microb's blog: Sunshine and blue skies

Yes, the mud is drying up and we have had many blue sky days and no rain for over a week. Should stay this way until end of the week.

Before this run of good weather we had a rain storm go through that dumped 6 inches of rain in a few hours. The weight of water on my potting greenhouse roof was too much and one third collapsed. My bad because the support posts were tree trunks and they had rotted to dust over the years and the rest is history. I took down another greenhouse structure (hawaii definition wooden structure with plastic sheeting) where the plastic had shredded and used the 4 x 4 poles and 2 x 4s to do the repairs. That all happen yesterday. The plastic ripped from the weight of the rain so that all went out and I had enough plastic in storage to cover half the original area. So now I have a smaller covered area (Less plants needing water) and a bench area out in the open for nature to take care of. Plant selection will depend on their water needs. The whole area needed a clean up so I was forced to do it.

The group of garden lovers mentioned in my last blog came for their visit last Sunday. A nice cool partly cloudy day for a forest ramble. A good time was had by all. I scored on plants that were donated for the tour. Small starter plants - a varigated gardenia, a bombax tree and an Anthurium Giganteus. Plus my dream plant, a varigated monstera



I have also been sinning at our local garden shops to satisfy my newly found cravings for Philodendron and Calatheas. I have added eight to the sunken garden this past two weeks.

Hernia from pushing too many wheelbarrows of gravel is still slowing my up. Light garden maintenance is the rule at the moment.

I have started weeding a clearing a previously cleared area of forest that has some planting. A gravel path is in progress between the far side of First Loop to Near Gate, which is gate into the Woodpile garden. As a walkable path is being created I will have access to a refreshed area for more plants. But what do I call the garden between First Loop and the gate. During the garden tour last week we explored the area and all guest were walking one behind the other in the narrow space. So what choice do I have. The new garden will be called "Queue Gardens" .... get it?

Blooming season is pretty much over for us. The Heliconias, gingers etc need dead heading or they will just die off and rot. A few clumping bamboos are still putting up new canes really late this year, especially Bali White Stripe and Sacred Bali. A couple of clumpers did nothing this year.

Still have a couple of late water lilies blooming. A nice pink night bloomer was a late started, put up lots of new lily pads and a couple of blooms within the space of two or three weeks.

This yellow daisy is in full bloom but a pest to control. After blooming I will cut it back almost to ground level. If a piece is left laying on the ground it will grow.

Overloaded with chicken eggs right now. Picking up three or four a day from three different sites near the back of the house. But you can't beat the color of the yolks. Poached with toast and bacon they make a great breakfast.

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