Sunday, May 27, 2012

A couple more iris

Unidentified yellow iris. This is on the 2-acre property that Ning is planning to buy.
Immortality
Unidentified apricot colored iris. Today I played the honey bee and took stamens from various irises and transferred them to pistils of other irises, to see if hybrids will develop. This was semi-random. No idea if they will set seeds.

Backyard Orchard Culture: Progress Report

Here are the two plums today. As the fruit grow larger, I can see them better. Not covered with fruit, but will have more this year than ever before. Not bad for 3 year old trees.
Hollywood Plum
Shiro Plum
Liberty apples
Strawberrys in bloom

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Kitchen Garden

The containerized beans are growing great, and now have their first flowers. I guess I didn't start them too early.
Ning set up this raised bed. The potatoes were volunteer - I don't know what type they are. They are so vigorous. He used compost that came from the chicken bedding.
The tomatoes are starting to bloom. The first is Better Boy. I guess I didn't start these too early either. Despite the rain and rain and rain and rain.

Figs

Not doing anything to the figs now - they are just growing. This might be the best breba crop ever.
King.  The crop is so heavy, the branches are already drooping.
Lattarula - ditto.  I'll hold off any pruning until after the June harvest.
Cuttings from King. I have more - what will I do with them?

More on Irises

It's raining and raining and raining and raining. Not the best for perfect form and durability of iris blossoms, but the rains are part of living in the Pacific Northwest.
I think this one is "Blue Knight". A contrast to the dark purple iris in the back yard.
Immortality. I will move this after it blooms. Immortality can rebloom in the fall if it's happy. The invading grass has been a problem, but by blooming it's identified itself for refurbishing.
Sunny Disposition. Also a rebloomer. I'll do a similar renovation after it blooms.
Edith Wolford. This is not the best time to move German Irises, but this plant was completely overwhelmed by grass. the leaves and rhizomes are weak and spindly. If it recovers, it will be more because of this plant's durability than my treatment. I thought this might be Edith Wolford, and after digging it up discovered a tag that confirmed my "theory". Lucky.