Rose Red

     Whoever said roses were not a versatile and humble plant couldnt be more incorrect. These little beauties come from the big box store and look fantastic. Care requirements are high, as they are not native and not adapted. This is not a set it and forget it plant.
     Rose hips are a good source of Vitamin C, as are Cranberry Hibiscus pods.

Opuntia, a revisiting

     I have been rethinking the case for planting spiny Opuntia at the new place. The spiny Prickly Pear still makes a delicious fruit, and it has the added benefit of keeping out people, deer, and anything else soft and fleshy.
There is a very nice overview here.
     I must have at least 20 starts in the front yard ready for transplant. Exciting!

Purslane Cuttings, the bitter end

     The cuttings may have suffered some damages due to cat.

Purslane Cuttings, Day 7

The January Garden

     Lately, I have been patiently waiting the killing cold front that will inevitably hit my garden. The cold will take out or take down mostly everything aI have plabted, particularly the cannas, lemongrass, and the new sugarcane plants. I am prepared to bring the cannas inside, but the other plants will have to make do and stay put. I have a lot of hope for the health of the sugarcane. I have learned that sugarcane was grown here in west florida north of sugarmill woods, which is quite a bit north of me.
Here is the latest picture of my small permaculture garden. Not bad for the beginning of January, 2019.

Purslane Cuttings, Day 5

Purslane Cuttings, Day 4

     Today I changed the water and repositioned the cuttings to repair the cat damage. There is still no signs of roots on either the native purple purslane or the bought rosey purslane, but all the cuttings do look healthy. None have turned into gelatinous goo so thats a good sign. The smaller purple purslanes have curled their stems a little, unexpected, but not deleteriously so.

Purslane Cuttings Day 3

     There are no roots visible yet, but the cuttings look green and healthy. I lost one purple Purslane cutting due to cat damage, found later on the floor of the kitchen.

Purslane Cuttings, Day 2

Purslane, Portulaca sp.

Cuttings of Purslane
     Today I was looking at the purslane that I bought from the garden club, and was struck with the thought that it is the end of December, and that this plant might pass away with the first freeze. Death is so final.

     After a quick search of the internet, I have discovered that there are two methods to creating purslane cuttings - that is, rooting in water and rooting in clean soil. I have clipped some small shoots and removed the lower leaves. No rooting hormone applied; and placed into clean water.
     Then I went outside and took some cuttings of the smaller native purslane, the one with the tiny purple flowers. It doesn't taste nearly as good as the bought purslane with the pink and yellow flowers, but it does grow well here.
     Then I made some cuttings of Porkchop's begonia. It's not edible, but it is pretty, and grows well here in the shade with some watering.
Cuttings, day one.