Comment

Comment by Sentient Biped on April 21, 2012 at 9:38pm

Dallas, Hollywood Plum is more a group of plum varieties rather than a single variety.  They are all maroon leaves, some grow into full size trees, others are smaller.  I don't know the subtype for this one- it was from a catalog (Raintree nursery)  and just listed as "Hollywood" plum.  It is considered one of the few Asian plums that is self fertile but some sources state it needs a pollinizer.  I got Shiro to be a pollinizer but the sources don't all agree that will work, so last year I added Methley.  The plums are unlike any I've seen in the store - the maroon color of the leaves goes through the entire plum and its juice.  They are extremely good, but on my 3 or 4 year old tree I've only had about 5 plums.  This year was the most flowers ever, but so early and there was a frost while blooming, so maybe no fruit.

*

As for ME being Hollywood, right!  Vin Diesel on line 2!

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on April 21, 2012 at 8:54pm

Nice. Never heard of Hollywood Plum. You're so Hollywood, SB, 'specially with them glasses on.

Comment by Sentient Biped on April 21, 2012 at 8:36pm

Today....

I pruned some more winter killed twigs from my Petite negri fig, but only a few.  Most of the fig trees have lots of tiny figs, but there is a big June drop so it's not a promise of a big crop.  

*

Some photos from today....

Hollywood Plum.  I can't tell yet if they took.  Looks like the Shiro plum might have pollinated well - if so it MIGHT be my first big several-bowl-full crop of those.  Hollywood plum is so beautiful, with zillions of pink flowers and then maroon leaves.

 I'm letting violets take over as a ground cover.  They reproduce very fast, and no weeds seem to grow through them.  I often find violets in the grass, and when I do I pull them up and plant them in the borders.  Gradually they are taking over the ground level.  

Stella Cherry.  This year is the most flowers ever.  Behind it is an old Japanese cherry that doesn't have fruit but I love the pink flowers and gnarled branches.</p>

Liberty Apple on a highly dwarfing root stock.  It's 8 years old and still only 4 1/2 feet tall.  We get several big bowls of apples every year.  Unlike the Golden Delicious that I cut down last year after 7 years with no fruit, Liberty is disease free here and bears very well.  The flowers are really pretty on this shrub-sized tree.

Comment by Sentient Biped on April 13, 2012 at 10:05pm

Thanks all for the great compliments!  My yard is actually a mess, but there is almost always something to eat, almost always something in bloom, and experiments everywhere.   Not seen in the pic, between the cherries and the street is a ginkgo grown from seed, a sibling to one in the back yard - it's about 8 ft tall.  My attempt to leave a long lasting heritage for a future generation.  Under the cherry trees are blueberries - haven't quite figured them out yet.

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on April 13, 2012 at 12:47am

SB, can I come live with you?

Comment by Joan Denoo on April 12, 2012 at 11:29pm

I love spurge and have several varieties; I know it can take over. Given the soil conditions where you have it, seems like a great choice for that spot. The wall is lovely, and looks like a good "sitting" wall. Beautiful plants and great design! I can tell, you like loveliness. 

Comment by Steph S. on April 12, 2012 at 11:27pm

I just love the picture you posted Sentient! I wish I was there right now. You have a lovely yard. Breathtaking. Charlie is a handsome dog too.

Comment by Sentient Biped on April 12, 2012 at 11:00pm

Hi Joan, thank you for your comment!  The plant that you ask about is a prostrate spurge - probably should pull it out since they can be invasive, but that location is dry clay and not much else grows there.  The retaining wall allowed me to expand the usable area by converting a steep hill into a terraced bed that now contains shrubs, flowers, flowering trees and a Japanese plum.

Comment by Joan Denoo on April 12, 2012 at 10:49pm

This scene is just lovely, with the stone or block wall in the background, beautiful greens and yellows and handsome Charlie enjoying it all. Do I see Alchemilla 'mollis', Common Name: “Lady's Mantle” on the right side? Whatever, it is a pretty color. 

Comment by Sentient Biped on April 12, 2012 at 10:36pm

My fruit trees are blooming.  First the peaches and Asian plums.  I have several genetic dwarf peaches - they grow at most 6 ft tall.  Unfortunately they seem to be California-adapted and don't do well here.  The flowers may have frosted.  We'll know soon.  The Asian plums may also have lost their embryonic fruits, but I looked very close and just maybe there are some viable babies.   Now the sweet cherries are blooming, and pears, and a European cherry.  Next, apples, pie cherries, and grapes.  And mulberries -yum.  Meanwhile, we've had 2 rhubarb pies, and enough on the plant for about 20 more.

Here is my buddy Charlie with 2 sweet cherries.  I prune them drastically every summer to dwarf them.  The method ("Backyard Orchard Culture"  was developed for California, but I've discovered it works great for fruits here in SW Washington.  

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 122
• 123
• 124
• 125
• 126
• …
• 136
• Next ›
• Page