Impatients balsamina (Rose balsam, touch me not, ANNUAL, EDIBLE ORNAMENTAL)

Summer 2011-Impatiens balsamina in my frontyard.

May 22, 2012

IMPATIENS BALSAMINA - rose balsam, touch me not, kamantigue, surangga

(Tropical - ANNUAL)

It was raining overnight, so my hands was itchy in the morning. I said - hmm which seeds need to be put down?

i put down 7 little mounds of impatiens balsamina on the ground, in the front garden. 

While Impatients balsamina is not very popular in Ottawa, City, this was grows freely in Badian Cebu, Philippines where I grew up. This plant was cure for everything, from bruises to mild stomach pains. I never find it anywhere the local garden center, nor the local seed catalog.
I end up getting some from ebay earlier this year. I have no clue what conditions they need, but I imagine something warm enough - just like coleus ideal growing condition.

Last year, a single Impatiens balsamina grow in my front yard, and I was very excited. It came from the batch of annual seeds from the dollar store.

The name "touch me not" comes from the fact that a mature seed pod will explode when you touch it, spreading its seeds. I know - it was fun as a kid. We know it is almost fall when the seeds just explode. I hope to capture this on video soon - so more "touch me not" are needed in my yard. 

But this time, I want more of the plant. It is all edible - imagine if the kids eat it?
Sure - go ahead, who needs spinach when you have impatiens balsamina?

Hope she germinates for me as she is line up along my front walking pathway to my front steps.

Impatiens balsamina  August2011

SOIL : not fuzzy at all, good well draining loam is ideal, add compost to the ground and she is happy.

SUN/SHADE : partial shade please - okay, she can survive in  full sun, but the plant in full sun tends to grow slower, and just get burned by mid summer.

Pictures of more rose balsam in Summer 2012.

Impatients balsamina 2012

 In 2013, my love affair with Rose balsam grow, in fact, I started taking pictures of the baby balsam in June. I got many of them now in my front yard, in my back yard, and the bees love love them.

I read in Mark Cullen's book - "A Greener Thumb" c. 1990, that the flowers look like tiny roses or camellia. Maybe this is why it is called "rose balsam" - a rose like flowers.

Flowering in Mid July (awesome late flowering annual)

Broccoli: Munchkins

May 22, 2012

I thought i wrote something about broccoli already, but I never get around to it. In fact, the seeds germinated, and sort of ready to be planted now.

I observe that the store seedlings are way bigger than any of my seedlings - but then again, I do not own a greenhouse with good supply of ligth. What am I complaining about? My seeds germinated, despite being small.

with that, kudos little broccoli seedlings! i love you no matter how small and weak you are, you will be cared for by this loving gardener.

Broccoli-munchkin  seedlings  May 22, 2012

Packhoi - Cantong White - Bokchoy

Bokchoy - packchoi cantong white

update: may 22, 2012. it rained overnight and i was excited to see my garden.
of course, 2 pots of seed germinated. one of them is pack choi, very small - brings big smile to my heart.

pak choi germinated on may 22, 2012

I was "sing-sowing" seeds again yesterday and half the seeds fall off the container. I really hope there are few leftover for me this season.

i love this veggie, she easily grow on compost, and water, and I add them on stir fries.

The picture below is from Wikipedia, i hope one day this seed can give me treasure to photograph. Thank you to the owner who share it through the commons.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9d/Pak-choi.jpg/450px-Pak-choi.jpg

Basil - Outdoors Sowing

Basic - Purple Dark Opal. I have to admit that I bought this one because it is purple and different. Isn't she a cutie? See the picture from SSE Website:

Basil - Lemon - lemon scent perhaps? This one courtesy of my neighbor Wendy.
This picture was linked from Wikipedia:

Basil - Sweet - this is a familiar face, I always see this one on grocery store display.
The picture is from Wikipedia.

May 22, 2012 - sweet basil germinating after the rain. Yay!

I planted d these seeds outdoors today in 6 inches starter pots. I tend to do too many things at once, and too many plants germinating in my basement. LOL

anyhow, I hope these basil will wake up and grow. I love these herbs on fish.

Tomato - truckers Favorite

Tomato - truckers favorite - SSE

Here is a picture of the tomato from SSE website:

I did not have any luck with my cherry tomato, since I knocked it over. So, today I will try my luck of germinating Seed Savers Exchange truckers tomato.

I have to admit that I am a sucker for heirloom plants. So, here is the story for those of you who are as curios as me.

First introduce to gardener around 1912. This is the best strain of Truckers favorite in SSE collection. Uniform 3" pink globes grow in clusters of 3 to 4. Excellent Flavor. Productive plants with good blight resistance. Indeterminate, 75 days from transplant. 

