Amazingly fast germination and things

I planted the zinnia seeds six days ago and they are already sprouting. I'm so used to vegetables taking forever to sprout this took me by surprise but the package says 5-10 days for germination and voila!

But first just another photo of the rose because it's so darn pretty and fragrant....meanwhile back in the garden....

 At least four, possibly five or six (I may have circled a grass sprout by mistake) have sprouted already and if that's all I get I'll be happy. Technically needed to water but it's a bit warm and I already got my exercise for today. That will be a task for tomorrow.  The garlic is thickening up nicely as well but it's still a long while before it's ready to pull up. Hoping they can hang on long enough to develop their bulb.

Cucumbers are out of the window and into the raised bed. I filled the half gallon milk jug with water to at least water them in because the soil was very warm and not that wet. Everything will have to just hang in there until tomorrow for me to water again. I also didn't peel off the casing for the pod because the roots were growing through so well will see how that works out for them. Lots of tomatoes on that roma right now, hoping they all turn out well. I only have $4 to spare and that isn't enough to get any kind of fertilizer for everything. 

Just noticed how I plant everything away from the front edge a bit far, compensating for the plants getting big and healthy. Also a reaction to when I planted squash too close and it ended up hanging over the edge. Hoping the cucumbers climb well on that trellis because there's no room anywhere else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then there's the south bed. This picture was taken around 1 pm and it's already in shade except the front edge. I cannot for the life of me figure out what would survive in only four or five hours of intense sun and only an hour or two of direct sun in the winter. Lettuces and other green things in the winter of course but summer time... it's maddening. Although the tomatillos did really well there as well as a tomato when I first started gardening. Going to be the conundrum of the garden for a long while. 

Meanwhile in someone else's garden hard to see but there is an absolutely flourishing star jasmine on the wall there. I don't know what they're doing but it is overtaking the trellis it's on. It actually looks better than the one growing out in full sun across the street. Need to ask their secret and if they have any spare fertilizer. Hazarding a guess they probably use dish water, coffee grounds and tea bags. 

Anyway, things are planted and growing best they can. Hoping for better things next month. 

Just a few pictures, not much new

 Weather is being stable thankfully, will probably ramp up in another week and by Mid May we will have 'May Grey' and then 'June Gloom' which mostly happens closer to the coast. Essentially, the marine layer creeps in around sunset or early evening but the conditions are just right during the day that layer only disappears for a few hours then it comes right back. Since I 'm further south and inland, we don't get it as much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things that are blooming other than cilantro in the garden. The 'Tiffany' rose has two flowers and about knee high but smells heavenly. The asparagus fern is also blooming and smells wonderful if you are down wind. Sweet apricot scent that takes a moment for you to realize what it is, oh and the star jasmine is starting to bloom as well. I'll walk along and catch a whiff of it and pause trying to remember what it is.

 

The tomatoes are growing, but they seems to be more globe rather than oblong, need to check progress from previous years to see if they look the same. Looking as far back as my bumper crop year 2023, they're fine and likely will taste fine also. This definitely is not going to be a bumper crop year but it's all good. Still need fertilizer.

 

The Easter lilies are going to be blooming up a storm, late but there's five stalks with buds on them. That'll make for some great pictures for sure. The other little plant is just a random 'weed' that looks like Broad Leaf Plantain. Nothing overly incredible just don't see it very much in the lawn since it gets mowed weekly. It's an edible plant from what I remember but not desperate or adventurous enough to use it.

And the plants are showing signs of needing that fertilizer. I watered and dug around to make sure everything got a good deep soaking. Layla is on vacation for three weeks and asked me to take care of her garden areas. She watered thoroughly on Saturday so her south side bed doesn't need water for a while.

 

And the two cucumber seedlings are almost ready to transplant. Because the roots are starting to show through the 'casing' I wrapped them in damp paper towel and keep that wet. One of these days I'll get a tray made specifically for those pucks. I may be taking those down today to plant on the trellis since I took over the west bed with zinnia seeds. Those are going to have a difficult time germinating since I can't be down there every day to water or keep it mulched/covered. Whatever survives will be fine if not, will plant something else. Maybe. Cilantro! Haahahah. 

