General Subjects > Flowers and Foliage Now

August 2022 in the Northern Hemisphere

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Robert:
Akke,

I was very pleased to see your recent posting. I enjoy the unique differences in regional horticulture/agriculture. For me, it is incredibly fascinating to see and learn about the tremendous diversity of plants that gardeners grow in their respective regions. How their gardens and plants adapt and respond to the climate and differing cultivation methods is very enlightening.

I understand getting busy. The most important thing is that you, your garden, and what is important to you are okay! I have been very busy working in our Sacramento garden and at the Placerville property. I have many ongoing and new breeding projects in various stages of development. It is all very exciting! There is so much to share both now and into the future.




Our Sacramento garden is lush and in full production.



The old standby summer perennials are at their peak, as well the common annual species such as Zinnia elegans and Tithonia rotundifolia.



I have a number of ongoing breeding projects with many of our California native species. Here it is 1 August and this line of Aquilegia formosa is still flowering with more flower buds waiting to open.



This line of Gila capitata is still flowering and has lush green rosettes of basal foliage. In a cool climate this might not be a big deal, however in our extremely hot, dry climate this is not the usual growth or flowering pattern for this species. This is one example of the regional plant evolution and development I enjoy greatly.



I have a number of long-term tomato breeding projects that I am working on. There are thousands of tomato varieties, however climate and other variables are changing. New, highly regional varieties that are well adjusted to the changing circumstances are primary goals. This applies to ornamental species too, at least in our garden.

Robert:


In our area, commercial strawberries taste terrible and are crunchy like a carrot. I am breeding strawberries that taste great, are tender, juicy, and thrive in our garden.



New apple varieties need to be developed that taste great, store well, yet thrive with fewer chilling hours. Lack of winter chilling is now impacting commercial fruit production in the Central Valley of California. Pistachios, Apricots, and Peaches are just some of the fruit types that are being impacted.



Creative breeding of new Citrus varieties also has great potential in the world of sustainable, regional, micro-agriculture.

As you can see, I have many diverse breeding projects in the works, including many that involve ornamental species.

Later this week I will be visiting the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I am hoping this will be a productive and fascinating trip.

Currently another surge of subtropical moisture has moved into our region. The skies are overcast with an occasional drop of rain. Not enough to wet anything, but we can always hope for more. It is also fairly hot and humid. Traditionally we can get monsoonal moisture this time of the year, so this is not completely unusual.

Well, this is the current news from our California garden.

Herman Mylemans:
Echinacea 'Butterfly Kisses'

Herman Mylemans:
Helenium autumnale MARIACHI 'Salsa' PBR

Herman Mylemans:
Achillea ptarmica 'Xana' and Bergenia ciliata

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