Journey11's 2016 garden journal

[journey11]

@journey11 your plant look like it may be Plectranthus amboinicus, lots of different common names, Cuban oregano, Indian borage, Indian mint, Mexican mint and several others. Will have to be protected in colder climates. If this is what your plant is it can be used as a culinary herb but quite often just grown as an ornamental.

Annette

Thanks, Annette! I knew someone here would know. You guys are a wealth of knowledge! He did say it was from Cuba. I think it will make a pretty houseplant and I'm sure I'll use some from time to time for cooking. I will look it up and see if it is the kind that has medicinal value too.

 

[Nyboy]

Journey did your mother ever tell you if you didn't keep your ears clean potatoes would grow in them ?

 

[pjn]

The first of our monarchs is all set to hatch...
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If you look closely, you can see the crack opening!
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The younger two that are still green have these magical little iridescent spots on them that practically glow. The chrysalis will start to turn black the day before they hatch. We've kept a close eye on the first one all day. I have never observed a monarch chrysalis before, if you can believe it. We have hatched many swallowtails though.
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We went to the Arts and Crafts Fair last Friday and at an educational booth were given this piece of an oregano plant that was imported from Cuba. This is a plant that has a will to live! Yay! It's less like the Greek Oregano that I already had, which is a type of mint. This plant is more succulent. It smells wonderful. I will need to do a little research on it to find out what the difference is.
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I grow the variegated Cuban oregano. It is great fresh or dehydrated. I cut some off each fall and grow it in water all winter then repot in spring. Can't handle below 40 outside. Combination of basil, oregano and thyme great to cook with.

 

[journey11]

The kids and I dug the sweet potatoes today. I planted these in July and that actually worked out better because they came out a more useful size, although there were a couple whoppers in there.

The deer have figured out that they can jump the electric fence, but it doesn't matter much now that everything is finishing up. There are lots more peppers out there, but they don't bother those. They did mow down all the foliage on the sweet potatoes, but I managed to get one last picking of the greens while I could.

 

[Nyboy]

Monday the trees behind my house was filled with buzzards. I hope it was the deer that eats my fruit trees

 

[Smart Red]

Harvesting the sweet spuds is on the list for Friday. I am so pleased with the results so far.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Harvesting the sweet spuds is on the list for Friday. I am so pleased with the results so far.

I remember our discussions n sweet potatoes earlier this year. I'm waiting to see how you did. I need to get mine dug also.

 

[majorcatfish]

The kids and I dug the sweet potatoes today. I planted these in July and that actually worked out better because they came out a more useful size, although there were a couple whoppers in there.

View attachment 16559

The deer have figured out that they can jump the electric fence, but it doesn't matter much now that everything is finishing up. There are lots more peppers out there, but they don't bother those. They did mow down all the foliage on the sweet potatoes, but I managed to get one last picking of the greens while I could.

you do have a couple monsters in the haul.. good for you...

 

[journey11]

Goodbye, Summer! I don't feel as if I got to enjoy you as much as I wanted to. I'm so going to miss this. Frost is somewhere just around the corner. Perhaps we'll get another week or two before all my lovelies are gone away.

I forget the name of this one...

'Dick Clark' grandiflora rose

'Double Knock Out' rose and Ava's marigolds