Flowers Shrubs & Trees Archives – Page 3 of 27

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Surprise Seedling: Nicotiana Glauca

By JM PerezJune 8, 20222 min read793 views

A couple of months a ago, we purchased a few Lavender trees from Lowe’s. Every now and then I will find a freebie in the pot while transplanting the plant, and this time wasn’t different. I found a tiny seedling with large bluish-green leaves at the base of the Lavender plant and decided to let it be and see what it grows into (I am not fond of plants with large leaves, unless it’s a Magnolia plant). Today I found out that the plant is the seedling of Nicotiana Glauca. Though non-native to California, it is classified as invasive here.

Nicotiana Glauca, also known as Mustard tree, tobacco bush, tobacco plant, tobacco tree, tree tobacco, or wild tobacco is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to South America. The plant can grow up to twenty (20) feet and is short-lived. It is used as an insecticide and smoked as a stimulant by smoking the plant or chewing it. This plant contains the toxic alkaloid nicotine, and can cause blood pressure, cancer, peptic ulcers, tremors, joint pain, anxiety, depression, drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, headaches, respiratory failure, etc … and death.

According to Tropical.theferns.info (Useful Tropical Plants Database), Nicotiana Glauca has a variety of medicinal uses such as:
– Applying a poultice of the leaves to cuts, bruises, swellings and other wounds.
– Applying a poultice of the leaves to remove the pus from scrofulous sores or boils.
– Using an infusion of the leaves as a steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism.
– Applying warmed leaves to the head relieves headaches, on the throat to relieve pain and put in shoes for painful feet.

Though ornamental, the plant is said to pose a threat to biodiversity by competing with native species for resources and displacing native plants. The plant is propagated by seeds and flowers emerge around one year after germination . It is said that in its native range, Nicotiana Glauca is pollinated exclusively by hummingbirds. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Given the information I obtained about this plant, I know I should get rid of it. However, given the fact that I have never seen a Tobacco tree (and out of curiosity), I will keep it for a year, just until the first flowers emerge. I will relocate the seeding this weekend to the end of my property and watch it grow from a distance, until it’s time to bid it farewell.

Happy and safe gardening!

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By JM Perez

Ground Squirrel DIY: Projects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

June In The Garden

By JM PerezJune 3, 20222 min read704 views

Though we are still in the midst of Spring, temperatures are beginning to soar.

Animals, birds, and critters alike are very active. A few weeks ago, we’ve noticed an increase of pigeons in the neighborhood. We are not sure if they suddenly got here, if someone perhaps is breeding them and/or intentionally feeding them; but I sincerely hope they do not become a nuisance.
We cleaned and refilled all the Hummingbird feeders and we set up the Seashell water fountain in a semi-shaded area in the backyard to provide fresh drinking water for wildlife.

*Fish Fountain with Scallop Shell Bowl.*

The gardens are lush and the plants are thriving; so there isn’t much to do in the garden, and the soaring temperature makes it a little hard to spend time outdoors as much as I would love to.

Most of the plants are covered in flowers such as the Wisteria Vine, Creeping Myrtle, “Madame Galen” Trumpet Vine, Gaura Lindheimeri, Daylilies, Calibrachoa, African Iri, Dwarf Cup Flower, Dwarf Myrtle, Mimosa Trees, Green Feathery Senna, Silvery Cassia, Snapdragon, Yellow Bird Of Paradise Bush, Salvia Greggii, Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass, Tulbaghia Silver Lace, Breath of Heaven, etc.

*Desert Willow (Chilopsis Linearis) Flowers.*

We added two more rose bushes to our collection: Perfume Delight Hybrid Tea Rose and Love At First Sight Hybrid Tea Rose.

Gophers and Ground Squirrels have been very active, digging, gnawing, and causing damages on plants. We’ve set traps and I’ve been patrolling the entire property daily, and so far we’ve caught one Gopher and one Squirrel. At the far back of the property I’ve notice signs of Gopher activities around the Gopher plants, and we will be setting more traps in a day or two.

*Trapped Squirrel. Didn’t dig enough and got stuck …*

We finally replaced one of the wired doorbells.
Something cool about this doorbell is the fact that the button illuminates for evening visibility. If you removed the push button, it sits beautifully over the door’s peephole.

Happy gardening!

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By JM Perez

Snakeflies Insects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Spring in The Garden

By JM PerezApril 2, 20223 min read651 views

As the weather warms up, plants and critters come alive.
April is such a beautiful month. The weather is just right to spend time outside, tending to my garden. The roses are in full bloom on the arches by the side gate, the patio and the gazebo.

The Red Tip Photinia recently put out beautiful, tiny white clusters of flowers. These flowers however, have an unpleasant smell.

Madame Galen Trumpet Vine is leafing out. Early last Spring, I almost got rid of the plant thinking it had died, since its branches were still bare while other plants had leaves and flowers.

*Madame Galen Trumpet Vine leafing out.*

My Lilac bloomed for the first time. I planted a few two years ago from seedlings and they are thriving.

