Garden pics -- first checkpoint

These photos were taken in the early afternoon on Sat., July 16 2005. They are intended for charting our garden's progress, especially that of the tomatoes. By this time the tomato seedlings we received are about 2-3 weeks old.

Click on an image for a higher resolution view.


Neighbor's Passiflora Caerulea (vine), Bleeding Heart Vine

The across-the-wall neighbor's passionfruit (golden/orange-skinned with scarlet pulp) is extremely prolific. Hopefully our Passiflora Edulis (purple skinned) will also do well in this area.


Common Area -- side plot next to house; waiting to be gardened?

We'd really like to use this side area near the house for additional gardening, but technically it is designated as part of the "common area". I don't think anyone will mind, though, as it is closest to our house. It's just something that needs to be brought up at the HOA meeting.


白玉蘭: Michelia x. Alba

This plant, native to China, produces highly fragrant flowers. It is expensive in the U.S. as it is difficult to start from seed. Also known as the White Champak, and occasionally though erroneously known as the Michelia Champaca Alba, it can grow > 20 feet. L will be pruning it regularly once it gets bigger. Hopefully in 3 years we'll have a profusion of creamy white flowers from this plant to scent up the air. L still doesn't know where to stick it.


含笑: Young Michelia Figo (Banana Shrub)

The banana shrub is another highly fragrant plant from China, related to the prior plant. When we were at the Black Pearl Nursery, the manager snipped off a flower for us to smell; since it was before noon, we couldn't smell anything. One hour later, as we were preparing to leave and the sun was out in full blast, we sniffed the flower and it was pretty potent. It had a strong banana smell, but if one stuck it too close to her nose, it was too strong and had this almost nail-polish-remover-like smell.


Star/Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides)

We wanted a quick-growing scented plant to provide some cover on the fence, so we got this star jasmine, another fragrant plant native to China. It isn't a real jasmine, but smells nice.


Started from seed: Taiwanese Ping Tung eggplant, certified organic Sweet Genovese Basil and Greek Oregano

I got L some certified organic seeds (whatever that means when it comes to seeds) to plant; the developer planted numerous rosemary and lavender and some kind of allium clumps around the housing complex, so I thought L should plant other herbs. The eggplant seeds I got just because I like eggplant and it's somewhat expensive to buy in the supermarket.


Front steps container plants

L doesn't have as much garden space as E, so she's settling for a small container garden at the moment. She wants to get nicer pots for the front door. There is a small jade tree plant, a dwarf gardenia, and 2 other plants she should comment on here.


Another common area side plot next to house -- overgrown with lavender.

If L could rip out the unknown tree currently in this small plot to the right of her front steps, she could plant her Michelia Alba here, and her herbs as well. The lavender and another bushy evergreen shrub have overrun the area and look bad. L will have to speak to the other homeowners to get their approval.


Walkway to E's house.

The common area walkways are lined with rosemary, osmanthus, and lavender plants, as well as bleeding heart vines.


Plumeria cutting -- waiting to root.

Here's a plumeria/frangipani cutting that we're hopeful but doubtful will root. We could've bought a rooted cutting in the nursery, but that would've been > $60 bucks. The cutting was about $4 shipped from Hawaii, so it's no big loss if it joins the other cuttings that rotted.


Another jasmine -- young cutting.

L needs to tell me what kind of jasmine this is. I think it's a true jasmine -- a popcorn jasmine?


Heirloom tomato plant surrounded by rosemary plants.

Heh here's a tomato we stuck in a dirt plot lining the walkway. It is surrounded by woody rosemary plants. We've even ripped out several rosemary plants, and they still are all over the place.


Closeup: Aunt Ruby's German Green plant

Here's a closeup of the heirloom tomato plant shown earlier -- it is green with an amber blush when ripe, Aunt Ruby's German Green.


Golden-leafed false heather plant

More ground cover that L bought on a whim from the nursery.


Front plot of land, to the right of E's front steps

L planted gardenia ('Mystery') and chrysanthemums here in front of E's house, not that the ungrateful lout appreciates it. The gardenia scent wafts strongly in the breeze.


米仔蘭: Aglaia Odorata (Chinese Rice Flower AKA Mock Lime) -- tiny fragrant yellow flowers.

Two Aglaia odorata surround E's front door. I've heard they grow very slowly and prefer shade/filtered sun.


E's front steps: orchid in pot

I don't know where the orchid in the pot came from. L needs to comment.



Various plants planted before move-in by developer

We only ripped out 1 rosemary plant from this area, as it looks nice. The developer hired gardeners who planted cheap, fast growing plants to fill out the area. Technically these plots of land right near E's place are the common area, but since he's at the end of the complex I doubt many people will complain about our modifications.


