Articles

Welcome to our comprehensive Articles section, where knowledge blooms and curiosity thrives. This category serves as a hub for exploring the fascinating worlds of cycads, aloes, and horticulture. From in-depth insights on specific cycad and aloe species to engaging articles about plant care, conservation, and industry news, you’ll find everything you need to deepen your understanding and appreciation of these remarkable plants. Whether you’re a gardening enthusiast, collector, or simply curious, our Articles category is your gateway to informed and inspired content.

Watermelon experiment

Watermelon experiment

I’m trying to figure how to maintain a garden, primarily on harvested rain water. I dug these holes a couple inches below the ground and put some Watermelon seeds in them. I don’t get much summer rain but the relative humidity is a little high most days. My thinking is because it is a a lower level than the top soil, the soil will stay cooler and more moist. I did a similar thing with some corn. The only extra water I gave the corn was when I fed them. Has anyone else tried this?

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U.S. indoor tomato growers support renegotiation of suspension agreement to maintain market stability

U.S. indoor tomato growers support renegotiation of suspension agreement to maintain market stability

With the U.S. Department of Commerce announcement that it intends to withdraw from a tomato trade agreement between the U.S. and Mexico, potentially placing a penalty of more than 17% on all Mexican tomato imports, consumers are likely confused about what to expect in the marketplace. CEA Alliance…

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What should I do with my raised beds soil?

What should I do with my raised beds soil?

A few years ago when I started gardening I ordered some yards of bedding soil from a bulk company, it wasn’t until the rainy season that I realized it was just mostly sand ( my native soil is extremely sandy which is why I made the beds in the first place). This year I have enough budget to refill only half the 1ft high beds with better soil. I’m in debate if I should 1. Remove half the height of my beds to 6inches from 1ft and fill that all with good soil OR 2. I remove the top half 6 inches and put the good new soil on top of the sandy soil that’s already in there. My current in bed soil can be planted in but I can’t really say the plants are thriving, plus after many years of mulching with leaves I still barely see any worms and such.

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What battery-powered yard tool system should I get?

What battery-powered yard tool system should I get?

Any recommendations for a battery-operated tool system for yard projects and ecological restoration?

I mostly need a brush cutter and “hedge trimmer” on a pole, for occasional days of long use. Bonus if the system also includes a decent chainsaw, pole saw, blower, and tiller.

I think the Kress brand of professional landscaping tools is more than I need since I’m not using these tools every day. But I have tried the Ego line and I’m not convinced that it’s strong enough.

What should I get?

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Goats vs. Groundcover

Goats vs. Groundcover

I’ll start by saying I know this is probably a fools errand, but why not give it a shot. Zone 9B for reference with the hill in question being in partial shade. (viewable in the back on the photo I posted).

I have two extremely spoiled goats and one dirt slope that I am in a constant battle with over weeds. My goats have zero interest in being helpful citizens and actually eating weeds, but seem to take extreme pleasure in ripping up any plants that I like. They mostly keep my citrus trees in check, goats usually eat up and are not necessarily great ground grazers, although mine do love to rip things up and spit them out.

I would love to get some low ground cover to help with weeds and erosion prevention. I was thinking of trying out Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum). I have read that it is deer resistant due to the smell, but is not poisonous. I wouldn’t trust my goats with anything toxic to them, they share a single brain cell and have exactly zero survival sense. Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations on things that may do well for ground cover and is a fast grower? My hope would be that it is not palatable enough for them to take a large interest in while it gets established and that stays low to the ground that can survive a dry climate.

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April garden views

April garden views

I find myself confused about where exactly the plants in my garden should be in mid April (when I took these photos). We’ve had a sunny warmish stretch and I think I’ve mentally jumped ahead to May, I’m trying to tamp down my expectations and just enjoy what’s happening out there, which is a lot!

There are so many blooms on the Citrus trifoliata, if they all set fruit it will be a bumper crop.The Rhododendron stenopetalum ‘Linearifolium’ is also covered in blooms.
Continuing the walk around the front garden, my small Erica arborea var. alpina is covered in flowers and can no longer be called small. Wow. When did this plant get this big? (maybe the explosion of white just makes it seem larger?)
Also, how did I never notice the blooms are fragrant?
One of my Yucca nana is fixing to bloom!
Tiny flowers on the Pittosporum anomalum.
Entering the back garden now where the Impatiens omeiana are up and looking flawless.
The fact the Blechnum penna-marina (Austroblechnum penna-marina) is moving into and mingling with the back mondo makes me very happy. 
The shady bed along the side of the garage is all fluffy with new Adiantum venustum fronds and other fern species.
I’m thrilled to see Pyrrosia sp. SEH#1511 is putting out several new “fronds”…

Paris quadrifolia has been dissed on social media lately. Someone commented on post with a “Meh” and someone else said on their own Facebook post “I remember when I thought they were special” (their photo showed an area where the plant had spread). I still think they’re special!
Rodgersia (the brown leaves), sadly I’ve forgotten which species this is.
New growth on Rhododendron cardiobasis.

And blooms opening on the Magnolia laevifolia

Arisaema ringens, such a cool flower, it’s hard to believe it’s real (not fabricated).

Disporum longistylum ‘Night Heron’

Walking down on to the patio the new growth on these two mahonia are hard to miss.
Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Indianola Silver’ backed by M. x media ‘Marvel’.
It’s wonderful to enjoy Stachyurus salicifolius in bloom with leaves still on its branches. This is one of the plants that was hit hard the last few winters.
Not this year!

I did a little paint touch-up around the edge of the stock tank table planting, after a couple of years the orange was wearing thin and the ugly blue underneath was showing. I must say the planting itself just keeps getting better and better.
I added only two plants this spring, an Asplenium trichomanes and the Cassiope ‘Askival’ I brought home from the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.
This Athyrium otophorum ‘Okanum’ likes life in the table planting.
And the fertile fronds of Blechnum spicant (aka Struthiopteris spicant) are extra stunning when they’re raised up closer to eye-level.

Backed up for an over all shot of the area.
This is the best the Loropetalum chinense ‘Sizzling Pink’ has ever looked. It was pruned back hard after the destruction of winter 2024 and it’s made a great rebound.
Daphniphyllum macropodum ‘Ki Midori Nakafu’

New foliage of Quercus dentata ‘Pinnatifida’.

And to wrap things up, a new frond on Blechnum brasiliense, the Brazilian tree fern. My tiny plant is anything but tree-sized, but what it lacks in height it makes up for with that color. 

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