Laundry is happening rather than gardening today. 

More planting, warm weather

 Good weather for the end of spring season.  We actually got some rain the other day, nothing spectacular but it was cloudy and drizzly for a little while. Got my car rinsed off a bit driving through a cloudburst on Monday. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was also rather windy and brought down another sycamore branch longer than I am tall.The colors in the other picture are way off of course. Blue not nearly that intense, tried to add a filter but don't think it succeeded. 

The potato plant was finally done so I pulled it up and then dug around. Spuds are less than stellar size unless they're yukon gold (which they aren't). Total of four which all will be relegated to seed category for the fall/late summer. I then planted the remaining four of the peppers and the cucumbers go back upstairs until they get more leaves. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After planting yesterday and today. I watered thoroughly today of course, the littlest peppers were a bit droopy and soil was very warm and dry. So that is peppers and tomatoes this year, probably cucumbers as well and scattered onions through the season. I decided to put them all in this bed because the west bed gets too much shade in the afternoon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tomatoes are growing well and the largest one is about the size of my thumbnail. Can't wait to see how well they grow. Still a long way from fruiting for the Terra Cotta tomatoes, so will have a successive crop hopefully. I decided on a lark to sprinkle zinnia seeds in the west bed. I know they got huge the first time I planted them so will see what happens now that they're 2 years older.  I was going to make that my herb garden but since I can't find any herbs to plant right now, going to be flowers. Might just do that going forward for the summer. Still don't know what to do with the south bed, I was out there at 2 pm and it was in full shade. That means maybe four hours of sun, that's considered part shade. Not much grows in that kind of exposure for vegetables, possibly flowers and maybe herbs. But useful plants have to be something I'll use. More research is needed apparently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 'Tiffany' rose is blooming again and so is the epiphyllum behind it. Only one flower on that plant this year unfortunately and the hanging one in the gazebo doesn't seem to have any buds on it at all. Bloomed like crazy last year and this year hardly at all. I guess that's the cycle.

 And more crimes against landscaping. That was a full and dense bush from the bottom branches up to the top of the other branch. No other shrub has been touched in the area. I noticed the bougainvillea that was wiped out from a car at the corner of our building is growing back again, sadly will likely be hacked back again like the other one.. Really need to catch the maintenance guy Mike and ask if he can have them leave those alone and lightly trim to keep them manicured. Sigh.

And on it goes, cycle of gardening... just noticed seedpods still on the jacaranda with some flowers blooming at the same time. Typically they bloom in May, but other gardeners have noticed trees in bloom now in their areas. Weather determines flowers not the calendar.

  

 

 

 

And 'definition of space' was done

 But first the weather. Right now, clear and breezy, supposed to be an 18% chance of rain by tomorrow morning. Which means .... practically zero. Temperatures are fine got rather windy earlier today which means there are clouds moving in some time in the next 24 hours.

These were clouds from earlier today, beautiful white puffy against an amazing blue sky. The green of the trees set it off nicely, love that combo.

Tomatoes are popping! They're about the size of a large pea at this point and the branches aren't nearly strong enough to hold up a full size ripe tomato.  The shape at least tracks with a Roma, like there was any doubt of it's parentage.

So. This apparently happened day before yesterday. I am assuming it was one of the gardeners because rake marks were all over and it was very thorough. 'Definition of space' as I heard it called in gardening areas and public space.  They even got between the raised bed and the jade plant as well as behind the raised bed as far as they could get at least. Someone has issues with weeds apparently, wondering if someone complained about bugs biting them or saw a lizard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything not in the boundary of the beds was cleaned out. All that's left is dusty soil half inch thick on the surface. This is ecologically, bad news because the plants were keeping the area cool and the soil intact, it also increases the reflected heat midday. I will ask the manager and see if she knows about it, not going to be angry just letting her know that I noticed and it was rather jarring. The owners of the complex never ever make an appearance so the only thing I can think of is pest control. Oh well. It needs bark or sharp gravel now to keep the dust and mud down for sure. It did give me the impetus to clean up the compost bucket corner, took some trash away and neatened up the corner with the cages. They were hiding behind the tall weeds so wasn't that visible to me at least.

