Sunday, February 19, 2017

The Final Orchard Trees for 2017

We planted the final four trees in the orchard on Friday.
Two more plum trees - Santa Rosa. This is the same variety of plum that my dad had at our home in Leon Valley when I was growing up there. It's a self pollinator, and will act as a pollinator for the two Gulf Beauty plums we planted last week.
And then for something brand new, we put in two nectarine trees - Suncoast.  This variety was developed in Florida for southern climates and produces a large yellow fleshed fruit.
The orchard is done. Now to keep it alive and thriving!

Saturday, February 11, 2017

The Chicks Are Here!

Our local feed store got in baby chicks this weekend, so we went over Saturday morning to get a few to add to our flock.  We currently only have 3 hens and our rooster, Romeo, so it was time to add some new chicks.
I had promised KT that she could come along when it was time to get new chicks, so John and I drove in and picked up the girls first, then drove straight to the feed store.
We wanted Buff Orpingtons, since those are John's favorite, so we picked out 4 of those pullets first. 
KT with one of the Buffs

Then KT and Joss both got to help pick out two each.  Joss chose Barred Rocks (she said she wanted "spotted" chickens - and those have a yellow spot on their heads!)
Joss is touching one of the Barred Rocks. She didn't want to pick them up, she was afraid of their feet!

 KT chose two Production Reds. So, we ended up with 8 new chicks.
KT with one of the Production Reds


The new babies are all nice and warm in their box, 
with feed and water. They all have names, but I can't remember them all.  The reds are "Red" and "Strawberry." The Barred Rocks are "Spotted Chicken" and "Midnight." And some of the Buffs are "Fuzzy" and "HeyHey."  There are two other names, but I'll have to ask KT what they were!

I couldn't help myself -- I had to include these two pictures of the last time we had baby chicks here. The girls were so much smaller then. How time flies.


Wednesday, February 8, 2017

More trees for the orchard....

John added four more trees to his orchard yesterday, two more peach and two plum.
The peach trees are Texstar.  This variety of peach was developed at Texas A&M, and only requires 400 hours of chill per year - which is good for here.  

The plum trees are Gulf Beauty. These are supposedly early ripening plums that were developed in Florida for southern gardens.  It only requires 250 hours of chill per year. He's going to add two more of a different variety for pollination.
After we planted the trees, we planted out the berry starts that I rooted this winter in the greenhouse.  
Out of the 8 cuttings that I rooted of the Apache blackberries, we got 6 that rooted! I was really pleased with that. These are another thorn-less type like the Chester blackberries that we already have.
Next we planted the Black Raspberry cuttings that rooted.  These didn't do as well, there were only three out of 12 that survived. These do have thorns - ouch!
And finally I planted three Brown Turkey fig cuttings in a big pot.  I won't be putting these in the ground since I've had absolutely no success in getting fig to survive a winter here. I just don't think I have a good place that shelters them enough, so I'll just be keeping this potted. I had 5 cuttings, so was pleased that 3 took off.



Monday, February 6, 2017

U. S. Men's Rugby Team vs. Uraguay

John and I went to see a Rugby game on Saturday night.  It was really interesting, although I don't know much about what was happening on the field.  John watches a lot of Rugby, so he had a great time.  And the USA won!! Whooo!!!




It was fun, and no real rain although it was misty part of the time.  There was quite a crowd there to cheer our team on!

KT and Joss have birthdays!

The end of January is one birthday after another around here! My daughter starts it off on the 27th, then her oldest daughter, KT, follows on the 29th, and little Joss rounds it out on the 31st! Whew!  
This Saturday we had a nice dinner and cake at their home, along with Jeff's Mom and sister who came over to celebrate with everyone.  Here's a few photos from the day:
 Joss's cake was a "Moana" cake - she loves that movie!
 KT's cake was a Pokemon ball (???) I have no idea. But she does!
 Blowing out the cakes!
 JR and Max watched on!
 Aunt Colleen and Max were laying on the floor checking each other out....
 Joss's cake was multiple layers of beautiful color!
 KT's cake was chocolate!
Funny girls....

