Withch Alder (Fothergilla gardenia) 巫榿木

Witch-alder (Fothergilla gardenii) 巫榿木

Withch Alder (Fothergilla gardenia) flowering in spring 春天開花的巫榿木

Withch Alder (Fothergilla gardenia) beautiful orange red fall colour 巫榿木秋色由綠轉橘紅

Very hardy and easy to grow in full sun to partial shade location.   Fragrant white fuzzy flowers in spring.   Stunning orange red fall colour!    USDA Zones:4-8.  Mature size:6′-10′(H) X 5′-10′(W).   It is a shrub requires very low maintenance.  🙂   Propagate by soft wood cuttings.

非常強健容易栽種的灌木.  適合種植在全日照到半日照處.  春天開絮狀白色的香花.  秋色轉橘紅或紫紅很美豔.   耐寒.  成熟株高約6-10呎,寬幅約5-10呎.  是屬於不太需要庭園維護的灌木.  🙂  主要用嫩枝來扦插繁殖.

 

 

Hybrid Aster (Aster) 紫菀

Hybrid Aster (Aster) 紫菀

Hybrid Aster (Aster) 紫菀

Hybrid Aster (Aster) 紫菀

 

Hybrid Aster (Aster) 紫菀

Very hardy perennial.  Easy to grow in any full sun location in well drained soil.  Large amount of small purple flowers in late summer to frost.   Flowers attract bees and butterflies.   Flowers are excellent for cut flower.   Easy to propagate by dividing plants in early spring or from seeds.  USDA Zones: 4-9.  The wild variety is usually taller.  The cultivars are shorter.   Fast growing, do not tolerant foot traffic.

紫菀（Aster trinervius）菊科紫菀屬的植物, 非常強健的多年生草花.  容易栽種在任何全日照排水良好處.  夏末到霜降開大量小菊形紫花,花期很長,很適合切花,花頗吸引蜂蝶.  容易於春天時以分株或種子來繁殖.  耐寒也耐熱.  野生的株高較高,園藝種的較矮有矮性品種.  生長快速,不耐踩.

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum)伯利恆之星 — Update

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum)伯利恆之星  — Update

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum)伯利恆之星

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum)伯利恆之星

 

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum)伯利恆之星

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum)伯利恆之星

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum)伯利恆之星

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum)伯利恆之星 — Update Seed pod 種莢

This post it to update the previous post below:

https://myfoodandflowers.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/star-of-bethlehem-ornithogalum-arabicum%e4%bc%af%e5%88%a9%e6%81%86%e4%b9%8b%e6%98%9f/

So far the total height is 3.5′.  It is so tall in pot, I worry it will break somehow… 😦

這篇是之前那篇的開花報告:

https://myfoodandflowers.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/star-of-bethlehem-ornithogalum-arabicum%e4%bc%af%e5%88%a9%e6%81%86%e4%b9%8b%e6%98%9f/

目前是盆植,高約3.5呎,好像還會高一些…花莖看起來容易斷的樣子… 😦

 

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 美國楓香

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 美國楓香

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 美國楓香

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 美國楓香

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 美國楓香

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 美國楓香

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a large, native, deciduous tree that grows up to 60′-70′ tall. The leaves are 45′ wide.  Easy to grow.  Best grow in full sun location.  USDA Zones:5-9.  In fall, the green foliage turns orange red, quite stunning.   Its hard wood is good for furniture.  Its fruit and resin are valuable for medicinal uses.  Easy to propagate from seeds, cuttings or grafting.

原生於北美東部.  算是大型的落葉喬木.  以全日照環境為佳.  容易栽種.  耐寒.  秋色葉由綠轉橘紅,相當耀眼.  木材是硬木很適合做傢俱.  楓果在中藥叫’路路通’,為婦科用藥.  其樹的乾燥樹脂為中藥’楓香脂’,別名楓脂、膠香、白膠、白膠香、芸香等,主要為止血止痛以及解毒.  成熟株高60-70呎,寬幅為45呎.   容易以種子,扦插或嫁接等方式來繁殖.

Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) 臭椿

Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) 臭椿

Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) female tree is loaded with seed pods in fall.臭椿母樹秋天種莢成熟了.

Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) female tree is loaded with seed pods in fall.臭椿母樹秋天種莢成熟了.

Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) female tree is loaded with seed pods in fall.(close up)臭椿母樹秋天種莢成熟了.(近拍)

I believe almost everyone have seen it.  Such common tree almost everywhere in the world.  It is a fast growing, invasive tree.  It is so weedy and also has foul odour.  It is very difficult to get rid of it, so I hope people can weed the seedlings out.

