<![CDATA[botanical butterfly - eco me * eco you]]>Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:44:11 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Our fate & the Ocean are ONE]]>Wed, 26 May 2010 15:27:40 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2010/05/our-fate-the-ocean-are-one.html
]]><![CDATA[photo journaling {april 2010}]]>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:10:37 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2010/04/photo-journaling-april-2010.html
]]><![CDATA[Spring is in the air...and on the ground!]]>Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:26:50 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2010/03/spring-is-in-the-airand-on-the-ground.html
1.) Bella and a Momma bunny having a chat over who is watching the babies!
2.) Our Mason Bee house among a homemade addition made from our huge grass.
3.) Baby garden snakes. There were 3 that I got to visit with everyday for an entire week!
4.) Ahhh, a beautiful thing!
5.) One more 'insect hotel'....first come, first serve!
*excuse the poor quality, these are phone photos!
]]><![CDATA[learning as you go.....]]>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:10:24 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2010/03/learning-as-you-go.htmlwhat are these drops? guttation. this is caused by root pressure forcing water out of the hydathodes, usually {most always} happens at night when transpiration is not happening. this water is capable of containing ions secreted by the root cells. cool - eh?
Picture
]]><![CDATA[planning for spring....]]>Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:30:36 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2009/12/spring-feveralready-so-heres-my-list-so-far.html
~‧☼‧~  Spring 2010   ~‧☼‧~
Moon & Stars Melon
Variegated Horseradish
*
{mariseeds.com}
*delicious descriptions quoted from Marianna's Heirloom Seeds*