Well, that gives me a month and a half, fruits coming in around July. Not bad! Indoor propagation for this one. See what happens.

Hosta Janet

Hosta Janet (shugart/o hara 1981)


This hosta is bright - lime green in the middle, irregular splashing of dark green in the edges, and some outer area of the leaves. I am intrigues how it holds color till last of the fall.

The Hosta registrar classified her, as medium plant, growing high of 15 inches, and wide at 24 inches (2 feet). It is said to be a sport of Fortunei, with original clump in Iowa, USA. 

Spring 2011 - from Ann in Ottawa

I got this hosta from Ann, and Hosta Janet is pure beautiful. Nothing too symmetrical but nice splashes of color here and there. 

Mine has surive one Zone 5B winter in the ground, and she comes out with 3 or 4 eyes. As you see, it is a single plant, and now there will be four, so that is a very awesome growth within the year.

May 17, 2012 (Year 2 in my garden)  - Hosta Janet coming out from the ground.

I was expecting she would be more pale, but if you look closer - she is deep green. i would not know that she is Janet if I did not keep the tag that An gave me last year. Hopefully, she will go back to the lighter lime green that I like her a lot.

Primula Vulgaris - Shade Perennial

Primula vulgaris  - shade loving perennial in Zone 5b

Lat Fall 2011, I was able to buy some Primula from plant sale. It was not very flashy, just a small clump. She was planted near the hosta, so she is under the shade of a fence.

She actually survive winter, and not only that, she has flower coming out, looks like red. So, I am just happy  - as the hosta are also starting to come up.

WhiteTrillium, Red Trillium, Jack in the Pulpit

There are good and bad things where I live - my fence is back unto the NCC naturalized woodlands. The bad thing is - squirrels eat my plants, racoons, and their friends - and I will be lucky if I pick the harvest first before them. I sort of compromise with them last year - i feed them bird seeds, and they leave my crops alone.
The good about it is the flora and fauna, right in my very own backyard - ostrich ferns, trout lilies, white trilliums, red trilliums. they are just by the fence, probably escaping from the blades of the lawnmowing guys.

Today, May 14th 2012, a day after mothers day, i saw them blooming - well maybe couple of days now, but I did not notice. The wiki facts are listed below and here are the pictures I've taken this morning. 

may 14, 2012 - white and red trillium

may 14, 2012 a white trillium

ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trillium_erectum

may 14, 2012 - a red trillium with white trillium

Trillium erectum, also known as Wake-robin, red trillium, purple trillium, Beth root or Stinking Benjamin,^[2] is a spring-flowering perennial plant native to the east and north-eastern areas of North America. The flowers are a deep red colour, and the plant takes its name Wake-robin by analogy with the Robin, which has a red breast that heralds spring.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trillium_grandiflorum
Trillium grandiflorum, commonly known as white trillium, great white trillium, white wake-robin, or in French as trille blanc, is a perennial monocotyledonous plant in the lily family



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arisaema_triphyllum

may 14, 2012 - jack in the pulpit  (note: poisonous plant)

may 14, 2012 - emerging jack n the pulpit (note:poisonous plant)

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Bog onion, Brown dragon, Indian turnip, Wake robin or Wild turnip) is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a corm. It is a highly variable species typically growing from 30 to 65 cm in height with three parted leaves and flowers contained in a spadix that is covered by a hood. It is native to eastern North America, occurring in moist woodlands and thickets from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, and south to southern Florida.

Scarlet Runner Beans

Scarlet Runner Beans - red flowers are hummingbird favorites:)

SQUASH-Sunburst Hybrid

Squash - Sunburst Hybrid 52 days

I was walking by Home Depot in Bank Street one day and I was in the garden and seeds section. A lovely clerk recommended this squash to me. I told her that I have a small backyard, and the waltham butternut squash just invaded my whole backyard.

She grab this pack and said: This is a tiny squash 2-3 inches in harvest time, but it won't invade your backyard. I bought it, and never thought about it until today. I was just looking at seeds, and notice the envelop. So, since I have not tried this one before, why not?

This is actually a scallop squash, and the fruit size is 1 -3 inches. Zucchini anyone? Smaller than my Black Beauty Zuchinni, but who cares, its squash, and it is good for you. Fruits show up in summer to fall - aha! great summer sautee for me. Unique bright yellow with a dark sunburst pattern at both ends. Interiro flesh  is creamy white and tender with an extremely tasty mild and buttery flavor.
COMPACT AND BUSH TYPES FOR EASY PICKING. With that description - I am really tempted to put few of them in the pots, and it better be bush, not a crawling creepy ones in my backyard.

Anyways - I started 6 pellets today, and I cannot remember how many in the basement.
Cheers little seeds, and see you when you wake up.

