Walking Around. 7.8.16

Daylily "Chicago Apache".   7.8.16

 This daylily was labeled only with the fertilizer name, "Vigaro".  Bought in 2015.

Daylily, no label.  7.8.16

 I kept thinking there was something odd about this daylily.  It has an extra petal. 

Daylily labeled as "Frans Hals".  7.8.16

Daylily "Ice Carnival".  7.8.16

 

 

Pumpkins.  7.8.16

 These tigridias were in a container.  I planted them into the ground to see if they survive the climate here.

Tigridia.  7.8.16

Blueberries.  7.8.16

 Apparently chickens don't eat chamomile.  That, and grass, are all that survive in the chicken yard.

Chamomile forest.  7.8.16

 This daylily was labeled as "Daring Deception".  It's nice, but it's not true to the name.

Daylily labeled as "Daring Deception".  7.8.16

Persimmon Status Report. 7.4.16

Persimmon Progress.  Saijo.  7.4.16

Persimmon Progress.  Nikita's Gift.  7.4.16

 There are about 7 persimmons developing on Saijo.  With the small number, I did not thin even the few that were close together.  They have a 4-lobe appearance, which surprises me.  I thought they would be ball-shaped.

I thinned some of Nikita's gift, although with only about 20 developing persimmons - after thinning -  I did leave some near the others.  On some branches, there were as many as 6, close together.  I thought that was too much competition for resources, and I want them to be as early, large, and sweet, as the leaves can support.

As for the chocolate persimmon grafts, the first is slowly progressing, still with a brownish - red coloration to the leaves.  The second needed several additional weeks to begin growth, but finally started.  So that means don't be too impatient.

Persimmon Graft.  "Chocolate Persimmon".  7.4.16

Persimmon Progress.  "Chocolate"  7.4.16

Daylilies, Buddleias, and Milkweeds. 7.4.16

Daylily "Fooled Me".  7.4.16

Daylily "Daring Deception" - may be atypical.  7.4.16

Daylily "Chicago Apache".  7.4.16

Daylily "Strawberry Candy".  7.4.16

This daylily is very pretty.  I moved it from the Vancouver place a few years ago, divided it, and divided it again.  I don't know the variety name.  It was purchased locally.

Daylily, unknown variety.  7.4.26

Honeybee, Milkweed Asclepias syriaca.  7.4.16

I grew these milkweeds from seeds last year.  They require at least one year to bloom.  Some have not bloomed yet.  They are very fragrant.  Honeybees like them.

Honeybee on milkweed.  7.4.16

Honeybee on milkweed.  7.4.16

Milkweed Asclepias syriaca.  7.4.16

Milkweed Asclepias syriaca.  7.4.16

These Buddleia "Peach Cobbler" are not as compact as marketed.  They are more like a tree than a shrub, about 18 feet tall in their 4th year.  They make a nice windbreak for the orchard.  The "Peaach Cobbler" variety is quite fragrant, as is the "Miss Ruby" Variety.  "Honeycomb" does not seem to have much of a scent.  The Western Swallowtail Butterflies like the fragrant Buddleias, and is about the only place where I see these butterflies.

Swallowtail Butterfly on Buddleia hybrid 'Peach Cobbler".  7.4.16

Buddleia hybrid "Honeycomb"

Things to do with zucchini. 7.4.16

Baked Zucchini Spears.  7.4.16

Zucchini Fritters (Pancakes)  7.4.16

Zucchini Dumpling Filling.  7.4.16

The first two recipes are from the blog, damndelicious.net.  I made exactly as the author stated, and all I can say is they are delicious and excellent and simple.  I used both green zucchinis and yellow summer squash.  The fritters are a lot like potato pancakes, but with zucchini instead of potato.  Fritter recipe here.

The third is dumpling filling.  I don't claim to be a dumpling cook - those are Nings.  I shredded them for him using mandolin, he added salt to draw out fluid, drained, and mixed with scrambled egg and tofu, same as he does for tradition chive dumpling.

With what I hope is a summer with lots of zucchini and summer squash, these additional ways to prepare them are welcomed.

I should try some of the zucchini pasta.  We've also stir fried it like any other vegetable stir fry.

Methley Plums. 6.28.16

Methley Plum.  6.28.16

I thought this year there would be no plums.  There are not massive numbers, but there are enough for some bursts of orchard flavor.  This is Methley.  I think it's 1/2 Prunus cerasifera, so similar to Hollywood.  The same tree has a graft of Shiro, starting to color up, and a graft of Hollywood, no plums on that this year.