It’s A Dragon Invasion!

And, I couldn’t possibly be happier about it!

Dragons here, Dragons there…

The snapdragon blooms are again the stars of the patio garden, with blooms ranging in color from pure white, yellow, pink, and magenta, there is definitely no shortage of color out on the patio these days! What the photos don’t show; however, is that the snapdragon’s bloom stalks are so tall, and the blooms are so large, that most of them are bent at crazy angles and are much closer to the ground than they are the sky! Oh well, they are still beautiful and I will enjoy them for as long as they last.

A number of bees have decided to visit and get their pollen fill

Layers of Dragons have taken residence

Bright yellow dragons

The Lotus family member; Amazon Sunset, Parrot’s Beak, continues to put out more of her beautiful, signature blooms. I have waited all year for the Parrot’s Beak’s to spring back to life and they are definitely living up to my hopes.

Amazon Sunset, Parrot’s Beak

Fiery beaks everywhere

I love these little flowers!

Elsewhere around the garden; my Oyster Mushroom patch continues to produce new mushrooms and the ones that I have harvested so far, were darn tasty! Thanks to my friends at Back to the Roots for the mushroom kit! It took a little while to get going; however, well worth the wait and patience.

Yummy Oyster Mushrooms

Around the rest of the patio; the hydrangea blossoms continue to get bigger and bigger and my long dormant Calla Lily are finally making a resounding comeback! I am hoping that they will begin to form their signature flower (well, bract) soon.

Hydrangea blossoms abound

The Calla Lily Garden Rebounding

The Calla Lily, which I have learned is actually NOT a true Lily; and the ‘flower’ is NOT the plants true flower – as I learned from researching my Anthurium andreanum, it is part of an inflorescence, which is on a leafless flower stalk which consists of a spathe and spadix. The ‘flower’ is the spathe, the well-known large, flaring, trumpet-shaped bract that surrounds the spadix which is covered with the plants actual tiny flowers. Now you know!

Well friends, I hope that your gardens are in bloom and that your soil is rich! I will leave you with a couple of parting shots that didn’t really fit in above that I just liked and thought I would share…

Just a nice blue flower with some friends arriving soon

A dragon hides within the Avocado tree, sneaky!!

Until next time…

HAPPY GARDENING FRIENDS!!

~ Noah

Dragons, Parrots, and Oysters – Oh My!!

Nope; I did not just return from a visit to a medieval bird sanctuary on the coast…

The snapdragon are in glorious bloom!

A parrot hides amongst the rosemary and thyme

Oyster Mushrooms finally sprout from the kit

My patio garden is again awash in beautiful colors thanks to a multitude of snapdragon blooms which are  popping up everywhere out on the patio. The two variety of snapdragon that I added this season; Rocket Mix Snapdragon and Speedy White Sonnet Snapdragon, have decided that right now appears to the optimal time to open their beautiful pastel flowers and say hello to the world. Right now, there are about 15 to 20 – 2-foot tall stalks growing in assorted planters around the patio that are in full bloom and I couldn’t be happier!

A dragon’s bloom, with a sea of daisy blooms in the background

A new stalk of blooms prepares to open

In addition to the snapdragon’s arrival; the lotus family member, Amazon Sunset, Parrot’s Beak, has rebounded and is now pushing out new flowers almost daily. This little gem is definitely one of the most visually striking flowering plants that I have growing, I hope you agree!!

Flaming Parrot’s Batman!

Some of my reader’s may recall that I had been given a Mushroom growing kit some months back; however, it was just not doing anything in the house – not one hint of a mushroom!! So, I figured I would tear it out of its box and bag and just unceremoniously dump it in a shaded, generally moist (from plant watering) area of the patio, and it appears that my efforts is paying off with the first sprouting of fresh Oyster Mushrooms! I will be harvesting these this week and enjoying for dinner!!

Oysters curving around their substrate!

The ornamental strawberries (fragaria x. lipstick) continue to put out her striking pink flowers; and pre-fruiting bodies, though, I have only ever seen one grow to near eating size, which was gobbled up by Mr. Squirrel while still green. Hope that he enjoyed!

Fragaria x. Lipstick – ornamental strawberry

More growing beneath the ginger plants

I will leave you today with a couple of shots that I just happen to really like!!

Euphorbia’s flowering stage – looks like teeth protecting the seed/flower?!?!

Big Boy Avocado continues his upward progress!!

Until next time…

HAPPY GARDENING FRIENDS!!!

~ Noah

Leapin’ Lizards GardenMan!!

