The Plastochron Index

Streptocarpus

I've been growing this plant for almost 2 years, sharing cuttings with friends, etc.

It's bloomed continuously.

Today, I noticed that one of the older leaves was covered with a white fuzz:

So I got out my digital microscope and got some mediocre closeups of the fungal hyphae:

This seems to be something called botrytis or "gray mold" which can happen when cold/damp/and damaged plant tissue are present, as sometimes in our strawberries. Here's the life cycle (Development of Botrytis gray mold diseases by George Agrios, Plant Pathology 4th Edition)

Spotted Bellflower

I got this perennial in a plant exchange last year. I'd forgotten all about it, and it took me awhile to figure out what it was: Campanula punctata.

It turns out to be quite invasive, and not that attractive. I pulled it up, but I'm afraid I won't be able to get rid of it.

Long and Green

Picked on July 31.

BTW, the Diva cucumber on the bottom is the only cuke I've gotten from these plants this year. But two days ago I figured out why: there are no male blossoms on the plants! Lots of tiny cucumber ovaries that are not fertilized.

So I brought over a male blossom from my other patch of cucumbers. Before I could do the deed myself, a honey bee landed right on the flower in my hand! It stayed a bit and then flew over to one of the female flowers. Believe it or not, today I noticed that a cucumber is finally growing there!!

Bag-o-beans

We have 4 varieties of beans growing in our garden this year, but none-the-less, three of them are bearing at the same time.

So here I am catching up on 5 days of harvests, by sorting and cleaning about 3 pounds of green beans: And here I have blanched (boiled briefly) and then vacuum packed them (in 6 small batches) for freezing:

Mile-A-Minute Weed

Found in my garden today.

This is a nasty invasive weed which only arrived on Long Island 9 years ago and is now found in at least 20 sites. In Maryland woodlands, it looks like this. Read a New York Times article here. (Membership required.)