was snipped. I was so completely astounded I decided to pot it up for a friend:
Tomorrow I go to Ivana's house!
I hope she likes it!
Until next time!
11 thoughts on “Both sides, now!”
Comments are closed.
small house/BIG GARDEN 
your friend will love that pretty little almond bush! great rooting job! your yard is really flourishing! i hope it stays sensible with warmth the rest of winter!
hello julie!
the next morning, the transplanted bush looked really perky already! she loved it!
thanks for stopping in!
Lucky Ivana, I’m loving seeing your garden and all it’s gifts and surprises!
aww… everytime I see a reply from you, it makes me smile.
( BTW, When I read through your blog and saw you were a counselor, i wasn’t the least surprised….you’re a total natural! )
I’m going to have to try this with an almond bush I have!
let me know how it goes! Do you do a lot of propagation that way? one thing i CANNOT seem to master is getting a hibiscus to root…but I keep trying!
thanks for stopping in!
You’ve been busy… would love some of those Thai hot peppers. 😉
I’m afraid of these things! My daughter literally broke a sweat when she tried them! But she loves spicy foods so I guess it means they’re ok!
Hot peppers in February–oh, to live in the south…..this time of year we Northerners are dying to get out in the garden. You must have vegetables year-round; I can’t even imagine such a thing….
I’m new to Florida, so it all seems pretty amazing to me. too! In Massachusetts we had such a short growing season by comparison! So glad you stopped in!
I envy your green thumb. I wish I had more time and money to put into gardening. Last year I tried my hand at more vegetables than flowers due to astronomical grocery prices. Although, I have to admit, that I really prefer to play in the flowers.