Wild China + Masdevallia Orchid…

  • 3:44pm Watching the six-part BBC series Wild China on Netflix Watch Instantly. j.mp/4tCkPx #
  • 8:53pm My Masdevallia Orchid that I moved outdoors 2 years ago is now blooming. I think this is my first non-Cym that rebloomed. j.mp/5Wz0NO #

Plumcot? Pluot? Aprium?

I noticed some Plumcot, Pluot and Aprium scions at the last CRFG Scion Exchange… I know they are all Plum/Apricot crosses, but I wonder if there is a technical difference between the three… so I posted an inquiry at the California Rare Fruit Growers Facebook page.

I’ll update this post if I get any responses.

[Update Jan 25, 2010] Someone on Facebook responded with a link to Dilip Barman (dilipB) > Still Life > Plums, Apricots, Plumcots, Pluots®, and Apriums®

Plumcot = Plum x Apricot

Pluot® = Plumcot x Plum (2/3 plum and 1/3 apricot)

Arium® = Plumcot x Apricot (1/3 plum and 2/3 apricot)

*Pluot® and Aprium® are federally registered trademarks of Zaiger’s Inc. Genetics, Modesto, CA, for interspecifics that are complex hybrids of plum and apricot.

Garden Progress

This afternoon, it was raining, but I went outside to bring out the kitchen scraps for the compost bin.

Ready for Compost

I got the to compost bin and noticed tons of Soldier Fly Larvae crawling out of the compost bin. I tried my hardest not to smash any.

Soldier Fly Larvae  Soldier Fly Larvae

The Purple Hyacinths were blooming although slugs and snail have gotten to the flowers.

Hyacinth Blooming

I walked around and noticed the Pink Banana Passiflora (which seemed to have died in the winter) now has tiny buds growing near it’s base.

Pink Banana Passiflora Buds

Next to it, I also noticed that the Hyacinth-like plants (from my friend Howard) are sprouting up, although there were weeds and a Kiwi seedling in the pot.

Hyacinth-like Plants Sprouting

What really made my day, was seeing my Yellow Masdevallia Orchid, which I took outdoors about two years ago, now re-blooming for the first time. This is the first non-Cymbidium Orchid that rebloomed for me… I think I want to get more Masdevallia Orchids now, since they seem to survive outdoors and actually bloom (in the winter)!!!

Yellow Masdevallia Orchid  Yellow Masdevallia Orchid  Yellow Masdevallia Orchid

Scion Exchange + Berkeley Nurseries + Sorry Pole…

  • 10:13 The CRFG is having a Scion Exchange today from 12-3pm in Berkeley. Learn grafting and exchange cuttings. j.mp/6ab9OI #
  • 17:10 I bumped into a pole at PetSmart, said sorry, then started cracking up… #
  • 18:14 Back home from the CRFG Scion Exchange, Berkeley Horticultural Nursery, Westbrae Nursery and Cactus Jungle… What a plantastic day!!! :) #

Pawpaw…

I’ve heard of Pawpaws from my Uncle Ray, who wants to get a plant, but I have never actually seen the fruit or tasted it.

I was surfing the web and happen to stumble upon a few videos from Gurney’s on YouTube. Now I’m interested to what it taste like and how it grows.

How to Cut and Serve Pawpaw Fruit on Gurney’s YouTube page.
Examples of Pawpaw Fruit on Gurney’s YouTube page.
Pawpaw Fruit Facts on CRFG website.

Links: Autopot Retail Outlet – GardenSmart – Melbourne, Australia

I really like how their Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Eggplant fruits are hanging from an overhead trellis.

Autopot Retail Outlet – GardenSmart – Melbourne, Australia.

Upcoming Scion Exchange…

The Golden Gate Chapter of the CRFG (California Rare Fruit Growers) is holding another Scion Exchange next weekend. I’m glad I checked when it is this year, otherwise I may have missed it.

2010 Golden Gate Chapter Scion Exchange

Saturday, January 16, 2010 – 12 noon to 3:00 PM

Malcolm X Elementary School (Two blocks from Ashby BART station)
1731 Prince Street
Berkeley, CA

Here are some photos from previous years I attended:

My Scion Acquistions  Looking Over the Apple Scions

More information from CRFG website.
More information from Upcoming website.
Other 2010 Scion Exchanges from CRFG website.

Garden Progress (Early January 2010)

I haven’t posted photos from the garden lately, so I decided to upload a few that I photographed earlier this month.

Camellia

My Mom’s Camellias are in bloom now. I also noticed that the Pineapple Sage was blooming a lot, which really surprised me.

Mango (Winter Progress)

My Mango is doing pretty well considering that I lost most of it the previous winters. This year, I didn’t want that to happen so I placed it in our patio near the house wall and covered it with several layers of a floating row cover. I think it’ll do ok and can’t wait from the spring.