Two More Trees in the Ground

Nanking cherry

My Nanking cherry bushes which I grew from seeds are mostly doing OK but a couple of them need some iron & nitrogen. I added an organic iron product awhile back, but so far it doesn't seem to be helping. So I loosened up the soil around them a bit with my digging fork, then added some vermicompost. I hope this helps them perk up soon.

loosening up the heavy clay soil

vermicompost

Vermicompost is the compost made with earth worms. It is very concentrated in nutrients and in plant growth hormones. I have used it to save many ailing plants. This batch I scooped up from the worm bin without bothering to seperate the worms out, so there will be worms in this area now too. Earthworms help break down organic matter, concentrate plant nutrients in a plant available form and help loosen up tough soil.

Desert Willow

Yay! I got to plant 2 more trees today! A desert willow which have really pretty lavender/purple flowers. The other one was a Mission Fig. I think Mission has some of the biggest figs I've ever seen. This gives me 6 fig trees of 5 varieties.

Mission Fig

The Compost Chickens  finished out their first week with a full dozen eggs layed with ZERO commercial feed. Check out their own page for more information!

Two More Trees in the Ground

Nanking cherry

My Nanking cherry bushes which I grew from seeds are mostly doing OK but a couple of them need some iron & nitrogen. I added an organic iron product awhile back, but so far it doesn't seem to be helping. So I loosened up the soil around them a bit with my digging fork, then added some vermicompost. I hope this helps them perk up soon.

loosening up the heavy clay soil

vermicompost

Vermicompost is the compost made with earth worms. It is very concentrated in nutrients and in plant growth hormones. I have used it to save many ailing plants. This batch I scooped up from the worm bin without bothering to seperate the worms out, so there will be worms in this area now too. Earthworms help break down organic matter, concentrate plant nutrients in a plant available form and help loosen up tough soil.

Desert Willow

Yay! I got to plant 2 more trees today! A desert willow which have really pretty lavender/purple flowers. The other one was a Mission Fig. I think Mission has some of the biggest figs I've ever seen. This gives me 6 fig trees of 5 varieties.

Mission Fig

The Compost Chickens  finished out their first week with a full dozen eggs layed with ZERO commercial feed. Check out their own page for more information!

Random Stuff

The tomatoes are finally trickling in. I have been really impressed with the Rio Grande variety. The tomatoes are huge and the plant was still setting fruit in 100+ temps.

Rio Grande tomatoes almost ready

baby fig tree

I took advantage of a special from Baker Creek Heirlooms and got 5 little fig trees for $25. I'll have to do a post on them later. 1 was damaged in shipping and doesn't look like it's going to make it, but the others look really good.

Trombonccinno

The Trombonccino squash are doing well and beginning to make babies. The bumble bees love the squash blossoms. I love how the vines are huge and make a lot of shade. The squash are tender and used like little zucchini as long as the skin is thin. Later the skin gets thicker, eventually turning tan and hard. Left until fall they are great winter squash, a couple of vines can easily make over 100 pounds of winter squash.

squash vines on the greenhouse / trellis

Arizona Dragon

This little guy sat in my drive way for quite some time. He was not at all bothered by me getting close for photos. Actually called a Horned Lizard (or Horney Toad) many people complain they don't see them any more. I think that is because people spray poison all over their house and yards and poison all the ant dens. Ants are part of the Horned Lizard's diet, so of course, no ants, no lizards. I don't spray any poison around my place and rarely do I poison an ant den unless it's like in my house or something.