Mint in Central Florida

Most lit says to grow it in full sun. I found that in our area it does best with half a day of sun only. I am looking forward to making a raised bed with all types of mint...ever heard of chocolate mint? I tried and it was delicious! Also looking forward to tasting pineapple mint, orange mint and too many others to count.

If you happen to be new to gardening, don't ever, ever, ever plant mint straight in the soil. It will take over your entire garden. And I don't know anyone who likes mojitos or mint juleps that much. There I go again with the drinking references!

Cheers to that.

Dwarf Geraldi Mulberry Tree

*Salivating* This is THE perfect tree if you have a small garden and you are impatient like me. This tree's fruit literally storms out of its trunk...I planted this as a dormant stick-looking thing and less than a month later it is covered in these little promising blooms! If you are considering starting a small orchard or growing just one fruit tree give this one serious consideration. It grows to a manageable size and you can prune as you'd like.

If squirrels are a problem in your area, also consider this tree, I read that because they eat the fruit when it is in its red stage (still immature and not sweet at all) they usually don't touch it again. Nice.

Lastly, of all the fruiting trees I have planted in the last few years this one seems to be instant gratification, none of that waiting for it to be seven years old before you can taste the bounty. No siree.

I got mine from Whitman Farms. Folks there are knowledgeable, kind and super helpful. Their plants arrive in no time, healthy & perfectly packed and if you have questions they are always able to to help you.

Shangri-La Mulberry blooms

This becomes a big tree, so not for you if you have a small area to grow it. Then the best bet would be something like the dwarf Geraldi pictured in the prior post.

Moringa--tree?

Calling this pup a tree would be like calling a toddler an adult. All literature says that this thing grows freakishly fast.

Not in our garden...but who knows...one day I may come out and it will be 10 feet tall.

For now I have to protect it from the kids on stray bikes, skateboards, soccer balls, baseballs...you get the idea. We live between a school and a bunch of households with multiple children. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate kids...I just don't appreciate it when the parenting lacks in the manners department...that's all.

Navajo Blackberry!

Yes! Yes! Yes! The blackberry canes I got as bare root babes are popping up! All, except the Thornless Apache...hope it is not a bad one. Will post drooly reviews when I get to taste them.

Our Jack & Rhonda tree

Okay, so its real name is Jacaranda...this was the first tree we planted in our front garden. That was about 13 months ago, I think. At planting time it was about 5 feet tall. Now it stands at about 15 feet, if not more.

Its growth rate is fast, fast, fast. It is semi-deciduous & drought tolerant. I read a while back that one should train these trees to have a strong main trunk and resist the temptation of letting it branch out too low. Following these directions makes for a stronger tree, which is a good idea living in Florida.

I grew up in Buenos Aires where the streets are lined with these beauties. The effect a bunch of these trees together has is a bit like the cherry blossom trees up north...fairy-taley...

I think next Spring it should flower for the first time. I has showy clusters of lilac/purple flowers that are just breath-taking.

Yesterday, I was sitting in our little garden bench and realized for the first time--I am sitting in a spot shaded by a tree we planted. That's pretty darn awesome.

So I'll toast to the tree tonight.

Several times.

Firespike

Right before it opens its tiny blooms.

Insanely small Moringa 'tree'

Still small, but it told me that come Spring there is no stopping it. And I believe it.

For more info on this tree just type "Moringa" on the search box located on the top left of this page.

How on earth does one harvest Florida Cranberry (aka Jamaican Sorrel)?

I did some investigating after getting lots of contradicting info. So here is what I found out. In this pic is what I call the first stage of the plant (while on its way to be harvest-ready). It is simply the bud prior to flowering.

**Update**

I sent an email to Onalee (which is where I got the seeds from) to be sure I was harvesting the sorrel at the right time. She sent me a super quick email with this info:

Q: When are they ready to harvest?

A: They are ready when they are about an inch across (about the size of a quarter around the diameter of the base of the calyx). You want them to get as large as possible, but not so old as to become bitter.

Q: Do I cook them with the outer reddish part included or do I just take the greenish ball that is inside?
A: The red part is where the flavor is – I remove the inner green ball (Which has the seeds). On the Internet it says to cook the whole thing, but I removed the seeds, they seemed to give it a more bitter flavor.

Q: Do you have any suggestions as to how to best use them? One of my neighbors is from Jamaica and he said he uses them for a drink with ginger, but he was adamant I should wait for at least another month before picking them...

A: The longer you wait, the more bitter they are; I would not wait another month – no way. Usually, it’s a couple of weeks from bloom until they are ready to pick for cooking. Of course, they are ready in stages, as they bloom up the stems, some will be ready at different times. Just experiment and see how you like them best.

The flower is what I call the second stage...

Florida Cranberry seed pod

And this is what I call the third stage: Calyx & edible pod. I took a calyx or two off the pod (the green ball-looking thing in the center) to show the difference between stage one & two. In stage one (prior to the flower opening) the bud does not have the seed pod inside yet.

I found out that in some countries they actually dry the pod/seeds & make tea or add it to soups. The leaves are also edible in salads or cooked, and so are the flowers which taste mildly citrusy. A very useful, ornamentally striking, drought tolerant and almost zero maintenance shrub! I will post the taste results when I make jam/chutney in a few weeks.

Even in the Gloomiest Mornings...

A blue fence and some red passion vine can lift anyone's spirits!

Bolivian Sunflower

I lived in Bolivia and I have never, ever, seen this flower...I'll have to research if it really grows there...anyhow, this shrub is now blooming twice a year (spring and fall) and I love it!

I love it in spite of its massive size (definitely not recommended for small gardens) and the work it requires to keep it neat looking...the center of the shrub always looks as if someone played a practical joke on us and hung hundreds of dirty gym socks on it. Oh, and one last thing: this is a pretty thirsty shrub during the hotter months...for me it is okay because this is my only thirsty plant, but consider this fact before planting.

Morning Glory

This flower is from seeds I planted about three weeks ago. I got the seeds at Home Depot.

Jacaranda

I think the 'Jack & Rhonda' -as my hubby calls it- is preparing to set its first blooms...take a look at Jacarandas in bloom in Buenos Aires--> http://www.akworld.net/webblog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/bosques_palermo.jpg