I’m not sure, but I think we have two annual gardening seasons in Key West as opposed to one continuous season. I seem to notice accelerated plant growth in Spring and Fall. Harvest and heavy flowering seems to occur in July with a serious slowdown in August and September. I replanted in early October and buds are forming all about my deck and in the yard itself. It’s all very exciting to hear the early morning hubub of birds, bees and butterflies.
I bought this pot of double impatiens last year and the summer heat almost killed them off but they are blooming their little heads off now and no fertilizer! Go figger!
I got this Nagami kumquat plant at Redlands Orchid Show in May ’10 and it is almost ready to harvest.
Here’s a close-up of the 3 inch fruit:
Binky loves this plant even though it’s not flowering – maybe because of the color?
Aren’t cats supposed to be color blind? He’s so special!
My tomatoes look healthy and prolific!
. . . as do the eggplants . . . I have a not-so-secret desire to be the mini-eggplant queen! I admit it!
More tomatoes.
And eggplants. This is a Louisiana white.
And more yet. See what I mean? These are egg shaped. All my eggplants are grown from seed.
Eggplants are a very misunderstood fruit. These mini versions do not have to be salted to leech the bitterness from them. They are sweet and can be handled as is and make a fabulous snack. Here’s a simple technique.
- One large onion, diced
- One or two fresh tomatoes, cut into half inch chunks
- 4 or so mini eggplants, sliced at about half an inch
- half a cup of chicken broth
Over medium heat, saute onion until half tender, add chicken broth and eggplants. When eggplants become less opaque (2-3 minutes) add tomatoes. Add broth if needed. Add salt & pepper to taste. Do not let eggplants get mushy.
This is a Chinese black. okay so now I am showing off! But they really are very tasty and once I developed a taste for them I began to crave them all the time. Like pesto sauce or other tastes once strange now ordinary.
This is another common houseplant -portulaca – that I bought in a pot and stuck in the ground. Now reblooming as if to say “thank you for saving my life!”
This ginger is making itself at home after months in a small pot. He looks handsome as he stretches out his toes. This guy is definitely male!
Orchids are about to pop.
Even the catteleyas
The prized Schaumberkia whose blooms I have never seen. See that tiny little bump in the center. I pray it’s a raceme of flowers and not another leaf. I’m hopeful!
The Christmas gang of (mostly) Amaryllis that I will hand out as gifts (with the fruitcake) for Christmas. I have mini Amaryllis and jumbo Amaryllis but nothing in between. I guess I’m an extremist . . .
And here’s the guy that makes it all possible. . .
Thank you Mr Chicken for your fabulous manure! We couldn’t do it without you!