Seriously thoughtful What's out in your garden now ....

[Verencat]

Originally Posted by glowhappy

I forgot and left them outside when a late March frost came through Texas. The climate here is predictable in that it's unpredictable. Now I'm down to the two plants but my potted peach tree (a sapling really) is wilting from the heat so I've got to move it indoors.

Well now, predicting a frost in Texas seems almost impossible, so I'd say that you didn't kill them, life just happened. You could still try again - if you feel like it!

I'm crossing my fingers for your peach tree!

[glowhappy]

Originally Posted by Verencat

Well now, predicting a frost in Texas seems almost impossible, so I'd say that you didn't kill them, life just happened. You could still try again - if you feel like it!

I'm crossing my fingers for your peach tree!

LOL Thanks for the encouragment but I'll leave the planting to those who know what they are doing. I don't need to "kill" anymore poor defenseless plants.

[dreams]

Originally Posted by Ea

My underwater garden

Only 6 weeks old, but it very quickly found a healthy equilibrium and the plants are growing like crazy.<snip<

That's beautiful, Ea.

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Ahh - you're too young to have found these in the bottom of your cereal box? http://www.amazon.com/Colorful-U-S-N...0247666&sr=8-2

Those look like the ones my brothers and I use to tie string and plastic squares to and then throw into the air and let them parachute down.

Originally Posted by Verencat

<snip>
Here's my garden:
On the first picture you have zucchinis, cucumbers and radishes, swiss chard, tomatoes, flowers
On the second one: colored swiss chard, mint, flowers, tomatoes, small carrots, oxalys, lavendar, mixed herbs and a shefflera.

It's not glamorous, but it's mine!

Very nice, Vcat. They look to be doing very well on your balcony.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Beautiful Ea - I so wanted to see a tiny frogman amidst the fronds. Must be incredibly calming just to contemplate!



Showing my age here - buy anyone remember the little plastic guy - you would fill his foot with baking soda and drop him in - the water would react and generate a gas bubble - floating him to the surface?

Oh yes - him and submarines too .....

Originally Posted by beppe

Of course you don't. But you may want to lure a princess or two.

My lady princess might have something to say about that !!!!!

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Verencat

I am very curious about the first one, it looks quite exotic. If you have a botanical garden near your home, maybe you could bring pictures of your plants and they could identify them?

That's a good idea, thank you. Perhaps I should carry photos in my wallet - "Have you seen this plant?"

The first one is like an onion, and I actually did read an article about it a few months before I saw it (and bought it) at a florist's. But it was an old issue of a garden magazine my father had borrowed, and even if I went through all the library had, I never found it again.

Originally Posted by Verencat

Very impressive garden - if it's six weeks old only, I would consider either making other plant gardens to use as gifts for friends and relatives, or selling the extra cuttings, because it is flourishing!
I think shrimp would be very adorable in there too!

I wouldn't want to give them away I've been eyeing this five-litre tank at the local "fish pusher" lately - a good size for shrimp. I wish I had the patience for something like this - it's essentially aqua bonsai.

Originally Posted by Verencat

Here's my garden:
On the first picture you have zucchinis, cucumbers and radishes, swiss chard, tomatoes, flowers
On the second one: colored swiss chard, mint, flowers, tomatoes, small carrots, oxalys, lavendar, mixed herbs and a shefflera.

It's not glamorous, but it's mine!

Very nice! The zucchini looks small - is it young? I would have thought it'd taken over the whole end of your balcony. Nice Schefflera, looks like it's thriving.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Don't just 'dull' the pain. You can stop it completely... with honey!! A half teaspoon full will stop the pain immediately. When we travel to countries that are famous for the hot spicy foods, we carry a small plastic squeeze bottle in the pocket filled with honey. In Korea half of my wife's intake is honey!! Jamaican Jerk Chicken with habaneros sauce in a back street cafe in the islands poses no threat at all since we learned this trick!

Stitchawl

That's a very neat trick. Thanks for mentioning it

[Verencat]

Originally Posted by Ea

That's a good idea, thank you. Perhaps I should carry photos in my wallet - "Have you seen this plant?"

The first one is like an onion, and I actually did read an article about it a few months before I saw it (and bought it) at a florist's. But it was an old issue of a garden magazine my father had borrowed, and even if I went through all the library had, I never found it again.

