http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679 While leaving our local box store last sunday, I watched an older couple load plants into their truck. The plants they were purchasing did not grow in this area!&nbsp; The gentleman asked the cashier what planting zone we were in and the cashier could not answer his questions.&nbsp;I felt compelled to approach the couple and give them a quick run down of which species of plants would survive.&nbsp; I decided to start this blog as a way to answer planting questions for all of the participants.&nbsp; We have a couple of very nice nurseries with knowledgable staff but I thought this would be a good forum.&nbsp; So, ask questions and I will answer to the best of my ability. While leaving our local box store last sunday, I watched an older couple load plants into their truck. The plants they were purchasing did not grow in this area!&nbsp; The gentleman asked the cashier what planting zone we were in and the cashier could not answer his questions.&nbsp;I felt compelled to approach the couple and give them a quick run down of which species of plants would survive.&nbsp; I decided to start this blog as a way to answer planting questions for all of the participants.&nbsp; We have a couple of very nice nurseries with knowledgable staff but I thought this would be a good forum.&nbsp; So, ask questions and I will answer to the best of my ability. en-us <p>I don't know much about flowers and such...I'm kind of a tree and bush gal.&nbsp;&nbsp; What I do know is that I lost over a couple hundred trees the year before last because I did not know what grows in Sand Canyon, nor did I know about the damage gophers, rabbits and deer do, plus,we have very bad soil here,&nbsp;&nbsp; What I have learned is that Juniper trees and bushes grow very well up here and the rabbits don't eat them.&nbsp; Eldorico (check spelling), Austrian pines, Taylor/Arizona cypress, and leylands do well here.&nbsp;&nbsp; The leylands need good soil though and plenty of water for the first 3 months.&nbsp; As for flowers, you can't loose with.BULBS.&nbsp;&nbsp;I don't plant them, but my neighbors have all kinds of bulbs growing in their yards..irises I think.&nbsp; If you have a fenced in yard or deer aren't a problem apple trees and walnut trees do well up here too.&nbsp;&nbsp; I'm sure you can plant more&nbsp;in Tehachapi than what I have mentioned, but these are the plants that I know do well here.&nbsp;&nbsp; True Value and Kmart seem to stock plants that actually grow here.&nbsp;&nbsp; I hope Home Depot learns from them.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259738 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259738 <p>I don't know much about flowers and such...I'm kind of a tree and bush gal.&nbsp;&nbsp; What I do know is that I lost over a couple hundred trees the year before last because I did not know what grows in Sand Canyon, nor did I know about the damage gophers, rabbits and deer do, plus,we have very bad soil here,&nbsp;&nbsp; What I have learned is that Juniper trees and bushes grow very well up here and the rabbits don't eat them.&nbsp; Eldorico (check spelling), Austrian pines, Taylor/Arizona cypress, and leylands do well here.&nbsp;&nbsp; The leylands need good soil though and plenty of water for the first 3 months.&nbsp; As for flowers, you can't loose with.BULBS.&nbsp;&nbsp;I don't plant them, but my neighbors have all kinds of bulbs growing in their yards..irises I think.&nbsp; If you have a fenced in yard or deer aren't a problem apple trees and walnut trees do well up here too.&nbsp;&nbsp; I'm sure you can plant more&nbsp;in Tehachapi than what I have mentioned, but these are the plants that I know do well here.&nbsp;&nbsp; True Value and Kmart seem to stock plants that actually grow here.&nbsp;&nbsp; I hope Home Depot learns from them.</p> <p><span style="font-size: small">I always thought Marigolds were the easiest&nbsp;flower to grow...wrong. For the life of me, I can't figure out why&nbsp;my marigolds&nbsp;start out great then start&nbsp;turning&nbsp;brown and crisping up with the buds/flower heads&nbsp;drooping. My geraniums are going gangbusters, so are my petunias. My lavendar is also starting to produce blooms. What&nbsp;am I&nbsp;doing wrong with the marigolds?</span>&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259930 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259930 <p><span style="font-size: small">I always thought Marigolds were the easiest&nbsp;flower to grow...wrong. For the life of me, I can't figure out why&nbsp;my marigolds&nbsp;start out great then start&nbsp;turning&nbsp;brown and crisping up with the buds/flower heads&nbsp;drooping. My geraniums are going gangbusters, so are my petunias. My lavendar is also starting to produce blooms. What&nbsp;am I&nbsp;doing wrong with the marigolds?</span>&nbsp;</p> <p>I am pretty new to tehachapi and would love to know what to plant and what not to plant! I am so glad you started this blog!! I'm looking forward to getting some good advice!