Tulips

TULIPS - FRONT YARD SHOW

While I did not expect anything from the 2 bag of tulips from Cosco last year, they are actually stunning. Few pictures in the front yard showed me nice streaks and variations.

Wintersowing: Coneflowers

 WINTERSOWING CONEFLOWER SEEDS! (2011)

Last 2011 winter, I decided to try wintersowing some coneflower. i feel it was about time to try it, plus I have way too much coneflowers to my liking.

And they are put in a big pot, cover in soil. I water lightly. The winter comes. They are snowed in. The snow melt. And they were snowed in again. And finally its spring. The got rained.

Few days ago, I was so happy to see all the little seedlings coming to life. Nothing more satisfying that seeds coming out - surviving after the process, snow, cold, thaw, rain.

The brave and valiant coneflower seeds! here they are!

Ottawa Gardening Groups and Seed Resources

There are many initiatives in the capital of Canada, and it looks scattered to me. So, in one page, I will add them all, so you can pick a group to join depending on your location and preference.

I personally run Garden Buddies around Hunt Club/Uplands area near the airport. I have a team of 3 to 5 gardeners here. New ones are welcome - learn, help us out, teach us more. The more, the merrier. This is a sub group from Food for Life Gardens
(https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/163655447071109/)
on facebook. I believe Matt and Brian are way up in Britania area, just to give you an idea of our locations.

In Carleton University, we have few food and garden groups as well. The Food Center is in 4th Floor of the Unicenter (CUSA funded) and it is open all summer. Garden discussion and foodie enthusiast most welcome.
http://www.cusaonline.com/foodcentre/

and so G-Spot (independent of CUSA - I think this was one with Sustainability Group when I was at Carleton - but correct me if I am wrong).
http://www.garden-spot.ca/
A friend send me the link as well of folks in the West End, and they have garden areas and gardeners too. Very nice for folks in the west end. Sustainability Living Ottawa - West
http://slowest.ca/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=229%3Agarden-match-up

If you plan to go solo mio - or garden with your family without any logistics, you can rent a plot for the season, run by the City of Ottawa, the Kilborn Allotment Gardens:, a plot of  20 x 50 (1,00 square feet of garden) for the season at $76.
http://www.kilborngardens.ca/index_en.html

The advantage of renting the plot is that it is ready for you to plant. Well not really -  I meant take out the weeds first, add your manure, and get your seeds ready. Hose are provided, and tool shed rentals are provided. So, no more soil testing, no more logistical issues, or permit. Pay the Price, and garden to your hearts content from sunrise to sunset.
 

Local Ottawa Blog about growing pretty much everything: Note I got some Okra seeds and Rhubard seeds from her for free and these seeds were so great- they are all germinated. Veggie Patch Reimagined, with Helpful tips on seed germination, and organic gardening.
http://veggiepatchreimagined.blogspot.ca/2011/02/seed-starting-irreverant-primer.html

Permaculture Ottawa has also a facebook page,
 https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/PermacultureProjectOttawa/

and also Eastern Ontario Permaculture group,
http://eonpermaculture.ca/

Permaculture folks are very knowledgeable,  very friendly, easy going, and rich knowledge about designs - edible landscaping, soil management, and members of diverse background.

 
Gardening organizations:

• Canadian Organic Growers – www.cog.ca
• Ottawa Horticultural Society – www.ottawahort.org,  Probably one of the oldest group in Ottawa, I am member/volunteer of the group. Meetings are on last Tuesday of the month, 7pm at the Bytown arena. 
• Seeds of Diversity – www.seeds.ca
• Master Gardeners of Ontario -http://www.mgoi.ca/, well, they are masters of the garden, what more can I tell you? They got the theories and the experience to vouch for it. Luckily in Ottawa, Ms. Van Berlo who is also a member of Ottawa Horticultural Society.    

Master Gardeners of Ontario - Ottawa - Ottawa is here:http://mgottawa.mgoi.ca/ - a tree you don't know what is it? A garden that could use a design but can't figure it out? Call them at the number provided, and you will be surprise with friendly and knowlegeable folks.

Local seed providers:

• Eternal Seed – eternalseed.ca
• Greta's Organic Gardens – www.seeds-organic.com
• Herb and Spice at Bank - www.herbandspiceshop.ca - local store that carries seeds from Seed Savers Exchange (Iowa, USA)  - heirloom and organic seed savers. I personally order my seeds online from Seed Savers Exchange,(http://www.seedsavers.org/)  but worth checking it out to save on shipping. Founded in 1975, same year I was born.

