Valencia Oranges
Fresh-squeezed orange juice is on the menu today.
Mid-Pride Peach Tree
It's that time of the year! Many people don't realize you can grow peaches in Arizona. I have two peach trees, a Red Baron and Mid-Pride Peach. Here's my Mid-Pride Peach blooming today.
Growing Bearss Limes in Phoenix
October 22, 2016
Bearss lime (also known as Tahitian lime or Persian lime) is one of the most common lime varieties grown in Arizona. It's seedless, vigorous, and grows dark green fruit that ripen to yellow.
I bought mine at Summerwinds Nursery and planted it in the spring of 2014. It bloomed in 2015 and had some fruit, though they all dropped. This year I finally have my first harvest. It's planted in the hottest spot of my yard (west-facing with full sun) along with grapefruit and a blood orange, so I provided some shade protection the first year.
April 12, 2016
Growing Dwarf Singapore Pink plumeria in Phoenix, Arizona
I bought my Dwarf Singapore Pink plumeria at the Boston Home & Garden Show around 2001 or 2002. It was the potted plant on display and my husband did some convincing, finally offering the grower $150 to reluctantly part with it. I wish I remembered who it was - I'd love to let them know I took good care of it!
We lived in a condo in a Boston Harbor highrise and while it received a lot of light from a south-facing window wall, I only recall it blooming once in those years. In 2008, we drove cross-country to Arizona with it in the backseat. It remained in a pot until we had our back patio and ramada constructed. I had a custom cut-out with irrigation put in in front of our bedroom window just for this plant. Once it was put in the ground, what a transformation!
I keep it well watered and feed it monthly alternating with Alaska fish fertilizer and Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster. It's a prolific bloomer with classic frangipani scent. Like all plumeria, colors change according to heat and humidity. Dwarf Singapore Pink can bloom from a pale blush to darker pink.
Arizona Plumeria: Dwarf Singapore Pink
Dwarf Singapore Pink blooms a pale blush, especially in cooler weather, but in Arizona the color deepens. As the temperature rises the pink becomes more pronounced, and when humidity combines with summer temperatures during Phoenix monsoon season, it becomes its darkest hue.
Fury (aka Purple Rain) Adenium
My first and only adenium is Fury and was a contest win on a plumeria Facebook page. Fury, also sold as Purple Rain, is out of Thailand and I love the double petals and the purple hue. The adenium is also known as the desert rose plant and is native to Africa and Arabia.
Plumeria in Arizona: Boca III, Dwarf Singapore Pink and Cancun Pink
Blooming today: Boca III, Dwarf Singapore Pink and Cancun Pink
Celadine plumeria
Growing plumeria in Arizona: First Celadine plumeria blooms of the year.
Pink Pansy Plumeria
Another favorite: JL Pink Pansy plumeria that I bought in San Diego at the Plumeria Society sale.
Boca III Plumeria
Growing plumeria in Arizona: These are the first blooms for Boca III, which I bought in the fall of 2014. It has quickly become one of my favorites due to its long-lasting vibrant fuschia blooms.
Dwarf Singapore Pink Plumeria
Dwarf Singapore Pink plumeria blooming today in Arizona.
Violet Jasper Tomatoes
My first Violet Jasper tomatoes
Cancun Pink Plumeria
Cancun Pink flowers. This plumeria is in the ground. It is one of my most cold-hardy and these blooms are on a branch about 7 feet high.
Shishito peppers
I'm still harvesting shishitos from plants (Vilardi Gardens) I put into the garden in 2014.
Today's harvest for salsa
Tomatoes, peppers, and I'itoi's onions.
Capers
I have two caper plants (from Vilardi Gardens). One is in a pot and one is in the ground. Today I noticed the first caper buds of the season on my in-ground plant.
White Lady Banks Rose
March is peak bloom for my white Lady Banks Rose.
Plumeria: Dwarf Singapore Pink
Plumeria "Dwarf Singapore Pink" (Plumeria obtusa) is one of my favorites, not only because it blooms prolifically and is evergreen, but is always the first out of my collection to bloom.
Bougainvillea - Barbara Karst
Bougainvilleas are currently at their peak here in Arizona and I just love the tropical color they add to my landscaping. A native of South America, these plants come in a variety of colors such as orange, pink, red, lilac, fuschia, white and purple. I particularly like the Barbara Karst variety for its vibrant color and profuse blooms.
I have them growing along the walls and also have trained three to climb up the columns of my patio.
March Harvest
This week I'm working on the garden for the summer transition. I pulled up the cool-weather plants that are bolting with the heat, such as cabbage, broccoli, and dill, and getting the beds ready for summer transplants (peppers, tomatillos, okra, and tomatoes). Today's harvest: Dukat dill, Mizuna, Spigariello liscia, Red Russian kale, Early Jersey Wakefield cabbage, Japanese Giant Red Mustard, Ruby Red Swiss Chard, Red Romaine, radishes, Florence fennel, French sorrel, Nero Di Toscana kale, Egyptian Walking Onions, and Bloomsbury spinach.
