Vetch, that is not a rosemary bush but a Japanese Yew. About 9 years old. A lady asked me some time ago saying that see has never seen a rosemary plant that big.

Funny Bob, but they can grow that big. I know I have seen some pictures and youtube videos of people chopping them back. I think this was one of the videos where I first saw how large they can get and how to prune something like that -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTv8Gb8WvH4

Jenny, learn something new, thanks.Neighbors always think it is a rosemary when they stop by.

Ha! I bet if they take a whiff of that they will discover that a yew smells nothing like a rosemary. lol

Bob I just hope no one swiped a few sprigs of the yew bush for cooking thinking it was rosemary lol

For you all loving plumerias, I found some old photos of the plumeria I loved seeing in Taiwan. I have some more photos on my external harddrive but I’ll need to dig through it another time to find more photos. The pics below were found in my phone

^The white/yellow plumeria I talked about. Photo taken in 2016

^Photo taken in 2014, I completely forgot that I saw this one first! I didn’t see one with the same coloring during my 2016 trip so I must’ve forgotten about it with time. This pink edged white/yellow one was definitely the one that started making me notice plumerias.

I think I’m gonna have plumerias hopping into my cart the next time I shop ebay.

Kvetch, stay away from E-bay.lol You'll be broke very fast!!

I too love to keep happy. I tried them for years to no avail. Now if those are the only plants I owned, then I would probably do well since they would be the only plants I spray for mites and I would keep them growing all winter. But I was never good at keeping them warm enough not to desiccate and and too cool to rot. if I wanted to hold them in dormant stage in my basement. I love them too.

Sunshine, thank you!

Jenny, good growing as always. Wow.

Mike, I haven’t done research on how to care and grow them yet so I won’t be tempted just yet. But I know what you mean about going broke on ebay lol. There are tons of fig cuttings being listed now that it’s getting cold and they’re hard to pass up!

kvetch - don't go here - https://www.junglejacksplumeria.com/

or here - https://www.floridacolorsplumeria.com/

LOL

Could not pass-up this combo, they don't look like flowers but they look alright to me.

When fishing an hour ago, got more.Have a fish fry soon.

Had to stop ,pull one up every 2 minutes, there are 10 in there. What is so beautiful when you can see the fishbeds that I made in such clear water and the fish swimming all around. Nothing like it. Just like a under water garden.

Laura, a couple of years ago, two women happen to stop by to look at my fruit trees, guess what they came back yesterday with their parents, that were visiting. They all took the tour, eat some mandarins and persimmons. She expresses interest in that kumquat that I want to get rid of and also a couple of small fig trees and two mandarin trees. She told me that she be back with a truck.

Bob, where is the fish in what lake? So nice . You must of loved it@!

I live on Beaverlake, AR. Mike, living there is the berries. Surrounding area is called Little Switzerland. Save money and see me, don’t need to go to Costarica.

went to my doctor this morning, got a excellent report. Next visit May. Anyway he is coming over this Saturday to fish. He fished here before. He usely comes over by boat.

Bob, that's amazing. I actually googled that area and you are right, so nice there. I have not gone fishing since I was a kid. I miss that. When I saw those fish you caught was taken back. Such a pleasure to go do that and it's doable for me to visit. I would love too. You can take me some day))

What a great relationship to have with your Doctor. That is just cool. Can't say I blame him for wanting to spend time with a good man and time there. Funny, I just went to mine today. Lot's of blood work and a clean bill of health, thank God..0)

The fish bed sounds beautiful! You made it yourself? Hope to see photos of it some time! Your area sounds amazing too and to think it’s hidden in the state of Arkansas.

So crazy those two ladies never stopped thinking about your fruit trees bob. I hope she enjoys the kumquats and shares the citrus growing bug with her family and friends :D

Somebody ask me about the rose i am growing.

Bob, that for sure is a very pretty rose! I love the large size blossoms it has too. How long have you had this rose? Will it be going in the ground? Anything else interesting you have to tell about it?

