BELL PEPPER SEED SPROUTS GO OUT

The Bell pepper seeds started on April 19th have sprouted in the yogurt cups. Because the table that the seed cups are kept on is in the shade of a screened enclosure I needed to get these guys in the sun. Past experience has shown me that they will quickly become leggy if left without proper sunlight after they have sprouted.

I took three sprouted Bell peppers and put them directly in the garden. They are tiny sprouts and have not yet formed their true leaves. This goes against Usual advice of letting the plants mature some then hardening them off with sun exposure before planting them out.

The planting blocks should provide wind protection for the sprouts and the cages over the blocks will keep them from being trampled by my dogs and the birds. I set them about 2 inches below the lip of the block so it will have a lip for when I water. Some of my recycled mango tree stump bark added as a mulch around the sprout to slow down the soil drying from the wind here.

Bell peppers are said to love the heat so they are in luck as the South Florida Summer is approaching Quickly.

The absolute best part is that I just went to Wal-Mart for birdseed and saw the 6 inch potted peppers selling for $3.50 a Plant. My three seeds saved me $10.50 plus tax. Needless to say I left with a satisfied smile on my face. ...sanddune...

ONE MORE HANGING BASKET

The production of the cages for the planter blocks is coming along steadily. Eight of the cages are now finished and only one more to go. Twisting and cutting the wire to form the cages is hazardous work with wire stabs and sore fingers but the end result is worth it to me.

Due to rainy weather today I was able to stay dry under my awning on the back porch and work twisting together another of the cages. With the scrap fence wire cut making the cage another hanging basket took shape.

Of course this basket had to surpass my last creation so challenge was on.

The solution was paint this one gloss black. After finding an old leftover can of spray paint from another project we were in business.

My assistant ( Odette ) offered no pre- paint opinion ar advice. She was to concerned with deciding whether it was worth walking in the wet grass.

The results after paint of the Super Deluxe Scrap

Hanging Basket.

It is now ready to plant an Orchid . This basket is sturdy, gives great air circulation for the plant and was made for no additional cost with materials from other projects. Not bad for a rainy day project. ...sanddune...

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HILLBILLY PURPLE ORCHID

This tenacious orchid is blooming again. It was given to me by a neighbor probably five years ago. I stuck it up on my Avocado tree in the back yard where it has had almost no attention paid to it since.

It has withstood continual assaults from the wind and weather and continues to faithfully bloom each year. It took on hurricane's Katrina, Faye, and Wilma never faltering.

I finally decided to find out what it was as my Orchid knowledge is very limited. I posted some pictures on the Garden Web Orchid forum. My request for information prompted several replies with the consensus being that this guy is a Hard Caned Dendrobium Hybrid with an unknown name. Apparently there are thousands of hybrids with different names.

Based on its ability to survive I felt it was only fitting to give it a name . So based on one of my favorite Hank Williams Jr. songs , A Country Boy Can Survive, I felt it only appropriate to name it Hillbilly Purple. A line from the song goes ,"he never called me by my name just hillbilly".

It is now official it is a Hard Caned Dendrobium Hybrid Hillbilly Purple Orchid.

.......sanddune...........