\nThis past weekend brought us seasonally warm temperatures and sunny, sunny days. A few cold nights around here (expected this coming weekend with our first frost) will ensure bright colors on the sugar maples.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n Remember, these were root vegetables which were once white and purple (not orange, actually until man messed around with their genes through selections and cross-breeding in the late 19th century), the white carrot was one of the first vegetables not only grown by humans, but believed to he wild harvested by them as well. ( Iraq, Iran, Caucuses, Turkey where it grows wild in high elevations). Of course, back then, it was used primarily as an aphrodisiac ( what wasn’t, right?). These ‘medicinal properties later evolved into using the vegetable as food, and more tender and colorful varieties were selected.<\/div>\n
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\nWe really should respect the carrot much more than we do today, where we either use it as part of a base trilogy in dished, or use it as a substitute for doggie treats even!<\/div>\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nCamellia foliage looks best in the autumn, and this variegation on ‘Daikajura’ variegated form, is a great example of how attractive a potted camellia can be ( or outdoors, if you live in a warmer area). Here, camellias are greenhouse plants.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nAs the maples and ash trees color-up for their big show in the woodlands, in our garden things are taking many turns. The camellias are all budded up after their summer vacation outdoors. I pick a few of the buds off, so that there are only one or two per branch, otherwise they will crowd out each other. This new camellia in my collection has three things going for it. First, it’s an early bloomer, as many camellia’s especially the sassanqua and tea camellias bloom in the autumn or early winter.<\/p>\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n‘Daikajura’ is variable, and some are entirely pink, so be sure when you find one at a camellia nursery, that it is a selection which some special benefits, or you may end up with one which is entirely pink – not a bad thing, but not as awesome as the one above.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Second, for an early bloomer this flower is pretty showy. Most fall blooming camellias are known as ‘sassanqua’ camellias, bred from C. sassanqua or mixed parentage from other species. ‘Daikajura’ is a C. japonica variety. which can bloom early or mid-season, often spreading it’s boom period across November to January. My plant is so young, perhaps it doesn’t yet know what to do, having moved here from Pasadena last autumn – or, it may mean that we are in for a nasty winter again! \nI don’t fall for such juju, and simple believe that it’s off-schedule a bit due to age and environment. All of my camellias seem to vary a bit with their bloom, based upon when they are moved back into the greenhouse, the daily temperature shifts from night to day, and day length.<\/p>\n
Lastly, this camellia does has pretty foliage –I mean, the leaves are large, shiny and green, not because some are variegated. Don’t be mislead – one may have only a few leaves which decide to emerge with variegation, not unusual at all with camellias. Cherish each one like a flower, and value the rest of the un-fancy ones since they will carry the plant through the winter.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nA late evening shot of one of my Japanese chrysanthemums. This bud is larger than a 50 cent piece, which means that the flower might be very large once it opens later in the month.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nFrost threatens, even though it is warm and near 80 degrees F. outdoes today. One my one, I am moving choice plants back into the greenhouse ( there just isn’t too much room, with all of the chrysanthemums!). This variegated calamondin orange is loaded with fruit. I can’t wait until they turn bright orange. They should contest nicely with this big, Japanese ceramic tub I found.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nIt’s a poor image due to the lighting, but don’t you love this dahlia? Orange chiffon with pink tips’. I could eat it! Now, I need to try and find the label in the perennial garden! Dogs have been playing tricks with me.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
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In nearby Brookfield, Massachusetts there are beautiful old farms dating back to the 1800’s. While apple picking this weekend, Joe and I stopped here…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
LIKE BANDS ON A WOOLY BEAR, SO GO THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES - Growing With Plants<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n