Using the slow soak

Studying for exam II of CPMS. I love the subject matter luckily. Also luckily it has been cooler and overcast many days now which offsets the neglect I've shown the garden. A day off today, I watered all in slowly. Then came back around in an hour or so for another slow soak. Fed Sea Grapes with some Alaska Kelp Emulsion and threw light handfuls of Plant Dynamite on bougies, begonias, etc.

It is surprising that although I haven't been in the garden for almost 2 weeks, everyone looks well fed and rested. Mmmm.

Back from a visit to islands

St Thomas; a park whose name escapes me.. I'll post later. Seeing stands of royal palms on this island, blowing in the trade winds, is most romantic.

A fixer-upper on Dominique. I could make it work. 

A gaggle of schomburkgia? I'll check itinerary for location-- god, i can't remember anything any more. 

Green Sheep

The bougainvillea all of them have been pretty much strippd bare by something.. catepillar? moths ?

We've had a unseasonably wet cool season so far. I don't mind as I've been studying (successfully) for exam 1 of 3 for the CPSM certification. I'll be able to ship / warehouse / and pay duties on any and all plants in my supply chain.. yeah that's right.. google it. 

I thought the Sea Grapes were going to be monster growers busting their pots, but they are restrained though with beautiful salad plate size leaves.  The dragon fruit is doing quite well on the middle rail, it's pretty much across now with 2nd and 3rd fingers sprouting at the joints. They are pendulous (with some weight) have very sharp spines along their 3 sides (triangular bodies). 

The variegated oak-leafed croton is noticably bleached out. Not sure if this is because of winter sun exposure.. iron deficiency (i watered recently with chelated palm food for iron). 

We're going on a cruise for 10 days. A babysitter will be here for Ricky, hopefully she'll do the needful with watering the plants. 

The begonias have begun blooming. The cane has large pink clusters, U402 is sporting its mini pinkish white flowers, Selph's Mahogany has begun sending up spikes, as rhizomatous begonias are want to do. He usually blooms a little later in the year.

More later and happiest new year to you my imaginary readers.

A western sky as seen from the rooftop at workplace