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Here's my frog pic.

We raised two tadpoles in a very large vase this spring for the kids to watch. We caught them in the seasonal wash at the edge of the property. I think they got a head start on the "wild" tadpoles because we gave them fish food to eat. When they started growing legs and climbing we released...

I've noticed 100's of tree frogs and toads around our house this spring. So many that I mow the lawn very slowly so that the vibrations scare the little ones into hopping away. I stop every few feet to move them out of the way so I don't chop them up. LOL, It takes me forever to mow our small...

I bet all those veggies could make a great meal. Cucumbers and tomatoes for the salad, mixed steamed veggies with some garlic and herbs thrown in:drool They made me hungry just by looking at them. It's funny that the "perfect" veggies in the store don't look as good as home grown.

We moved here to Redding, Ca about 6 months ago and I'm finally getting a start on planting my dream fruit tree orchard for home use. I've been researching rootstocks, zones, and varieties until my head hurts. Since oak root fungus is a problem in my area, I have to be picky about what root...

It's getting late in the season, but I just bought my last two heirloom tomato plants. This will be my first time growing heirlooms since trying 10 years ago to grow Mr. Stripy and Brandywine. Both failed to produce anything. Here are my heirloom choices for this year: Hillbilly Pineapple...

For as long as I can remember, I felt strong intrest in all things growing or living. My mom attepted to grow gardens some years, but never was serious about it. But, I was always trying to plant things and root cuttings. I rooted my first rose cutting when I was 8, but was told to throw it...

I have a book called Great Garden Formulas. It's a mix-it-yourself guide to formulas for plant diseases, pests and fertilizers. Here's two simple formulas for sprays. It also helps to remove as many infected leaves from the rose as you can and use a deep layer of fresh mulch around the base...

You could use straight round-up in undiluted form or the brush killer formula to paint directly on the stumps. If you do that when the stump is fresh it will kill it. You may need to cut back the suckers and paint the stubs and stump with the round up.

I'm not going to order until this fall. So, I have the whole summer to choose and research. I'm going to be visiting the local farmer's markets and taste testing local grown apples and other produce. I'll ask plenty of questions too. I'm good at peaches, plums, apricots and cherries. I worked...

I'm narrowing down my choices: But not limiting them:D I like the idea of growing old "heirloom" varieties as well as some newer modern apples. My selections so far: Anna Arkansas Black Spur Ashmead's Kernel Fuji or Red Fuji Pink Lady Sierra Beauty- said to grow well in my area Scarlet...

I'm planning which trees to plant for my fruit orchard. We just moved here and I'm starting with a blank slate. I want to plant cherries, plums, pluots, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, asian pears, nectarines and apples. What can I say.....I'm a fruit-aholic! There are so many apples to choose...

We were very happy with our purchase of this house from the previous owners. They were so kind and helpful considering they were selling it at a great loss. They left instruction booklets and info on everything including appliances, diagrams of irrigation lines, drip lines and watering...

Thank you! I was very lucky. We just moved here last fall and the previous owners left behind four of those beautiful pots. :weee here's another one. I'm not sure I like the pink gaura I used. I think I'll pull that out and transplant it later. I had an extra gaura plant that needed a...

It was rainy and cold today, but I had to share some pictures of my favorite container combo this year. The rose is Red Cascade- 1976 dark red miniature. The blue is Walker's blue catmint. I can't remember what the phormium is called, but I think it is "Jester".

Thanks all for the info, I think I'll try a kind of a " paper bag" method of isolating a fruiting/flowering cluster before open pollenation so that I can keep the variaties separate. I don't have a lot of garden space to keep them so far apart. :) Does anyone know if German Johnson is the same...

I'm going to try some heirloom tomatoes this year for the first time. What heirloom varieties are your favorites? I would prefer indeterminate plants. How do you collect the seeds and preserve the different varieties? I would assume that one would need to prevent cross pollenation from...

Thanks for the info. Here in N. California everyone still paints the tree trunks, but freezing isn't much of a problem. I was told it was to prevent insect damage. Maybe sun damage too. I'm planning on planting about 20 fruit trees in a mixed landscape. White tree trunks just won't look right...

I always see fruit tree trunks painted white to prevent insect damage. Would any color of paint work? I don't like the look of white tree trunks. Or would just spraying with neem oil or similar product prevent borer damage just as well as paint? Trisha in N. California

Thank you for all the warm welcomes! I do like this plant. It's one that can thrive on neglect :) I used to have 30+ orchids, ferns, and 80+ different roses, but I've down sized because of the time and energy it takes to raise two young childeren. I only have 2 orchids left that have survived...