My balcony jungle in the rain

@TheHorse (218890)
Walnut Creek, California
May 7, 2016 12:46pm CST
It's raining softly as I write, on this quiet Saturday morning. There's still talk of drought here in Northern California, but it can't be denied that we've had a decent Winter and Spring, as far as rain goes. As for ourvarious gardens, the corn looks good in Berkeley, where I taught preschool yesterday. The ground squirrels have not yet destroyed everything at our garden in Concord, though they've decapitated a couple of sunflowers. And things are doing well on my balcony. I'll attach a picture of the "jungle" that I have growing in my largest planter. It's actually a mixture of some succulents, some corn, and some green beans. How's the weather in your neck of the woods today?
26 people like this
30 responses
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
7 May 16
Jungle?I saw Tarzan flying through your jungle
3 people like this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
A little tiny Tarzan?
1 person likes this
@Teep11 (7673)
• United States
7 May 16
Sunflowers are so vibrant but there's nsunflowers around here. A nice balcony with plants and veggies would be nice. I'm sure you get to enjoy looking at the growth.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
Here's my lone balcony sunflower as of a few days ago. i enjoy watching things get a bit bigger each day.
@allknowing (136481)
• India
8 May 16
We have a biggish garden and watering is done in a programmed way. It is divided and each section is watered twice a week. The heat here is so intense that they look starved of water but are alive. I cannot help to improve the situation and hope it will start raining in a month. You jungle will prove the saying 'survival of the fittest' - watch out.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136481)
• India
9 May 16
@TheHorse as I said I have a pretty big garden. This image shows you some plants in pots. I took this picture last week
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 16
I'm curious to see what happens. The corn and green beans are complementary. Not sure about the other stuff. Twice a week sounds low, but if it works...Do you have pictures?
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 May 16
@allknowing Are some of them veggies? It looks like they're doing well.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471547)
• Switzerland
8 May 16
As soon as your veggies start to grow you will have to move them in a bigger container. They look great.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471547)
• Switzerland
9 May 16
@TheHorse The snow peas do not need a big vase or vast area, the corn needs a deep container when it starts to grow high.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 May 16
@LadyDuck Yes, the snow peas have surprised me. The corn on my balcony will be decorative. I'm wondering how the green beans will fare.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 16
Yeah, I'm worried about that. The snow peas did OK in their small container.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
8 May 16
Your plants look very healthy. It's been lovely and warm in England today - I've been planting up my baskets. I'll bring them inside at night for about a week, hopefully it won't be too cold by then.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
8 May 16
@TheHorse I'm planting begonias, geraniums, lobelia, fuschias, pansies - well, you did ask!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 16
Nice! What are you planting? It looks like rain here, but I'm not sure if any is really coming.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
7 May 16
Your plants look lush! This is our last day of rain and the sun will come out tomorrow and last for a while! Yay!!!!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 16
Glad you'll get some sun. Will you head outside?
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 16
@DianneN Should Be fun! It's a grey and dreary day here so far. If it's going to be dreary, I wish it would rain.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
8 May 16
@TheHorse The sun finally showed its pretty face. I'm outside, rain or shine, with Doodles, the cat. Taking the sports car, top down, tonight!!!!!
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100296)
• India
7 May 16
We had hail storm..some water replenishment from nature I suppose..lol
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100296)
• India
7 May 16
@TheHorse ..No ..very small. :)
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
I hope the hail stones were not big enough to be damaging.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
8 May 16
Well you seem to have a pretty green thumb and maybe even and index finger or pinkie!!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 16
I used to think I had a black thumb. But I've gotten more confident with age and perseverance.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
9 May 16
Since your question was ask yesterday, I will tell you a bit about yesterday's weather. It was beautiful here. Temperatures were in the mid 70's with a light breeze blowing. There were a few clouds scudding past in the sky with a few low thunderheads hanging around for most of the day. Your "jungle" looks good right now, pony. But what are you planning on doing in another two weeks when your veggie plants are going to crowd out the rest of your plants?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
9 May 16
@TheHorse I think you are going to have a very crowded pot! LOL! Here is a link I think you might like... It talks about different kid friendly plants you can grow in pots.