:::peppers:::
Alma Paprika Sweet Peppers
A great find.  Alma is the thickest flesh of the paprika types and are sweet, crunchy and delicious.  Not only are they wonderful for drying for paprika, but make great stuffers.  Fruits color up from white to orange to red and plants produce plenty for what ever you have in mind.
80 days....#S7
Kalosca Sweet Spice Paprika
Very unusual and pretty foliage that seems to be slightly ruffled and is highly ornamental. Fruits, fruits, everywhere! Green to scarlet, thin walled and sweet. About 1x4".
70 days ....#S20
Yellow Miniature ~ Minibells
Exactly like minibell, only they go from light celery green to golden yellow. Teamed up with the former and chocolate mini, they would be the envy of any gourmet chef.
85 days ....#S30
Pepperoncini
It took me a long time to locate this variety. It's the true Italian Pepperoncini that you see canned on grocery store shelves, that are thin, crunchy, and crinkly. As a canner, they can't be beat, but they are also divine eaten, fresh with their Cubanelle type texture. They turn crimson when ripe and are very sweet. A favorite.
90 days.....#S29
Albino
2-3x5" slightly tapered, 3 lobed peppers. Creamy white to red. Very pretty.
75 days.....#S10
Tangerine Pimento
 3 inch, flat, ribbed, bright orange, thick walled fruits make wonderful canned pimentos. Also great cooking containers.
70 days ..... #S27
Giant Arconcagua
This pepper is truly unbelievable! They are gigantic 2 1/2-3" x 8-10". Very pretty celery green to crimson. Sweet as apples, they are sheer heaven roasted on the grill, as well as fried or fresh. A few of these will fill up your basket.!
75-80 days ....#S19
:::Tomatoes:::
Dawson's Russian Oxheart
My number two favorite this summer after Mrs. Benson.  Good friend Pat Kennedy, gardening guru, sent me the seeds for this variety and raved about it as though she had hit the mother lode.   Exaggerating she wasn't.  Dawson's is an absolutely beautiful , huge bi-color oxheart tomato.  They hang on the vines like brilliant gems dancing in the sunlight.  When you bring one in, slice into it and taste it, you realize you have found a gem!  This is the kind of tomato we all dream of during the longed for months of summer.  The solid yellow flesh with swirls of raspberry is aromatic, sweet and lucious.  The first fruits are very large, but become smaller throughout the season.  Long lasting plants will keep you happy .
  80 days..........#BC0Ananas Noire~black pineapple
Translates "Black Pineapple"  This variety is very exciting and winning the praises of heirloom enthusiasts!  It is a stable cross from a tomato patch in Belgium between a black variety and Pineapple, a bi-color.  It owns the strangest color combination I've seen to date, red- yellow-purple-gray-green, a real rainbow of color swirls.  However pretty it is, it's flavor stands tall also.  It is simply delicious! 82 days#.........BC3
Oaxacan Jewel
The prettiest of the bi-colors. Sunset beautiful beefsteaks are gold- orange with deep red streaking throughout the sweet fruity flesh. A real beauty.
85 days ....#BC 22
Black Altai
A stunning variety from Reinhard Kraft in Germany.  Fruits weigh 4-16 oz. and are a deep garnet bronze color with olive green shoulders. The rich sweet flavor will delight every tomato enthusiast and intensifies in the hottest days of summer.  You'll be happy you added this one to your list!
Indet. 85 days.............#B35Manyel
Old Indian Heirloom. The name means "Many Moons". High yielding vines produce 8-12 oz. smooth pale yellow globes with a translucent quality. Sweet, light and crisp.
75 days ....#Y34
Slovenian Black
Awesome producer of 4 oz. olive shaped fruits.  Fruits also grow in clusters.  Fine flavor.
80 days....#B7
Japanese Trifele Black
I fell in love with this fabulous tomato in 2000! It's large, about 8 oz, pear shaped, mahogony and black with green shoulders. They have absolutely no defects of any kind and taste terrific. It's one of the prettiest tomatoes I've yet to come across. Perfection!
80 days ....#B29
Southern Night
One of the most unique varieties you can grow. An old traditional Russian heirloom that gets it's name from the pitch black nights in the Southern Territories. Potato leaf vines produce 6-10 oz. gems with dusky maroon-mahogany exteriors and brick red interiors, with green splashed shoulders. The hotter your area gets, the darker the luscious fruits will be. One extremely gorgeous tomato!
  80 days ....#B32
:::cherries:::
Hawaiian
Red Cherry with very intense foliage fragrance.  Fruits are extremely sweet.
 75 days....#CH9   
Black Cherry
Beautiful, burgundy-black fruits are medium size and super tasty!
75 days ....#CH13
Blondkopfchen
Grape size golden cherries with pointed ends are very sweet. Extremely productive and truly tasty. This is really a great gourmet type cherry. From France.
  70days ....#CH14
Coyote
Tall, tall vines set out clusters of tiny pea sized cream colored cherries with a very distinct sweet melon like flavor. When ripe, they blush yellow and the sugar concentration is splendid. One of the most unique tasting varieties. From Vera Cruz, Mexico.
60 days...#CH19
Ghost
It's really fun to grow this 2oz., slightly fuzzy variety. Fruits are cream with a yellow-peach blush and slightly squarish. Full of sweet flavor.
75 days ....#CH24
Hopkins~from e.a.poe's estate!!!
This unique variety "haunts" from the gardens of the Edgar Allen Poe estate. Heavy producers of very sweet, translucent yellow, 2-4 oz. cherries. A favorite.
75 days....#CH 32
Green Grape
Imagine vines loaded with clusters of green"tomato grapes" with a zippy sweet-tart taste.This fabulous variety will be a real conversation piece with all who see and taste it!
70days ....#CH30
Grape
All the rage of late. Don't pay 2 and 3 dollars a pint for these at the supermarket. Grow your own! Super sweet and productive. A really fine cherry tomato.
70 days....#CH27
Mini Orange
Brilliant, blood-orange, 1", perfect round globes are gorgeous and have fantastic fruity flavor. Wonderful in salads and snacking. Expect high yields.
65 days ....#CH 36
Spoon~teeny,tiny
So tiny, a bunch will fit into a teaspoon! Plants grow tall and fruits are super sweet when picked fully ripe off the vine. A 2000 favorite.
  90 days ....#CH 49]]><![CDATA[:: my most favorite time of year ::]]>Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:49:27 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2009/10/-my-most-favorite-time-of-year.htmlthere is just something about when the leaves start changing and the nights get cool that seems like magic! plus, it's that special time when you can look back at your gardens and see all of your hard work. while you are taking a final look at some of your plants, you are wondering how much room some of them are going to need when they come back next year.