New Fruit for 2017

This year John has decided to make an orchard out of part of one of his fields, the one right in front of our home. He's mapped out a plan to add about 14 new trees in the next few years.
This weekend he planted the first four - all peaches.  There's 3 Rio Grande and one LaFeliciana. Our oldest peach tree is a Rio Grande and we love the peaches that come from that tree. Freestone and early, it ripens in late May/June and is just a very pretty, sweet peach.
The LaFeliciana is new to us, but we chose it because it only requires about 400 hours of chill weather and it's supposedly a later (July) ripening peach. It was developed in Louisiana for the south.
I spent an hour or so cleaning up under our Chester Blackberry patch and mulching it with composted turkey bedding - and fertilizing them.  We had a pretty good bunch of berries from these plants last year and are expecting even more this year!
I'll be planting the other berries that I've been rooting in the greenhouse all winter.  There's some Apache Blackberries that took off, and a few Black Raspberries (sadly only about 3 of the dozen canes look like they are viable. We'll see when I dig them out.)

Friday, February 3, 2017

My Seed Bank for 2017

Seed Bank - Spring 2017 Plants
  Type Name Year Source Viable Plant Type Additional Info
1 Beans, Green Tendergreen Improved 2016 Ferry-Morse 3 years DS Bush
2 Beans, Green Climbing French 2017 Seed Savers Exchange 3 years DS Pole
3 Beans, Green Red Swan 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 3 years DS Bush
4 Beans, Green Calima  2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS Bush
5 Beans, Green Fortex (2) 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS Pole
6 Beans, Green Gold Crop 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS Bush
7 Beans, Green Jade 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS Bush
8 Beans, Green Purple Podded 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS Pole
9 Beans, Green Red Noodle Yard Long 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS Pole
10 Beans, Green White Emargo Runner 2017 SeedsNow 3 years DS Pole
11 Beans, Green Asparagus Yard Long 2015 (Saved) 3 years DS Pole
               
1 Beets Chioggia 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years DS  
2 Beets Cylindra 2016 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years DS  
3 Beets Detroit Dark Red, Morse's Strain 2016 Ferry-Morse 4 years DS  
               
1 Broccoli DeCicco 2013 Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 3 years Trans  
2 Broccoli Rapini 2015 SeedsNow 3 years Trans  
3 Broccoli Green Goliath 2016 Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 3 years Trans  
4 Broccoli Romanesco 2015 SeedsNow 3 years Trans  
               
1 Cabbage Early Flat Dutch 2013 Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 4 years Trans  
2 Cabbage Brunswick 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years Trans  
3 Cabbage Golden Acres 2016 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
4 Cabbage Red Express 2014 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years Trans  
5 Cabbage Savoy Perfection 2016 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
6 Cabbage Danish Ballhead 2016 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
7 Cabbage Gonzales F1 2016 Johnny's Select Seeds 4 years Trans  
8 Cabbage Troncuda 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years Trans  
9 Cabbage Michilhili 2017 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
10 Cabbage Drumhead 2017 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
11 Cabbage Cabbage Mix 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years Trans  
               
1 Carrots Parisienne 2014 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 3 years DS  
2 Carrots Chantenay Red Core  2016 Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 3 years DS  
3 Carrots Dragon 2016 Seed Savers Exchange 3 years DS  
4 Carrots Rainbow F1 2016 Johnny's Select Seeds 3 years DS  
5 Carrots St. Valery 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS  
6 Carrots Tendersweet 2017 SeedsNow 3 years DS  
7 Carrots Sugar Snax 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS  
               
1 Cauliflower Green Macerata 2014 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years Trans  
2 Cauliflower Snowball X 2015 American Seed 4 years Trans  
3 Cauliflower Igloo (2) 2016 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
4 Cauliflower All-Year 2015 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
               
