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Goldie's Garden

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Okinawa Prefecture

The Strong Survive? We Shall See

Alyssum Carpet of Snow

First to bloom were  the Alyssum and they seem to be holding up well so far.  The seed packet says they are spreading plants and are good for use as a ground cover.  Once they take off I have a feeling we may not be able to see the pots anymore!  We shall see.

Carpet of Snow Alyssum
2011©Jennifer Martinez - Shot on iPhone 3GS - Collage designed on Diptic App

Viola Helen Mount

After all other Violas drown in flooded pots from Tropical Storm Maeri, we were left with a sole survivor (below left).  For a few days it thrived. This plant has sprouted taller than expected and is very sturdy.  The stem is very stiff and strong like a tree trunk.

Not capturing a photo during the week after the storm is disappointing to me, because it was truly a beautiful plant.  Honestly I took its rapid growth for granted assuming if it’s this pretty today just think what next week will bring. By the time my camera snapped it was too late.  The leaves had started turning a lighter colored green and thinning out.  It’s not looking good for our survivor.

But… we shall see.

Helen Mount Violas
2011©Jennifer Martinez - Shot on iPhone 3GS - Collage designed on Diptic App

The small specks of green growth (above right) are new violas sprouting  in the same soil. Replanting plans got put off by our daily life and we never got around to emptying these dainty tin pots.  Before we new it new life had shown its beautiful face!

Snowdrift Marigold Stems Turn White

After researching what could possibly turn a flowers stem white, I came up short. Rephrasing that 10 times or more and searching through tons of articles all contradicting each other, I quit.  Not the first time that internet research has failed me.  Makes me think it’s time to take a trip to an old-fashioned place we call the Library.

Snowdrift Marigolds
2011©Jennifer Martinez - Shot on iPhone 3GS - Collage designed on Diptic App

What I was able to determine is that one of the following is probably true:

  1. Too much water
  2. Not enough Water
  3. A case of Root Rot (moldy soil and roots, etc) which is a huge possibility due to the humidity in Okinawa, however the soil seems well-drained and dry 2 inches below the surface.
  4. Mites (which are nearly invisible to the human eye) are destroying our prize marigolds.

We will keep a close eye on our previously favored plants and try to determine what is causing this ugly white stem. Hopefully we can solve this problem before it’s too late.  But again, we shall see.

Note to self: No more playing favorites.  All flowers are created equal.

Photo Update

Welcome Cosmos
2011©Jennifer Martinez

LOTS going on.  New seeds, new pots, more planting and MUCH more watering now that the summer heat is in full effect in Okinawa. It’s tough to capture it all without confusion.

Justice left me hangin most of this last week because brother and the neighborhood kids are now free to play all day!  I’ve had that song in my head for days on end… my brain is blaring….School’s Out For Summer…” 

Here’s an attempt at showing most of what I accomplished in the garden last Friday.  Measuring to make sure we didn’t plant too much in the smaller to medium sized pots.  Trying to decide what seeds I have left &  which of those would do best in part shade to full sun, etc.  My neighbor Julie hooked us up with all the seed packets she decided not to plant!

Welcome the newest additions to Goldie’s Garden

 

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Typhoon Songda Tree Damage Slideshow

Three tropical cyclones at different stages of...
Image via Wikipedia

Drove around with the kids the day after Typhoon Songda hit us last week and my son asked if we could stop to take pictures of the trees on the playground at his school. So although we were all starving, we stopped and I’m glad we did. Basically exhausted this one particular tree that was torn apart, and it was quite a sight. Went home itching and scratching.  It’s possible that crawling around in the grass in shorts, the day after a crazy storm might not have been the best idea.

Definitely the most powerful storm we have encountered since moving to Okinawa in 2008. It was mostly wind and some rain that came in strong throughout the night and stopped almost immediately… before starting again.  The video I captured was all wind and complete darkness due to the fact that we lost power mid-night.  (I did get shots of the flickering power lines that I have yet to get from my camera, so I’ll post the typhoon night pics eventually.) Yes, I work backwards from time to time.  The tree damage pics I find much more interesting. My husband calls me a tree huggin hippie.  For the trees I’ve loved over the years, can’t say I’ve hugged enough:)

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Garden Update: First the tropical storm, a typhoon scare, and now a Super Typhoon.  Hence the garden being on hold, and I haven’t blogged in a month:(  So as much as the ground has flooded I have decided to use flower pots, instead of attempting to plant in ground.  What’s the point, if it could potentially get washed away in the next storm.  It’s all good, now I see why majority of the Okinawans have their garden completely covered and protected.  That’s the condition of living smack dab in the middle of Typhoon Alley.

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