Also, the fresh fish look amazing! Nothing better than that. That's so neat that your doctor arrives via pontoon. I haven't fished since I was a kid, just remember trying to hold a small fish in my hands and how shocked I was when it jumped back into the water. Then I got into crabbing to pass the time at the dock.

-Nancy

• Some time ago i posted an article about figs and how i grow them and also how i take care of them in the winter. Picture shows tree,s on the small trailer ready to go in the garage for the winter, it also shows how the dolly is at the same height, so sliding from one to another is a piece of cake. You also see the 2 inches or so of mulch line for the roots to enter in the soil. The tree depend more from those roots in the soil than watering the usual way.

Took of all the leaves, so i can bring them in the garage, don't like messy floors. Nine more to go.

That rose is a strong grower and stays in bloom even today and for the next 10 days.It is the pride of all the plants we have. I might put the plant in the yard, maybe. The flowers smell so good, hot strong coffee in the morning!! Bought it this past spring. It looks so good on the deck. That pontoon is ours, we usely have the grand kids and what not for the summer. I don’t fish during the summer months, water is too warm.

Our doctor has a fancier rig.

Beautiful rose on the photo. It must look spectacular up close! And you say it has a hot strong coffee smell in the morning? Lol a coffee smelling rose would be fun.

Thanks for showing us your figs and the dolly! I’ll make it a note to mulch my future fig trees at least 2 inches during the summer. I hear they can drain those pots dry daily

My doctor show-up with the County Commissioner and went fishing, they came by bassboat and fish of the dock, they then continue fishing after they took a grand tour through my place and were amazed with what they saw. They took a bag full of fruit, manderins, asian persimmon, Jabo's, lemons, tomato's and a container with Lemongrass.Got this thing in the boat.

This doctor does't drink alcohol but mix lemongrass, ginger and a couple other things, that's what he drinks when he goes to the islands on vacation.

The commissioner told me when they left, that if i have a run-in with the law to see me and we will trade for some more manderins. Killer morning, then mail came and brought me more tree's and plants today.

Good to have the law on your side Bob ;)

The doctor is more important,it’s just funny to see them as normal everyday people.

What a blast, a new friend and new plants!

Can you tell, winter is coming?

The red leave tree's are Dogwoods and the yellow ones are asian persimmons. Goes all the to the waterline.

Wow! Stunning autumn landscape picture! You are so blessed to be surrounded in nature by such beauty! ♡ I got a kick out of your friends in their bass boat with that large pot of lemon grass in the tail end of the boat. You are a generous friend, Bob. :)

Bob, what new plants and trees did you get in the mail to add to your collection, if you don't mind me asking? I have one last citrus tree coming next week and that is pushing it for my zone this year and it will be the last order until spring 2019. Lol

My wife bought 4 flowering plants, perennials and i got 3 Pandan plants and a Avocado.

Since i spend several years in the Far-East, there they use Pandan in their cooking and i thought i try it myself, will see. I want to be a culinary expert, i think i can do it in 3 weeks, maybe 4.

I should get a rise out of Laura.

I only have 3 seasons, so i still have a little summer. My persimmons are now next to show their stuff. My wife and friends are usely waiting for this time.

Those persimmons look yummy, Bob!

Agree with sunshine! The persimmons look yummy, Bob.

Bob You are the persimmon king

That is a great honor coming from you, Steve. Did not expect that.

Looks like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree Bob! Ha. I love the balls dangling from it, very decorative and yet I bet delicious!!

