It is another Wednesday and it is class night. There are 7 good students so that makes it better. In addition to the normal stuff, I plan on giving a lecture on dieffenbachia breeding.
The freeze never really materialized. It was fairly cold but any frost was very minimal. Yeah for spring.
I do not like cold weather. Why? Because yesterday I got to spend the day covering the holes in the sides and roof of the greenhouses to keep the freeze out. Thought I might get by easy this year but no such luck. So tonight I will stay up and run water in the greenhosue to keep the frost out. Plus tomorrow is dumpster day and the gate needs to be open by 6:30 am. Actually, underneath all the gripeing: it is fun the "save the farm though'. Below are some of the plants that we hope to save from the freeze tonight.
Below are a couple of photos of various newly "painted plants" observed at the trade show. Why spend years breeding new foliage types when you can paint to order. You want a red pothos no problem - spray away. How about a blue palm or Spathiphyllum? No problem just let me get the can of 'tropical blue' paint. Oh my.... Of course people seemed to like them but I have always been out of touch....
Below are some African violets in a rather intense display.
Things have been too busy to count.
Thanks to the assistance and creative thinking of mosasic mom, the new steel/mosaic hybrid flower which is a mixed medium, orange, green, white, and yellow pastel blend is planted. Hope to do another one day.
Monday - watched U of Fla. football late.
The photo below shows some loquats grown from seed that a friend of mine got during a visit to China last spring. He said the fruits that gave the seed were over 2 inches in diameter and very delicious. We cannot wait for the 'yum yum' to begin.
One of our favorite Navel orange trees has succumbed to the death virus (photo below). It is so sad since it was a very productive tree with wonderful fruit. It was Mosaic Mom's mostest favorite tree. Even now as it is preped for removal, it is still full of fruit. It was a tree that did its job right until the end.
My third post of the day. Ok. I hate change but this new system is ok.
The photo is published. I left blogger and then came back to make a second post. The photo was a continuation of an earlier blog below. It shows the greenhouse with the large Osmanthus fragans gone. This is also part of the test to see where this writing shows up. In a few days this new system will be mastered as much as I master anything.
Blogger is still fighting me. Will try again next week. Some great photos on hold.
After swithing my blog account yesterday, the thingy is not working today and will not let me upload any of the many incredible photos of my working vacation story. Maybe it will be better later today. Who knows. Do not worry my loyal reader I will keep trying.
This is a summary of things accomplished during Xmax New Years time off. First we decided to move a large 10 foot tall Osmanthus fragrans that was crowding and shading the research greenhouse. We had a nice place in the shade up near the road to help block out the incessant traffic. It was no small task but the the handy tractor is was fairly routine. See the photos below.
I had a pretty busy Xmas and New Years Holiday time off. Over the next few days I will post photos of various endeavors. Going to work was a welcome relief as my tired body couldn't take much more or the abuse I tend to subject it to. Dumb is right -- but it was fun and satisfying.
