Phoenix Silvestris

Phoenix sylvestris 6 years old  15'

Phoenix sylvesrtis 4 years old, 10 '

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_sylvestris

Phoenix sylvestris seeds

Simple Greenhouse Construction

There are many designs by which to control the environment of those plants one might desire to grow. One of the most economical, commonly adopted by commercial growers and fabricated by  backyard hobbyist as myself "huh", is the cold frame or hoop house.

 The location of the structure should be convenient to importation of soil, supplies, the exportation of finished plants. At mid day, rays of the sun should permeate the entirety of the rows of containers, insuring  consistent growth of each plant. This usually requires a north south position.

 It would be ideal if the floor were concrete sloped to floor drains every 10 or 12 feet, but  this sub floor is 2 inches of gravel sloped to drains covered by a ground cover fabric. This floor is about 10 years old and still in good shape. Doors and sidewalks wide enough to accommodate a garden buggy work wonderfully to bring soil, supplies, and plants in and out.

  In a cold frame such as this without artificial heat, the most a gardener could hope to achieve on an average year in the southern U.S. would be one zone difference, and in a cold winter, probably half a zone. This house is in 9a but we have 8b temperatures in winter, therefore I hope to achieve 9b temperatures. The covered area of this house is 30' x 30' and on really cold nights I break out the crawfish burner and manage to keep things from freezing. Keeping the house above 50 degrees for the 3 months of winter here in Louisiana would cost entirely too much. I've a ceiling fan top center and run it when the house is closed to circulate air in and around each leaf of the plants.

Poly coverings can be purchased at local home centers as visqueen or online as overwintering or 3 year 6 mill covering. The end walls are more labor intensive and are sometimes finished with a more permanent polycarbonate material,  should one become a more serious gardener. In hot climates roll up sides are an advantage because of the sometimes intense heat reducing a greenhouse to an inhospitable place for man or plant. 

Shade cloth can be added allowing varying degrees of light penetration for shade loving plants. This shade cloth is a real comfort for the gardener that visits his plants in the heat of summer days, and also allows relief to the plant foliage from the harshness of the heat magnification of the greenhouse film. Tall plants in closer contact to the poly film may show heat stress quickly as the temperature quickly rises in the upper reaches. Good ventilation is mandatory in a greenhouse. 

Remember by closing the house to conserve heat, one is at the exact same time, creating an ideal environment for pests and disease,  which during the coldest weeks of winter are looking for such a warm cozy place, and often as big a problem as the cold. The worst nightmare of pests and disease is air movement, consistent air temperature, good drainage, low humidity near the floor of the greenhouse, and a gardener that looks at each plant thoroughly, including the undersides of leaves especially those that haven't been checked in two days. 

Spray bottles with an insecticidal soap and fungicide should be handy. Fans work well when it's cold and the house is closed up, but when the temperature allows, the house should be opened to allow the natural air currents to purge its air space. Remember that greenhouses are experimental representations, a very small vision, by the human intellect. While you ponder the day to day problems that arise in this tiny environment, keep in mind that it is unnatural, the world outside over rules and you must have a good understanding of it...

Imagine a world as you would have it in your greenhouse. Approach the idea with the humility of a young child, believe that love in its wholeness lives in what knowledge you might find. The far ranging beauty may be yours.

Holy of Holies

Early philosophers deduced that human suffering in the world was an inevitable product of ignorance, and that so long as men denied logic, did not respect the value of a continuing high education,  humanity was destined to suffer. They believed evil to be illogical and non scientific, therefore nonexistent.

It was concluded that authority was too often influenced by special interests, a government of the few by the few extracting the natural resources of the country without representing its people, and that in a future fair society, those governing should own nothing.

What man can know these things in a world changing so quickly? What will be true in my grandchildren's time?..  This will,

inside The Temple of your Heart... behind The Alter there is a veal_  behind which is the Inner Most Room/Most Holy Place_  guarded 24/7 by the Highest of Priests_ inside this room is a box_ within which is your ticket_ You'd e best know how it reads.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_of_Holies

Precious Stones

I've been holding these for you. They're getting heavy. I picked them up one at a time on a walk along a river, on a cold September day in the North Country. The first snows of the season dusted the Green and Red colored Mountains over night, and the morning broke with mysterious dark clouds, mist, and flurries. One of those days when a normally big and breathtaking environment,  becomes Grand.  I truly believed the whole of Beauty and Grandeur were mine, I felt like a kid in a candy store.

