Failure to Flourishing

Have you ever tried to make lemonade from lemons? That is how this *repurposed* hummingbird feeder collection ended up on Hummingbird Island.

I couldn't figure out why the hummers weren't enjoying the homemade nectar in the cute mosaic glass feeders hanging all over the garden? They provide easy access, are colorful and loaded with nectar. ?!? Come to find out they are toooo shiny. Oops. :-/

So, I removed the mold-covered nectar topped with floating dead ants and replaced it with a bit of cactus soil for succulent cuttings. And voila!

Spring is Sizzling Already

"And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden...You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden."
-Rudyard Kipling

This spring included two horticulture classes: Propagation and California Natives. Ooohh the possibilities are so much greater in the Bistro now! As I was musing about what I want it to look like in three years, I decided I would need to propagate my favorite plants and purchase the most desired over a period of time.

Plants being propagated include:
Hoya Pubea (nectar on Hummingbird Island)
Brugmansia (for fast growing standing eye-level fillers along fence and for nightime fragrance)
Geraniums (for color and knee-level fillers)

Purchased (over a 6 month period):
Hoya Pubea
Lonicera Japonica Purpurea (fragrance)
Jasminum Stephanese (fragrance and beneficals)
Ficus Pumila (wall cover)
Angel Vine (wall cover)
Bacopa, white (green color divider in raised planter)

First Fruits of the Season

Jake decided to water the plants once he scraped away the weeds from the base and discovered a couple green berries. Yep! A humble little crop from four strawberry plants that were completely neglected since the fall and watered through a dilapidated soaker hose network pieced and plugged together with screws/washers and electrical tape! Just one deep soak for three hours, great soil, sun and the weeds left intact. Hmmm, maybe I should do something about the last item on the list.

April Does A Yarden Good!

The bulbs are springing up in clusters of 6-10. Check these out!

Winter Blues-I Have No Plan

This weekend is the first time all winter I have been able to tend to the Bistro. There are so many areas to infuse my creativity I get overwhelmed on where to start!

In November I put in about 200 bulbs along the back fence. Peonies, tulips, allums and daffodils are beginning to surface.
Some other ornamental "experiments" include Brugmansia cuttings, succulent transplants and repots.

One thing I do know- since most of the soil is clay-based and needs a lot of ammendment for growing edibles, I did decide to make most of the backyard ornamental. Also, the wood along the north side fence is chemically treated so it isn't compatible for edibles anyways. With those two facts in mind, I will be doing most everything else in pots.

The photos include some transplants and new succulent cuttings in containers. I chose to convert the birdbath to a planter since all it collected was pine needles and algae over the years. Lol!

Check out the guide "How to make cork planters"

I thought you'd enjoy this guide on How to make cork planters.

You can view the guide here: http://snp.gd/ea64pg

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