Final Seedlings. 7.4.22

 These are the last of the seedlings now.

The "Black Eyed Susan Vine"  (Thunbergera).  These have not been thriving.  They originate in East Africa, and our climate may just be too chilly.  I potted them into larger containers and will keep them in  the sun.

The rest.  Basil, like Thunbergera, doesn't appreciate the coolness, so I started more.  Also some cucumbers, which thrive in summer heat but not chilly Spring.  Ning's Red Kuri squashes were trampled by house painters, so I started new ones for him.

There is also the Brugmansia which is not a  seedling but I've been treating it like one.  Lots of TLC, dilute fertilizer every day.  Most of the old yellowing leaves have dried out and fallen off.  The newest leaves are greener and larger.  Not as green as I thought, but still much better.

Summer Kitchen. 7.4.22

 "Summer Kitchen" might be an exaggeration.  It will mostly be a sheltered stove and a table.  The frame is up now.  The stove will be moved under the frame, when tile is installed and roof is done overhead.  The roof will be translucent or clear so it will be bright.  This is the East side of the house.  The tile will raise the stove slightly above the patio to keep the stove's feet dry.

Rufus is watching through the doggie door.

Milkweed and Honeybees. 7.4.22

 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.

Years Later Here Are The Fig Trees That I Moved At Large Size. 7.3.22

 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.

 Again, it settled in during that winter and the following year, although new growth was slow during the first year.  This also is a non-grafted tree (almost all figs are not grafted), and habitually sends out new shoots from underground buds.  Gradually, most of the scaffold for this tree also died, and was replaced by new shoots.  I could have trained it again to a single trunk, but I'm fine with the multi-trunk method.  A clump of lemon balm came along with the tree, and is still growing around the trunk.

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".

What's Blooming? 7.13.22

 Here are some daylily hybrids I created some years ago while playing mad scientist.

This one is more lavender in person.  Cellphone doesn't catch the true color.

This one is not so good.  I think I'll get rid of it and plant a better one in its place.

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.

This looks better in person.

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.