The milkweeds are blooming. I grew these from seeds about ten years ago. Honeybees love them, as much or more than any other flower. Honeybees have been scarce this year - worrisome. But if there are any around, this is the flower they will find. These are a highly fragrant flower.
Here is the Brunswick fig tree that I moved from Vancouver to Battle Ground in late November, 2012.
On the pickup trick. (I really can't believe I did that)
Ready to replant. The roots were more shallow than expected.
Here it is today. This tree settled in and established the first year. Gradually, most of the original scaffold branches died. Underground shoots grew quickly to replace them, creating a multi-trunk tree. Originally, I grew this tree from a cutting, so I know that underground originating shoots are identical to the original tree.
Here is the second large tree that I moved. This one was "Petite aubique" (supposedly). I moved it in late November, 2017. Originally, I planted this tree in 2001. I had bought it by mail order from a nursery that was located then in S. Carolina. They marketed it under different names, originally Petite negri. I later corresponded with fig enthusiasts who decided it was Petite aubique. This tree is not vigorous, but over time can grow to a good size. Here it was when I dug it up, Nov 2017.
I usually don't water or fertilize my fig trees. However, I wonder if I did, would shy or late performers produce more, or earlier, or larger fruit? So this year, I'm planning to give each of the smaller varieties or slower / later / less productive ones, some general purpose fertilizer once monthly and a few buckets of water every week.
Here are fig buds forming on the Petite aubique fig tree now.
It's not the most clear photo. I posted it because it shows a "little friend".
Here are some daylily hybrids I created some years ago while playing mad scientist.
The Alstroemerias that I bought are responding to the TLC I gave them. It's mostly just opening buds that were already there. I think more will develop soon.
Sedum in a barrel. This is a few years old. I started it from a bunch of discarded pieces about six inches long, just piking a stick into the ground to make a hole, then pushing the sedum pieces into the hole. Sedums are incredibly easy to start and grow. This barrel never gets watered or fertilized. They are too packed in together for weeds to grow. It's a great plant.
When figs are ripening, ants usually find them and tunnel inside. They can bring molds and spoil the fig before it's fully ripe.
I usually forget until the figs start to ripen, but not this year. It's a simple treatment. Wrap plastic wrap fairly tightly around the trunk, the spread on some Tanglefoot, Tanglefoot is a very sticky, gooey substance, thicker and more persistent than vaseline. Ants can't climb past it.
Now they are protected against ant damage. It's a good idea to remove the Tanglefoot strip after the fig harvest. I've forgotten at times, and fungi grew between the plastic and the bark, damaging the trunk.
Now the fig trees have "The four protections"-
(1) Pruning height to deter deer.
(2) Yellow Jacket traps to deter yellow jackets.
(3) Scare tape to deter birds.
(4) Tanglefoot to deter ants.
Will there be figs this year? We should know in a few more weeks.
Today I broke in the new electric range, baking a loaf of sandwich bread.
The flour must have been more moist than usual - by the time I kneaded in enough for the right consistency, there was enough for an extra mini-loaf.
I didn't know if I would like electric. The bread loaf baked more evenly and a little faster than the gas oven. I think it cane out perfect. Cookies (gingersnaps) baked the same as with gas, but again, about a minute faster.
I'm not sold yet on having a glass cooktop, but at least it should stay cleaner. Pots seem to boil faster, but I can't use cast iron so will have to adapt.
