This is one of the first few bounty harvested from my mom’s garden.
We’ve always refer to them as Japanese pumpkins. The correct name is Kabocha squash, and it’s a type of winter squash.
The Kabocha squash took only four months to start producing. The seeds came from the squash she purchased at the market. I am always surprised to find that seeds from market produce can grow just as nicely in the garden.
My mom thinks they are one of the most easy to grow pumpkins. She just loves growing pumpkins and has three varieties in her garden.
One of which is almost white in color and grew by accident. But then it became a favorite for it’s taste. Her pumpkin varieties are known to be very creamy, nutty, and sweet. And the Kabocha fits right into the list.
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Since blueberries are in season, I am only buying the fresh ones. They are so good, I don’t even bother eating them with anything else.
These blueberries are from British Columbia blueberries. I found them at our local supermarket. Very plump and tasty.
According to the BC Blueberry Council, British Columbia has close to 17,000 acres of rich fertile farmland ideal for growing blueberries. This makes British Columbia the largest producer of high bush blueberries in Canada and the second top producing region in the world.
Blueberries have gotten lots of attention since being named as one of “superfruits”. Blueberries can help slow down the aging process and reduce cell damage. They are also beneficial to your heart health and brain function.
Here is a list of studies on the benefits of blueberries:
According to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry - wild blueberries are higher in antioxidants than it’s cultivated cousin.
1998 Rutgers University study found blueberries (like cranberries) help treat urinary tract infections.
I’m starting to think any fruit with the deep dark skin or color are all very for your health. Especially purple Acai, purple plums and purple grapes.
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This is my summer flower surprise - a blooming Moss Rose. I had thought they were history after last winter’s freeze. But I was wrong!
M first spotted the young mysterious plant in the Meyer Improved Lemon tree pot. We wondered whether we should pull it out since it’s probably weed. Then we both decided to keep it and just see what kind of plant it would become. And I’m glad we kept it, as it made for a nice surprise.
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These are Mexican Evening Primrose. I planted the seeds last year in my mom’s flower garden. And they finally starting to bloom this summer.
Since it took so long to bloom, I had thought the seeds were dud and I got weeds instead. Especially since the plant just kept on growing leaves for most of the year.
During the spring, I had wanted to pull the whole thing out because I didn’t see any flowers. And I also wanted to make room to grow other flowers too. But I’m glad I didn’t. The Mexican Evening Primrose are especially nice late in the evening when the breeze comes by and it starts to sway.
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These are not green olives, they are young jujubes (pronounced ju-ju-bee). Once the fruits ripen between August and September, they turn dark red or maroon in color. And when they are really ripen, they become wrinkly and super sweet.
This small tree grows straight up and are surrounded by long branches. The branches are filled with fruits that make them droop, almost like a Weeping Willow.
Jujubes are popular in Asia. They are also referred to as Chinese date or red date. In Lao it’s called, “mak ka-tun”.
The taste would best be described as a sweet and crisp, much like a good apple.
The only part I don’t like is the skin can be tough and tickles my throat. Therefore, not so comfortable to eat. But that’s a personal thing as other people may not even noticed.
Dried ripe jujubes are commonly used in Chinese herbal medicines. They are usually boiled (simmer) along with medicinal mushrooms for hours at a time.
I have seen a mature jujube tree last summer at the International Fruit Orchard. They can get really big and must be difficult to harvest since the fruits are so small.
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This is an update on one of my flowering succulents.
I had mistaken them as vygies, when they are really a part of the ice plant family. The correct names are Baby Sun Rose or aptenia. Scientific name: Aptenia cordifolia.
This year I had to cut them back because it was growing too fast.
This variety with red flowers has become widely used as an ornamental plants. They are used as popular ground cover in really hot places such as Arizona. I sometimes see aptenia used as ground covers or grown around city sidewalks.
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One plant I like to introduce from my succulent collection is the rat tail cactus. I love it when they bloom, as the flowers come in an orange red color.
When I first got a small cutting of this succulent (a few years ago) it was just one prickly stem. And now it’s just spilling out all over the pot.
Rat tail cactus originate in the highland plateaus of Mexico, but are cultivated throughout Latin America. In my case, they are growing very well in our northern California climate.
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Mason bees do no produce honey or beeswax, but they are one type of bee that make great pollinators. They are peaceful insects and won’t sting or bother you (unless it’s being provoked).
To encourage Mason bees to pollinate your garden, why not build them a little house?
Here is a good example of a handmade Mason bee house. Looks like a birdhouse filled with bamboo reeds. Photo from Help Save Bees from UK.
If you have a block of wood and some drill bits, you can also make a Mason Bee house. Just drilled short holes in the block and hang them in a sheltered location. For more info and neat instructions on this method of bee house, check out Gardens for Wildlife.
And if you have access to lots of bamboo reeds, you are in luck. Just take those and cut them about 5-6 inches. There is no need to put them in a house (like in the photo above). Just gather the cut bamboo reed together, tie them with a string and place them between tree branches. Especially in fruit trees, soon enough you’ll be rewarded with more fruits!
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This summer I will be adding more notes on interesting and new plants. To start, I want to introduce clianthus puniceas.
It’s a perennial bush in the legume family that can grow up to 8 feet tall. It’s native to the tropics and found growing in New Zealand.
It’s is usually referred to by it’s common names such as Parrot’s Beak, Lobster’s Claw, Glory Pea and White Heron.
I especially admire the clusters of blooms that dangle like jewelry off the branches. Photo from Annie’s Annuals.
According to Annie’s it is a fast growing plant. The blooms are filled with sweet nectar to attract birds and other pollinators. It can tolerate a range of soil and temperature down to 13 degrees. But I would be cautious about growing this in colder climates.
There is also the red variety too. The leaves are also pretty, they remind me of tamarind leaves. Photo from New Zealand Plants.
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These are some plants I’m growing in pots. It’s hard to see, but the bamboo plant is growing strong and turning green again.
I also got myself a little Meyer Improved Lemon tree, it’s really more of a stick with a few leaves. They are suppose to produce tangy, juicy, medium-sized lemons. But I’m sure that won’t be for a long while.
There is also a skinny aloe vera that needs some new soil soon. The round cactus doesn’t require much attention. And in the back is some peppermint. The big green leaves in the background are just Ivy.
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