This Date in Garden History

Iceberg Rose Shrub

On January 25, 1999, it snowed in Bakersfield, California.  Today, it did not.  Not even close.  It was74° with not a cloud in the sky following a couple of days of blowing dust.  Yuck.  This looks like it will be the forecast for a long, long time.  No rain or snow in the forecast. Because of the very warm conditions, plants that are normally dormant now have buds bursting.  The roses never really went dormant.  In fact, when I pruned some today there were new leaves busting out along with plenty of flowers.

Ebb Tide Tree Rose

I went ahead and pruned as if today was a snow day.  However, tomorrow I will fertilize.  Some experts warn against fertilizing now because there may be some colder weather ahead.  Some experts say to go ahead.  I chose to fertilize with a systemic insecticide because I have a bad feeling that this year will be a big year for pests in the garden.  I've spotted grasshoppers all through this winter.  It simply hasn't been cold enough to kill those boogers.

This year will really be a bigger challenge with the disastrous drought here in California. We all need to do our part and conserve water more than usual. It will still be more economical to grow my own vegetables and fruit rather than buy expensive produce from the grocer.  However, I plan to solarize the raised beds to burn out nematodes this summer.  If the temperatures remain this warm, I may be able to start that project much, much sooner than the recommended schedule of May - August.  Tomatoes and peppers may be grown in bags of compost this summer to support my salsa habit.

I would like to know if anyone else is noticing the difference in their garden now and if mandatory rationing is expected where you live in California.  Herds are being sold off.  Acres will be fallowed.  This truly will be the year of dust.  Hopefully there will not be a spike in Valley Fever cases.

Good luck fellow Californians, I believe the rest of the world is about to feel just how important California's San Joaquin Valley is for their food supply.

Ebb Tide is Here!

Ebb Tide Rose in Maybelline's Garden

Bare root roses were planted around the pergola on January 19, 2013.  Ebb Tide tree roses and Iceberg bushes.  Today, the flowers on the Ebb Tides have opened up. I thought they would have been darker and more purple in color. Compare the two images and see for yourself.  Of course, I have trouble photographing flowers with blue hues.

See how the flowers purple up as they aged?  The image below is of an Ebb Tide flower right before the petals drop.  It's much closer to the color of that from Weeks Roses.

Aged Ebb Tide Rose in Maybelline's Garden

I can't get down and take a whiff of them yet so I'll have to believe the description given by Weeks Roses:

Ebb Tide Rose photo courtesy Weeks Roses

Ebb Tide™

2006 Intro

(cv.WEKsmopur) Pat.#10,478

Floribunda - Smoky deep plum purple

Soooo mysterious in its color…and soooo powerfully perfumed…it's certain to attract attention. Dusky deep purple buds swirl open to very double old-fashioned flowers of velvet plum washed with a haze of sultry smoke. The intense clove fragrance can nearly bowl you over. But keep your balance or you'll find yourself face down amongst the deep green leaves.

• Height / Habit: Medium / upright, bushy
• Bloom / Size: Medium, very double, old-fashioned
• Petal count: Over 35
• Parentage: [(Sweet Chariot x Blue Nile) x Stephen's Big Purple] x [(International Herald Tribune x R. soulieanna derivative) x (Sweet Chariot x Blue Nile)]
• Fragrance: Strong spicy clove
• Hybridizer: Carruth - 2006
• Comments: Gets all the better with establishment in the garden.

All the roses are growing vigorously now.  I do hope they will be able to withstand the summer.  I'm a beginner at growing roses. I can understand a bit of the description above. I'm excited if we selected some good varieties for our area.  If they bloom all summer it shouldn't be so bad to sit out under the pergola trying to cool down my swamp pants.

PS - the plant that Ajax used as a chew toy has rebounded and has a generous amount of buds ready to burst.

PPS -  did you know the meaning of Ebb Tide?  I didn't.  It's the tide between high tide and low tide when the sea is moving away from the shore.

PPPS - who do you think of when you think of the song Ebb Tide?  Farmer MacGregor thinks of the Righteous Brothers.

Pruning Seminar

Today, Farmer MacGregor and I attended a pruning seminar at a local nursery.  My intent was to glean information to correct some improper pruning on a crepe myrtle.  I came away with pruning information for much more.

Blenheim Apricot just pruned damaged section.

I asked the advice of many experts and regular gardeners whether the damaged lateral limb on the apricot tree should be pruned out.  Dave Wilson, the grower of most all of my trees, instructed me to prune out the damaged portion and destroy.  The damaged section was removed.  Tar was applied to the cut end.  A young limb near the cut was chosen as a replacement lateral and tied down with tape to start the process.

Blenheim Apricot damaged lateral limb.

Even though no evidence of insects could be seen, I've convinced myself that this pruning was necessary to insure a better chance for this tree to remain healthy for a long time.

Ebb Tide tree rose before Ajax chewed it into the shape of a walking stick.

Pruning of all types of roses was addressed with great interest from most of the audience.  This inspired Farmer MacGregor to do some corrective pruning once we got home.  Nine bare root roses were planted on January 20.  Two Ebb Tide tree roses and seven Iceberg bush roses.  Even though the dog chewed one of the trees, all the roses look as though they are still healthy and will grow to produce some nice purple and white flowers.

Shade trees, vines, dormant spray, fertilization, soil, and irrigation were addressed as well.  The seminar might still be going on if the owner's wife hadn't interrupted reminding us that the seminar should have ended 1/2 hour earlier.

Tomorrow, Farmer MacGregor plans to tackle the crepe myrtle.  I'm glad the seminar sparked him.  I hope images of the crepe myrtles at The Dallas Arboretum inspire him.

How do YOU spell it?  Crepe myrtle or crape myrtle?

After thought:

Ajax the wonder pruner!

Ajax is now around 205 pounds at 2 years old.  Pruning has been part of his existence from the start.  Fig, wisteria, roses, and, yes, apricot have all been on his menu.  I wonder if Ajax could be the cause of the damage to the apricot rather than a suspected borer. That mug looks pretty guilty to me.