Author: Brandon Moeller

Frog population: At least four

I’ve seen at least four frogs in the backyard.

One likes my shoe. I dunno if it is the same one that took up residence in my shoe all last season.

There's a frog in my shoe!
There's a frog in my shoe!
He's never amused when I have to shake him out of my shoe so I can go and water things.
He's never amused when I have to shake him out of my shoe so I can go and water things.

So, that’s frog number one. There’s a big one that lives underneath Kim’s morning glories. I discovered it when I was trying to get its trelis to stay in place.

Frog number three is one I see wandering around in various places, yesterday when I saw four frogs consecutively, thus proving I’m not making this up, this frog was right under my foot and I almost stepped on him.

And, there was this frog, hanging out in my coleus seedling tray.

Best frog photo ever?
Best frog photo ever?

And then, he stepped on the plants.

Get off the coleus!
Get off the coleus!

Crookneck fail

The crookneck squash I added to the bed on May 8 is dying.

The crookneck squash was bought to satisfy my craving for summer squash. Photo taken May 15.
The crookneck squash was bought to satisfy my craving for summer squash. Photo taken May 15.
The crookneck squash was actually two plants. Yesterday, the one on the right was down. Dead. That was it. So I cut it at the bottom of the stem. Then, today, this. Sigh.
The crookneck squash was actually two plants. Yesterday, the one on the right was down. Dead. That was it. So I cut it at the bottom of the stem. Then, today, this. Sigh.

I think the moral of this this story is don’t buy seedlings with two plants in a tiny 2″ pot. Thin early. I hope that’s the lesson here. Does any one have any other ideas?

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.