26 October 2007 Sod Busting

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?FBAXY 26 October 2007 Sod Busting

Ths sod was removed from around the Rose of Sharon bushes. The purpose is to improve the growing environment for the Rose of Sharon roots by removing the grass competition.

First the sod was cut using the kick type sod cutter. The sod was hand pulled apart and put through the chipper\shredder, and blown back onto the area from which it was removed. From past experience it was found that the grass roots are effectively destroyed, and no grass grows from the residue. The area was edged, lightly rototilled, raked smooth and covered with wood chip mulch.

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24 October 2007 Last of the Garden for 2007

http://gifuo.notlong.com/ 24 October 2007 Picture

These pictures indicate the remaining plants still thriving at this late date. There is still a fair amount of colour, and some of the beds have been prepared for over-wintering. 2007 was a good growing year; in spite, of a dry July and August. Selective watering was necessary.


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2 October 2007 Passiflora caerulea

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?MHNCL 2 October 2007 Passion Flower. (Passiflora caerulea) Name corrected 27 October 2007

This plant was grown from seed, started indoors in December 2006, and put outdoors in May 2007. It has flowered all summer, and there are always flowers present. The flowers last about two days. The fruit doesn't always form from every flower. The fruit has seeds and is rather pleasant to eat whole. If the seeds are removed before eating the outer thick flesh is insipid. This year I am going to leave it in situ to determine if it will over-winter. I am not too optimistic. It didn't over-winter.

http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?CLZQO More information about Passiflora caerulea


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1 October 2007 Tobacco Plant Growth

http://ehoht.notlong.com/ 1 October 2007 Tobacco Plant Growth.

The area in which I live is a tobacco growing area. Two plants were grown in my garden this year simply to study the cultivar. The plant flowers all summer and is quite attractive. When grown for tobacco the flower stem is normally cut off.

The seeds were started indoors and put into the garden about 24 May 2007. There are probably thousands of seeds produced by one plant, and they are very small.

Tobacco growing is being phased out by the Government, and the growers are changing to Ginseng in some cases.. The crop, which is labour intensive, is handled by temporaty migrant workers from, Mexico, Jamaica, and some other Carabbean countries. These are the modern day slaves, paid miniumn wage and generally have not many rights; in spite, of Politician's platitudes.

The Western World tobacco growers export tobacco products to China, and Japan, and any other country willing to take the product. It is harmful for our own people, but apparently not to other country's people?

I personally refer to tobacco as the "Indian's Revenge". The Europeans killed many Indians and the Indians introduced them to tobacco, which has killed more Europeans than Indians over the last 400 years.

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