Mimosa Tree (not the champagne drink...)

I've been wanting a Mimosa tree for years. You cannot find them at the landscape places -- my guess is that they are 'wild' in Oklahoma. A volunteer seedling came up in a crowded flower bed, so I decided to give it a premier spot and transplant. I've set up the patio umbrella to give it some shade from the still hot summer sun.

Here is the seedling I just planted:


I'll post updates if it is a successful transplant!

Grapes in the Hot Summer - a Nice Surprise

I've had this vine for awhile now, it started in a pot, then moved and transplanted several times. It went nuts this summer and really produced a lot of grapes -- the good old fashioned kind with actual grape seeds IN them.

Plum Dreams Coming True

Finally, five years of nurturing fruit trees and keeping them alive through heat waves, this year we get plums, lots of plums. They don't keep long, so I made jam! By choice, these babies have not had any chemicals sprayed, so they are not perfect and that's fine with me! Just like Joni Mitchel said in her song.... "give me spots on my apples, but give me the birds and the bees". These are Bruce plums, really tart.

Plum Jam Recipe:

6 cups chopped pitted plums
6 cups sugar
1 box sure jell

Wash pint size mason jars and lids in dishwasher sterlize (heat) mode.

Measure 6 cups chopped and pitted plums into 6-8 quart pan (heavy bottom stainless - non aluminum). Add 6 cups sugar and box of sure jell. Bring to rolling boil over high heat, stirring continually. Boil 1 minute, simmer for 5 minutes while continuing to stir. Remove from heat. Skim off foam. Fill sterilized pint size mason jars to 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe rims, cover tightly. Boil jars 5 minutes in large pan (tops covered with the boiling water). Remove and cool -- the tops will pop in after a few mintues.

Backyard Fruit Trees

'Gala' apple tree.
'Methley' plum tree.
Nectarine 'Sweet Pearl'
'Bruce' Plum tree.

They actually have fruit this year! The last two years we have had a late freeze after the blossoms, but this year -- no late freeze. Hopefully they will make it all the way through the elements this year.

Whew! It's a Lot of Work to Grow Your Own Food

Tilling, weeding, fertilizing, planting, watering, keeping pesky rabbits at bay, pesky bugs, pesky diseases, heat waves, pesky mosquitos (when you go out to harvest what you've been able to grow), and the list goes on. Why try a vegetable garden then? Because it feels good to harvest something from the earth right in your own yard, tastes better too. Also one can control what goes on the plant, like no chemical insecticides, etc. Even with apartment or condo living, a cherry tomato in a pot can be fun, or some lettuce plants maybe. It's work, but rewarding!