Spring Update

Spring is here and everything is blooming!

These are the Honey Berries. 

Apparently, 

Honey Berries are like blueberries, 

they like to have friend plants nearby.

I only have one plant 

because I ended up not liking the fruit...

Raspberry Short Cake...

mmMMmm...

These produce the largest best tasting raspberries ever!

I'm definitely adding a couple more bushes to my collection this year.

Gooseberries. Every year these berries come back 

with such vigour! I love it!

Blueberries...

blueberries...

Peach Sorbet Bluberries...

More 2nd year Peach Sorbet Blueberries...

2nd year of Jelly Bean Blueberries.

Unlike the Peach Sorbet, 

I don't think this one is going produce fruit this year...

and... 

Grapes! 

Aren't they just the cutest when the leaves are just blooming.

Spring in the Patio Garden

Spring has come a little earlier here in Vancouver. We've had a very mild winter and now the plants have deemed it time to start the spring process.

Here are some lovely pictures from my patio garden...

This is the Silver Lavender that I planted late last year. It's looking mighty fine.

I definitely pruned it just enough...

Always the first to bloom, Bleeding Hearts. 

I combined the white and pink ones into a single pot last year. 

Tiny buds starting on the Azalea. I can't wait to see its pink blooms.

Blueberries! I was just telling TheDapperGentleman

that soon we will be able to harvest fresh fruit straight from our patio. 

This is most definitely the best thing about having your own garden.

Bob the Apple Tree. Looks like he's going strong. Hip Hip Hurrah 

for surviving the winter. 

These are the new blueberry plants I planted last year. 

Peach Sorbet and Jelly Bean variety. Looks like there are 

going to be some sweet treats this year.

Pink Lemonade Blueberries

I didn't know this at the time but 

Pink Lemonade Blueberries are a late blooming berry.

I thought they just weren't going to bloom this year...

Little did I know, kla-blamo...

Late in the summer a lovely pink surprise for you!

Try these, they are so sweet and flavourful. 

Plus, a bright light when everything else is drooping 

getting ready for fall.

Berry Harvest!

Where has this summer gone?

I can't believe that we are in the middle of August already!

As the summer comes to an end, 

this may be one of my last berry harvests.

This season has been extra delightful.

As all my berry bushes mature, 

they produce more and more fruit.

I'm loving this summer so much. 

I don't want it to end!

First Tomato and Blueberries of the Seaon

This little guy is the first tomato of the season! Yes, he was delicious! there's just something about growing your own tomatoes... they are definitely more delicious.

The blueberries are ready, the blueberries are ready, the blueberries are ready... I have grown to be more giving as I saved exactly 1 blueberry per harvest for TheDapperGentleman ;)

Blueberries: New Ones

The hoarding continues...

Every year I find that new varieties of everything come to the market. Last year it was the Raspberry Shortcake plant. This is a thornless raspberry plant that is almost like a shrub. (Yes, I convinced myself I needed to have this one to...)

This year the Jelly Bean Blueberry and Peach Sorbet Blueberry caught my eye. 

I finally got a harvest of the Pink Lemonade Blueberry last year and loved them. So this helped me convince myself that I needed these too. 

Look how cute! And they're Rory size because they are so short. 

Both of these trees have year around leaves that change  colour. The Peach Sorbet's leaves will turn purple in the winter... I'm so excited!

These plants are from Brazel Berries. Further description and care are on their website :)

 (Peach Sorbet Blueberries)

Container Gardening: Blueberries

I, BeesintheGardens, am a hoarder of blueberry plants. I currently have 13 blueberry plants on my patio, ranging in sizes. When I see a new variety, I force the people around me to help me justify bringing them home. Reason have ranged from "But... It's so cute" to "I don't have this one yet, my other blueberries told me they want this new variety as their new friend" to "I must, I must, I must save this blueberry plant from the awful conditions it's currently in and give it a better home."

The first step in getting better is admitting your addiction.

Ror loves blueberries too. Whenever she's on our patio she goes up to them and sniffs around to see if there are any for her yet. This is why I think it's okay to keep adding new ones? This might just be another excuse to add more, and more, and more, and more.... blueberries...

I'm an avid believer that what you grow, you should share. I love sharing my harvests with my co-workers, neighbours, and friends. However, if you are one of these groups of people you may have noticed you have never receive any blueberries.

This is my second problem. I hoard the plants and the berries... Ror only gets some because she looks up at me with those cute big eyes and it's hard to say no.

Here are some tips I've learned along the way:

I have found that Blueberries love love love coffee grounds. They thrive on it.

You also need blueberry friend plants because blueberries don't like being alone. The friend plants cannot be of the same variety because blueberries will have a greater yield when you give it 3 or more varieties to cross pollinate with.

Don't forget to plant bee friendly plants to lure the bees to your garden.

i repeat... honeyberries are not blueberries

Upon reading the plant label and feeling a sense of adventure, I purchased a honeyberry plant. Thinking that it was going to be a sweet berry similar to blueberries with a hint of honey, I waited patiently for the fruit to ripen.

Popping a couple in my mouth... I discovered honeyberries are NOT blueberries.

Don't be fooled by their dark plum like skin, and their innocent berry shape. They are not, I repeat not blueberries.

Once I let them ripen more on the plant (until the end of the summer) they were okay... not the best fruit, but once you mix 'em in with other berries are bearable...

Silver lining: The leaves are velvety soft and oh so puuuurty