The Haversian Canal

This is a documentation post:

New Orleans is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, which means its mean annual low temperature was between -1 and -7 °C between July 1986 and March 2002.

In the front yard we planted three Centennial Spirit crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica). According to the tag on the tree, they require full sun, and should be spaced 10 feet apart. They bloom from summer to fall, prefer semi-moist soil and have a medium growth rate. Their average size is 15 feet tall by 12 feet wide. They can tolerate cold down to -23 °C. Damaged limbs should be pruned and fertilizer is best applied, if at all, in the spring and summer. Each of the three 5 gallon plants cost $10. According to the grower's tag (different from the retailer's tag), indicates these plants have a low pollen count. How something that is literally covered in flowers can have a low pollen count, I don't know. The grower was apparently associated with the Texas Department of Agriculture's Go Texan program

In the back we planted two species, a Little Gem magnolia and a Crimson Queen Japanese Maple. The magnolia (magnolia grandiflora) is best in semi-shade, which I guess means shade from a semi? Spacing is 10 feet, it blooms in spring and summer, and prefers semi-moist soil. It has a medium growth rate and it's average size is 20 feet high by 10 feet wide. It can tolerate temperatures down to -18 °C. Little pruning is required and, if fertilizer is used, it is best applied in the spring and summer.

And here's where we come to the one I was concerned about, the Crimson Queen Japanese Maple. My wife and I both like Japanese maples. They're beautiful trees. However, prior to this I've only seen them in Kansas, Maryland, and San Diego. All were mature trees under a canopy of much taller trees. According to Dave's Garden, they are only rated to go down to Hardiness Zone 8b (low temperature: -9 °C) . They also prefer acidic soil and sun to light shade. So, the big question is, do the hardiness zones provide any useful information about planting in the tropics? Surely we don't need to worry about the plant freezing, but could it get to hot? I still don't have the answer to that, but Dave's Garden contributors to provide one point for me: I've probably been overwatering the thing.

We got three Encore azalea shrubs, one gallon pots, in March. One died. Haven't seen blooms yet on the other two. The ones we still have are an Autumn Princess (Azalea x "Roblea') and an Autumn Angel (Azalea x 'Robleg'). The Autumn Princess averages 3.5'x3' and has salmon pink double blooms. It should be in light shade to full sun and well-drained. According to the tag it attracts butterflies. I wonder if that means caterpillers eat it. The Autumn Angel averages 4.5' in height by 4' wide, and has single, white blooms. The Azalea Society of America has more on these southern flowers.

Today we planted a pineapple, and, in pots, we planted
- an ice plant (Lampranthus) in a sort of large terra cotta ginger jar with pockets, with purslane in the pockets
- a desert rose (Adenium obesum) in a large, maybe 15 gallon pot
- two Miltonidium Pacific Sunrise orchids. Interestingly, we thought we were buying one and it turned out to be one that was force bloomed and the other had no blooms, and is probably much more likely to thrive. We'll see. Apparently this registered hybrid's name was changed to Oncidium Pacific Sunrise by the registrar. According to beautifulorchids.com they should be allowed to become moderately dry between waterings and prefer a relatively cool climate, 85° being the highest temperature. Guess we'll be keeping these in the shade. They prefer medium to fine fir bark for potting.

This weekend Brooke planted caladium and pentas lanceolata in the front garden.

Got a Venus's flytrap today. It's sitting in its little pot on the porch right now; I'll plant it in a shady spot tomorrow. It's remarkably small. Turns out there are 595 carnivorous plant species!

Update: it died the next day. Too cold last night, I think.

In front:
Geranio geraniums (Pelargonium hortorum)
Society garlic (Tulbaghia violeca)
Mondo grass (Ophiopgon japonicus 'Nana')
Pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)
Red bell peppers
Green bell peppers
Cherry tomatos
Pink Ruffles Azalea
An unidentified fern x5
Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Kumasaka')
Dazzler Pink Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
Kimberley Queen Fern (Nephrolepis Obliterata 'Kimberley Queen')

In the back:
Lipstick Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Lipstick')
Sweet basil
Cilantro