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259938 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259938 <p>I am pretty new to tehachapi and would love to know what to plant and what not to plant! I am so glad you started this blog!! I'm looking forward to getting some good advice!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I wouldn't expect a cashier to know what zone we are in.&nbsp; Because they are a cashier, not a garden associate.&nbsp; Same way I wouldn't expect a receptionist to know if i had a broken arm at a Doctor's office. You should also realize that the local box store draws from Mohave, Keene, Caliente, and as well as California City.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I have received very good help and advice from the local box store associates, a couple of them garden themselves. What i really like is one of them lives up in the higher elevations of BVS and can tell me what grows up in my neck of the woods.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As far as plants that I have had really good luck with,&nbsp; Flowers: roses, lavender, fever few, columbine, snapdragons, penstamon, mallow, salvias, and dusty miller. My favorite flower i have is bleeding hearts.&nbsp; Herbs catnip, mint, oregano, cilantro,&nbsp; thyme, fennel, basil.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In my garden, I have peas, beans Zucchini, yellow crook neck, a&nbsp; couple types of tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, radishes, turnips, peas, spinach and lettuce.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259975 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259975 <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I wouldn't expect a cashier to know what zone we are in.&nbsp; Because they are a cashier, not a garden associate.&nbsp; Same way I wouldn't expect a receptionist to know if i had a broken arm at a Doctor's office. You should also realize that the local box store draws from Mohave, Keene, Caliente, and as well as California City.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I have received very good help and advice from the local box store associates, a couple of them garden themselves. What i really like is one of them lives up in the higher elevations of BVS and can tell me what grows up in my neck of the woods.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As far as plants that I have had really good luck with,&nbsp; Flowers: roses, lavender, fever few, columbine, snapdragons, penstamon, mallow, salvias, and dusty miller. My favorite flower i have is bleeding hearts.&nbsp; Herbs catnip, mint, oregano, cilantro,&nbsp; thyme, fennel, basil.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In my garden, I have peas, beans Zucchini, yellow crook neck, a&nbsp; couple types of tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, radishes, turnips, peas, spinach and lettuce.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cactusjungle.com/blog/uploads/misc/samuels_weeds.jpg" />&nbsp;</p> <p>These natural beauties seem to grow the best&nbsp;and require&nbsp;the least amount of effort!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Obviously, I need your help too plantman. Thanks for starting this blog. What a great idea.</p> <p>Soooo...where do I buy some good coyote urine...Is it expensive?&nbsp;Can I harvest it locally? I hear them crying every night. I think they're sad that my garden is deader than dead.&nbsp; Even the&nbsp;voles seem to have&nbsp;gone south for the summer...&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Seriously, my roses bloomed early with tons of&nbsp;big blooms and now they're just real bushy with no more buds. What should I do? They look&nbsp;&nbsp;healthy.&nbsp; No aphids, no mold. Do they need food? &nbsp;Thanks in advance for&nbsp;any&nbsp;advice you can offer.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259993 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_259993 <p><img alt="" src="http://cactusjungle.com/blog/uploads/misc/samuels_weeds.jpg" />&nbsp;</p> <p>These natural beauties seem to grow the best&nbsp;and require&nbsp;the least amount of effort!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Obviously, I need your help too plantman. Thanks for starting this blog. What a great idea.</p> <p>Soooo...where do I buy some good coyote urine...Is it expensive?&nbsp;Can I harvest it locally? I hear them crying every night. I think they're sad that my garden is deader than dead.&nbsp; Even the&nbsp;voles seem to have&nbsp;gone south for the summer...&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Seriously, my roses bloomed early with tons of&nbsp;big blooms and now they're just real bushy with no more buds. What should I do? They look&nbsp;&nbsp;healthy.&nbsp; No aphids, no mold. Do they need food? &nbsp;Thanks in advance for&nbsp;any&nbsp;advice you can offer.</p> <p>sushisoo, did you try cutting off all the buds? It helps them grow back all pretty again. And a little rose food doesn't hurt. :)</p> <br /> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260049 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260049 <p>sushisoo, did you try cutting off all the buds? It helps them grow back all pretty again. And a little rose food doesn't hurt. :)</p> <br /> <p><span style="font-size: small">Love those natural beauties...even though some&nbsp;bloggers on that other post consider them&nbsp;weeds, LOL!