Subtropical Garden in Carmel Valley

Wax jambu revisited I have written on Wax jambu in 2006 (see previous blog) .  However, ten years have passed and I feel there is a need for an update as I have learned a lot more about the tree. First at all, flowering of the Wax Jambu is totally unpredictable.  It flower sas early  in May in some years and as late in September in some years.  Last year, it actually bloomed twice (once in early May and again in late August) and produced two flushes of fruit.  I though the second crop must have less fruit or small size of the fruit.  It turned out that  the second crop is just as good as the first crop for both the number  and size of the fruit (see graph 1).  The only problem for the second crop is that some of fruit matured during a cold snap and the fruit tended to crack which attracted ants and fungus. Graph 1.Wax Jambu trees with lots of fruit. Secondly, Wax jambu is one of the most productive fruit trees.  It does not mind the clay soil and high mineral content of

Clivia miniate Clivia originates from South Africa and like many Soutth African plants adapts quite happily in Southern California.  They are evergreen plants with strap-like leaves.  They like shade and are quite drought tolerant.  The plants in my garden have grown for more more than 10 years.  They form plantlets around the base which can be divided in a year or two and will bloom in 1 or 2 years.  Left on its own, a large clump will appear.  In these years, I have not observed any pests or disease.  They are not frost tolerant, but can be easily grown indoors and will flower with bright light. Clivia flowers in late March or early April with multiple clusters of orange, red or yellow flowers which are very attractive in the shade.  There are not many plants flowering as brightly in the shade.  After the flowers, green berries are produced and in about a year turn red (from orange-flower plants) and yellow (from yellow-flower plants) which add to the colorful display.  Seve

March 11, 2017 Fruit from Loquat trees ( Eriobotrya japonica) are  starting to change color from green to yellow and orange now indicating the immediate ripening of the fruit..  I picked a few that look ripe (based deep orange color).  Most are still acidic and not sweet yet.  I guess I am too anxious and should wait a few more days.  But loquat is one of my favorite fruit and it is hard to wait for the chance to savor the delicious flavor.  Every year, I anxiously wait for the loquat season and gorge on the precious fruit. Loquats are evergreen tree that generally flower in December here in San Diego and the  fruit ripens in March/April.  They are quite productive with hundreds fruit in clusters of 4-20 fruit.  The fruit is very sweet when ripe with a little bit acidic taste and a distinctive loquat flavor.  I usually cut the fruit in 2 halves, peel the skin off, get rid of the large hard seeds (1 to 3 in the center) and enjoy the sweet and succulent flesh.  The fruit ripen gradua

July 10. 2012 morning fog followed by sunlight Michelia alba, Yulan Michelia alba is one of most fragrant flowers.  The flower is ivory in color.  My M. alba tree is finally growing this year after in the ground for 5 years.  It has put forth lots of new branches and leaves. It has started flowering in early June and we are picking around 10 flowers each day in July.  I bunched 4-6 flowers in a small cup with a few drops of water and they perfume the whole room, especially in late afternoon when it is warm.  The flowers usually last 2 to 3 days in the cup. According to Wikipedia, M alba is a hybrid not found in the wild and cultivated for ornamental use. It is a hybrid of Magnolia champaca and Magnolia montana .  It is a subtropical plant and does not like cold weather at all.  It is really popular in Southeastern China and Taiwan when they grow well.  It was a common sight to see girls selling M. alba flowers as a pendant of 3 to 5 flowers in a basket along roadside whe