The garden’s dragons are starting to wake up and spread their wings…

A dragon preparing to fly

After last week’s loss of most of the new annuals to the unusual heat wave that Oakland and the rest of the Bay Area has been enjoying, I was tickled purple, white, yellow, and orange with this week’s arrival of my garden’s seasonal dragon festival.

Another flight of dragon’s prepares itself to greet the garden!

Of the two new snapdragon varieties I added this season; Rocket Mix Snapdragon and Speedy White Sonnet Snapdragon, only the Speedy White’s had shown any inclination to setting blooms as of last week. I guess the heat of the last weeks and possibly the additional water required to keep the soil moist sparked the Rocket’s to radio Houston Control and prepare for lift-off!

Continuation of last week’s Speedy White Sonnet blooms

Houston; we have lift off!! Rocket’s Mix snapdragon

The snapdragon’s arrival appears to have ushered in a cascade of new blooms and growth all around the patio. One of my all time favorites;  a Lotus vine hybrid; Amazon Sunset, Parrot’s Beak (Lotus maculatus) which I have learned is a cross between Lotus Berthelottii ‘Red Flash’  and Lotus Maculata, has finally re-bloomed. Apparently, this cross is somewhat uncommon and of limited availability. I guess I just dumb lucked into them at Whole Foods about 2-years ago and have been super glad that something about the plant caught my eye (it was not in bloom when I picked it up).

Lotus vine variety; Amazon Sunset, Parrot’s Beak

Vibrant red and yellow beaks look upward as if waiting for mother to feed them

New blooms have yet to gain the vivid coloring of the others

The hydrangea plants are now setting more bulb clusters and I am looking forward to this year’s blooms. I have always had a soft spot for hydrangea and the blue and purple blooms that I have been getting really add a wonderful burst of color for the garden.

Hydrangea enjoying the dappled rays of the mid-day sunshine on my patio

One of many bulb clusters forming on the hydrangea

The little purple daisy plant continues to pour out more of her dainty and beautiful little flowers, which contrast nicely with the snowflake she shares a container with. The Calla Lily in the same container seem to be trying to make a comeback; however, still nothing 2 + years after their first blooming.

Dainty Daisy

Finally, today I will leave you all with just a couple of images that I really liked!!

Cineraria – beautiful

Introducing my two passions to each other; cycling meet gardening

Time for dinner and to rest and enjoy the rest of the weekend, I hope you all had a great weekend!

HAPPY GARDENING FRIENDS!

~ Noah

Earth Day Weekend; Seems apropos to play…

…in the dirt; even if that dirt is separated from the actual earth by a collection of random containers strewn about a patio in Oakland, CA!!!

The Ornamental Strawberry (Fragaria x. Lipstick) rebounds

This week brought the realization that I just might have let my bike riding (training for my first ever bike race!!) completely sway my attention from my garden for a day or two, too long and the cost of such inattentiveness was the death of nearly all of my annuals. I found them parched, withering, and dying out! I tried my best to revive them; alas, the damage was done. The Pansies, Viola‘s, and most of the Primrose, are goners! Which was; simply a Bummer! I guess that I will look at this lapse in attention as both a reminder and an opportunity to find some new garden color!

The Jade Family Enjoying the Morning

The garden is currently in one her transitional periods; with Snapdragon shoots rising higher and higher from their planters and at their tips are numerous buds which tell me that soon there will be an explosion of pastel dragons taking over the patio! The three bulbs I was given by my ex-wife last year have all sprung to life and are sending up a lot of new shoots which I hope mean that their flower spikes will soon follow (One of the bulbs is a large Amaryllis; however, I am not sure about the other two as they have yet to produce a flower). My herbs have also sprung to life and I am blessed with enough fresh Rosemary and Thyme for months of baking fresh focaccia bread!

Snapdragon shooting upwards toward the Sun

Some Dragons have arrived early

Elsewhere in the garden; the hydrangea and ginger are thriving in their shady domain of the large yellow planter. The hydrangea has begun forming her first buds of the season, the ginger; meh, she will do whatever it is that she wants I suppose, and intertwined amongst them, creeping rosemary creeps about!

The first hydrangea buds of my season

Hydrangea, Ginger, Rosemary, oh my!

On the other side of the garden; Mr. Big Boy Avocado, the last of the three avo-seedlingss which I attempted to grow as a project to occupy my free time the last time I was unemployed; and which were the original impetus for this blog, continues to thrive in his new home outside on the patio. He is finally growing noticeably taller as well and is now standing at just over 3-feet tall and currently leafing out quite nicely. Will Big Boy Avocado ever bear edible fruit? Definitely not on his own; I would need to get another avocado tree to ensure the process of cross-pollination has even a remote chance; however, as there could be more  avocado trees nearby, dumb luck might take a stab at pollination resulting in fruiting – doubtful, but it could happen. I will know in about four years if he will be ornamental only or a producer.