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">I give my roses used coffee grounds&nbsp;- caffeine junkies!</span></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260059 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260059 <p><span style="font-size: small">Love those natural beauties...even though some&nbsp;bloggers on that other post consider them&nbsp;weeds, LOL!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">I give my roses used coffee grounds&nbsp;- caffeine junkies!</span></p> <p>Thanks Mimi, I did deadhead them all, but nothing's come back. I think maybe I need to prune them a bit, but I thought I had heard somewhere&nbsp;it's not good to do it in the heat of summer. By the way, it's been great&nbsp;seeing you again! ;&nbsp; ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Joty, I'm going to try the coffee grounds. It'll even give the bees something new to buzz about!&nbsp;&nbsp;Thanks ladies!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260076 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260076 <p>Thanks Mimi, I did deadhead them all, but nothing's come back. I think maybe I need to prune them a bit, but I thought I had heard somewhere&nbsp;it's not good to do it in the heat of summer. By the way, it's been great&nbsp;seeing you again! ;&nbsp; ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Joty, I'm going to try the coffee grounds. It'll even give the bees something new to buzz about!&nbsp;&nbsp;Thanks ladies!</p> <p>I'm in town, and I can't kill my roses.&nbsp; We tried last year because we wanted to put in some hedges- cut them all the way down, and this year they're growing so fast that the branches are actually breaking off from being so tall.&nbsp; Now that they've practically regrown, they actually look decent and we are keeping them.&nbsp; Bought some ladybugs a few weeks ago to get rid of aphids, and that seems to be doing the trick, along with frequent pruning.&nbsp; I'm enjoying bringing the cut flowers into my house :)</p> <p>My lavendar is doing very well, same with the rosemary and waxleaf privets.&nbsp; I am desperately trying to keep my pink jasmine and marigolds alive.&nbsp; They wilt a lot when it's warm out unless I douse them with water.&nbsp; The dianthus looks great, but also gets wilty in the heat.&nbsp; I thought my periwinkles were done for from some kind of bug eating the leaves, but they're growing back wonderfully.</p> <p>It definitely feels like I am fighting a losing battle with foxtails.&nbsp; They're encroaching onto the grass, but I don't want to use any chemicals on them, so I end up pulling up my lawn along with the foxtails.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260137 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260137 <p>I'm in town, and I can't kill my roses.&nbsp; We tried last year because we wanted to put in some hedges- cut them all the way down, and this year they're growing so fast that the branches are actually breaking off from being so tall.&nbsp; Now that they've practically regrown, they actually look decent and we are keeping them.&nbsp; Bought some ladybugs a few weeks ago to get rid of aphids, and that seems to be doing the trick, along with frequent pruning.&nbsp; I'm enjoying bringing the cut flowers into my house :)</p> <p>My lavendar is doing very well, same with the rosemary and waxleaf privets.&nbsp; I am desperately trying to keep my pink jasmine and marigolds alive.&nbsp; They wilt a lot when it's warm out unless I douse them with water.&nbsp; The dianthus looks great, but also gets wilty in the heat.&nbsp; I thought my periwinkles were done for from some kind of bug eating the leaves, but they're growing back wonderfully.</p> <p>It definitely feels like I am fighting a losing battle with foxtails.&nbsp; They're encroaching onto the grass, but I don't want to use any chemicals on them, so I end up pulling up my lawn along with the foxtails.</p> <p><span style="font-size: small">What a great idea for a discussion. Thank you, PlantGuy!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">The Old Town Nursery website is a great resource. Click on the link below and enter via the watering can...&nbsp;go to the &quot;Tips&quot;&nbsp;tab (link)&nbsp;and click on the page images for&nbsp;PDFs of&nbsp;a veritable wealth of&nbsp;information for planting in the Tehachapi area. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><a href="http://www.oldtownenursery.com/"><span style="font-size: small">http://www.oldtownenursery.com/</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">There are a few broken links right now, but I just emailed Tim and Donna to let them know.