Blame it on the Rain

There hasn't been an update since September, but that doesn't mean that nothing has happened. True, very little has happened, but not "nothing". I spent all of the Summer and Fall last year collecting fruiting trees. Annona, Rollinia Eugenia, Garcinia, Persea, Mangifera, and more are all in their drilled plastic pots and waiting for Spring 2017. The temperatures this winter have ventured lower than I can remember them dipping; into the low 40's. And for the most part, things have survived. A few of the weaker plants succumbed early on, but even those that have been completely defoliated by the cold are holding on to life in their trunks. I think I lost a Rollinia and a Plinia edulis, but the peanut butter tree, wax jambu, bananas, and mangoes are all surprisingly tough. I guess when you're used to the fragility of Passiflora, all other species are robust by comparison. That said, my Passiflora parritae is trying to push growth. With a little more light it might just take off like a rocket.

This January has been the wettest one I can remember ever since moving to Redondo Beach about a decade ago. Today it has rained ever since I woke up and it's not scheduled to stop until well into Monday. But the temperature is dropping back into the low 40's while I'm away, so I had to do what I didn't want to do. I had to move a few plants into the house. My Pouteria caimito (abiu), Garcinia hombroniana (seashore mangosteen), and a crippled Rollinia deliciosa are all in my bathroom. But, they'll go right back outside as soon as I return because it's supposed to be in the 70's during the day. I can almost taste Spring.

And I have a few additions to pick up when I get back. I have a atemoya 'Geffner' and a cocktail loquat to introduce to the patio. The latter is going to be grafted together while I watch and learn, which should be a nice exhibition. So I'll wait until I get back to play with my plants, and that will buy me a couple of more weeks which will make it February. And February is a short month, so it's practically March!!