Big Boy Avocado enjoying the outdoor life!

Well friends, that is about all there is to tell from this side of the garden-verse. Happy Earth Day Everyone, I hope that your gardens are thriving and bringing you joy!

HAPPY GARDENING FRIENDS!

~ Noah

There Be Dragons Here!

A wonderful surprise awaited my return to Oakland after a weekend out-of-town; Dragons!!

Well; to be more precise, the first snapdragon blooms of the season!

Season’s first snapdragon blooms!

This variety is called; ‘Speedy White Sonnet’ Snapdragon, the name makes so much more sense now – they were indeed quick speedy in blooming! I picked out two varieties of snapdragon when I did the Winter Patio Refresh; the other variety – ‘Rocket Mix’ Snapdragon,  should provide the signature snapdragon pastel colors later in the season.

A wee closer view!

More Blooms in the Making!

The flower profusion has finally started to subside or maybe switch gears? The delicate little purple daisy that are mixed in with the equally dainty snowflake have burst into their full glory!

A lovely array of snowflakes and purple daisy greet me

Everything growing in nicely!

The Euphorbia continue to shoot up flower spikes in ridiculous amounts – they are actually pretty interesting the closer I have inspected them. Still have to look these up and see what I should be doing with them?

Weirdest Flowers Ever!

Other than the new snapdragon, the patio continues to be just a wonderful, wild place, that attracts plenty of birds, bugs, and squirrels – all much to the delight of my kitty, Ms. Gretchen! She is not allowed outside; however, I know that she enjoys mentally stalking them and chewing them up!

The cineraria continue to put out marvelously colored petals

The mystery blue flowers return for their 3rd season

Anyway friends; it was a long weekend, I hope that you are all well and that your gardens are what you want them to be.

Until next time….

HAPPY GARDENING FRIENDS

~ Noah

Bike Rides, Beautiful Blooms, & Insights Gained

It is not always the biggest flowers that I enjoy the most

I gotta tell you, I am really starting to enjoy the weekends much more than I have for quite some time! Sunday’s have historically been a day for getting the chores done (laundry, grocery getting, house cleaning, etc.); however, since I purchased my bicycle in January, Saturday’s and Sunday’s have become a day for getting out, getting some exercise, and just having fun without worrying about parking, gas, or traffic.

Cineraria in incredibly VIVID purple!

Since getting the bike; I have been trying to ride somewhere in the 15 – 20 mile range during the weekends. I have come to terms with the reality that 20+ years of driving had taken its toll on my stamina, leg strength, and overall cardiovascular system; by the time I get home after a long ride, I am usually far too tired to think about doing chores!  This is not a terrible thing as I now find that I spend even more time out on the patio just enjoying the garden from a comfy garden chair (to rest my weary old bones upon). The chores which formerly dominated my weekend are easily pawned off on an unsuspecting work week, ensuring that my weekends are again valued as a precious resource -  not to be squandered on the tedious, but to enjoy at a full throttle pace in pursuit of fun!

‘Il Toro Blu’ – 2012 SE Draft – Froio’s Custom Edition

My bicycle has followed the same theme as my garden; replace and refresh until I find something  I like – with the garden; it was January’s Winter Patio Refresh ; taking what I had learned from 2-years of gardening here in Oakland and turning that into what is now the garden I envisioned when I moved in and realized that the patio was screaming to be reborn. The patio was a dirty, unkempt, and generally dingy concrete slab, devoid of anything interesting which I quickly set about addressing.

From the barren wasteland that you see outside the window in this early blog image (Mr. Big Boy Avocado and an avocado that didn’t quite make it)…

My plant collection, January 2011

To what I enjoy today (Mr. Big Boy Avocado still very much a part of the landscape)…

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere

So too my bicycle has undergone a metamorphosis; from the plain stock version that arrived in January. I quickly set about upgrading this, changing out that, and before I knew it; the only parts remaining from the factory are the frame, forks, front brake caliper, and chain. Starting with the pedals, I have replaced everything on the bike at least once, some twice (handlebars, cranks, & grips).

Jan. 16, 2013 – Factory Fresh

Now; after much searching for just the right part to accomplish an image that was never clear in my mind until it unfolded before me, my bike is a track monster which I have dubbed; ‘Il Toro Blu’; Italian for the Blue Bull, after the 2nd set of new handlebars (Cannondale C3 Bullhorn Aero Bars) and the bikes theme color (blue).