But it is still has its purpose: medicinal uses and breeding ground of Ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia).

Very hardy, it can grow in any full sun to partial shade location.  USDA Zones:5-8.  Mature size:50′-80′(H) x 40′-60′(W).  Self seed easily.

生長快速的雜樹之一,非常強勢.    能在全日照到半日照處生長.   植株有臭味.  當然它也不是一無是處.  它是有其藥用價值(收斂劑)和樗蠶(Samia cynthia)產卵的植物.  不過這樹很難清除,常常再長出.  希望人們在除雜草時能將小苗清除.

它非常強健,能生長在任何全日照到半日照的環境. 耐寒. 成熟株高約50-80呎,寬幅約40-60呎.  容易落子自行繁殖.

Glass Gem Corn (Zea mays) 寶石玉米

Glass Gem Corn (Zea mays) 寶石玉米

 

Glass Gem Corn — harvest time!(Zea mays) 寶石玉米 — 收成了!

The second cob of glass gem corn. 寶石玉米第2穗收成了.

The third cob of glass gem corn. 寶石玉米第3穗收成了.

The 4th cob of glass gem corn. 寶石玉米第4穗收成了.

Beautiful and colorful glass gem corn kernels! 寶石玉米的美麗多彩玉米粒!

 

Glass Gem Corn and Tourmaline are all natural and so similar! 寶石玉米和電氣石(碧璽)都是天然的且有相似的花色.

Glass Gem Corn is showing grain colour (Zea mays) 寶石玉米的玉米粒顯色了

Glass Gem Corn 寶石玉米結穗中

Something about corn:

1.Corn plant has male and female flowers, usually the tassel (male) shows on the top first.  It is annual.

2.Corn stigma is called “silk".

3.Female inflorescence is with young silk.  After pollinated the silk turns dark and dry.

4.Many small male flowers make up the male inflorescence, called the tassel.

5.When corn cob matures the outside layers (husk) turn outward called ‘ears’.

6.Hybrid corn (use different plant pollen to pollinate female flower) will have stronger gene which grow bigger and taller and able to grow more corn.

7.Glass gem corn is a native corn, not genetically modified.

8.Many different types of corn in the world are for different uses in food.  Some with hard kernels are good for corn flour or for pop corn.  Soft sweet kernels are good for quick cook vegetables.

9.About 90% of the corn grown in the US has been genetically modified.

10.Growing from seed to harvest usually takes around 3.5 months.

一些有關玉米的知識:

1.一株玉米有雄花和雌花之分. 植株頂上先開雄花花序,再從植株腋下長出的是雌花序,玉米是屬於風媒花.  它是一年生的作物.

2.有絲狀流蘇的花是雌花花序.

3.雌花花序的絲狀流蘇授粉前是淺綠色的,授粉後是褐色的.

4.雄花花序是由很多小花所組成的頂生花穗.

5.玉米穗成熟時穗外的包覆上會有揚起的耳狀部份,包覆會變乾黃即是種子成熟,要食用的甜玉米不可等太熟才採收.

6.玉米同品種雜交的後代植株較高,較強壯,產量也較高.

7.寶石玉米是原生的玉米品種,不是基因改良的產物.

8.世上的玉米依用途的種類有品種的不同,有的是玉米粒含水低,很硬的是用來做為磨粉做玉米麵粉,玉米澱粉或是爆米花用的玉米,含水量較高較甜的是用來水煮吃的,有的玉米是以採未熟的嫩雌花序,即是玉米筍.

9.美國約有90%的玉米都是基因改良過的玉米.

10.玉米由種子到採收的種植期約為3.5個月.

Cosmos and Goldfinch 大波斯菊與金翅雀

Cosmos and Goldfinch 大波斯菊與金翅雀

Cosmos and Goldfinch 大波斯菊與金翅雀

Cosmos and Goldfinch 大波斯菊與金翅雀

Cosmos and Goldfinch 大波斯菊與金翅雀

Outside of my front yard window, there are some goldfinches feeding on Cosmos seeds.

–The Goldfinch is a small North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory song bird. It feeds on seeds.

They are very shy.  Cosmos are self-seeded annuals, I grow them for these birds to feed on.

前院窗外正在享受大波斯菊種子的金翅雀–
金翅雀是北美洲的一種雀。牠們是美洲候鳥，金翅雀是兩性異形的。雄雀分別於夏天及冬天呈黃色及橄欖色,金翅雀是吃種子的.  非常害羞怕人的鳥.  大波斯菊是會自行結子繁殖的一年生草花,我是特別為了引金翅雀來吃而種大波斯菊的.

