My six week vacation has come and gone. I spent it in my fatherland, which is far warmer than temperatures here. The rains are almost upon them. Meanwhile, the day I returned it already pouring.
I'm sad not only because of the people in leaving behind, whom I will not see for another year, but also for the plant friends I left behind.
I left behind one of my famous turban pumpkins, which I'm told is growing very beautifully and vigorously. It is finally grabbing onto the makeshift trellis I fashioned from two large logs wrapped haphazardly with barbed wire. I'm glad it's working. I plan to test out of this will grow on the shady side of the garden. I don't have much hope but, hey, I've got plenty of seeds to experiment with!
The Kajari melon I planted is also doing well, although it is much smaller. I attribute this to the (relatively) small seed it sprouted from. Even as a sproutling it was pretty small. I will plant more here this summer.
As promised, I planted an ayocote bean in its ancestral home. I find it interesting that when these sprout, the cotyledons remain underground and don't rise up with the growing stem. Anyways... You can't see it but I made a proper trellis for this plant. It is higher up against the wall; these plants can grow in excess of 6ft.
Unfortunately the pigeon pea I planted got eaten. That's too bad. I would have liked to see a mature tree by the next time I returned.
The rest of the plants in Terminal 5 are saplings. They include various citrus fruits, avocados, guava, fig, mango, mamey, and I'm probably forgetting some. They are too many to count and too small to bear fruit, except for the limes which are already flowering!
HQ
This sad picture of an Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus pretty much describes my entire garden right now! I really hope it survived the winter and springs back to life. I did not baby it at all. Fingers crossed!
My compost pile is looking pretty dark and healthy! I should mine some more compost from it later. My sister wanted some for some of her houseplants. She does a pretty good job managing all of them though she is jealous of the success of my air plants (Tillandsia).
She and I went to this awesome and poppin' plant shop north of the city. That's where I bought this newest addition to my collection! I was told it was a Tillandsia bulbosa, though I'm not quite convinced. Perhaps it is, but I'll be certain once it blooms. Do you like the little basket I mounted it on? I had to remove the tiny copper handles since copper will burn and kill air plants. You've been warned (for at least the third time).
I saw some sugar snap peas at the store and thought, why not? So I bought some and planted them yesterday. I protected them with some used, aged coffee grounds that were moldy and hopefully devoid of caffeine.
The peas in here might be a bit safer. The cage I fashioned also doubles as a trellis! I thought this was the earliest I've ever planted anything but that's a lie. Last year I planted potatoes on Saint Patrick's day. Peas like the cold weather so we'll see how they do. I can't wait to eat the tender pods straight off the vine!
That's all I have to report this month. Wow, you've made it this far? You're a trooper. Just for that, feast your eyes on the bloom from a homegrown dragon fruit.
This very beautiful and very fragrant flower opens up at night only to close again around 10:00 AM! It is likely pollinated by bats and moths and Batman and mothman.
That's all for now!
Until next time!
That dragon fruit flower looks amazing! My plant has yet to flower, so I had no idea they looked so striking. The Tillandsia is pretty striking too.
Thank you. Just wait until the Tillandsia flowers!
You'll have to share and tag me, so I don't miss it!
If I remember! When I bought it I let slip that my T. ionantha plants bloom every year and I was told that's not supposed to happen! Apparently it's one and done. I have another mystery species I'm waiting on to bloom as well.
Oh wow, the air plant is strikingly graceful looking, the basket matches it really well. I've never seen one and I wonder what the flowers look like. Ooh, homegrown dragon fruit. Who's taking care of the plant friends you left behind?
My dad was left in charge of the plants. He waters then every other day or as he sees fit. I had actually brought back an air plant from my travels. It looks a bit like Spanish moss but grows in ball form. It has flowers but they are not very showy at all haha. Hopefully when the new one I got blooms, it will be extravagant! Thanks, everyone likes that little basket!
The prickly pears are tough: they will bounce back
That's very comforting to hear, especially from you! I can't wait to watch them restore to their former glory!
Have followed to wait for the next post from you ^_^
Thank you, thank you. There will be one in the coming days.