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">Here are my favorites for gardening at home (as opposed to the swamp where I currently live :):</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: small">Lavender</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Yarrow (my favorite is yellow, but red is nice too)</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Sage</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Columbine</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Poppy</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Lupine</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Rosemary</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Hydrangea</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Lilac</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Echinacea</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Clematis</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Angel's Trumpet (poisonous)</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Gerbia Daisy</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Zinnia</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Peppermint</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Spearmint</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Garlic</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Baby Blue Eye</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Onion</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Liatris</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Salvia</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Yucca</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Daffodil</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Amaryllis</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Artichoke</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: small">Be sure to check out the &quot;Classes&quot; tab (or link) and check out what is coming up. Many of their offerings are free... I see a free Xeriscaping class being offered in July, which would be awesome for everyone in Tehachapi, but particularly for the folks who live up Sand Canyon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">Also, I would highly recommend a visit to the Mourning Cloak Ranch off of Old Town Road (near Dennison) for anyone who has never been. It looks like they've stopped maintaining their website, but here are a few links to pages of people who have visited, and an article:</span></p> <p><a href="http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/mourning.html"><span style="font-size: small">http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/mourning.html</span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.letsgoseeit.com/index/county/kern/tehachapi/loc02/ranch.htm"><span style="font-size: small">http://www.letsgoseeit.com/index/county/kern/tehachapi/loc02/ranch.htm</span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.americanprofile.com/heroes/article/1185.html"><span style="font-size: small">http://www.americanprofile.com/heroes/article/1185.html</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">While you're out that way, don't miss the Tangleweed Farm, also on Old Town Road, South/Southwest of Jeffrey Road. The farm is beautiful (my husband and I got married there... we did not&nbsp;purchase one single &quot;decoration&quot;. The natural beauty of the farm and surroundings was all the decoration we needed.). They sell produce (and flowers, I believe, and&nbsp;Laurie used to bake and sell pies from the fruits of her labor. Heh heh...). Here's the link to their website:</span></p> <p><a href="http://tangleweedfarm.com/"><span style="font-size: small">http://tangleweedfarm.com/</span></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260179 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_260179 <p><span style="font-size: small">What a great idea for a discussion. Thank you, PlantGuy!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">The Old Town Nursery website is a great resource. Click on the link below and enter via the watering can...&nbsp;go to the &quot;Tips&quot;&nbsp;tab (link)&nbsp;and click on the page images for&nbsp;PDFs of&nbsp;a veritable wealth of&nbsp;information for planting in the Tehachapi area. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><a href="http://www.oldtownenursery.com/"><span style="font-size: small">http://www.oldtownenursery.com/</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">There are a few broken links right now, but I just emailed Tim and Donna to let them know.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">Here are my favorites for gardening at home (as opposed to the swamp where I currently live :):</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: small">Lavender</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Yarrow (my favorite is yellow, but red is nice too)</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Sage</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Columbine</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Poppy</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Lupine</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Rosemary</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Hydrangea</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Lilac</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Echinacea</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Clematis</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Angel's