First Taste of Maraval hybrid (European X Japanese) Chestnut. 10.16.18

 There was one other burr on the fledgling chestnut tree.  This notified me of its ripeness, by falling off.

Those needles really are sharp like needles!

So with a grand yield of 4 chestnuts, we made an X cut in the flat sides, roasted them at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, and ate them.

With peaches, plums, apples, and cherries, I look at the first year of bearing as just enough for a taste, and I'm happy with that.  The next year, most of my fruit trees have made about five to ten times what they did the first year.

If that's the case with these chestnuts, that will be a nice crop next year.  If not, then I'm happy these trees are growing to become nice shade trees

Carnivorous Plant Update. 10.15.18

These are the carnivorous plants that I posted on this Spring.  They were looking much better in June, pictured here.  I think that means they are soon going into dormancy.  Since they grew quite a lot this year, I think some of them will bloom next year.

This is my first time growing them, so it's hard to know what to expect.  . 

Sarracenia purpurea (NoID).  10.15.18

Several have sword-shaped leaves lacking pitchers, called "phyllodia."  Those leaves are able to provide nutrition during the winter, when insects are not available.

Sarracenia oreophyla.  10.15.18

Sarracenia flava X mitchelliana hybrid 10.15.18

I kept these in casserole dishes that I had bought at Goodwill.  They might look better in something else.  I will look around.  I generally tried to keep an inch of water in each dish.  On occasion, not many times, they evaporated dry.  However, the growth medium did not dry out.

In mid summer, I transplanted the two largest plants (S. oreophyla and S. "Extreme Green"), using sphagnum moss / perlite 50:50 as the growth medium.  I would have used peat moss, but could not find any that did not contain additives.  When I transplanted those, I added 5 pearls of Osmocote as fertilizer.  This is not original with me, but rather came from some web forums.  Regrettably, I did not write down the source.

Not pictured, the Venus Flytrap grew nicely.

The Drosera also grew nicely.  There were also volunteer Drosera in other plants.

Overall this is a fun experiment.  It's been about 6 months since I read the guidebook so I want to do that again now.  Like many orchids, these plants are not difficult to grow, but they do have their own particular needs and I am new to growing them.  The book is The Ultimate Carnivorous Plant Guide by Jacob Farin.

Sundew.  10.15.18

I may post more about these later.  This update is here because fall is coming fast, and I didn't want to miss this progress report.

It's possible that either the transplanting during hot summer, or the Osmocoat pellets, contributed to either some of the leaf burning, or production of  phyllodia, or both.

Edit 10.16.18:  I did read through the Carnivorous Plant Guide again.  IT takes a few times to absorb the information.  The drying leaves look typical for this time of year, so I'm not worried.  Repotting time will be in March.  I do think I should look for shallower trays, so the water level will be a little lower, especially for the smaller plants.

These are in a location that has full sun from late am through the rest of the day.  I don't think it's the 10 hours recommended.  Next year, I can move them to a different spot.  That will mean some risk for deer damage, but it's worth a try.  I can move a couple there, to see what happens, before going all out.

Sarracenia "Extreme Green" and a NoID Venus Flytrap ( Dionaea muscipula)

X-mas Cactus (Schlumbergera). 10.15.18

Last winter, I bought these two "Christmas Cactus" plants to cheer up my office.  I think they are more correctly called "Thanksgiving Cactus" or better yet, Schlumbergera.   They bloommed very nicely.  During the summer, and into the cooler nights, they were outside, on the East side of the house, with morning sun and afternoon and evening shade.  I watered them when I remembered.  This is not organic, but I gave them Miracle-Grow for green plants, at 1/4 label recommended strength, until fall, then switched to the Miracle-Grow "Bloom Booster" at 1/4 strength.  Now they are in my South Facing office window.  Lots of buds.  They might actually be in bloom at Thanksgiving.  Meanwhile, there is the joy of anticipation and the pride of growing something that will bloom nicely, soon.

There are also a couple of Schlumbergera that are much older and larger.  They are beginning to set flower buds, but not as much.

Edit:  I can remember reading various schemes about putting these in the dark for a month to get them to bloom.  That's just not true.  I've grown them for years, and just let the change of seasons do it's thing.  They always bloom, every year, without putting them into a dark closet.  Maybe that's the climate or lattitude?  I don't know, and I don't worry about it.

Rufus. 10.15.19

Music Garlic. 10.15.18

Music Garlic Cloves to Plant.  Planted 10.5.18

This is the photo that I meant to post previously.  This is the garlic variety "Music".  These were the biggest garlic cloves that I have ever seen.  According to what I've read, "Music" is among the most productive and best tasting.  That info, of course, is not specific to the Maritime Pacific Northwest or to my area, soil, microclimate.  So we will see.

I still have some saved garlic cloves to plant from this year's crop.  Four days ago I planted some (I think it was "German Red" - big, red skinned, pungent cloves) but did not have it labeled.  I developed a back strain digging the heavy soil this time, so need to wait until that is better before planting the saved "Inchelium Red".  I think I'm growing the "Inchelium Red" more for sentimental, than practical reasons now.  That "German Red" actually seems more productive, with larger cloves. 

Rufus. 10.13.18

Rufus.  10.10.18

Rufus.  10.10.18

 He's not much help in the vegetable or flower garden yet, but this is my new buddy Rufus.  He was born April 20, 2018.  He has made a big difference for me.