蓮霧: Mountain Apple Tree

Here's the first pic of E's garden. L purchased several Asian fruit trees to plant here. This is a mountain apple tree -- the fruit shape has always reminded me of a cross between a red apple and a red bell pepper. I've had the fruit before in Taiwan -- not bad at all.


白玉蘭: E's Michelia x. Alba

L got E his own Michelia Alba, not that he realizes how wonderful the plant's blossoms will smell in a few years. Lout!


E's backyard -- unknown tree planted by developer

We have no idea what trees these are, and the developer never told us. It's no use going to the original gardeners, as they have been replaced. Sigh. I'd like to uproot them and plant another fragrant or fruiting tree.


Picture from lawn facing cement patio area.

Here's a bad picture of the patio area. We've decided to keep most of the garden a nice flat grassy area, but plant along certain areas of the patio and in containers. It took me and L and her mother a long time to uproot the original shrubs and make the trek down to the dumpsters. Yeah, you can guess whose job that was. E had, fortuitously for him, disappeared that day.


Assorted container plants purchased by L; guava tree planted in soil, as well as another gardenia ('Mystery')

L went crazy one day and bought a bunch of flowers to brighten up the area after filling it in with rocks. The guava tree yields white-fleshed guavas.


More colorful flowers in pots.

I don't know what these plants are. L should comment.

Update: The white flowers flowers are lilies, and the one toward the back next to the colorful medley of flowers is a Texas bluebell called 'Mariachi Blue.' The purple/magenta flowers are chrysanthemums. L let her mother pick the colorful flower mix. You can barely see them, but L stuck a small Gardenia Radicans plant into the ground. It currently isn't blooming.


Strawberry guava tree

Here is the other guava tree L nurtured on her balcony at the old place. The fruit from this tree has dark pink flesh.


Plumeria cutting 2 -- may not survive.

Again, another lone plumeria cutting trying to root.


龍眼: Longan tree in foreground along with Bleeding Heart vines; 蘆橘/枇杷: loquat tree in back.

Longan and loquat trees are planted in the center. In a few years hopefully L will never have to buy these fruits from the supermarket again.

In the back up against the patio is a dahlia plant, and to its right is another lily.


Look at neighbor's behind-the-patio garden area -- this was what our behind the patio garden area looked like before we ripped out the plants and filled it with rocks.

This picture shows what the strip of land where L's longan tree is planted looked like before E moved into his new house. It turns out the job the contractors did on finishing the side of the cement patio was awful, so they told the gardeners to truck in some bushy plants to cover the damage. Geez.


Pepper plant (will yield tiny purple peppers)

What edible pepper is this? L got this from a coworker?


Left extension of Passiflora Edulis

Here's the leftmost part of the passiflora edulis, extending several feet from where the main plant stems are.


Passiflora Edulis (purple passionfruit vine)

This passionfruit vine is thriving in the California weather; it has produced many blooms that drop off in 24 hours, but so far not many fruits. I guess the bees aren't coming around here much or aren't attracted by our passiflora.


First passionfruit off this plant -- hiding behind grille

Here's the lone fruit from this vine. We may not even be able to eat is since it might drop off into the driveway area.


Side view of hiding passionfruit

Another more revealing view of the lone hiding passionfruit.


Passiflora Edulis -- one open blossom

Passiflora blossoms look weird. My coworker loves them; she calls them alien flowers.


Closeup -- Passiflora Edulis blossom 2

Here's a nicer picture.


Closeup -- Passiflora Edulis blossom 2, side view

And a side view.


More Passiflora Edulis, another pepper plant in far right corner (tiny green peppers turn red).

In the right corner is a pepper plant L had tended on her balcony at the old place. She said it is growing wonderfully in its new spot.


Black Sea Man Heirloom tomato (Russian variety)

Now comes a series of tomato plants, growing in containers. This is a Black Sea Man heirloom tomato, a Russian variety.


Principe Borghese Heirloom tomato plant (Italian)

This is Principe Borghese, and Italian variety that is supposed to be good as sun-dried tomatoes.


Omar's Lebanese Heirloom tomato plant (Lebanese variety?)

Omar's Lebanese are supposed to grow great hulking tomatoes. Not sure how big they'll get when growing in containers.


Carmello Hybrid tomato plant (French variety)

Carmello is a popular French variety.


Sweet Millions hybrid cherry tomato plant

Here's the only cherry of the bunch, Sweet Millions, a quick growing cherry tomato plant. Unfortunately, it appears to be suffering from something. Maybe it needs more water, as it has grown much bigger and faster than the heirlooms.


First cherry tomatoes from Sweet Millions plant

Here are the first fruits of the Sweet Millions hybrid plant. I hope L will be vigilant in guarding the tomatoes from birds and other pests.