Bob- Ohh how neat! Are they Fuyu and Hachiya? I just had a Fuyu the other day, was happy to see them at the local grocery store (at $2 each) it sure was a special treat! I was youtubing persimmons before cutting into it to be sure it was ready to eat, and watched a video about how they let the astringent persimmons get hit by the first frost so they will be sweeter. How do you and your friends enjoy them? Just eat as is or any favorite recipes/dishes? I imagine the fruit would be good as a jam, or even in a salad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo4zr8pnj_w

Bob - seeing your tree, I need to research more about persimmons asap lol. They look so healthy hanging on your tree. Are they one of those fruits less affected by disease and bugs? They look as pretty as the ones found at the grocery

Nanzjade - I usually like to cut them in half and eat it with a spoon :) the skin is pretty tough so it makes the scooping very easy if the persimmon is super soft

When you grow your own persimmon it's not any different than citrus. For me persimmons are much, much easier to grow and therefor more rewarding. I don't grow the stuff that you find in the store. I use to grow 14 different varieties, now only 4 or 5, you only grow the best, just like citrus. I might have 30 or so tree's, don't count them anymore. If you ever need sionwood give a shout. Got a Spanish one that you might be interested in. I only pick tree ripened fruits. Store bought persimmon are disgusting.

This is what a ripe persimmon looks like.

Nanzjade, I think it's called kiwano melon.

Bob, thanks for the offer, that is very kind of you! I'll keep that in mind for the Spring. Only problem is I don't know how to graft and clueless about the root stock needed. I may be better off buying ready to plant young trees, do you have names for your favorites? I really love persimmons, the best tasting one I had a few years ago brought home from Logee's greenhouses, just looked on their website for it and their Fuyu is for zone 8+, darn it!

Do you have any insight on Persimmon ‘Nikita’s Gift’™ (Diospyros virginiana x kaki)?? It says its self fertile, so I'd only need one tree instead of two and okay for zone 5.

https://www.logees.com/persimmon-nikita-s-gift-tm-diospyros-virginiana-x-kaki.html

---

Thanks, Sunshine! Right on! Looks like a very seedy plant, well... figured might as well try it once. I think it needs to ripen a couple days before its ready to eat.

If you live in z5 or z6 I would not even try oriental persimmons, I would go with Russian or native Americans. The native ones have come a long way, There are some really good ones but most are a little smaller and have seeds. The problem with hybrid native ones they tend to grow big if left alone. People with good size greenhouses different story.

Nikita and Rossianka are seedless that would be OK.

Edible LANDSCAPING in Virginia has a decent selection. Mike is a decent guy, bought stuff from him many many years ago.

I have a wild American persimmon about 8 feet tall. Do not eat before ripe. Really ripe.

Steve

I can change that Steve. I got that magic wand. This is what your new tree should look like.

It is a non-astringent kind , you eat it like an apple, no pucker power. Tree might be 4 years old, this is the 3th year it produces.

Bob Is that tree from seed. It looks great.

Steve you should know by now that I don’t use any seedling other than using it for rootstock after it has grown for one or two years, depending how you grow your rootstock. If you push your rootstock you can graft it the following spring. My Age has a lot to do, i am shooting for really short term gratification.

Bob I should have known. Because I do every thing (Kumqats) from seed I forget that others get grafted (not kumquats) citrus trees so they produce sooner..

Steve

I’ve only had oriental persimmons, I didn’t know there are Spanish cultivars! It’s so great to have a resident persimmon expert and enthusiast on the forum bob! Not many people know about persimmons (non-gardeners and younger generations). Back in undergrad I brought some persimmons back with me from home and showed it to my suitemates. They thought it looked like a tomato and said it tasted like a sweet potato. They were hella perplexed by its existence :’D ah it was great

I got carried away with fig fever this season so I’ll need to grow them out before culling and making space for future persimmons. Thank you bob, you are so generous with us here. I want to do the same and share with others whenever I can once I’ve grown out my fruits and plants

Workshop filled to the brim with stuff, garage filled to the brim with stuff. First thing next year find a source to dump some tree's big time. Top picture is a month old, there are more tree's added since, much more.

I think the majority of us are more than happy to be your landfill :)

Bob, thanks for the insight on the persimmons, I made a note of it. Your persimmons tree is so beautiful! Wow-wee look at all those trees.... amazing!

Had to work my tush of today, hard freeze coming, had to pick the remaining fruits, 7 6gl containers. All done.

Nature at work,