As a puppy, Rufus has boundless energy and mischief.  He's very affectionate.   He is a mix of lab, poodle, and gremlin.  I'm hoping for a long, happy, healthy, loving life ahead for my buddy Rufus.

Rufus.  May, 2018.

First Chestnuts. 10.12.18

Maraval Chestnuts.  1.21.18

These are the first two Maraval chestnuts.  I know it's not a lot - two chestnuts.  The other burr may have two more.

My rule of thumb, for when trees first bear fruit, is one or two fruits the first year, 10 or 20 the second year, then a bowl or two or three the following year.  It's not a perfect rule, but interesting to think about.

I will keep these at room temperature for 2 to 4 days, then roast them.  That information is via WashingtonChestnuts.com.

Yates American Persimmonss. 10.9.18

Yates American Persimmon.  10.9.18

Today as I was wandering around my orchard, I passed by the Yates American Persimmon tree.  I brushed against a branch, and a fruit fell off.  Looking at the ground, there were multiple juicy, ripe persimmons.

These are delicious.

I planted this tree in January, 2015.  Not bad, just 3 years old.

The First, Ever, of the Pawpaws. 10.8.18

NC-1 Pawpaw.  10.8.18

 Here is the first of the pawpaws.


The outside is similar texture and skin as an avocado. Unlike avocado, there are multiple, Lima bean-sized seeds. Taking them out, the amount of flesh, and the consistency of flesh, was also similar to avocado. There the similarity ends. Super sweet, tropical tasting. Sort of banana-like but not. Interesting.

There will be a few smaller ones, if they ripen soon. This was the first ever, took 6 years from planting, and a very nice fruit adventure!

NC-1 Pawpaw.  10.8.18

NC-1 Pawpaw.  10.8.18

This was the only pawpaw on the tree, so may be larger than it would be if there were lots.  The variety was NC-1.

The other tree, Sunflower, has quite a few, small, fruits.  I'll keep watching for those.

Irises Planted from Dried Rhizomes, at One Month.  10.6.18

 On 9.6.18, I planted some bearded iris rhizomes that I bought at Costco.  I wondered if they would grow at all before the first frost.  Here there are, lots of increased / new growth.  So they are doing well.  One is "My friend Jonathan" and the other is "His Royal Highness" but I didn't label them, so I don't know which is which.

As for bearded irises that I replanted from about the property, that I had abandoned two or so years ago, also not labeled, they are putting on new growth too.

Finally, the bearded irises that I bough by mail order from Schreiners, and planted in July and August, those show nice growth too.

The big questions to follow this winter and next Spring:  Will any of these bloom?  Will they have bacterial and / or fungal rot disease?  Will they survive?  And the same, for other clumps that I planted in the woods border, which are currently looking OK where they are and are in full sun..

The other iris from the same package.

Bearded Iris Planted August, 2018

Gallardias. 10.7.18

Gallardia planted Aug, 2018

Gallardia Planted in 2017

I don't know when the year-old gallardia startied blooming this year.  I think, early summer.  I didn't dead head it regularly.  I almost never watered it.  Deer and rabbits did not touch it.  It just continued to grow and bloom.  I bought the other one this summer.  I forgot it was in the car, and it dried out to crispy brown flowers, although the wilted leaves were still green-ish.  Then I saw it and planted it.  That plant recovered, and is now blooming again.

These are tough flowers.  Inspired, I've bought some seeds to cultivars with other color nuances.

Healing "Summer Red" Maple Tree Trunk Wound, 6 Years Later. 10.7.18

Maple Tree Progress.  10.7.18

 This is a progress report, on a "Summer Red maple tree that we planted in September, 2012, update in 2914.  The nursery where we bought it is no longer in business.  My guess is they took damaged nursery stock from other places, to resell.  This tree was very inexpensive, but had a large wound - see lower photo or link.

I planted the tree with the wound on the southern side, to reduce potential for growth of rotting organisms.  Maple wood is hard, and I read that trees have a process to seal off internal wounds, that stops spread of any potential rot.

Here we are, 6 years later.  The tree has flourished and grown.  It has beautiful fall color.  I wondered if the small root ball size would result in a dead tree.  It did not.  This was a very hot dry summer, historic I think.  I did water it about every 2 weeks, with water that I bailed out of the duck pond when replacing that water.  That was about 15 gallons every 2 weeks.

Maple Tree When Planted.  9.20.12

Healing Trunk Wound.  10.7.18

Wound At Time of Purchase  9.20.12

The wound is nearly completely sealed.  I wonder what the darkened area indicates, lateral to the wound.   Is that growth of bacterial or fungal infection?  I don't know.  In retrospect, I would not buy a tree with such a large wound, nor would I recommend it.  It just seems too "iffy".  Still, 6 years later, it looks healthy, flourishing, quite beautiful.  Only time will tell whether there is a long term effect of that large wound.

North Pole Apples. 10.6 18

North Pole Apples.  10.6.18

These are the apples from the young apple tree that I started from "North Pole" scion.  The tree is only about 5 feet tall, but the apples are large and have a good flavor, nice crispness.  They made an excellent apple sauce. 

I grafted this tree in 2015.  Not bad for such a young tree, and it received no watering this year.