We do have a "what's that plant called" counter at our botanical garden, where they also give gardening advice. Either way, let us know if you find out!

(maybe you could have the pictures posted on milk cartons and offer a reward for the firt person who can identify the plant? )

I wouldn't want to give them away I've been eyeing this five-litre tank at the local "fish pusher" lately - a good size for shrimp. I wish I had the patience for something like this - it's essentially aqua bonsai.

Those aquariums are beautiful! And I love how they are entirely self sufficient (but maybe the fishes need to be fed?) without filters or heating systems. Very inspiring.

I wanted to get myself a beta and plant the aquarium with real plants, but at the store I went to they refused to let me buy plants if I didn't have the complete filter-heating system (I could've lied, but didn't) so I got a small Russian moss ball instead, to serve as a filter and a renewable food source. Better than nothing, but you are giving me ideas...

Very nice! The zucchini looks small - is it young? I would have thought it'd taken over the whole end of your balcony. Nice Schefflera, looks like it's thriving.

I think that the cucumber and zucchinis don't have enough place to grow - they must be about 8 weeks old by now, and they don't grow up really fast. I won't reiterate the experience with those plants next year, I have the odd feeling that I'm slowly torturing them.

The Schefflera is thriving a little too much, that's why it outside - I always bump into it!

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Verencat

We do have a "what's that plant called" counter at our botanical garden, where they also give gardening advice. Either way, let us know if you find out!

(maybe you could have the pictures posted on milk cartons and offer a reward for the firt person who can identify the plant? )

You've given me new purpose. It would be nice to know what kind of plant it is.

Originally Posted by Verencat

Those aquariums are beautiful! And I love how they are entirely self sufficient (but maybe the fishes need to be fed?) without filters or heating systems. Very inspiring.

I wasn't aware he claimed they were that self-sufficient. They require constant pruning, artificial light, CO2 fertilisation and of course feeding. At least as far as I understand Amano's techniques.... But they are very beautiful - something to aspire to

Originally Posted by Verencat

I wanted to get myself a beta and plant the aquarium with real plants, but at the store I went to they refused to let me buy plants if I didn't have the complete filter-heating system (I could've lied, but didn't) so I got a small Russian moss ball instead, to serve as a filter and a renewable food source. Better than nothing, but you are giving me ideas...

That sounds rather narrow-minded. Of course it's good that they care for the plants and animals they sell, but this ... no. I manage to keep plants (and fish) very well in a cold climate with only artificial light. Soil beneath the gravel provides basic nutrition for the plants, apart from the fish waste.
It can done as simply as this or this. I'm sure your betta would not mind a bit more foilage in his environment.

But I feel I am slowly slipping into lecturer mode*... Somebody stop me

Originally Posted by Verencat

I think that the cucumber and zucchinis don't have enough place to grow - they must be about 8 weeks old by now, and they don't grow up really fast. I won't reiterate the experience with those plants next year, I have the odd feeling that I'm slowly torturing them.

The Schefflera is thriving a little too much, that's why it outside - I always bump into it!

When I've had zucchinis they always grew to cover a square meter - generously. Though one summer it was too cold, and I got one (1) measly zucchini out of it.

*but more seriously, you are very welcome to ask more about it

[beppe]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Oh yes - him and submarines too .....





My lady princess might have something to say about that !!!!!

The new comers could keep her company and thus learn the good ways. Hold her mirror, comb her hair, bring you a chocolate with a sugar violet on it. Read her a story, make curls in your beard ... The sky is the limit. You teach them how to kiss toads ...

[beppe]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Don't just 'dull' the pain. You can stop it completely... with honey!! A half teaspoon full will stop the pain immediately. When we travel to countries that are famous for the hot spicy foods, we carry a small plastic squeeze bottle in the pocket filled with honey. In Korea half of my wife's intake is honey!! Jamaican Jerk Chicken with habaneros sauce in a back street cafe in the islands poses no threat at all since we learned this trick!

Stitchawl

dutifully noted. precious advice.

[FlorenceArt]

I wonder how my tomato plants are doing...

[Ea]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I wonder how my tomato plants are doing...

Perhaps they will email you....

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by Ea

Perhaps they will email you....

I forgot to give them my address

[glowhappy]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I forgot to give them my address

no babysitters?

[Ea]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I forgot to give them my address

Do they have your phone no.?