Il Toro Blue (the Blue Bull) – March 24, 2013

Note to self: find another frameset to put all of the parts that I replaced onto

While writing this post earlier today I realized something about myself; I am not sure if it is a good thing, a bad thing, or just an ‘it is what it is‘ thing. Either way; I think I know why I have often butted heads with those in my life that want me to conform to their ideals, I am a stubborn, bull-headed, learn-it-by-myself, or don’t learn it kind of guy.

The hydrangea readies itself for summertime blooms

The way I look at it, I know what I want in life (same as with gardens and bicycles), I generally know a way to get there, and once locked in, I won’t compromise that methodology in pursuit of something that doesn’t ring true with me. I am sorry if my methods don’t always make sense to those around me, my methods and directions always make perfect sense to at least one person, myself.

Ms. Jade’s new planter mates are settling in nicely

This stubbornness has definitely caused a lot of familial stress and relationship stress.

• Is it my fault for not bending like the young willow?
• Is it the other party’s fault  for not realizing that I am who I am and leaving well enough alone?

I don’t know the answer to either question; however, I do know that I miss my family. I also know that I won’t be the one with the olive branch extended this time around, I didn’t do anything wrong this time. I guess I will just continue to till my own soil and beat my own path my own way. Overall; the good has outweighed the bad – What bad there has been, I have dealt with myself and have come out the other side a-okay.

I will leave the answers to such questions on the table for now, that deck will have to wait for another day to be dealt out.

For today, it is late, and I shall just leave with these parting shots – enjoy…

Last year’s Amaryllis bulb has awoken

Looking up through the Euphorbia

Pastel Blue Cineraria

Until next time….

HAPPY GARDENING FRIENDS!

~ Noah

It sure is colorful in there…

…the patio plants remarked in unison as they peered through the sliding glass door which separates the outdoor patio garden and the land of the houseplants.

Purple and White Cineraria springs from its planter

Indeed, historically the stand-out flowers of my garden have lived outside on the patio and not indoors. There have been a couple of exceptions; the Paphiopedillum Callosum Orchid being the most notable of such exceptions; however, she only bloomed once, though I would love if she would grace me with another her glorious slippers! With the recent addition of Cineraria and Primula to my indoor plant collection though, the outdoor patio now has a serious contender for stand-out flowers at Casa de Froio!

The window box in glorious bloom

Primula and Cineraria apparently really like each others company!

Pastel blue and Sparking White Cineraria

Still, one should never count out the patio garden’s potential and this week; as in weeks past, the patio garden did not disappoint! The Pansy, Viola, and Primrose continue to be a long-lasting source of beauty which entices me outside quite often. There is also a wonderful anticipation waiting for me outside in the shape of what I hope to be right around the corner; a sea of glorious Snapdragon blooms!!

The snapdragon plants now tower above the pansy and viola

There are still no buds on the snapdragon stalks, so my anticipation may be premature as my past snapdragon have usually waited until mid-summertime to start blooming. Although with the unseasonably warmer temperatures that Oakland had this spring, I do hold out some hope for early blooms! Looking back through my post from last year, I may have to wait until July; however, I am hopeful for May or June – I suppose that only time will tell!

Elsewhere around the garden the Pansy (Supreme Clear Scarlet and Majestic Giants II – White/Blotch), the Viola (Helen Mount, Penny Yellow, and Pandora’s Box), and the Primrose (Pacific Giant Blue and Purple Supernova) continue to thrive and poke and peer from every corner of the patio.

Supreme Clear Scarlett and Majestic Giant Pansy

Slightly smaller; yet still impressive, Supreme Clear Scarlet pansy

Helen Mount Viola surround a Majestic Giant

Ms. Jade continues on her road to full recovery from her unceremonious dumping and is thriving in her new redwood planter box! It appears that the Primula that I added to her planter like it as much as she does!

Ms. Jade continues her road to recovery!

Ms. Jade’s new neighbor, Primula Acaulis White

Down at the far end of the garden in the big yellow planter box; the Hydrangea are leafing out nicely and should be ready to bloom right about the same time the Snapdragon are blooming, which will be a wonderful color-explosion for Summer that I am very much looking forward to. In addition, the bulbs that I received from my ex-wife last year have just begun to send up their first shoots of the season and I am hopeful that I will have another guest appearance of the glorious Amaryllis bloom of last year. That Amaryllis was hands down, no contenders need apply, easily the most beautiful flower I have ever seen, let alone was able to grow!

The Hydrangea Return

A bulb bursts to life!

The Euphorbia continues her flowering stage

Finally today, I leave you with these parting shots; I just really liked them and thought that I would share!

Looking up through the Purple Supernova Primrose

Unknown Purple Daisy

Until next update –

HAPPY GARDENING FRIENDS!!

~ Noah