  Celery Utah Tall 2015 SeedsNow 2 years Trans  
  Corn Glass Gem Popcorn 2015 Native Seed Search 2 years DS  
  Cotton Mississippi Brown 2014 (Saved)   DS  
               
1 Cowpeas Mississippi Silver 2013 (Saved) 3 years DS  
2 Cowpeas Piggott Family Heirloom 2014 (Saved) 3 years DS  
3 Cowpeas Peking Black 2014 (Saved) 3 years DS  
4 Cowpeas Red Ripper 2013 (Saved) 3 years DS  
5 Cowpeas Queen Anne 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 3 years DS  
               
1 Cucumber Burpless F1 Hybrid 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 5 years DS  
2 Cucumber Marketmore 2016 Botanical Interests 5 years DS  
               
1 Garden berries Huckleberry 2016 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds   Trans  
2 Garden berries Chichiquelite Huckleberry 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds   Trans  
3 Garden berries Aunt Molly's Garden Cherry 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds   Trans  
               
1 Gourd Mixture 2015 Seed Savers Exchange 4-6 years DS  
2 Gourd Speckled Swan 2015 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4-6 years DS  
3 Gourd Bushel Basket 2015 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and (Saved) 4-6 years DS  
4 Gourd Dinosaur 2014 Seed Savers Exchange 4-6 years DS  
5 Gourd Luffa 2015 SeedsNow and (Saved) 4-6 years DS  
6 Gourd Guarijio Dipper 2014 Native Seed Search 4-6 years DS  
7 Gourd Large Bottle 2013 (Saved) 4-6 years DS  
8 Gourd Large & Small Mix 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4-6 years DS  
9 Gourd Penguin 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4-6 years DS  
10 Gourd Bule 2017 Seed Savers Exchange 4-6 years DS  
               
1 Grain Sorghum, White African 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds   DS Field
2 Grain Sorghum, Mennonite 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds   DS Field
3 Grain Amaranth 2015 SeedsNow     Field
4 Grain Carolina Gold Rice 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds   DS Container
               
1 Herb Globe Basil 2016 Seed Savers Exchange   Trans  
2 Herb Blue Spice Basil 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds   Trans  
3 Herb Italiano Classico Basil 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds   Trans  
4 Herb Mad Dog Skullcap 2013 My Patriot Supply   Trans  
5 Herb Culver's Root 2013 My Patriot Supply   Trans  
6 Herb Lemon Balm 2013 My Patriot Supply   Trans  
7 Herb Echinacea Purpurea 2013 My Patriot Supply   Trans  
8 Herb Urtica Dioicia - Nettle 2013 My Patriot Supply   Trans  
9 Herb Hyssop 2013 My Patriot Supply   Trans  
10 Herb Catnip 2013 My Patriot Supply   Trans  
11 Herb Borage 2013 My Patriot Supply   Trans  
12 Herb Fennel 2014 (Saved)   Trans  
13 Herb Parsley, Triple Moss Curled 2015 SeedsNow   Trans  
14 Herb Horehound 2017 SeedsNow   Trans  
15 Herb Dill Bouquet 2017 SeedsNow   Trans  
16 Herb Lovage (3) 2017 SeedsNow   Trans  
17 Herb Mint, Lemon 2017 SeedsNow   Trans  
18 Herb Parsley, Italian Dark Green 2016 SeedsNow   Trans  
               
1 Kale Tronchuda 2016 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years Trans  
2 Kale Nero di'Toscana 2016 Territorial 4 years Trans  
3 Kale Siber Frill 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years Trans  
4 Kale Vates 2016 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
5 Kale Blue Curled Scotch 2017 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
5 Kale Lacinato 2016 SeedsNow 4 years Trans  
               
1 Lettuce Monte Carlo 2016 Johnny's Select Seeds 5 years DS  
2 Lettuce Valmaine 2016 Territorial  5 years DS  
3 Lettuce Asian Red 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 5 years DS  
4 Lettuce Romaine 2016 SeedsNow 5 years DS  
5 Lettuce Winter Density 2016 SeedsNow 5 years DS  
6 Lettuce Baby Oakleaf 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 5 years DS  
7 Lettuce Crisphead 2016 SeedsNow 5 years DS  
               
