Wednesday, May 09, 2007

May 9th, in My Chacala Garden

These little cacti came from one of the big Mexican supermarkets: Soriana. I moved them out into the direct sun (4/5 hours a day) about a month ago. In the dirt, not a pot. They look peculiar, with red spots and a bleached side. I assume it's too much sun, but would appreciate advice or suggestions. They are still growing quickly. They were one "column" each when I put them in the dirt.

Today is a lovely Chacala day. Sunny, breezy, and nice and warm. There are some cement workers plastering the walls of the rental room downstairs, and I spent most of the morning puttering around with my plants. And keeping the water barrels full for the cement boys.
I walked over to my neighbors to get some starts from a plant I gave here about six months ago. It’s a succulent that puts out babies at the end of it’s large leaves. They have little air roots, and when the ends of the leave sag down close enough to the earth, they plant themselves.But it this case I cut the little guys off with my scissors and took them home to pot them.

And I planted the jasmine plant I bought I few weeks ago. 20 pesos/$1.80US. My landlady showed me how she wants the purple vine that’s coming up thru the gardenia plant on the left side of the walkway to meet the new jasmine plant and make an arch over the walkway. I think I will make an arch out of old long branches. But for today, I just planted the jasmine. It’s in a shady spot, and I hope it will grow quickly.When Dona Lupe was up here the other evening, we fiddled around with some of the plants. She is fascinated by how quickly the succulent cutting grow. She thinks she can do the same thing with the Ixora plant.

So she borrowed my clippers, which she loves, and hacked some big branches off her nice Ixora plant. And then stuck them in one of my dirt pots. I think it really unlikely that they will grow, but who knows. I just have to water them. And cross my fingers.I did some other succulent started today, and did some weeding. Some of my aloes that I planted in early March and not making it. I moved them today, hoping they will revive. I don’t know if it’s too much water or two much sun, or both.

Probably both. The red zinnias in these photos are self-seeding, and they are providing lots of shade for the baby plants.Dona Lupe loves the plumbago plant. It’s blooms are really wonderful this year. She is coming up to the house a lot lately. To cut fresh flowers for her little restaurant. I am so lucky to have local lady gardener friends here. I learn something everyday.

2 comments:

La Gringa said...

I've been catching up with your blogs -- gorgeous photos, as usual.

Tell me, does anyone there compost? Compost works wonders on improving poor soil and it's good for potted plants, too. Being in a similar climate in Honduras, I know the amount of "trimmings" there must be year-round. That is such a valuable resource which could be put to good use!

OK, now off my band wagon, I wanted to answer your question about Google ratings. Google rates every website as to the content and how current the info is. That is what determines how far up the list you are shown on a Google search. You can probably do a search and find more accurate info but that is the basics. Both your blogs rate 4.

Anonymous said...

I have a huge plant like the one in your photo just below the Dona cutting on the red plant. The one that is green edged with pinkish/red. I bought mine in the states a few years back. It's called a flapjack.