12 Nov 2010
by nadiaqh
in Flowers, Garden Projects, Living Healthy, Photography
Tags: Growing Narcissus, Holiday Bouquet, Indoor gardening, nadia's san diego garden blog, Narcissus Bulbs
This is a great time to purchase Narcissus “Paperwhite” bulbs to plant indoors for the holidays coming up. It takes about 4 to 5 weeks for the bulbs to fully bloom. Narcissus flowers are very heavily scented and make a beautiful yet simple flower arrangement without adding any other floral variety.
Narcissus Bulbs ready to set out for blooming.
Marbles at the bottom of the vase help support the roots.
Blooming Narcissus planted indoors
1. Use a rock or marble base to set the bulbs on, push the bulbs down into the rocks so the bottom of the bulb is nestled into the rocks. This will give the roots something to hold on to and use as a support while the stalks grow. They can also be planted in regular potting soil.
2. Plant the bulbs close together for a full blooming bouquet effect. The bulbs can be planted as close together as desired.
2. Keep water at the root level of the bulbs and replenish daily as needed.
3. Keep the bulbs in a cool place until the flowers begin to grow, then place them in a brighter location.
4. Tie a ribbon around the tall stems or use a support to keep the flowers from tilting over.
5. Plant several containers a few weeks apart for a continuous show of flowers between November and January.
Narcissus cyclomineus: Native to the mediterranean region.
Family: amaryllidaceae
Genus: narcissus
♥ Thanks for visiting my garden blog today – plant – grow – enjoy! ♥
29 Oct 2010
by nadiaqh
in Garden Design, Photography, Succulents, water wise garden
Tags: Aeonium, crassulaceae, nadia's san diego garden blog, Succulents
♥Aeoniums are beautiful rosette shaped succulents requiring little water and many cultivars of color to enjoy. They are one of the best succulents for growing in pots! The fleshy leaves can be smooth, hairy or finely ciliated margins. Aeoniums grow well in full sun and in partial shady areas with well-drained soil. This is an easy plant to propagate from stem and leaf cuttings.
Aeonium gomerense- "Kiwi"- Lighter green from full sunlight
Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum (more green than purple because it is in the sunlight most of the day. These turn a dark reddish-purple when in partial shade.
Aeonium gomerense- (in partial shade) leaves are a darker green. The flowers are white when in bloom. I grow these in pots and on my hillside for landscape ground-cover.
Aeonium 'Cyclops'- See how dark purple the leaves are? These are in the shade for half of the day. So beautiful!
Aeonium 'Sunburst' variegated- a nice showy succulent. I grow these on my hillside next to rosemary and birds of paradise.
Family: Crassulaceae
Origin: Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Canary Islands and Madeira regions.
Genus: Approximately 30 species.
Size: Can be used as a low shrub, single rosette style from 5 cm to 50 cm and larger.
Thanks for visiting my garden blog-
♥ Create – Grow – Have Fun ♥
20 Sep 2010
by nadiaqh
in Garden Projects, Garden Design, Vegetable/ Herb Garden, Photography, Living Healthy, organic gardening, vegetable garden
Tags: garden ideas, great garden finds, nadia's san diego garden blog
Here are a few of my favorite garden crafts found on websites this past year that are very simple to make and are lovely “green gifts” .
Rock Art: Glue magazine pictures on a rock and finish it with a top coat of outdoor furniture 'clear coat' (or clear nail polish). Use as a Garden Marker or Paper-Weight. This is a personal favorite made by my kids which has lasted for years.
Vegetable Stamps for stationary, or use fabric paints for imprinting T-Shirts. A real Green Garden Craft idea. This is a Marthasteward.com photo.
Contact Paper wrapped around food cans make a great succulent or cactus planter. Photo: Online Google Image.
Super Cute Plant Markers painted on rocks. How simple and easy… I think this is a great gift idea for kids to make, or for the artist who can really paint up a beautiful rock for a gardening gift!
from web site:veg-garden-row-markers__website_t.jpg
Create a bird feeder from a dried out sunflower. Poke a wire or string through the top and hang out for birds to enjoy.
From Martha Stewarts Website: Photo Credit: marthastewart.com
All time favorite Stepping Stone from a kit. This is fun, easy and using the kit helps to create a very nice looking craft.
Mosaic Flower Stepping Stone Kit
Zen Stepping Stone
For a Paint it Yourself Stepping Stone, see this past blog on creating a colorful pathway : www.nadiaknows.com
Bee Box: Direction in link to Sunset Magazine's "fresh dirt" website.
