Month: May 2010

This week’s new blooms

There’s been a lot of new flowers blooming in the garden recently.

The most impressive was a Onagraceae Clarkia Unguiculata, that I originally mistook as “my largest” coleus in this post.

This one must have gotten mixed up with the coleus. It's actually from a cut wildflower seed packet I got from Wal-Mart for 20 cents. The packet called it a Clarkia, but a little internet research revealed its long name.
This one must have gotten mixed up with the coleus. It's actually from a cut wildflower seed packet I got from Wal-Mart for 20 cents. The packet called it a Clarkia, but a little internet research revealed its long name.
Another shot of the Clarkia
Another shot of the Clarkia
Kim's morning glory has finally started to bloom.
Kim's morning glory has finally started to bloom.
The first bloom of the Seminole hibiscus, one of two that I bought at the show I went to.
The first bloom of the Seminole hibiscus, one of two that I bought at the show I went to.
Here's the second bloom.
Here's the second bloom.

You do remember when I went to that show, right?

A purple zinnia blooms. What's unusual about this is that I didn't plant any this year. I did plant a packet of zinnias in late late summer last year, but none ever came up. Hmmm.
A purple zinnia blooms. What's unusual about this is that I didn't plant any this year. I did plant a packet of zinnias in late late summer last year, but none ever came up. Hmmm.
Another shot of the purple zinnia.
Another shot of the purple zinnia.
And the Persian Carpet mix zinnia are looking really good, too.
And the Persian Carpet mix zinnia are looking really good, too.

Spring Commencement

It was graduation day at the University of Houston today, and I was assigned the task of shooting photos and getting them online as quickly as possible, with the help of a colleague.

We quickly put three photos up on the CLASS home page, and then we added the best shots to our Facebook page‘s photo album.

But I added even more to our not-so-frequently used Picasa web album. Here’s a Picasa Web Album slideshow of my favorite 100+ photos I took today:

Update: The album from Spring 2010 commencement can be found on the new CLASS website.

Here are some of my favorite shots:

Spring 2010 Commencement

Spring 2010 Commencement

Spring 2010 Commencement

Zinnia blooms, and I finally get a tomato fruit!

It’s a big week. The zinnia that I transplanted is about to bloom in various different parts of different beds, and the first one to show a flower looks awesome.

The first of the Mexican Zinnia Persian Carpet Mix. Nice. The seed packets were 75 cents each from Park's Seed. Bonus.
The first of the Mexican Zinnia Persian Carpet Mix. Nice. The seed packets were 75 cents each from Park's Seed. Bonus.
The zinnia before it bloomed.
The zinnia before it bloomed.

And then, after Kim has already picked five tomatoes, I finally have one that is finally growing on The Beef Maestro tomato plant I have in a large container.

My first tomato!
My first tomato!
Another shot of the tomato/self portrait.
Another shot of the tomato/self portrait.

Filling in the gaps with some new plants

On Saturday, I went to The Home Depot and Enchanted Forest to pick up some plants to put in the spots in the bed extension that were bare, thanks to the failure of some transplants I tried to install right before the 90-degree early May we’ve just experienced.

It’s freakin’ hot here! But, not so much this week. Pretty windy this week, and I had to do some staking, but that’s another topic.

Without further ado, the new arrivals:

This is a Platycodon-Sentimental Blue, that I picked up for less than $2 at Enchanted Forest. It's also known as a "balloon flower." I put it in the middle of my established original bed.
This is a Platycodon-Sentimental Blue, that I picked up for less than $2 at Enchanted Forest. It's also known as a "balloon flower." I put it in the middle of my established original bed.
Here's how I filled in the extended bed where some zinnias and all of the jalapeno transplants I attempted failed. From back to front, from left to right, we've got a cayenne pepper, "long and thin" I think it's called; a Tabasco pepper plant, a pickling cucumber that needs a trellis, a couple of crook-neck squash and a sweet banana pepper plant.
Here's how I filled in the extended bed where some zinnias and all of the jalapeno transplants I attempted failed. From back to front, from left to right, we've got a cayenne pepper, "long and thin" I think it's called; a Tabasco pepper plant, a pickling cucumber that needs a trellis, a couple of crook-neck squash and a sweet banana pepper plant.
The sweet banana pepper plant. Got this one from Home Depot, and it was more expensive than the other plants I got from Enchanted Forest.
The sweet banana pepper plant. Got this one from Home Depot, and it was more expensive than the other plants I got from Enchanted Forest.
The two crook-neck squash plants. Yum.
The two crook-neck squash plants. Yum.
Hot Tabasco pepper plant.
Hot Tabasco pepper plant.
The pickling cucumber plant. Wish I knew exactly what kind it is ... oh, yeah, I do, it was the cheap kind!
The pickling cucumber plant. Wish I knew exactly what kind it is ... oh, yeah, I do, it was the cheap kind!
Cayenne Long Slim plant.
Cayenne Long Slim plant.
"New Look Pink" Pentas, with a "Butterfly Red" Penta in the middle.
"New Look Pink" Pentas, with a "Butterfly Red" Penta in the middle.
These are two evolvulus nuttallianus, otherwise known as "Blue Daze." They're related to Morning Glories, and they're right in front of Kim's Morning Glory trellis, and their flowers also only open during the first part of the day before it gets too hot.
These are two evolvulus nuttallianus, otherwise known as "Blue Daze." They're related to Morning Glories, and they're right in front of Kim's Morning Glory trellis, and their flowers also only open during the first part of the day before it gets too hot.

New kitteh

So we got this cat. Well, Kim got the cat. Well, I was with her. It’s a nice cat. Sleepy. Crazy. But nice. So, of course, there’s a photo album of photos of the cat. Her name is Daphne.

One of the first shots I took of Daphne.
One of the first shots I took of Daphne.
This is her normal spot. She's a consistent cat.
This is her normal spot. She's a consistent cat.

Week Eight

Photos from the eighth week in the garden are up, spanning May 2-8, and have been tagged "Week Eight" in my Gardening 2010, Part Two album in my Picasa Web Albums.

I had to start a new album in Picasa Web Albums, because the maximum number of photos allowed in one album is 1,000 (lame).

On another note, this week I was a little-less obsessive compulsive with the garden photos, and didn’t shoot any all week, instead opting to shoot only on Saturday.

The eighth week of the original bed.
The eighth week of the original bed.
The portulaca are coming in nicely.
The portulaca are coming in nicely.
I shot the Caldwell Pink rose bush from another angle, in an attempt to do it justice.
I shot the Caldwell Pink rose bush from another angle, in an attempt to do it justice.
Some things are looking nice on the porch.
Some things are looking nice on the porch.
The Betty Prior and Kim's yellow rose greet people at the front entrance.
The Betty Prior and Kim's yellow rose greet people at the front entrance.
It's getting too hot in the original bed for the begonias I bought in a 24-pack from Houston Garden Center. So, I pulled two of the best ones out and surrounded the one I left on the porch in this new container that previously held a strawberry, that I planted in the ground. There really is no excuse for the length of that last sentence. And, I added two coleus for good measure.
It's getting too hot in the original bed for the begonias I bought in a 24-pack from Houston Garden Center. So, I pulled two of the best ones out and surrounded the one I left on the porch in this new container that previously held a strawberry, that I planted in the ground. There really is no excuse for the length of that last sentence. And, I added two coleus for good measure.
Here's what I got mom for Mother's Day - a quart Super Petunia from Proven Winners that I've been hearing so much about.
Here's what I got mom for Mother's Day - a quart Super Petunia from Proven Winners that I've been hearing so much about.