Apple Mango Tree

 

I clipped the tip of the Mango tree a couple weeks ago and it is doing great. I want to keep this tree small. The trunk should be about a foot tall and let the branches grow from there. Once it is ready to flower, I will pull the branches down using a rope to make them horizonal with the ground. If a fruit is produced it will hang from the flower stem until ready to pick. Keeping the branch down will prevent damage to the fruit. 

Jewels Of Opar

These Jewels of Opar flowers grow wild. In this region many folks see them as a weed, but I think they are cute. I generally do not pull them, because they provide cover for the top soil.

 

Passion Fruit

There were a few Passion Fruit flowers bloom recently. This flower was pollinated on 20 September.

20 September

25 September

Lemon Balm Mint

This Lemon Balm Mint plant is doing well. I took some cuttings recently to try and grow more. 

This mint has a wonderful lemon aroma and makes delicious tea when lemon grass, Mexican mint and Lemon Balm mint is mixed. 

Stick Bug

I found a huge Stick Bug on one of my Shiso plants. Stick Bugs primarily eat leaves and was making small holes in the leaves of my Shiso plant, so I moved it. I hope it is doing well. 

Shiso (Beefsteak Plant)

I have two Shiso (Beefsteak) plants and both are doing well. One of the plants was looking weak, so I added new soil and topped both containers off. The extra soil helps the container retain moisture, which I think has made a huge difference. 

Kumquat (Kinkan) and Shikuwasa

Though the fruit in the above and below pictures look alike they are different. Above is a Kumquat (Kinkan) and below is a Shikuwasa.

 

Clove Basil

These Clove Basil plants are growing well and it seems like few pests bother them.

Front Yard Corner Garden

I have a new sitting area in the front of my house surrounded by my garden. It is starting to cool down, so believe I can spend more time there.

Orchid

 

I've had this Orchid for years and this is the first time it has bloomed.

Dragon Fruit

I pollinated 12-13 flowers, but some where a day late. In the end I have 7 fruit that made it.

Banana Tree

We had a typhoon three weeks ago and this Banana tree was blown over. I picked it up and leaned it against this container. About a week later I noticed this flower.

The flower is starting to open up and I can now see the Bananas. I will have to cut off the bell as soon as it hits the ground since this is such a small tree. 

Guava (Red)

I only have 2-3 more Guava on the tree. I picked these a few days ago, but they are larger than average. There are new buds on the tree already, so expect a new batch of fruit in a few months.

Frog

This frog has been living in my garden for a while now. When I first noticed it it was small, but has gotten big. 

Costus Flower

I got a Costus flower cutting from a farmer's market months ago and planted it. I was not sure it would grow, because most flower cuttings do not produce roots, but remarkably this cutting did.

Costus originated in South American. There are many verities with interesting names, such as Spiral Ginger, Torch Ginger, Crepe Ginger. They are not actual ginger, but some verities are used in the production of steroids, snake bite remedies for animals and many other medications. The flowers are crisp and have a ginger flavor, slightly bitter with an aroma of citrus.

 

Passion Fruit (Yellow)

 

The yellow Passion Fruit are starting to flower again. I pollinated this flower on 21 September. So far there has only been 7-8 flowers bloom, so not sure how productive these vines will be. 

I pollinated this flower on 21 September and it has already generated a fruit.