1 Melon Ananas D'Amerique A Chair Verte Unknown Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 5 years DS  
2 Melon Bidwell Casaba (3) 2013 (Saved) 5 years DS  
3 Melon Delice de la Table (3) Unknown (Saved) 5 years DS  
               
1 Okra Beck's Big Buck Horn 2015 (Saved) 2 years DS  
2 Okra Stewart's Zeebest 2016 (Saved) 2 years DS  
3 Okra Silver Queen 2016 (Saved) 2 years DS  
4 Okra Jambalaya 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 2 years DS  
5 Okra Mixed 2013 (Saved) 2 years DS  
6 Okra Hill Country Red 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 2 years DS  
               
1 Pak Choy Shanghai Green 2016 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
2 Pak Choy Extra Dwarf (2) 2014 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
               
1 Peas Strike Garden Peas 2016 Territorial 3 years DS  
2 Peas Oregon Sugar Pod (2) 2016 Territorial 3 years DS  
               
1 Pepper Gypsy Hybrid 2016 Totally Tomatoes (some saved) 2 years Trans Sweet
2 Pepper King of the North 2016 Seed Savers Exchange 2 years Trans Sweet
3 Pepper Cayenne Long Red 2013 My Patriot Supply 2 years Trans Hot
4 Pepper Aji Golden 2017 Facebook Garden Group 2 years Trans Hot
5 Pepper Aji Angelo 2017 Facebook Garden Group 2 years Trans Hot
6 Pepper JR's Orange 2016 (Saved) 2 years Trans Sweet
7 Pepper Candy Apple Red 2016 (Saved) 2 years Trans Sweet
8 Pepper Violet Sparkle 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 2 years Trans Sweet
9 Pepper Italian Fry Pepper 2017 (Saved) 2 years Trans Sweet
               
1 Pumpkin Connecticut Field 2014 American Seed 4 years DS  
2 Pumpkin Amish Pie 2013 (Saved) 4 years DS  
3 Pumpkin Godiva Unknown (Saved) 4 years DS  
4 Pumpkin Large Stripes Unknown (Saved) 4 years DS  
5 Pumpkin Medium Orange Warty 2015 (Saved) HEB Grocery Store 4 years DS  
6 Pumpkin Large White Flat 2015 (Saved) Pumpkin Patch Medina 4 years DS  
7 Pumpkin Medium Orange Unknown (Saved) 4 years DS  
8 Pumpkin Fortuna White 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
9 Pumpkin Orange/Cream Ornamental (small) 2016 (Saved) 4 years DS  
10 Pumpkin Rouge D'tEmps 2016 (Saved) 4 years DS  
11 Pumpkin Princess 2016 (Saved) 4 years DS  
12 Pumpkin Small Pie 2016 (Saved) 4 years DS  
13 Pumpkin Seminole 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
               
1 Spinach Palco 2016 Territorial 4 years Trans  
2 Spinach Regiment 2016 Territorial 4 years Trans  
3 Spinach Red Kitten 2016 Johnny's Select Seeds 4 years Trans  
               
1 Squash, Summer Golden Zucchini 2015 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years DS  
2 Squash, Summer Gentry (Yellow Crookneck) 2016 Johnny's Select Seeds 4 years DS  
3 Squash, Summer Alexandria (Pale Zucchini) 2016 Johnny's Select Seeds 4 years DS  
4 Squash, Summer Desi 2016 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
5 Squash, Summer Yellow Crookneck 2016 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years DS  
6 Squash, Summer Zephyr 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years DS  
7 Squash, Summer Fordhook Zucchini 2015 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years DS  
8 Squash, Summer Lebanese White Bush Marrow 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years DS  
9 Squash, Summer Zucchetta Rampicante Tromboncino 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years DS  
10 Squash, Summer Tomboncino 2016 Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 4 years DS  
11 Squash, Summer Bennings Green Tint 2016 Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 4 years DS  
12 Squash, Summer Lebanese White Bush Marrow 2015 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years DS  
               
