(1) Mulch. Since it was time to re-soil and give the plants new mulch and food, our major quandary of the weekend was deliberating over cocoa shell mulch versus redwood tree bark mulch (not color enhanced). The price of the former is twice as much as the price of the latter, and I was interested in “local” or native California species versus “foreign” species. I am thinking now that because the cocoa shells are the roasted by-product in the chocolate making process, then it’s more environmentally sound to use these over redwood tree mulch, given that we are unsure of for what purpose the redwood trees are being cut down. In the meantime, cocoa shell mulch smells so awesome (like cocoa butter, for those of you who don’t know).
(2) Compost. It’s time to start composting; at least for us it is. There’s an appeal to utilizing all of our vegetable and plant trimmings, fruit rinds and all, that is, actually doing something that is not dumping stuff in landfill. IF you really want to know about composting the EPA link is here. My aunt used to feed her vegetable and fruit scraps to the cows, but um, we don’t have any cows.
(3) New plants planted: husky cherry tomatoes, and jalapeño pepper plants.
(4) Existing plants progress report (outdoor): very fragrant pink jasmines are blooming like a crazy person, and we need to find a larger trellis for it. Dwarf lime tree has new buds, and a resident ladybug eating as many aphids as her heart desires. Mexican lobelia is trying to hang in there; it might still be pissed off about the recent violent rains that waterlogged its pot. White leaf manzanita is also budding. White sage progress is TBD, but one of the plants is showing new growth and the other is trying hard. In the meantime, white sage and French lavender have been attracting some butterflies, including yesterday’s enormous yellow monarch. The various succulents are getting tougher and thicker.
Good Vernal Equinox stuff.