Trumpet (poisonous)</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Gerbia Daisy</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Zinnia</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Peppermint</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Spearmint</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Garlic</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Baby Blue Eye</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Onion</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Liatris</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Salvia</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Yucca</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Daffodil</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Amaryllis</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small">Artichoke</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: small">Be sure to check out the &quot;Classes&quot; tab (or link) and check out what is coming up. Many of their offerings are free... I see a free Xeriscaping class being offered in July, which would be awesome for everyone in Tehachapi, but particularly for the folks who live up Sand Canyon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">Also, I would highly recommend a visit to the Mourning Cloak Ranch off of Old Town Road (near Dennison) for anyone who has never been. It looks like they've stopped maintaining their website, but here are a few links to pages of people who have visited, and an article:</span></p> <p><a href="http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/mourning.html"><span style="font-size: small">http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/mourning.html</span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.letsgoseeit.com/index/county/kern/tehachapi/loc02/ranch.htm"><span style="font-size: small">http://www.letsgoseeit.com/index/county/kern/tehachapi/loc02/ranch.htm</span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.americanprofile.com/heroes/article/1185.html"><span style="font-size: small">http://www.americanprofile.com/heroes/article/1185.html</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">While you're out that way, don't miss the Tangleweed Farm, also on Old Town Road, South/Southwest of Jeffrey Road. The farm is beautiful (my husband and I got married there... we did not&nbsp;purchase one single &quot;decoration&quot;. The natural beauty of the farm and surroundings was all the decoration we needed.). They sell produce (and flowers, I believe, and&nbsp;Laurie used to bake and sell pies from the fruits of her labor. Heh heh...). Here's the link to their website:</span></p> <p><a href="http://tangleweedfarm.com/"><span style="font-size: small">http://tangleweedfarm.com/</span></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: small">Hey Plant Guy - did we ask too many questions?</span>&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264204 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264204 <p><span style="font-size: small">Hey Plant Guy - did we ask too many questions?</span>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sorry I haven't responded sooner, I work in LA part of the week and have had several deadlines to meet.</p> <p>I knew this would be a stimulating subject and have been amazed at all of the interesting possibilities for ornamental planting as well as veggie and fruit plantings.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sparks, sounds like you have had some trial and error, watch the leyland cypress for twig borers as they mature, (6-7 years) In the 90's, many established plantings of leyland cypress fell victim to a blight, (borers and fungus).&nbsp; Your best defense is to keep them as healthy as possible through mulching and ample watering.&nbsp; Sounds like you already are!</p> <p>Susishoo, Plants that bloom use a tremendous amount of nutrients to produce blossoms, these nutrients need to be replaced continually during the season.&nbsp; Mulching works and will help with water retention, also, use Miracle Gro or a good granular fertilizer to keep the nutrient level high.</p> <p>It's time to get the pumpkin seeds going for October harvest.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264217 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264217 <p>Sorry I haven't responded sooner, I work in LA part of the week and have had several deadlines to meet.</p> <p>I knew this would be a stimulating subject and have been amazed at all of the interesting possibilities for ornamental planting as well as veggie and fruit plantings.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sparks, sounds like you have had some trial and error, watch the leyland cypress for twig borers as they mature, (6-7 years) In the 90's, many established plantings of leyland cypress fell victim to a blight, (borers and fungus).&nbsp; Your best defense is to keep them as healthy as possible through mulching and ample watering.