 

False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum) 假黃精

False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum) 假黃精

False Solomon’s Seal(Maianthemum stellatum)fruit turn red in fall假黃精秋天果實轉紅

False Solomon’s Seal(Maianthemum stellatum)fruiting假黃精結果中

 

False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum) is very hardy perennial.   It flowers in late spring with small white star-shaped flowers and  soon fruits in summer.   Its fruit turn red in fall, very attractive, fruit is edible but not tasty.    Very easy to grow in partial shade to full shade location.  Very cold tolerant. USDA Zones: 3-8. 　Easy to propagate it by division of plants or seeds.  Excellent for woodland garden.   Mature size:1′-1.5′(H) x 1.5′-2′(W).

See wiki photo for flowers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maianthemum_stellatum#mediaviewer/File:Maianthemum_stellatum_15290.JPG

Its fleshy root has medicinal use to relive cough.

百合科舞鶴草屬的多年生草本植物.  容易栽種在半日照到樹蔭下陰暗處.  春天開白色星形小花,夏天結果, 假黃精秋天果實轉紅很有觀果的價值.   果實可以食用但不好吃,根可藥用治咳嗽.    非常耐寒.    繁殖方式主以分株或用種子栽培.  很適合用於林地式偏暗的花園.  成熟株高1-1.5呎, 寬幅1.5-2呎.

Watermelon fruits! 西瓜結果了!

Watermelon fruits! 西瓜結果了!

Watermelon fruits! 西瓜結果了!

Very easy to grow in full sun sandy soil.   Pollinate yourself from male flower to female flower then soon you will see the fruit grow quickly in hot summer!   Assume the soil is rich enough for melon to grow big otherwise you will end up with a small melon…    Fertilization is needed as soon as the melon is fruiting.

I am growing it with a big pot, but this summer wasn’t hot enough (and fall is coming quickly) for it to grow fast.. 😦  Luckily it is just one of my experiments this year.  I still having fun.  🙂

西瓜結果了!   西瓜是我今年的實驗之一,全日照,容易用砂質土栽種,越熱長速越快.  要記得授粉,母花一授了粉就要開始施肥瓜才會長的大,要不然瓜太小也不夠吃.

實驗是用大盆來種植不過今年夏天短又不夠熱,現在秋涼了,到時收成了實驗就結束.  還算好玩有成就感的農作物.

Chayote (Sechium edule) 佛手瓜

Chayote (Sechium edule) 佛手瓜

Chayote (Sechium edule)– male flower and fruiting squash, ants are getting the nectar 佛手瓜雄花與所結的瓜, 螞蟻們在享用其花蜜

 

Chayote (Sechium edule) — female flower 佛手瓜雌花

Chayote (Sechium edule) harvest time! 佛手瓜收成了!

Chayote (Sechium edule) is native in Mexico.  It is an annual vine here in cold climate, it is perennial vegetable in warm climate.  Its shoots and fruit are vegetable.  Very easy to grow in any full sun to partial shade location in moist soil with support to cling on.  Plant has male and female flowers.   Male flower is small with 5 pale yellow petals and yellow centre.  Female flower with a tiny undeveloped mini squash.

Squash can be cooked for stir-fry, soup… Its fast growing tender shoots is great for stir-fry.

In late summer to fall the squash can be harvested when the outside layer is tender.   When squash got harvest late the outside layer is tough, when you cook the squash you will need to peel the layer.   There is a seed in the squash.   When you place the squash in sunny location such as window sill indoor, the seed will start to sprout.   Then you can plant the sprout squash in the pot or ground to grow.

佛手瓜是容易栽種生長快速的不耐寒多年生草本藤蔓.  嫩莖葉可摘下炒食,稱為龍鬚菜.   雄花和雌花外觀不同,雌花有迷你的未授粉的小瓜很容易辨認,雄花則無小瓜連著.     瓜應在成熟後外皮尚嫩時收成,這時可連皮煮食;倘若收成太晚瓜皮變粗硬則應削皮再煮.  可炒或煮湯的很多料理的方法.

要種的話取成熟度較高外皮較硬的瓜,裡面的種子較為成熟適合用來種植.  將瓜放在有光線溫暖的室內靠窗處讓它裡面的種子發芽,發芽的瓜可以種在大盆或是地植在適當的地方,最好是全日照到半日照的環境,保濕並需有支架供其攀爬.  很快就有瓜可收成.