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!
by angela@diggingbliss | Aug 24, 2004 | Uncategorized
Impulse purchase of the day… Went to Home Depot for some Round Up (yes, I’m mostly organic except for Round Up) and came home with this planter (around $28). In it I planted a 1-gallon purple fountain grass (Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’), a 1-gallon Angelonia angustifolia and 3 lovely 4″ ‘Lemon Symphony’ Osteospermums. The fountain grass needs to gain some height and girth, but I can already tell the combo is gonna be great.
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by angela@diggingbliss | Aug 23, 2004 | Uncategorized
All I have to do now is plant an aesthetically pleasing yet quite edible landscape. 😉
For now, I’m having fun putting up birdfeeders. Thanks to Cheryl at Wild Bird Center on Sunrise Blvd., I now have the ultimate hummingbird feeder (not too big, not too small, easy to clean, dome cover, ant trap), a really nice seed feeder (with already shelled sunflower seeds), and a refillable niger thistle sock. I can’t wait for the birds to discover their new eatery!
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Clearly, I need more “arms” for my birdfeeder pole. I’m workin’ on that…
by angela@diggingbliss | Aug 19, 2004 | Uncategorized
Quick update: The landscapers were shorted on their sod order so they couldn’t finish yesterday or today. Said sod comes from Lodi, so we must wait until tomorrow for lawn closure.
Meanwhile, I’ve been having fun fidgeting with my garden ornaments. Birdbath. Gazing ball. Firepit. Bird feeder hook thingy. Etc. I know it’s a little early to be placing the finishing touches, but I just couldn’t help myself. Plus, I can always move them again. And again.
by angela@diggingbliss | Aug 18, 2004 | Uncategorized
Flagstone sitting area and lawn… LAWN, with real live sprinklers and everything!!!
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