Japanese Maples Fall Color
'Skeeter's Broom' is the most colorful maple in our garden. I have just returned from a 2-week trip to Japan. This was my first ever trip outside the United States. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Japan was wonderful - they really have their act together and I think the U.S. could learn a few things from them. There was one disappointment on the trip - the fall color had barely begun there and was really just beginning as we left. That is okay because the gardens were still spectacular, and I got a nice shot of fall color when I got back. 'Ryusen' I missed a few things - our ginkgo had just turned a glorious color the day before I left, and the leaves were gone by the time I got back. 'Sango-Kaku' I came home to many leaves on the ground but still a lot on the trees. 'Osakazuki', a beautiful red maple always changed color very late and therefore doesn't usually last long. When I left there was no color but a few remaini
You may have discussed this before, but how do you keep the squirrels from eating the blooms on melons? My mother had a really green thumb for plants, but also had many tamed pet squirrels who seemed to have a mission in life to destroy her cantaloupes and watermelons. I would love to try if I could be sure of humanely keeping the cute little rodents away.
ReplyDeletePhillip,
ReplyDeleteYou need to teach me how to grow tomatoes! I have almost 40 different types of plants in the garden and I can't get a tomato to save my life. I put it in the ground and it lives but only grows about 3 inches the entire season. What am I doing wrong?
That should have been 400. LOL Not 40.
ReplyDeleteHey, we get excited about home grown tomatoes too!
ReplyDeleteFirezne, I've grown melons at my mother's house in Franklin County and I don't believe there is much of a squirrel problem. One thing you might check into is using netting to keep them out. There are various types you can buy to keep critters out.
ReplyDeleteRandy, one trick is to remove all the lower branches and plant the entire tomato very deep (up to where the last set of leaves begin). I also put crushed eggshells in the hole to help prevent blossom end rot. Other than that, are yours getting lots of sun and water?
I highly recommend David and Kathryn's guide/book to veggie gardening to anyone thats interested, be it your a rookie gardener or an expert. One can never have enough tips on how to have a healthy, long lasting plant.
ReplyDelete-Tony Salmeron
I totally understand Michael's excitement! We have a number of cherry tomatoes that are almost red but are taking forever to ripen. Ella keeps trying to pick them, so we're working on patience :) Thanks for the book recommendation, it sounds like a good one!
ReplyDeleteJust beginning to become interested in vegetable gardening and these suggested book(s)sound as if they would prove useful! Love your blog and the beautiful photos.(dayclear@yahoo.com)
ReplyDeleteThanks Phillip for the contest link. I asked a daylily question...for the win!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the book I need to get! It's so frustrating when you know something's wrong but you can't figure out what. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteI've just replanted my garden. A 4 inch rain a while back drowned my cantaloupes and watermelons. Then no rain got the rest. Since I took over my veggie garden in daylilies & iris I started a new garden and need to run water to it. I have green tomatoes, but they have a while before these heirlooms are large enough to cover a piece of bread. When my Cherokee purple's come in, I'll have to drop some off. Bet you'll like them.
ReplyDeleteThe first tomato of the season is always the tastiest!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I love that Michael called his cousin! I'm the same way, and this year I'm trying tomatoes in pots on the deck, because last year the birds ate ALL my tomatoes. Maybe that book will tell me how to fix that problem!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I love that Michael called his cousin! I'm the same way, and this year I'm trying tomatoes in pots on the deck, because last year the birds ate ALL my tomatoes. Maybe that book will tell me how to fix that problem!
ReplyDeleteOur family alll call each other to report gardening excitement. Everyone likes the bragging rights for first blooms, first tomatoes etc. Even though June 22 is my birthday I don't need the book. I don't grow much in the line of food. I haunt the farmers market this time of year though.
ReplyDeleteWe ate our first green beans, new potatoes and a few cherry tomatoes. I must admit I love them all. There's just something so special about food straight from the garden. I bet the book is good. Timber Press is a good publisher.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteI need this book!! I always have questions about what's going on in the veggie garden, when to pull diseased plants etc.
ReplyDeleteSlowly but surely I'm progressing toward using more of the garden for vegetables. It just makes more CENTS! :) Looks like a cool book!
ReplyDeleteI think I know what's wrong with my garden--it's way too small! Jeannine
ReplyDeleteI'm slowly but surely learning to garden in the south Phillip but I often ask myself that question! Would be happy to win this one!!
ReplyDeleteI need this book! So far my Nano-Farm is doing very well but last year my carrots were teensy and grew little shriveled brains at the top of their stem. I think I've solved the problem, but I won't know till I try to make a carrot cake with them! Throwing a few Tums into the planting hole helps prevent calcium deficiency with tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteWow! The book really sounds interesting. Nice give away indeed.
ReplyDeletenot too late for your giveaway :) I didn't eat veggies till I started growing them! m langley @ acgi.com
ReplyDeleteI would love to win!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog and I also enjoy Mad About Maida!
I don't have room for a garden this year, but I've got tomatoes and peppers in containers on the patio. Maybe next year....
I always think I’m going to eat so healthy when the garden comes in, but my grocery list includes bacon for BLTs, cream cheese to stuff jalapenos and batter for fried green tomatoes.
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