When I asked you all for your best tips for gardening kids, several people mentioned that their kids were really excited about growing edible plants. GardenerGirl mentioned that her kids particularly like planting seeds where they recognize what the seeds
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 May 16
I'm just going to let everything grow and see what happens. My hunch is that the green beans will actually prosper, while the corn will be "ornamental," but won't get big enough to bear fruit.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 May 16
65 F with some clouds moving around, but otherwise lots of sunshine. It will be even sunnier in the next few days. Looks like our pattern of rain followed by two to three weeks of sunshine is holding. Not bad. The plants love it. Glad that you have had lots more rain and the Sierras are full of snow. El Nino may not have done what was expected, but it has been a vast improvement all up and down the state.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 16
Certainly a vast improvement over the past three years or so.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 May 16
@TheHorse Yes. And we didn't get the massive destruction that was predicted. That's especially wonderful for those who live near burn areas.
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
28 Aug 16
I know this is an old post, but I like looking at your mini jungle in the rain. The monsoons are tapering off here and I love the smell of the rain as it comes. Such an awesome smell.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Aug 16
Did you actually get some decent rain there? My jungle succulents are doing well, and the green beans gave me a mini-harvest as well. But I can't remember the last time it rained here.
1 person likes this
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
28 Aug 16
@TheHorse Every summer we have a Monsoon season that lasts from early July to mid to late August, early September. That means at least a couple rainstorms a week, lots of thunder and lightning, and a fair amount of humidity. Sometimes flash floods.
@NJChicaa (119632)
• United States
7 May 16
It is gray but so far no rain here. I really miss the sunshine, though. It has rained here all week.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
Where in the US are you?
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
@NJChicaa I'll call my Auntie in NY today. She's probably been experiencing similar weather.
@NJChicaa (119632)
• United States
7 May 16
@TheHorse New Jersey
1 person likes this
• United States
7 May 16
Sunshine and cool temps! No humidity! A perfect day! Your plants looks great!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
No humidity? In Florida? How is that possible?
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 16
@Jeanniemaries Ah, good information. I hadn't realized that Winters in Fla were low humidity.
• United States
8 May 16
@TheHorse Definitely possible! Most of the winter is is very low humidity. Not usually this late in May though.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
7 May 16
It was raining this morning down here in SoCal. A big tall corn stalk is going to grow out that thing?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
@JohnRoberts The sunflowers, yes. The corn probably won't get that tall.
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
A couple of them. I don't like corn to be lonely.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
7 May 16
@TheHorse Won't you have to tie it to a stick to keep it upright?
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27167)
• Australia
7 May 16
It's also raining down here... And it feels more and more like winter is just around the corner... brrr... Beautiful rain forest you have there!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
Ah, thank you. I think the corn will poke through the green beans soon. Sometimes I forget that you are preparing for Winter there, as we prepare for Summer.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
7 May 16
Glad that you are happy so far. Yesterday was a gorgeous day but today is gloomy and not warm enough.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
The rain has stopped for now. I just wrote a progress note and have one more to do. May take a short hike with a friend later if it's not too muddy.
@amnabas (14146)
• Karachi, Pakistan
7 May 16
It was hot in the afternoon but it's breezy calm night now.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
Sounds like a good moment for a little stroll.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 May 16
I like the mix, it looks wild and weedy, hehehe
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
Weedy? Nooooo!
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13028)
• Ireland
7 May 16
@thehorse Soft rain falling here too, soft as a lullaby, giving me good reason not to go out and cut the grass.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
Soft as a lullaby. I like that. Sounds alike a good day for inside stuff. So far, I've written one progress note, fixed a noisy control on my preamplifier (stereo stuff), and spoken to a friend on the phone about maybe doing something later.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
7 May 16
It's been raining off and on here.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218890)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 16
Same here. It looks like the pavement is starting to dry now. But the soil is still wet.
1 person likes this