Showing posts with label pomegranate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pomegranate. Show all posts

Friday, June 27, 2008

Dangit! Pomegranates don't come into season until fall! Why didn't I know this? Oh well, I'll grab a fruit in the fall and plant me some seeds.
More Adenium obesum seeds have sprouted. I will pot some as soon as I can. Maybe I should go do that RIGHT now.
I have a few more pots to take to Mishy. Mostly greenware, but there are some bisque pieces that I've applied glaze to.

Desert Rose seeds are growing

Check the date, check the time. It's Sunday morning, 10:30 am.
I was up until 2am this morning messing with clay. Actually, I was applying glazes to a bunch of pieces. Something like 36 pieces came out of Mishy's kiln for me, so I had lots to do. There's still seven pieces that I need to glaze. Got up this morning and did my rounds. Dogs and cat are okay. Looks like there was a disruption to the Angelfish breeding trio, one of the smaller angels is picking on the smaller female. Thing is, I don't know which is which. I'll have to do some more observations. I checked some of the clay impressions I did yesterday. The shell impressions look good. The roller impressions look good. The bead roller's impression looks like corn on the cob. Not too thrilled about having made a corn roller (WTH?). I remembered the desert rose seedlings. Bernie noticed some brown spots on Friday, so I sprinkled some cinamon on top. I had put them in a covered Jiffy nursery seed starting thing, you find them at Home Depot for about $5. I added a little extra water on Friday, I thought the whole thing felt sort of light. Look in on them this morning and I noticed a number of seedlings breaking through. It's hard to count how many, but I'd say at least 15.
I did some more wiring on my pomegranate seedlings. They're looking good. I'm going to keep my eyes on pomegranates at the market. Definitely worth growing from seed!

Growing Bonsai in Phoenix , Arizona


The growing of bonsai in Phoenix Arizona poses some very unique challenges. The extreme desert conditions means that a lot of the 'classic' bonsai subjects have absolutely zero chance of growing here. Summer temperatures of +115f in the summer are common. Winter temperatures can drop to below freezing. What this means is that tropicals need to have winter protection from frosts. Below is my short analysis of tree material that I have used, or have contemplated using

Juniper- very popular bonsai subject. Grows very well in the Phoenix heat, and is not at all bothered by the low winter temperatures. Strongly recommended as a bonsai subject.

Japanese Maple- Very popular bonsai subject, very beautiful classic bonsai subject. Does poorly in the desert heat. Not recommend for use in Phoenix

Trident maple- Popular classic bonsai subject. Does a bit better than Japanese maple in high desert heat. Needs protection from the summer sun, keep as shady and cool as possible.

Japanese black pine. Popular classic bonsai subject. Can tolerate high temperatures found in Phoenix , but should be kept well shaded.

Crabapple- Popular classic bonsai subject. Will tolerate high summer temperatures, but provide lots of shade and try to keep as cool as possible. All literature on this subject indicates that this subject should be given a period of freezing temperatures. Keep well watered, do not allow to dry out. Very beautiful flowers and fruits. Deserves more research on it's use is recommended.

Pomegranate- Popular classic American bonsai subject. This is a Mediterranean tree, so I do not know if it is used in Japanese bonsai. This subject does extremely well in Phoenix . Tolerates high summer temperatures, and does not mind the ocassional winter frost. Fast grower. Highly recommended for use in Phoenix .

Olive- Popular classic American bonsai subject. Another Mediterranean tree that also will do extremely well in Phoenix . This tree seems to thrive in the high desert heat and is not bothered by the occassional frost. Not enough good things can be said about this tree, it is fantastic! Highly recommended for use in Phoenix .

Ficus- Very popular bonsai subject. Ficus benjamina, retusa, microcarpa, nerifolia all do extremely well in the Phoenix heat. Keep well watered. Protect from winter frost. Can be kept indoors, but will require lots of light. Cuttings take well. Highly recommended for use in Phoenix .

Chinese elm- Very popular bonsai subject. This is a semi-tropical that can go evergreen, depending on conditions. Requires plenty of light. Keep well watered. Tolerates lots of abuse. Protect from winter frost. Recommended for use in Phoenix .

Bougainvillea- Not a well known bonsai subject. Fairly well known for it's papery 'flowers'. I remember this shrub from my days in Hawaii as a tenacious, fast growing shrub. It will grow back from a stump with very little if any roots. As a tropical, it tolerates the high Phoenix summer temperatures, even thriving in it. Give lots of water, light, and fertilizer and you will have a monster grower.

Pumpkin Patch 5/3/25

Was at the Pumpkin Patch 5/3. First one of the season. It rained. I was cold. I was still happy to be out there again. Pictures! First pictu...