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Calla Lily Aethiopica Large White

I learned about this flower from watching Around the World in 80 gardens, with Monte Don. While in South Africa, he found some beautiful white lilies growing on the side of the road. Don said that people in the UK pay an arm and a leg for these flowers. Upon further research, I found that they are also a common wedding flower. I think the would look beautiful in my front yard.

My gardening philosophy very French - start with the right structure. This means decided how to hedge the garden, and how big will the hedges be. I am going to have a simple straight small boxwood hedge along the property. I like hedges to the simple, full and perfectly straight.

After hedging is laid out, then one plants the ornamental which brings me to my second rule - less is more. Flowering plants are meant to be seen in groups, not as individuals.  When people put more than 5 varieties of flowers in their front yard, it will end up looking cluttered.

I plan on starting my new front yard with a hedge, and the South African white lily (which isn't cheap, but will come back year after year.)

Links:

http://www.callalilyshop.pacificcallas.com/callalilywhitelarge.htm

http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/g-41-gloriosa-lily-planting-guide.aspx

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/calla.html

Nut Tree

Hello Everyone, it has been a long time since I posted on my gardening blog. A lot has changed, my husband and me purchased a new house, which means there will be many more gardening blogs coming up.

I am planting some espalier fruit trees in my backyard (and planted the apple tree just last this week), but what I would really like to do is plant some nut trees.

Nature Hills Nursery Hazel Nut Tree  http://www.naturehills.com/hazelnut
Nature Hills Nursery Pecan Tree http://www.naturehills.com/hardy-pecan
Arbor Day Chinese Chestnut Tree https://shop.arborday.org/product.aspx?zpid=818
Arbor Day American Hazel Nut https://shop.arborday.org/product.aspx?zpid=847
Starks Bro Lemon Tree http://www.starkbros.com/products/fruit-trees/citrus-trees/meyer-lemon
Starks Bro Olive Tree http://www.starkbros.com/products/fruit-trees/olive-trees/arbequina-olive
Starks Bro Plumb Daddy Assortment http://www.starkbros.com/products/fruit-trees/plum-trees/plum-dandy-assortment

My garden, June 7th 2013

French Radish

Last week I started some seedlings for my garden:

French Radish
Iceberg Lettuce
Asian Spinach
Okra

The French Radish are sprouting like mad. They will transplanted into the garden sooner than any of the other seedlings. For this blog, I am going to discuss how to grow and eat French Radish.

These radishes are oblong, with a white base fading into a pink cap. They can grow up to three inches in length. One blogger recommends planting them with beets because the Radishes are harvested in just a few weeks, while the beets take much longer. Apparently the roots do not spit open as much as other round radish roots. The French Breakfast radish was introduced in 1879, and was popular in the Parisian Farmer markets. From my experience, these babies are very easy to grow.

I have no idea why it is called Breakfast Radish, I would never eat one of these for breakfast. But, they do look great for a stir fry, hor d'eurve or side dish. There are many online recipes for glazed radish, and sauteed radish. I do not know what works, but when harvest time comes around I will share my recipes.

The sprouting garden

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Homemade Herb Basket

Thai Peppers

This is my first year planting at the community garden. I have already been making some mistakes and learning from them. (note to self: do not put out basil until June)

Anyway, I planted Thai Peppers. It is the key ingredient to Thai curry. This pepper is used extensively is all types of Asian cooking. They dry easily due to their thin skin. The chili grows to only 1.5 inches long, and .25 in diameter. Apparently, it packs some serious heat, and that heat intensifies when drying.  The plant grows low, but the chili grow pointing upward. One chili can easily season an entire batch of chili. Apparently the charm of these peppers is that they make great ornaments.

May 1st 2013 : Day at the garden

Yesterday was a pretty rough day. My two year old pushed my baby at the garden, caused a minor head wound which proceeded to gush blood. We had to call the medics. It was a horrible event.

Needless to say, they are NOT coming together with me to the garden again.

That being said, here is my garden update:

How to Grow Onion Sets - simple instructions

Onions are a staple in almost all vegetable gardens. One of the easiest way to plant onions is to use sets (teeny tiny onion bulbs you buy in the nursery). They are about the size of a marble. Plant them two inches in the ground when the temperature is about fifty degrees F. Choose a location that gets about seven hours of light every day. The bulbs can be planted about four inches apart. 

Onions need to grow in firm soil. Tamp them down after planting. Mend the soil with: zinc, boron and nitrogen. 

Onions are easily damaged by garden tools. You should mulch after the leaves start growing, or weed them by hand.