New Ballerina Fushia Plants

I bought these two Ballerina fushias last weekend and just potted them today. They really do look like little ballerina's.

I might try training these two into topiaries.

Also a picture of the "girls" basking in the front yard.  Rain yesterday so they spent most of the day inside. 

Pippy von Bitenhymer and Cookie Crumble

Time stands still in a garden

Shabby Window Project

I found these great windows at an estate sale on Saturday. They look to be doors from kitchen cabinets. The taller two have some old 1950's style handles, which I will recycle to something else. I plan on painting vines and flowers on these and then hanging them from small chains on this patio.  I will need to be careful where I hang these as my feathered friends have direct flight paths through here.  Many a day I have almost had a head on collision with one of the Hummers.          

These two measure 18 x 27, the glass is wavy but is new I am sure.

 

These two measure 14 x 36, notice the cool 1950's handles. 

Now if I only knew how to paint!

To be continued...

Tomato Update, Kale and a few more goodies!

I am posting some pictures to keep my blog up to date on the tomato growth.  I also picked a nice basket of Kale yesterday.  Beans and Greens for dinner last night.  A little olive oil from Olive California (see link on my blog) and some fresh garlic, it was perfect!

The tomatoes are about 3 feet tall now.  Kale is finished; the weather will be getting too warm so I pulled up the roots and will plant some more Basil this weekend.  I also planted some more Straight Eight Cucumbers, more Zucchini, Patty Pan and Crook Neck Squash.  I still have a little more room and will plant some more Onion Sets and maybe some more Beets.

Red Onion and White Onions almost ready for picking. This is the first year I am growing these to full size.  I usually grow them for spring onions.

Salad Tomato should be ready in 45 days

Last of the lettuce and the Shallots are growing nicely.  Small patch of Pea Pods still growing; just about too warm for these but maybe I will get a few more.  Still harvesting Spring Onions along the side and some Cilantro, although this is bolting so it will be finished soon.

More Cherry Tomatoes, I think this one is a Purple Grape and a Orange Cherry

Two Cherry Tomatoes, one Yellow Pear and one Red Pear

A German Johnson Tomato, Early Girl and a Tomatillo Plant

More Onions, yellow and white

Not sure what these two are, but I wanted to try these red cages.  I have heard that red makes for more tomatoes.  We will see.

Nice batch of Kale I picked yesterday

and because I know my husband will be showing this post to his co-workers, I am including a few cacti and succulents for him.  Bragging rights go to Tony.

Ficus macrophylla, Moreton Bay Fig Tree and Balboa Park

Sunday was my birthday so we took off for a picnic in Balboa Park.  I will share a few photos with you.  The battery was low on my camera so I was not able to take as many pictures as I wanted but I was able to take a few of the Fig tree and a beautiful Trumpet Vine in full bloom.  If you have not visited this place before, put it on your Bucket List!


Enjoy!

Entrance to the Prado

Casa del Prado Theater.  They were showing a Dr. Seuss movie.

Detail over the door of the theater

Moreton Bay Fig Tree (ficus macrophylla)

Planted in 1914, this tree has a 42 foot girth, 80 feet high and 145 foot canopy! I was on the other side of the street and still could not get the entire tree in the shot.

One reason you never plant a ficus close to the house.  Look at these surface roots.

Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) on the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

New Addition to the Garden, Salpiglossis sinuata

Painted Tongue, what a great name.  The color of the flower is incredible. 

"The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies"

-Gertrude Jekyll

This plant is an annual and will bloom from early spring to mid summer.  It takes average water and should not be over watered.  Flowers are 3 inches across; plant is 1 to 3 feet tall with a 6 to 12 inch spread.  Grow in moist, well-drained moderately fertile, humus rich soil.

Allow the (seed) pods to dry on the plant if you would like to collect the seeds for next season; break open, they can be stored.  Start seeds indoors in January, transplant outdoors in March.

Cherry Parfait Rose, What a Beauty! A 2003 AARS Winner

I found this beauty in several stages of bloom this morning.  Captured a few shots to share. 

"In the garden mystery glows the secret is hidden in the rose"

The bud starts out with a pretty lime color inside then opens to white.

Cherry Parfait in full bloom