The rose trees are starting to bloom again …

The Creeping Myrtle are fast growing and spreading …
In the front yard I used them as ground cover and in the backyard I used them as climbers.

The Silvery Cassia shrubs are covered in masses of bright yellow flowers.

About ten years ago, we planted Japanese Boxwood in two different locations in the backyard. We haven’t lost a single one to date; however, those planted in partially shaded areas have tripled in a size and look greener, while those planted in sunny areas are much smaller and are brighter. A few weeks ago, I realized that the plants are self-seeding under favorable conditions. I found three or four young seedlings next to the mother plant. I will relocate them once they reach a certain height and it’s safe to do so.

For the last couple of weeks, I have been seeing a strange new insect flying around and didn’t pay much attention. Though I didn’t take a good look at the insect, I remember that I couldn’t get the image off my mind. I knew it wasn’t a mosquito, since it had a long neck and strange looking head. Last week, I saw one resting on the wall and immediately took a picture of it. This insect turns out to be a Snakefly.

According to Wikipedia, Snakeflies are a group of predatory insects, consisting of roughly 260 species. These predatory insects are found in temperate regions worldwide but are absent from the tropics and the southern hemisphere. It is said that their long neck aid in keeping their head above the body. Snakeflies are beneficial insects and appear in Spring and feed on the larvae and pupae of insects as well as other small insects. Their life cycle includes egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. The female has a large and strong ovipositor for laying eggs. The larvae live beneath trees and plants roots, under loose tree bark and hunt for other small insects or their larvae. It may take them a couple of years to complete their development.

Gophers and ground Squirrels are very active. After loosing a few Gopher plants, my husband set up traps around the area and caught a gopher. The squirrels on the other hand are becoming very sneaky. They dig holes on our property boundary to get to the neighbor’s chicken coop; we have set up a few traps and are keeping our fingers crossed.

Happy gardening!

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By JM Perez

Plant Propagation Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

The Long Awaited Rain

By JM PerezOctober 26, 20212 min read988 views

Mother Nature blessed us with some much needed rain yesterday. It poured and it poured and it poured, and I am sure, every living thing in the High Desert was grateful. There is nothing good about being in a drought, and it’s been a very long time since we had rain. That rainfall was really good. In some areas of my property, the soil is still wet.

*Elm Tree Leaves Color Change and Shedding …*

The Elm trees as well as the Pomegranate tree leaves have changed color and are now falling off. The Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass are producing abundant pinkish brown flowers while the foliage are beginning to turn yellow.

The Agave Ovatifolia are fast growing and reproducing rapidly. The parent plant is quite large now and the first offsets which were separated from the parent plant are creating their own pups. The Pine Cone Cactus have produced many branches and are growing nicely.

*Pine Cone Cactus and Agave Ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’.*

The Dragon’s Blood Sedum, Crassula Muscosa and Sedeveria are thriving.

The Salvia Greggii ‘Red’ below is one of the many Salvia Greggii I am growing as trees in the backyard. I am letting those in the front yard grow as bushes.

Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’ is such an amazing evergreen perennial; not so much drought tolerant, but frost tolerant. I have a set of three, which I bought four years ago and they are left outdoor all year round.

Working in my garden brings me so much joy. It provides comfort and solace, and I cherish every moment of peace and reflection there. I hope the rain returns soon.

Happy gardening!

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By JM Perez

Nature Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Glimpse Of Beauties

By JM PerezOctober 2, 20212 min read623 views

It’s October, the weather is cooling down and still not a drop of rain in some parts of the High Desert. In the midst of everything, I am still grateful to Mother Nature. The winds are picking up and allergies will soon be on the rise …

I haven’t done much gardening lately; however, strolling through my front and backyard yard, I catch a glimpse of beauties here and there. My Hybrid Tea Tree Rose Rio Samba isn’t doing so well. I have had it for over ten years now, and it was doing well until last year; I suspected curl grubs and other soil pests and took care of it. A couple of weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of buds emerging from the trunk, and last week one of the buds bloomed.

The Crassula capitella I propagated through cuttings a couple of months ago are covered in white flower buds atop the stems. I am looking forward to seeing those buds open up.

I spotted a very small White Moth resting on the leaf of a Gopher Plant; possibly Cataclysta Lemnata, also known as Small China-mark. According to The Bay Magazine Swansea, their larvae develop underwater, after which the caterpillars feed on duckweed and live underneath the tiny plants floating on the surface of ponds and lakes. In order to disguise themselves, Small China Mark caterpillars fashion tube-like silken cases for themselves which they cover in duckweed, rendering them all but invisible.

Sunsets in the High Desert never cease to amaze me. Below is an image of the sun shining through a gap between the clouds while setting. It’s simply beautiful.
According to GeographyReal.com, as air descends, it increases in temperature, a process known as adiabatic warming or heating. That effect of descending air being warmer and drier is what created gaps in cloud coverage.