&nbsp; Sounds like you already are!</p> <p>Susishoo, Plants that bloom use a tremendous amount of nutrients to produce blossoms, these nutrients need to be replaced continually during the season.&nbsp; Mulching works and will help with water retention, also, use Miracle Gro or a good granular fertilizer to keep the nutrient level high.</p> <p>It's time to get the pumpkin seeds going for October harvest.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We can grow pumpkins here?&nbsp; Can you eat pumpkins?&nbsp; I mean, is pumpkin pie made from the pumpkins you make into jack-o-lanterns?&nbsp; I'd love to bake a real home-made pumpkin pie!</p> <br /> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264338 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264338 <p>We can grow pumpkins here?&nbsp; Can you eat pumpkins?&nbsp; I mean, is pumpkin pie made from the pumpkins you make into jack-o-lanterns?&nbsp; I'd love to bake a real home-made pumpkin pie!</p> <br /> <p>Yep you can, madkow, but you need a really good way to puree the pumpkin. I tried using a mediocre food processor, but it didn't puree the baked pumpkin very well.</p> <p>[spam code: MAWEE]</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264340 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264340 <p>Yep you can, madkow, but you need a really good way to puree the pumpkin. I tried using a mediocre food processor, but it didn't puree the baked pumpkin very well.</p> <p>[spam code: MAWEE]</p> <p>lol,your'e awesom Madkow.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264343 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_264343 <p>lol,your'e awesom Madkow.</p> <p>Hi reffup, the bleeding hearts that you mentioned, is that the same as... Love lies bleeding&nbsp;?</p> <p>Hi,plantguy, I've noticed Home Depot has Agapanthus,also, my neighbors just put some in. Will they actually grow up here? How about a Bougainvillea? Probably not, huh?</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_281655 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_281655 <p>Hi reffup, the bleeding hearts that you mentioned, is that the same as... Love lies bleeding&nbsp;?</p> <p>Hi,plantguy, I've noticed Home Depot has Agapanthus,also, my neighbors just put some in. Will they actually grow up here? How about a Bougainvillea? Probably not, huh?</p> <p>PlantGuy-you might want to ask Madkow more questions about her roses.Chopping to the ground,lush,tall breakable growth, kinda sounds like suckers to me.</p> <p>Storilori-Agapanthus will grow in town for you.Bougainvillea would be nice to enjoy in a warm area until winter comes.Just enjoy it while it lasts,accept the inevitable,and toss it when winter sets in.</p> <p>Wow-code was BJFUK-no comment!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_281666 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_281666 <p>PlantGuy-you might want to ask Madkow more questions about her roses.Chopping to the ground,lush,tall breakable growth, kinda sounds like suckers to me.</p> <p>Storilori-Agapanthus will grow in town for you.Bougainvillea would be nice to enjoy in a warm area until winter comes.Just enjoy it while it lasts,accept the inevitable,and toss it when winter sets in.</p> <p>Wow-code was BJFUK-no comment!</p> <p>What are suckers, Ginger?</p> <p>I tried agapanthus, but it died too...  I watered it like crazy to get it established, but it dried up and died :(  I am very sad, I really liked them!</p> <p>My mom always grew bougainvillea indoors and it did really well.  I think that's what it was- the tall vine-sortof thing with pink leaf flowers?</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_281827 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_281827 <p>What are suckers, Ginger?</p> <p>I tried agapanthus, but it died too...  I watered it like crazy to get it established, but it dried up and died :(  I am very sad, I really liked them!</p> <p>My mom always grew bougainvillea indoors and it did really well.  I think that's what it was- the tall vine-sortof thing with pink leaf flowers?</p> <p>Agapanthus will grow in selected areas but require some shelter or protection from hard freeze, (they turn into mush after a freeze but will come back in the spring.)</p> <p>There are numerous microclimates around this area and one plant may do well in one yard and freeze 2 blocks over in another yard.&nbsp; There are several varieties of daylilies (Hemerocallis) which do well and are hardier than agapanthus.</p> <p>Bougainvillea do not generally prosper here and will show damage when the temeratures dip to the 40's.&nbsp; Bougainvillea is a great plant, very drought tolerant, but too much of a risk for winter damage in this area.</p> <p>Sucker growth in roses is fairly common on older plants, hybrid rose varieties are grafted onto root stock, the root stock is usually a vigorous growing plant which allows the grafted variety to flourish.&nbsp; Sucker growth usually comes out of the root stock and is very soft and fast growing.&nbsp; This should be pruned out if possible as the sucker growth taps moisture and nutrients from the grafted part of the plant.