Storm clouds are on the horizon for this Oscar's Sunday here in Southern California. While the rich and beautiful crowd undoubtedly have some poor production assistant to hold an umbrella over their freshly coiffed head, I have no such assistance so I'd better get what little gardening I have to do done.
I should also turn off the sprinkler timers until drier weather arrives to save on our precious water in this dry region.
I'm trying to fix my poor citrus production dilemma. My three-tree citrus grove just doesn't produce the way I want it to. I get hundreds, may thousands, of very fragrant blossoms each year but just a few fruit from each tree.
When I say few, I mean hardly any...two from the cara cara orange; three tangelos; and about ten Meyer lemons.
During the blooming period, I rarely see bees on the plants. You'd think such fragrant flowers would really attract the little honeymakers.
One place I do see them...tons of them, actually...is on the lavender plants. Last summer, our backyard lavender plant died so this year, I need to replace it.
I bought two small plants like this a Lowe's.
I dig an appropriately sized hole, knock the plastic pot off, and just stick it in the ground. I planted a lavender between each citrus tree to attract the bees and, hopefully, they will notice the nice looking plants next door and go looking to do a little pollinating, if you know what I mean and I think you do.
Dirt tamped down and plants watered in, we'll keep our fingers crossed for a better citrus crop this year.
DarrylCopyright 2015 - Darryl MusickAll Rights Reserved
Our lavender plants are well established and provide much beauty and fragrance to our yard and patio.
Vigorous growers, they produce scads of blooms and grow to nice, large orbs of purple and green.
Earlier in the season, I'll cut back the blooms to encourage a second one.
Late in the summer, though, the plant is spent and it's time to cut back.
This is a good time, too, because once the flowers are gone, so are the ever-present bees who might get a little riled when you stick a big pair of loppers into their midst.
Chop, chop, chop...and now the garden waste bin is full.
I'm done for this year, the plant now has plenty of room to fill back up. Just need to sweep up this mess and I'm finished for today.
DarrylCopyright 2014 - Darryl MusickAll Rights Reserved
After cutting it back to form a somewhat globe shape last year, our lavender never bloomed again. Recently, I saw what looked like buds on the plant but my wife said "no," those were just more leaves.
Proving I can be right sometimes too, the lavender went ahead and agreed with me. Now, the blooms are opening up spectacularly.I like lavender for it's beauty and fragrance. People keep telling me you can use it in recipes. When I ask how, I always get "there are lot's of ways you can use it." OK, please tell me at least one...I'm all ears.My biggest reason for having it, though, is that it attracts pollinators...especially honey bees. While some shy away from these stinger-equipped insects, I want all I can get so they can wander over to my vegetable garden and help me bring in a good harvest there, too.This week, we're also experiencing bud break on our grape vine although it never went completely dormant like it usually does. This extremely dry and warm winter means the plants think it's spring. So do the birds...we saw a jay hunting for nesting material and the first swallow of the season over the weekend.Our camellia bushes are doing well, like this pink one......and this red one at the opposite end of the patio.I'll show you some more flowers popping open a little later this week.
DarrylCopyright 2014 - Darryl MusickAll Rights Reserved
