Friday, March 21, 2014

Pulling up the anchors

The bamboo has been cut down, the palm I salvaged from a haunted trailer park has been cut at the base. Of course both of these studs had plenty of root I'm going to have to deal with before I can replant the valuable (in size and beauty) pots. As reported, I have dowsed the chopped bamboo culms with "Stump Rot", I then covered all exposed soil with black plastic. I re-wet the soil a week later as suggested online. The palm came down earlier in the week. I sliced the top and trunk into a few pieces that went easily down the small square rubbish shoot- which is on an outside walkway. I saved a 2.5' piece of the trunk thinking of strapping a vanda on it.. and then securing somehow. My neighbors have had the chance to watch me force hundreds upon hundreds of pounds of soil, plant carcasses down said rubbish hole. I'll use the Skillzaw to cut around the base as the palm roots radiate from the base of the stump. I should be able to cut through these fairly easy, after that.. I just don't know. When I finally have these two pots empty and all cleaned up, the experience will probably be useful to others as I'm sure any serious container gardener has had to remove a mature plant from a large pot, etc. I'll keep you posted.

Otherwise, the bougainvillea are offering magenta's, purple, orange/ coral and yellow bracts. On different plants of course. The begonias are still blooming but just barely. They put out impressively for a month or so. The Pandora vine is bloom and forming pods. I'm going to let the pods mature as they will make great gifts for some gardeners I know. I spotted some black and orange caterpillars munching down on the Dutchman's Pipe. I haven't been too impressed with this vine. It's gorgeous on a huge trellis with plenty of airflow underneath. It rots easily in cramped quarters. Might have to come out-- a never ending search for the perfect family of plants that would be willing to marry my terrace.

Moved the native seagrape into place on the eastern side of the terrace. Some of the leaves have gotten  seriously sunburned. Not field grown in full sun I guess. It's almost a weed down here, though I think a handsome one with beautiful large round leaves with red veining- and grape like fruit that the parrots love. . Should grow out fine. I will report on it's progress.

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