</p> <p>Time for my rant,</p> <p>Are some of the drivers in Tehachapi becoming more rude?</p> <p>I stopped at the crosswalk near Ace hardware on Saturday to let the lumber yard attendant cross and got honked at, 3 cars blew the crosswalk, the poor gal was afraid to step off of of the curb.&nbsp; Is this town in that big a hurry?&nbsp; Once she crossed I proceeded west and got passed on the right and cut-off by the honking guy.</p> <p>I have managed to move on from the pull the idiot out of the car stage of my life but it was tempting.</p> <p>Has anybody noticed more L.A type traffic habits lately?</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_282190 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_282190 <p>Agapanthus will grow in selected areas but require some shelter or protection from hard freeze, (they turn into mush after a freeze but will come back in the spring.)</p> <p>There are numerous microclimates around this area and one plant may do well in one yard and freeze 2 blocks over in another yard.&nbsp; There are several varieties of daylilies (Hemerocallis) which do well and are hardier than agapanthus.</p> <p>Bougainvillea do not generally prosper here and will show damage when the temeratures dip to the 40's.&nbsp; Bougainvillea is a great plant, very drought tolerant, but too much of a risk for winter damage in this area.</p> <p>Sucker growth in roses is fairly common on older plants, hybrid rose varieties are grafted onto root stock, the root stock is usually a vigorous growing plant which allows the grafted variety to flourish.&nbsp; Sucker growth usually comes out of the root stock and is very soft and fast growing.&nbsp; This should be pruned out if possible as the sucker growth taps moisture and nutrients from the grafted part of the plant.</p> <p>Time for my rant,</p> <p>Are some of the drivers in Tehachapi becoming more rude?</p> <p>I stopped at the crosswalk near Ace hardware on Saturday to let the lumber yard attendant cross and got honked at, 3 cars blew the crosswalk, the poor gal was afraid to step off of of the curb.&nbsp; Is this town in that big a hurry?&nbsp; Once she crossed I proceeded west and got passed on the right and cut-off by the honking guy.</p> <p>I have managed to move on from the pull the idiot out of the car stage of my life but it was tempting.</p> <p>Has anybody noticed more L.A type traffic habits lately?</p> <p>Madkow-if you want to try agapanthus again,and don't live in the higher elevations,try them in front of a warm sunny wall and and or in front of boulders to create a warm location for winter. You could even use a covering of small rocks or mexican pavers to mulch and warm them.As plantGuy says,you're microclimates can make the difference between life and death.Also,if you really like to water a lot,make sure you use a soil mix that allows for good drainage.I was worried about suckers because you refered to cutting your roses all the way down,and that might have killed what was above the graft union and encouraged the suckers to come up&nbsp;with their long vigorous canes.Suckers usually have only one color of flower.If your flowers are of different colors,you're safe.</p> <p>PlantGuy-YES!Every year it gets worse!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_286009 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_286009 <p>Madkow-if you want to try agapanthus again,and don't live in the higher elevations,try them in front of a warm sunny wall and and or in front of boulders to create a warm location for winter. You could even use a covering of small rocks or mexican pavers to mulch and warm them.As plantGuy says,you're microclimates can make the difference between life and death.Also,if you really like to water a lot,make sure you use a soil mix that allows for good drainage.I was worried about suckers because you refered to cutting your roses all the way down,and that might have killed what was above the graft union and encouraged the suckers to come up&nbsp;with their long vigorous canes.Suckers usually have only one color of flower.If your flowers are of different colors,you're safe.</p> <p>PlantGuy-YES!Every year it gets worse!</p> <p><img src="http://www.arahman.co.uk/wp-content/photos/bleeding_hearts.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Stori those are bleeding hearts,&nbsp;&nbsp; they like shade and water.&nbsp; </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_286022 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_286022 <p><img src="http://www.arahman.co.uk/wp-content/photos/bleeding_hearts.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Stori those are bleeding hearts,&nbsp;&nbsp; they like shade and water.&nbsp; </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks reffup,those are so beauriful, I love hearts, although, those aren't the same plant. Thanks.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_286195 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/PlantGuy/28679/#c_286195 <p>Thanks reffup,those are so beauriful, I love hearts, although, those aren't the same plant. Thanks.</p>