by Melody on June 15, 2019

So I thought I would do some updates today on all of the projects I have going.

First of all – my tomato trial: The plants are growing along nicely, they are enjoying the abundant moisture we have received here in the past couple of weeks (over 5" of rain I think) but we have not had a lot of sun. The plants are starting to bloom though and I am so looking forward to fresh tomatoes! The grafted plants (from your left looking at screen) are plants 1 and 3 – the grafted tomatoes are bigger with better foliage cover but as of right now the standard varieties have more blooms. I am going to count how many tomatoes I get off of each plant and will keep you posted. One thing I have noticed is that the grafted plants require more water so I do hope they produce a lot more fruit.



Now in the background of my tomato picture you might have noticed my begonia bed(s). Here is another picture.



Now, the left side of the bed is regular bedding plant begonias, then from right before the second shrub to the third shrub are "Big" begonias, and from that point on are "Whopper" begonias. I used all bronze-leaf varieties in this bed. The bedding plant (Bada-Boom) begonias are really starting to fill in but were planted 3 weeks earlier than the others. The Whoppers are looking small right now but they were much smaller plants to begin with – I bought and planted the Bigs from a 4" pot that were very nice-sized and the Whoppers were barely more than plugs (baby plants) when I got them. I will keep you updated with pictures on how these perform. I also have a second bed of green-leaf Whopper Red and Rose that should start filling in nicely soon. Bada Booms should be 8-10" high x 10-12" wide, Bigs get 1 to 1 ½' tall and wide, and Whoppers are listed at a "whopping" 34" high x 22" wide. I am excited to see which begonias are the most impressive color-wise.

Now on to the secret garden I planted for my grand-daughters. Well, it's still a secret (ha-ha) as they have not been by to find it yet, but I did get it planted. It also has flooded out 3 times in the past 2 weeks but it is still growing. I am trying to find scrap lumber to make them some kind of arbor or entry-way. Here are the pictures; a row of potted dwarf Alberta spruce with some dwarf mondo grass at the entrance, and a corner full of zinnia, celosia, strawflower, love-lies-bleeding, and passion vine at the end. I still need to get them a table and chairs and it wouldn't be a good grand-daughter's garden without a tea-set, but first of all I need some sunshine to get things growing and blooming!




I also wanted to show you a picture of this very simple, but very striking plant – a succulent, Portulaca "Maraca". This particular plant is about three years old now and it is so easy to care for and just so visually exciting – very architectural with the vertical stems and the nearly perfect horizontal presentation of leaves. I just bring it inside in the winter to a sunny window and put it back out in half-shade when it's over freezing. Succulents should never be watered when they are already wet but greatly appreciate being watered right after they dry down; they will survive extended periods of dryness but may lose foliage if they are dry too long.



I have been trying to find the perfect container for this plant, but I think I will just paint the pot it already lives in. I think a two-tone green horizontal stripe (or vertical – haven't decided) will really show this plant off.

Another project I am working on right now involves a little metal table that I have had for years. I love the table but the top is so wavy it is hard to set anything on it – so I am going to "pop" a hole in the top (I am probably imagining this is going to be much easier than it actually will be) and sink in a flower pot with some striking plant. It is going to be on my covered porch so I am thinking of using Begonia "Sparks Will Fly". I first saw this plant last year but did not have a good spot for him – dark bronze foliage with amazing orange blooms – I have wanted one ever since. I will have before and after pictures soon!