September 20,2008

There definitely is a change in the weather, subtle as it may be. This morning while driving around the nursery in a golf cart, it wasn't as warm as usual, you could feel the coolness in the air.

We heard a hummingbird along the east end of the avocado grove although we couldn't spot  it.  Hummingbirds usually return to South Florida this time of the year and stay until late March.

Yesterday, and today, the butterfly garden was populated with Zebras, Monarchs and Polydamas butterflies. In the area of the hummingbird sound yesterday we saw several Atala butterflies (pictures on website)..  We have been trying to establish a colony of Atala butterflies over the last several months and I do believe we are having success. We introduced Atala caterpillars onto the Zamia pumila, coontie.  They pupated and are flying around. We counted at least ten.

Over the years in this same area we have had Malachite butterflies, but have not seen any for about two years.  We introduced the native weed, Blechum brownei, known as the green shrimp plant, their larval food. We also provided rotting avocado fruit which they like as well as water to drink. Hopefully they will return soon.

On the south fence we have a very large Aristolochia, dutchman's pipe, which is the host for the Polydamas butterfly. When they leave their cocoons, there are several hundred at a time.

This is a wonderful time of year here at the nursery, it is still warm enough for the plants and yet it is not as hot as it has been the past several months.

Jackfruit are still being harvested and we should have fruit for at least another month.

The vegetable farmers around us have already begun to put tomato plants into the ground. It is a good time to start your vegetable and herb gardens.

Remember if you need help with any garden or plant problem contact your local Agricultural extension office.   There is one in every county throughout the United States.

Hot humid summer weather is here. What a great time to put your new plants in the ground. When you are out and about and it is uncomfortable due to the heat and humidity, the plants love it.

The Jakfruit trees are laden with fruit and we will continue to harvest the fruit until mid October if it stays warm and humid. We continue to plant new gardens around the nursery.  

Juan, the nursery foreman, is doing a fantastic job. Steve our new Horticulturalist has been organizing this website in addition to uploading new photographs and filling in botanical names.  It is my hope to continue to include more detailed information for each of the photographs exhibited.

We are working fast and hard. I can’t think of any place I would rather be than here on the Farm. We grow approximately 600 different varieties of plants in the nursery, in addition to the grove.

In the grove we have Jakfruit, Mango, Carambola, Lychee, Longan, Jaboticaba, Star apple, Sapodilla, Guava and a few specialty trees. This is a rather quiet time in the Redlands. There is some farming of Malanga, Boniato and Yucca mainly.

Fields are being tilled in preparation for the fall planting; some plants may go in as early as September. Remember to cut your grass no shorter than 4”. That’s it for now.