this year alone we have managed to take at least 2/3 of our front yard grass out, with the rest coming out the first warm day in spring. with our okra and some corn mixed in with the roses at the streets edge, we kind of stand out on the street. our side garden was full of blackberries, raspberries, dill, basil, oregano, roses, lavender, pineapple sage, comfrey, sorrel, dahlias....and this is only a partial list! the main front area was mostly perennials & shrubs. although, next season we are putting an elevated spiral herb garden right smack dab in the middle of the yard! *)

a few fall photos~
]]><![CDATA[the great sunflower project ~ update]]>Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:29:14 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2009/08/the-great-sunflower-project-update.htmlWe have had huge success with this project! I would estimate that at any time, our bee count is 40+. Most of the flowers we plant are designed to attract one sort of bug or another {I'm a huge bug nerd}. However, I never expected to have so many bumbles! Our sunflowers are just a buzz of excited and very busy bees! It's so hard to not touch them. In fact, I've learned how to make them wave at me! It's very tempting to let them crawl onto my hand! In the early morning or late evening, they are tucked in the petals as if they are guarding their flower {and easy to pet}. We have so many, I set up two different bee ponds for them to drink from. {If you do this, please make sure to float sticks in the water so they don't drown} This has been so much fun! You just can't imagine how entertaining they are. You certainly get a new meaning to "busy as a bee", as they are pretty much unaware that you are even close ~ nor do I think they care.

Thank you San Francisco State University Department of Biology for doing this project and for letting us participate. I hope all across the nation this project has brought about a love and awareness for these magic little creatures! Enjoy our web album....maybe I'll try to get some video too.
]]><![CDATA[♥ Home ♥]]>Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:06:17 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2009/06/update-kingland.htmlWhat a busy summer! I can't even tell you how many parties & graduations we have been too. Sister home from China (and graduating). Sister's man, home from Egypt (and graduating). Cousins in Minnesota, graduating (one from high school, one from college). Dear friend graduating  (with Master's). Cousin from area, but now lives in Colorado graduating.....the list just never stops. But through it all we have kept our heads, hearts, and hands full and busy! It has been a tremendous summer of growth for us as persons, and for our little piece of heaven on earth. Here's the proof!

]]><![CDATA[Mini Orchard]]>Fri, 08 May 2009 06:24:31 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2009/05/mini-orchard.html

How much can a front yard hold? We are about to find out! With watchful neighboring eyes and some looks insinuating that we must be nuts, we have stripped more grass out and expanded the garden AGAIN.......

We have recently added a wonderful and huge October Glory Maple. It's so big...we were hitting other trees along the road bringing it home. A beautiful and fast growing shade tree, he will reach about 40-50 feet. I can't wait to see the fall color of this one!

Also, the same day actually, Josh planted a fairly good sized Tartarian Black Cherry (Prunus avium) to help shade our tree peony. It already has clusters of cherries. I find it funny that the height variance is 12-30 feet, that's a huge difference.

To complete our mini orchard we found a sweet little Pink Lady. Unfortunately, when we pulled her out of her container she had NO roots! She is suffering right now, but I have full faith that she feels our love and will rejuvenate soon.

Directly in front of her is our berry patch of Heritage Raspberries and Blackberries. I fear the worst for the blackberries. Some bunny has already located the bush and makes breakfast from the leaves...imagine if there were berries.

Up on our front porch in a container (it shares with the strawberries and a hops vine) is a miniature peach with about 12 peaches. Libby has learned that the big giant pot has treats! Maybe I'll be able to save enough to make a strawberry-rhubarb pie!

Did I happen to mention how wonderful life is!!!

]]><![CDATA[Music to my ears!]]>Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:54:13 -0800http://www.botanicalbutterfly.com/1/post/2009/04/music-to-my-ears.htmlI am so excited! You can almost feel the vibrations of buzzing when you get close to our 3 holly bushes! They are ALIVE with bees.....tons of honey bees, a few bumbles checking out the commotion and best of all........YES, my masons have arrived! I was very surprised to see how very tiny they are! They are close to 1/3 the size of the honey bees. We had a male & female. The male was so cute with his little white tuffs of hair on his head! Everyone in the world should have a Mason Bee Hive!!!

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