Hard to get a good picture in my small space but here's the four remaining peppers and the two cucumbers coming up. I'm keeping them in the west kitchen window most of the day unless it is blistering hot so usually about 3 or 4pm is when I opt to take them to the other side of the room and cool down. Still no more than two or three inches tall so a few weeks at least before they're big enough to transplant. Waffling on where to put the cucumbers. At least one on the trellis for sure but how to keep the other off the ground. If I put both of them together like I did the tomatoes, that's going to be a riot of vines on the trellis and not a good idea. I can try and work something out in the west bed with the two poles and chicken wire maybe? South bed gets too much shade for sure otherwise I'd lean them on the wall with chicken wire between them. Will see what I come up with.

Watered thoroughly of course, probably need to do it every other day now given how fast everything dries out. If rain happens in the next 24 hours, it won't be anything amazing so not worried about mud on the pathway. Oh apparently one of the newer residents who speaks zero english was puttering around in Dolores' area. I was out with Rocky and managed to herd him that direction and tried to ask her if Dolores said she could use her soil, that conversation went nowhere and she acted like that was her soil she was using. Not my garden, not my flowers. Have at it whatever you do lady. She lives downstairs across from our building and has no garden space whatsoever but is trying to put things in pots near their front door. 

Anyway, that's all for today and maybe this week, who knows. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cucumbers are up, peppers are as well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rose is blooming nicely also, about the only thing that seems to be at this point. Well the jasmine is starting to bloom and bud so it will be smelling lovely very soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterflies and lizards oh my! I was winged by that Mourning Cloak that was flitting around the lawn area. Saw three of them having a battle today as well, soon the tips of the tree branches will be inundated by caterpillars. Rocky spied the lizard on the tree but it moved too fast and he knew it was a lost cause, wasn't happy but he walked away. So it's lizard season again, the adults are out and sunning themselves which means there will be babies in another month.

 Two cucumbers are up! The photos are about two days apart with the lower one taken today. Whoever gets big enough first, gets first crack at the trellis. I know I'm supposed to wait and transplant them when they're three or four inches but so far, the other peppers are still holding strong. Need to water today or tomorrow for sure though.

Almost cool breeze coming through right now, supposed to rain, possibly, maybe in a week.... right. Will have to water and wash my car to guarantee that event.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently Layla got out and loosened up her soil. for whatever reason. I know I loosened up my south bed but am waiting to put some onions in which may happen tomorrow or Sunday. I don't even think she uses the cilantro/coriander. I need to find the ground coriander in the spice section of the store and see what they're charging for it.  Too late in the season for actual cilantro so have to buy that for the next three months. 

At least tomato prices will come down soon, about the time I have tomatoes! That was taken two days ago so it's twice as bit and another behind it as well. Yay for tomatoes! Even if the plant is a bit weak and not big enough. Food is coming, hopefully. 

 

Still alive and thriving

 So the weather has been pleasant enough, supposed to cool down next week and possibly rain. Right. Only if I decide to wash the car or water the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annd blogger photos works again! Must have been the OS update from yesterday it needed. So first up is the Tiffany/Pink rose that's blooming. I finally got my clippers and trimmed off the old flowers on all the bushes a few days ago. The Angel Face has survived but it's so old and maltreated it's going to be a while before a flower shows up, if it does flower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The seedlings have survived and seem to be weathering the full sun just fine. The onions on the other hand... not so much. Oh and when I was shifting soil around I uncovered a potato briefly but immediately piled as much soil under the plant and on top of the baby spuds as possible.  Hard to make a 'tower' of dirt when there's nothing around to hold it in place.

I thought I took a picture of the west bed but don't see it. After I watered I used the trowel and moved the muck around. Muck it was really, barely any organic matter in the soil so it was mud. Easy to break up after it's dried a bit but that bed seriously needs some compost that's more organic forest products than decayed kitchen scraps. Still working on getting to the store for fertilizer and a small bag of soil.

So short post, will see what goes in and on this month.