Inside the east entrance to Glacier National Park, just past the Apgar Visitor Center. on the south end of McDonald Lake there is a river. If the water isn't to high in the rocky gravel washes, one can stay to the right side of the river and walk for some distance with only cold feet. A group of 6 or 8 mule deer crossed the river very close to me, and as I worked my way through some brushy washes. Farther  up a rise, I saw a herd of elk,  including a big bull,  run across a meadow and into a grove of deciduous trees at the base of the Mountains.  I wondered if I had  walked into another world ...

I thought about you heavy, and figured I'd bring a piece of it back for you. It was in this place, I found these stones, each one  painstakingly chosen for you only, complete with Beauty and Color of the snow covered Mountains ingrained.

I've kept them in a grocery bag In a closet. Dehydrated for years, dull and lusterless, I soaked them in the kitchen sink, and everything came back just as it was, after a dusting of snow and the misting rain on the day I walked along the river in this beautiful place. In this simple time I knew they were special, but could not imagine so many would see them. My humble depiction of the both diverse and relative structure of physical beauty, the sublime, the mysterious design of calling _

and the way I feel about you.


http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Took it from Wolves

Cousin,

What pleases the eye sometimes deceives the heart. If only one knew the truth, of how men lust for material things, especially this one, he 'd want no part, but a demon. The likes of things to despise, be exactly many things appealing.

 I take things from wolves, but I am not a wolf.

November Pond

Within this vista, I am sure of it, there is a letter in the name of a sovereign imaginary mind, a good spirit that lives in dangerous places, a design inscribed into every particle of creation. It is sparkling clean, as free as free gets, and it's calling you.

Canna Orange Crush

Mitten Rocks, Navajo National Monument

A great power lives in men,
a burning fire and envision of far ranging beauty
for which to build the likeness of a ship to traverse__

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_Valley

Alocasia Calidora Persian Palm

Here in Louisiana zone 8b, Calidora usually freezes to the ground every winter, resulting in a slightly smaller stature than it would attain in its natural tropical climate.

Last winter was mild and my tropical plants are beautiful. This plant is in full sun. I believe the stems would lengthen and the leaves would broaden if it were in shade, resulting in a plant height of 10 to 12 foot. It is now 8 to 9 foot.

Spring after winter low of 25° for 8 hours froze them back to the insulated lower stump.

Heliconia Garden

My lifelong companion in the most beautiful garden I have ever seen. Imagine this world.

Paradise is in part perfectly tangible, fluent in its abilitys to appear at will to hearts who can see it in any realm, hand seeded by humble souls who would suffer its blessings at great sacrifice.  Inspired by the Spirit of all things good and beautiful, it is Holy_ Greater than the sum of all its parts.

Image of Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden near Hilo,  Hawaii ( Big Island )

http://www.htbg.com/

What do you See ?

... a gentle wind whispered,

 " So you want to know the truth do ya. What lives there, deep inside the hearts of men_  what good_ what evil... So I say to you then, from this moment on, you will be as two, one being your heart and the other your eyes. One only a witness to the deeds of the other. In this way will you know_ in one lifetime.

So you want to know in intricate detail, the design of Heaven and Earth, you don't say. What Form of Beauty_ what degree of random... So I say to you then, when you look at the world, you will be as two, one being your heart and the other your eyes. One only a witness to the action of the other... by these means, will you understand, across Seven Seas and One Hundred Mountain Ranges. "


Image of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park    Sierra Nevada  Mountains 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park

Louisiana Tropical Greenhouse

These are some of my 2013 new experimental plants along with a few older reliables. Some are absolutely new to the Universe,  imagine that darling,  thanks to people who believe,  and really do change the world, just for you and me.

Foreground waterlily Albert Greenburg, far left  Miami Rose,  Director Moore, far corner of pond  Trailblazer,  Bull's Eye,  Tanzanite, far right almost out of the picture  Ultra Violet.  The colors are fairly accurate except Trailblazer, which is a bit more yellow,  via smartphone.

These are tropical waterlilies, and will go dormant or expire at some point during the fall and winter when the water temperature falls below 60 degrees in zone 8b environment, however, the tubers will survive the cold better in a cold frame, or heated green house  where they can be forced.

  Most tubers do survive here which will provide you and all your friends with plant-lets identical to the parent...... If your already a gardener, and you really love plants, waterlilies are like fine wine my good friend, and will escort  you inside the colors, where you will experience impossible  beauty from within.  See link below.

In the far right there is a large dark leaved elephant ear. It is Colocasia Dragon Heart, at about 5 foot tall, it's only 3 months old from a 4 inch pot tissue culture.

The three dark stemmed bananas are Musa Thia Black . I'm thinking this banana is going to be the epitome of the phrase " fabulously elegant "...


.http://iwgs.org/