Community Garden websites:

• Community Gardening Network of Ottawa – www.justfood.ca/community-garden-network
• Bytowne Urban Gardens – www.bugsottawa.ca
• Gloucester Community Gardens – gaga.ncf.ca

http://www.justfood.ca/community_shared_agriculture.php - "Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) (sometimes called Community Supported Agriculture) is an approach to growing and purchasing food that has farmers and eaters working cooperatively. In a CSA, the farmer grows food for a predetermined group of eaters." Though I have not worked with them personally, the mission serves well to my perspective, a source for food that is locally grown.

FREE SEEDS, FREE PLANTS - Ottawa Plantcycle Group,
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/OttawaPlantcycle/

Yes! There are folks that always ordered extra seeds hoping to plant it one day (oh wait, that's me!). So, Val created this group to share seeds, houseplants, vegetable seedlings. We have given away many seeds during seed swap, and community events. I personally give most of my houseplants, seeds and seedlings here, because it is utilize by local folks. Extra gardening supplies are appreciated, I have folks donating pots, plant labels, left over soil to me, and it is very useful to pot up plants to give away.

I guess I have written what I can squeeze my brain for today - so I am going out now, have lunch and plant more seeds indoors. Though it is very nice, I am almost tempted to plant outdoors, but they ones I tried are wilting. Ops, ---- its not until long weekend that weather gets steady and nice to plant.

If there are resources I missed, please let me know. Be glad to add it.  If I made mistakes, kindly correct me.

Kenneth

my son kenneth will be 8 this year. he is a very smart boy. Being smart has drawbacks, you can be considered weird by your friends. and he is in a sense, weird somehow. But then, so as his mother.

Karlina

She is stubborn and smart, but who else in the family is not!

She turned 3, last February 5, 2012. She tells everyone she is four. She has a backpack and she is ready for school. In fact, she lines up at the bus stop with her brother. And she gives hugs and goodbye to his brother.

She is NOT karlina, but she is Princess Karlina.

She loves shoes - she owns 12 of them now. I am pretty sure she has the Imedific influence.

She loves our fish - she even brush their teeth. She loves them and one day, she pour milk in the fishtank.
She loves fishy.

She loves to slide upside down.

She cares for Ben and Kieren and Naki! She is bossy, but at the same time she is the mother hen for them.

Kieren at CHEO

kieren weighed 13.2 kilograms. he is a big boy for  23 months, and he has been through lots of fall and more than his share of scratches and bruises. while I will not go into details, I can say we have trips to CHEO aside from his usual kidney ultrasound.

Mothers Day

 This one is copied from 
"i forgot, it is on the internet somewhere, forwarded by a friend of a friend"!

Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: "My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t... interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day... the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionaly lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter. "

Happy Mother's Day!

Hosta Gemini Moon

This is a short and sweet entry.

Hosta gemini moon - lucky 13 seeds is set on the germination dome today. I am awfully very tired, but happy.
and to add complete full dome of 25, 24 seeds (12x2)  seeds of impatients balsamina - rose balsam, touch me not flowers are added.

These are all loaded in peat pellets.

Hosta Frances Williams

May 2, 2012 

Hosta Frances Williams 

Hosta Frances Williams ( williams 1986) is describe as a sport of Sieboldiana Elegans, size medium to large.
According to Hosta Library, she is also known as: FRW #383', Sieboldiana 'Frances Williams', sieboldiana 'Yellow Edge', sieboldiana aureo-marginata.

The Hosta Registrar entry describe her in details: Frances Williams 
Large metallic blue-green, rounded and cupped leaves with an irregular gold edge. Still one of the most planted hostas in the country
Last year, I mail order this plant from Dawn - Country Gardens Plus in Peterborough(http://www.gardensplus.ca ). She was a single eye, mature  and dug from her garden. I thought, hmm...this plant will never survive in my Zone 5B winter. Plus, I put my new plants in pot to avoid HVX, so the lonely plant stayed in her 2 gallon pot all season.

Frances Williams - in my garden 2011

So, now spring 2012, not only did Frances Williams survived, she promises 4 eyes coming out. And yes, I am very happy.

April 2012, Frances Williams sending 4 eyes after a snow covered winter. 

Hosta September Sun

May 1, 2012 - September sun seeds in peat pellets

May 2, 2012

Hosta September Sun, Hosta Salute

I received seeds from Ann and I am ecstatic to try growing hosta from seeds. I was having my peat pellets ready and put 25 little peats on a small growing dome.

While I own Hosta August Moon, I do not have Hosta September Sun.

According to Hosta Library, she is a sport of August Moon, and really nice leaf texture, corrugated with dark green edgings.
Size is Medium, and registered by Solberg in 1985.
Hosta registrar entry give you details of this registration - September Sun

So, 24 seeds for september sun and 1 hosta salute goes in the germination pod.
Say good luck and hope she germinates