1 Squash, Winter Kikuza 2015 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years DS  
2 Squash, Winter Sweet Meat 2015 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
3 Squash, Winter Japanese Pie 2016 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
4 Squash, Winter Kamo Kamo 2016 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
5 Squash, Winter Red Kuri (Hokkaido) 2014 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
6 Squash, Winter Honey Boat Delicata 2012 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
7 Squash, Winter Spaghetti 2015 SeedsNow 4 years DS  
8 Squash, Winter Orange Cushaw 2012 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
9 Squash, Winter Jumbo Pink Banana 2012 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years DS  
10 Squash, Winter Metro F1 Butternut 2016 Johnny's Select Seeds 4 years DS  
               
1 Swiss Chard Mixed Colors 2016 Ferry-Morse 4 years Trans  
2 Swiss Chard Sea Foam 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years Trans  
3 Swiss Chard Orange Fanstasia 2017 Pinetree Garden Seeds 4 years Trans  
               
1 Tomatillo Green Husk 2015 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years Trans  
2 Tomatillo Amarylla 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years Trans  
3 Tomatillo Purple De Milpa 2016 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years Trans  
               
1 Tomato Beefsteak (2) 2013 Ferry-Morse 4 years Trans Large - Ind
2 Tomato Cherry, Rainbow Blend 2012 Botanical Interests 4 years Trans Mixed Cherry - Ind
3 Tomato Snow White 2015 Penny's Tomatoes 4 years Trans Cherry - Ind
4 Tomato Homestead 2015 Penny's Tomatoes 4 years Trans Large - Det
5 Tomato Great White 2015 Penny's Tomatoes 4 years Trans Large - Ind
6 Tomato Juane Flamee 2015 Penny's Tomatoes 4 years Trans Med - Ind
7 Tomato Red Star 2015 Penny's Tomatoes 4 years Trans Plum - Ind
8 Tomato Ten Fingers of of Naples 2016 Totally Tomatoes 4 years Trans Paste - Det
9 Tomato Rapunzel Hybrid 2016 Totally Tomatoes 4 years Trans Cherry - Ind
10 Tomato Sleeping Beauty 2015 Penny's Tomatoes (some saved) 4 years Trans Med Burgandy - Ind
11 Tomato Black Vernissage 2017 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years Trans Large Cherry - Ind
12 Tomato Cream Sausage 2016 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years Trans Yellow Paste - Ind
13 Tomato German Pink 2016 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years Trans  
14 Tomato Speckled Roman 2016 Seed Savers Exchange 4 years Trans Red/Yellow Striped paste - Ind
15 Tomato Costoluto Genovese 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Large - Ind
16 Tomato Darby Red & Yellow 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Med Red/Yellow strip - Ind
17 Tomato Arkansas Traveler 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Pink Medium - Ind
18 Tomato Black Mountain Pink 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Large - Ind
19 Tomato Amana Orange 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Large Orange - Ind
20 Tomato Blanche Du Soleil 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans  
21 Tomato Dagma's Perfection 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Med Orange - Ind
22 Tomato Aunt Ginny's Purple 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Purple Black Large - Ind
23 Tomato Blueberries 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Black cherry - Ind
24 Tomato Mikhalych 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Large - Ind
25 Tomato McMurray 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Large
26 Tomato Japanese Black Trifele 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Med Pear Burgandy - Ind
27 Tomato German Pink 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans  
28 Tomato Chocolate Amazon 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Large Purple - Ind
29 Tomato Rutgers 2017 SeedsNow 4 years Trans Large Red - Det
30 Tomato Carbon 2017 Facebook Garden Group 4 years Trans Black Large - Ind
               
1 Tomato Garden Berry Litchi 2014 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 4 years Trans