Saturday, May 30, 2009

Ignore the woman behind the flowers


Every year for Mother's Day, my daughter gives me a potted mandevilla. They always do very well out on my tiny patio. This is me with last summer's plant in full bloom. I stood behind it so I wouldn't detract from its beauty.

The sad-looking plant next to it is a cherry tomato. My housemate puts out patio tomatoes and various herbs each summer. The herbs do well but the tomatoes never thrive. The leaves turn yellow and drop off. This plant produced a fair number of cherry tomatoes, but they weren't very tasty. Much as she has tried, the plants bearing bigger tomatoes haven't done well in past years either-not even when she bought expensive started plants. So, this year she got some Minnesota-specific tomato seeds and started the whole packet in plastic tubs on the dining room table (which made for much finagling when we had guests). They are outside now, scrunched together on the patio behind all the herbs. Time will tell if they produce-- but I'm not getting my hopes up.

The really odd thing about all of this is--she doesn't even like fresh tomatoes! Go figure.

5 comments:

Sparrow chic said...

I too have tried raising plants in pots. A gal I work with told me the plants get blight (sp) because the roots are out of the ground and can't drain right. So, I have not tried them since. However, this new topsy turvy planter they keep advertising almost makes me want to try it again.

Sparrow chic said...

Oh, and a PS, I can never ignore the woman behind the flowers. I love her way too much !!!!!!

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

The lady behind the flowers adds to their beauty, my dear.

I love fresh tomatoes! I wonder why they don't do well in Minnesota, though.

Barbara Blundell said...

What a beautiful plant ! I don't think we have them here

Ms Sparrow said...

Chic, Let me know how the upside down tomato plant thing works out.

Penniwig, the tomatoes grow well if they're in the ground. I don't have any ground, only my little patio with pots. The summer sun heats up the cement so the pots get hot and it affects them.

Barbara, Mandevillas are rapidly becoming popular as annual climbers. They are really hardy and insect resistant. They have really big showy blossoms that garner compliments from the neighbors. With your milder weather it might last a long time.
I hope you can track one down!