Spikey Mystery Plant

What is this? two of these appeared in containers in my front yard this year... I pulled one out of wine barrel #1, but the other I let grow just to see what it was.

At first I thought it was some kind of grass, but the leaves are serrated on the edges (very finely, and sharply!), but then this happened:

here's the one I pulled out of the wine barrel a few months ago...It was hard to remove and had a large taproot.

Gilmore Garden Wand

Last year, I bought this garden hose wand at Lowes, I instantly loved it, it fits perfectly in your hand, is easy to hold for long periods of time, and the lever action is fantastic. There is also a handy latch to hold the lever down when you need it and a multitude of settings to select from. Also the length of the wand is perfect, long enough to reach some of the hanging baskets, but not so long to keep you from seeing what you are watering. I went back the next week to get another for the front yard but they were sold out.

I went back a few week later - no sign of them.

Went back again and again, and to other stores but haven't seen this size wand again.

Needless to say I was disappointed.

Then a few weeks ago I got this as a birthday gift!

Hooray!

Red Pot update

Here's an update on the red pot:

It's growing pretty fast here's what it looked like a couple months ago.

In this container is a Lobelia 'Queen Victoria', that has died back the last two winters and returns the last two springs. also Brass Buttons ground cover, and a red grass, leptinella 'Squalida.' Here's a post from when I first planted these in the container.

I keep them under the oak in the back yard where it gets some direct sunlight in the am and late pm.

Crickets

Today I've spent the day hunting down and squashing every cricket I could find. There is a large amount of damage from them around the garden. They were hiding in every nook and cranny, they seem to especially love hanging out in the base of bulb leaves and inside flowers...

Mystery Plant...

One of my plant containers sprung a plant out of nowhere - seemingly overnight - that I don't remember ever purchasing.

It's possible it's some kind of weed, but it could also be something I bought that died back over the winter... It looks like a geranium.

If you know what it is let me know!

Calla Lilies

I always thought of Calla Lillies as indoor plants, but the first spring we lived in this house, these guys popped up behind the garage. They always look good while they are blooming, but when they die back that area looks barren. I'd like to thing of something to interplant between these that would live during the summer and fall. It needs to be heat and drought tolerant, and like a northern exposure (mostly shade). I you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them!

The Garden Geek

Check it out! a new slick online community for gardeners:

http://www.thegardengeek.com/

The Vitex is Alive!

I was worried that I had killed this Vitex, or Chaste Tree, but it's finally showing sign of life, I'm so happy!

Vitex agnus castus
“Chaste Tree”
10-20ft tree or cut back to promote shrubby growth
Zones 6-10
drought tolerant
Sun- pt sun
lavender flower spikes in July-September. Fragrant 8-12” blooms
highly attractive to bees, butterflies & hummers & promote excellent honey production


more info avail on this plant at floridata

Urbio Magnetic Garden Pots

Fund a start up, through micro-lending forum kickstarter, that's bringing magnetic garden pots to the urban gardener.



http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1627079510/urbio-vertical-garden

ajuga - chocolate Chip

Ajuga - chocolate Chip is blooming.

Herb Bowl

I planted this one years ago. I'm sure it is completely root bound, but all the herbs come back year after year. oregano, chives, rosemary, lavendar, and sage.

I was thinking about moving the whole thing into a larger bowl so the plants have a little more breathing room.

Cherry Trees Blooming

Oyster Plant Blooming

Sourgrass

While Michelle and I were out at all the nurseries yesterday she told me that she had just found out that sourgrass was edible, and she was contemplating using it for an ice cream flavor. I wasn't sure what it was that she was talking about, but she said "oh, it grows everywhere you'd know it if you saw it," When we passed by some, she pointed it out and I realized it was the stuff that fills my neighbors backyard and spills under the fence into our yard.

Here's some more info about it, apparently it's South African, and super invasive. Oxalis pes-caprae
Bermuda Buttercup, Yellow Sour Grass, Cape Sorrel, African Woodsorrel, Sour Sob

New Plants

Today I went with Michelle to the Berkeley Horticultural Nursery, which I swear I'd been to before, but it looked completely different! Maybe because it was spring and full of tons and tons or plants. I picked up a 4" pot of Viola Labradorica, and a pint Heliotropium Arborescens. While we were they we saw a display with a bulb that I liked a lot, we didn't see any for sale there but asked what it was called they said "Sparaxis."

Later, we were driving over to the new location of the Oaktown Nursery, and as we passed the East Bay nursery (which we only drove by on the suggestion of Michelle), and from the street I saw the Sparaxis bulbs so I pulled over and picked up a couple. When we got to the Oaktown Nursery new location, it was closed, so I'll have to make another trip out this way soon.

Sparaxis bulbs from East Bay Nursery

Viola Labradorica from Berkeley Horticultural Nursery

Heliotrope from Berkeley Horticultural Nursery