by angela@diggingbliss | Sep 1, 2004 | Uncategorized
By the way, part of the reason I ordered directly from Four Winds by mail-order was to evaluate the quality of their mail-order service.
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Four Winds gets an A+. The trees came quickly by UPS, were well packaged and are very, very healthy! One even had (until I… oops…knocked it off) a huge orange on it! These folks know what they’re doing. And get this… the trees came bare-root! They were packed in sawdust! How often do we see bare-root citrus, right? Also, all six trees were ingeniously packaged in 2 boxes no bigger than about 6″ x a foot x 4 ft. total (boxes were taped together).
I probably could have saved a few bucks by buying from a local retail nursery selling dwarf citrus, but I had a feeling I’d have to hunt around for some of my 6 varieties.
Ideally, you want to plant citrus in spring so they’ll have longer to establish before a potentially frosty winter… but I don’t mind keeping an eye on them this winter. I want to pick fruit!!! Grow, trees, grow!
by angela@diggingbliss | Sep 1, 2004 | Uncategorized
The two limes are on a west-facing wall. I’m hoping the reflected heat from the stucco house will help warm them in winter. Limes need more protection than most types of citrus.
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by angela@diggingbliss | Sep 1, 2004 | Uncategorized
With today’s delivery from Four Winds Citrus Growers, my citrus collection now includes: Improved Meyer Lemon, Eureka Lemon, Trovita Orange, Valencia Orange, Washington Navel Orange, Bearss Seedless Lime, Mexican Lime, Satsuma Mandarin and an Indiomandarinquat.Posted by Hello
The orange trees were selected for flavor and a very extended harvest. Washington navel ripens in winter, Trovita ripens in spring, and Valencia ripens in summer. How delicious is that?!!!
by angela@diggingbliss | Aug 27, 2004 | Uncategorized
So much for saving money… The only umbrella base I could find that fits under my teak table costs as much as the umbrella! Oh well… at least it’ll keep the thing from spinning (I hope… there is a little screw thingy on the side) or impaling one of my neighbors during a freak wind storm. 😉
Smith & Hawken Disk Base for 1 1/2″-Dia. pole Item # 758474
by angela@diggingbliss | Aug 26, 2004 | Uncategorized
Teak patio set (Costco) with newly arrived patio umbrella (Costco). In foreground is Smith & Hawken portable firepit.
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I researched umbrellas for awhile before purchasing. I found a lot of nice umbrellas locally and online, but didn’t see any prices I liked until I checked Costco. My taste runs on the teak & Sunbrella side, but my budget can’t always support my impeccable taste…
Along with this rectangular off-white umbrella for the back (Olefin fabric), I got a round 9 footer with black Sunbrella fabric for the front yard sitting area. Both umbrellas have a metal pole with faux wood-grain pattern (ew!) and a beige plastic ball on top (ew!). The overall effect is still pretty and quite umbrellariffic. The total cost for both umbrellas was around the same as one umbrella at most other stores I checked. Did I mention how much I love Costco? How else would I have been able to afford teak dining sets?
BTW, the crank mechanism on both and the tilt mechanism on the round umbrella work great! Super easy and impressive technology.
One minor disappointment: The rectangular umbrella got to spinnin’ a bit in today’s breeze. Wouldn’t be such a big deal on a round umbrella, but it is on this rectangular one. Will have to find some way to stabilize it.
by angela@diggingbliss | Aug 24, 2004 | Uncategorized
Greenhouse footing (forms still attached).
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Check out all the empty concrete bags in the background!