Make a Bee Box: http://freshdirt.sunset.com/2009/03/build-a-bee-box.html
10 Sep 2010
by nadiaqh
in Garden Projects, Living Healthy, Photography, Vegetable/ Herb Garden
Tags: Cinderella Carriage Pumpkin Seeds, Home grown pumpkins, nadia's san diego garden blog, Organic Pumpkins, Renee's Seeds growing
chula and bella 2009
Getting a head start on Halloween for a gardener takes place in July when pumpkin seeds need to be sown to enjoy putting them as a decoration for Halloween. Cinderella Pumpkins or Carriage Pumpkins are the variety I am trying out this year in my garden. I bought seeds from Renee’s Seeds which are a French heirloom variety.
For resources on HOW TO GROW PUMPKINS check out this link, it is a good web site for planting and growing pumpkins and squash.
Recipe for Pumpkin Soup using Cinderella Pumpkins: LINK
| Pumpkin, ”Cinderella’s Carriage” |
(See insert below from Renee’s Seeds website …. It is a good thing I got them early as you can see from the web site copy below – they have sold out for this year.
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Glowing red-orange, these large and beautiful antique French pumpkins have a wonderful flattened shape with deep rounded lobes just like a fairy tale illustration.
Sold out; 2011 seed available Sept. 15 |
First month of growth when the pumpkins were round and bright yellow, I thought the wrong seeds must have been placed in the package.
- Carriage Pumpkins just starting out in August 2010
Three months later the pumpkins have turned to a deep orange and the shape has flattened out to resemble more of a carriage. I guess the right seeds were in the package all along! I plan to carry this pumpkin on a plane with me when I visit my son at college next month for his dorm room. I wonder how that will work out?
- Carriage Pumpkin getting larger each day
04 Sep 2010
by nadiaqh
in Flowers, Living Healthy, Photography
Tags: nadia's san diego garden blog, San Diego Hortculture Society, Southern California botanical hike, Torrey Pine Tree, Torrey Pines State Reserve
- The Torrey Pine Tree consists of 5 Needles- a unique and distinctive characteristic.
One of my San Diego Favorites:
Torrey Pines State Reserve is located in Del Mar, CA. and is considered one of the best ocean view hiking spots in Southern California. Botanically speaking the reserve contains over 330 plant species including abundant annual and perennial natives such as sage scrub, chaparral and salt-march plants. Panoramic ocean views, a visitors center with knowledgeable volunteers and a plentitude of hiking trails are what you can expect on a day trip to the reserve. The base of the reserve meets the beach with parking and restrooms available. A local suggestion would be to stop by Roberto’s Taco shop about a mile away from the reserve to grab a “to go” picnic mexican-style (great food and great prices) or on the way home after a nice long hike.
Directions: From Interstate 5, exit on Carmel Valley Road and head west to North Torrey Pines Road (old Highway 101). Turn South to the entrance is at the base of the bluffs.
FYI: Local News: The San Diego Horticulture Society will be hosting botanist and author Dr. Margaret Fillius on September 13, 2010 from 6-9 PM. She will speak on the Native Plants of Torrey Pines State Reserve. See this LINK for more information.
Thank you for visiting my garden blog: http://www.nadiaknows.com
♥ Enjoy- Create- Stay Inspired ♥
Torrey Pine : Pinus torreyana: I took this photo shooting upward. Print in black and white.
A beautiful ocean view from the top of the bluffs at Torrey Pines State Reserve.
California Buckwheat: Eriogonum fasciculatum at Torrey Pines State Reserve. Hardy, drought tolerant and attracts butterflies and birds. Flowers start out white then turn to pink and ends up drying on the bush a rust color.
Torrey Pine: The rarest native pine in the United States. The seeds of the Torrey Pines are edible nuts. These trees grow well near the coast in sandy soil and salty air. Photo credit: meetup.com
This trail map below shows the different trails from simple 1/2 mile loops “Parry Grove Trail” to more rigorous trails such as “Broken Hill Trail” and “Razor Point” that combined create a 3 mile loop with access to the beach. After a nice hike at Torrey head over to the Torrey Pines Golf Course, home to the U.S. Open only a few miles North on Hwy 101 and see where famous golfers have teed up under these pines.
Hiking Trail MAP of Torrey Pines State Reserve with beach access and Visitor Center locations.
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This is a great time to purchase Narcissus “Paperwhite” bulbs to plant indoors for the holidays coming up. It takes about 4 to 5 weeks for the bulbs to fully bloom. Narcissus flowers are very heavily scented and make a beautiful yet simple flower arrangement without adding any other floral variety.
