Creeping phlox(Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’)匍匐性福祿考

Creeping phlox(Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’)匍匐性福祿考

Creeping phlox(Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’)匍匐性福祿考

Creeping phlox(Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’)匍匐性福祿考

Creeping phlox(Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’)匍匐性福祿考

Creeping phlox(Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’) off flowering season is low mound, only 1″-2″ height of evergreen foliage. 匍匐性福祿考不開花時只有貼地的一兩吋高,葉片常綠.

Creeping phlox(Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’) stem cutting takes root. 匍匐性福祿考發根的扦插苗.

This is a medium to fast growing evergreen groundcover.  In spring, it produces erect flower stems which bare purple fragrant flowers.  Flowers are good for cut flower.   Flowers attract butterflies.  Although off flowering season it is only 1″-2″ high.    Tolerant light foot traffic.  It prefers full sun to partial shade location in moist soil.    Drought tolerant once established.   Very hardy and easy to grow.  Mature size: 1″-10″(H) X 2′(W).    Very winter hardy.  USDA Zones:2-9.  Easy to propagate by cuttings or dividing plant anytime.  The other variety Phlox stolonifera ‘Blue Ridge’ come with blue flowers. 這是生長快速的常綠多年生地被植物.  不開花時是相當低矮的,僅有1-2吋高,能耐偶爾的踩踏.  春天會抽出花莖變高,開紫色有香味的小花.  花吸引蝴蝶. 花適合切花.  喜歡全日照到半日照的環境,偏濕潤的土壤.  非常強健耐寒.  成熟株高1-2吋(不開花時)到開花時約有10吋高,寬幅達2呎.   繁殖方式為分株或扦插,全年皆可繁殖. Phlox stolonifera ‘Blue Ridge’則是藍色花.

Feather grape hyacinth (Muscari comosum ‘Plumosum’) 流蘇葡萄風信子

Feather grape hyacinth (Muscari comosum ‘Plumosum’) 流蘇葡萄風信子

Feather grape hyacinth (Muscari comosum ‘Plumosum’)流蘇葡萄風信子

It is always fun to get something different for spring!  🙂

Easy to grow in full sun to partial shade location.  Like other varieties they are short, plant size: 15-20cm(H) X 7-15cm(W).  USDA Zones:5-8, but some information said cold hardier than that.  Good for mass planting and cut flower.

流蘇葡萄風信子是有點不一樣的葡萄風信子. 跟其它垂鈴狀的品種一樣好種,全日照到半日照的環境一般都能栽種.  成熟株高僅有15-20公分,寬幅為7-15公分.  耐寒性OK. 有資料說是相當耐寒.  適合區域性種植,可做為切花用.

 

 

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.