Anna Apple Tree

Last year at Walmart, we picked up an Anna Apple tree. We can't remember how big it was back then - but now it's over 20' tall. Just last week, little pink buds were growing. From what we've read online - the tree can get up to 30' in height.

 It also seems that the apple tree needs a cold snap. not sure why.

Chill Requirement
Some fruit trees have a chilling requirement – a minimum number of hours, or “chill hours,” in temperatures of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, to produce blooms. Anna, bred in Israel, is considered the ideal apple tree for mild climates because it requires only 200 to 300 chill hours. Apple tree roots, however, require the soil temperature to remain above 15 degrees Fahrenheit. _sfgate

 So I guess it's a good thing for us here in Mililani that it's been quite cold, and that seems to have triggered something in the plant.

So in reading a little more, the question is if the Apple tree is 'self pollinating' or not. So we're breaking out the paintbrush and 'painting' the flowers ourselves. This has worked before, from bell peppers to cucumbers. 

Found that the Apple Tree is listed as: 

• Fertility: Self-sterile
• Meaning: Plants that cannot fertilize themselves are called self-sterile, a condition which mandates cross pollination for the production of offspring.

So far, only one area on the tree has the delicate flowers. We'll be looking for more flowers since it should flower in the Spring and the Fall

Weekend Project - Rain Gutter Planting

We picked up one rain gutter that was 10' long and cut it in half. Then attached those gutters to the chainlink fence each at an angle. When water is poured in and pools at the end, it drips down to the next level as we drilled 2 holes there. The idea is to recycle the water over and over so that we're not wasting the resource. 

Then inside the gutters, we've placed our jiffy pod seed starters. They will soak up the water as it flowes through. I'm not sure if these small pods will be big enough to grow big plants. If not - we do have an option to purchase the larger pods and try those out. 

Now we placed these glass stones inside as well. That is to slow the water and give the pods some time to soak up the water. Plus they look nice as well.

Hoping that this crazy system works and provides a nice pest free area to grow our herbs... And maybe strawberries? If so - we have placed bird netting over the top of the fence and it drapes down to the ground as you can see in some of the photos.

Ready to use the compost

Definition: Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming. At the simplest level, the process of composting simply requires making a heap of wetted organic matter known as green waste (leaves, food waste) and waiting for the materials to break down into humus after a period of weeks or months. Modern, methodical composting is a multi-step, closely monitored process with measured inputs of water, air, and carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials. Link: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compost

We picked up a few containers last year and have been recycling our waste, clippings and such into them. About once a month (or when I remember to) I turn the compost over. Giving it air and making sure it's not too dry. 

We throw egg shells, banana peels, brown leaves, grass, clippings of all sorts and recycle the potting soil when other plants have died off. Sometimes, when we're digging in the yard, we'll find worms. So those also go into the bins to help break down the organic matter. 

It's looking beautiful and when our seedlings popup, we can mix a little potting soil, dirt and compost together and give our plants a heathy start.

Makiki Flowers

Near the school in Makiki Park, there are these community gardens. One day passing on by, I noticed these beautiful flowers blooming from a spike growing out of the base of this plant. There were seed pods on the ground - so I picked one up and planted it when I got home.

Fast forwards a few months and we have flowers growing. But I wasn't sure of the name, until I showed a photo to Aunt Rose from Wahiawa. She immediately pegged it as a Hollyhock.

link: http://www.burpee.com/perennials/hollyhock/planting-hollyhock-flowers-article10290.html

Now which of the 60 different types do w have... I'm not sure... But for now I'll call it the Makiki Hollyhock until I can be 100% sure. Kinda like Papa Ray's papayas. 😉