Figs

This one is one of the few remaining brown turkey figs. The beach sunflowers next to the fig tree will give you an idea of the scale of our mini-orchard. Yes, most trees we still look down to (in a physical way, not pejoratively speaking).

We also have a taller fig, about 6 feet, but it is new to our garden and it has not produced fruit yet.

Bumper crops, where are thou?

Jujubes still trucking along

Just to clear up some jujube-pollination-related misunderstandings...here is the info straight from the Southern Living Garden Book (about the Li and Lang varieties): "Lang needs Li as a pollenizer; Li is more productive with Lang nearby, though it will produce some fruit if planted alone."

Calamondin oranges

Growing steadily. These are not meant to be eaten out of hand like one would a regular orange, they are too sour and sharp for that.

I grow them as a lime substitute instead. Also, they are one of the most cold hardy citrus around, this means when the freezes come I won't have to worry about it.

It is a very low maintenance little shrubby tree.

Floribunda Iceberg Rose

Dwarf Powder Puff

Muscadine grapes

I had some from this vine last summer and it left a long lasting impression on me. I ranted and raved about how sweet and crisp they were for months.

Growing Jujubes

These are ideal trees for Florida. Not fuzzy about soil. Heat loving, cold tolerant to about 28 degrees and drought tolerant to boot!

Tasty fruit that can be eaten out of hand or dried (like you would eat/use any other dried fruit).

The flowers are super tiny but prolific.

Two are needed for good fruit set. I have a Lin and a Lang.

Some cons of Jujube trees: they forms suckers like mint would, but they are easily kept in check...I think :) The other thing is that you gotta keep an eye for the water spouts they grow (shown on photo, just like citrus) and snap them off.

Other than that they are all positives in my book.

How to propagate a Jacaranda tree

1. Get mad at how tall your existing Jacaranda is growing.

2. Mindlessly cut branches.

3. Put them aside in the garden's junk drawer.

4. Forget about them for a couple of weeks.

5. Check on the branches & voila! You have new trees!

Seriously, it is almost scary how easily some of these plants grow. I am still on the fence about whether to keep this one or not. For the one thing it is beautiful when in flower with luscious clusters of lilac flowers...but this one has never bloomed for us.

Also, they are fast growers...and you know most fast growing trees don't have the best hardware under the soil, that means that these guys are very prone to being destroyed during a hurricane. Or worse, they are likely to fly madly and smash something else.

Calamondin Oranges

Finally they are large enough for me to take a pic of them. They are one of the most cold tolerant citrus trees around & make a great substitute for limes. Super easy to care for.

Franciscan Monk's Head flower

Okay, so it is a monarda...but don't these remind you of the old fashion Franciscan monk's hairdo?

Photo from the Library of Congress.

Dirksen Blackberries

Ta'Daaaaaaaaaa! And on a recently planted shrub! The reason for the excitement is that blackberries usually don't produce much fruit the first year in the ground as they fruit on 2-year old canes. The Navajo also has berries but much less than this Dirksen.

Bleeding Heart

This fella will frame the entry to our future outdoor cooking spot on the North side of the house (see below). More photos of this shrub/vine are here.

Jujube busting at the seams

I can already tell I am going to love this tree. I love its growth habit already, with all its leafy branches pointing upwards from an horizontal branch.

Verbena Bonairensis. Gorgeous blue purplish flowers loved by hummingbirds and butterflies. Perennial & drought tolerant. Self-seeds like a maniac so if you are a neat freak in the garden this is not a plant for you.

Antique rose given to me by my pal Juliana. Thank you dahlin'!

Peach tree seedling MaryJo gave me when I went to visit her garden.

Pomegranate flowers