New Plant on the Patio: Japanese Red Maple (Acer Palmatum 'Bloodgood')

Japanese red maple (Acer palmatum) is a highly prized deciduous tree famous for its deeply lobed, star-shaped leaves. These maples feature vibrant spring and fall color, non-invasive root systems, and compact sizes, making them perfect focal points, container plants, or bonsai subjects

Bloodgood: The standard upright variety; matures to about 15 feet and holds deep burgundy-red leaves exceptionally well through the summer.

Care & Cultivation: 

Soil: They thrive in moist, well-draining, and slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. For clay-heavy soil in the Ontario area, plant the tree slightly elevated to prevent root rot.

Sunlight: Plant in partial sun to partial shade. While some varieties handle full sun, the delicate foliage of laceleaf types can scorch in intense afternoon heat.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Newly planted trees require frequent watering, especially during hot summer months.

Hardiness: Generally suited for USDA Zones 5–9

Acquired: May 2026; Grower/Seller (Internet); Cost: (    .)

This specimen arrived promptly, only 4 days in-transit, from the grower in Tennessee. The shipping was more expensive than most, but it is reflected, I think, in the pristine condition when received. I will not hesitate to order from this supplier in the future &/or recommend them.

I put the "Bloodgood" in a training pot, gave him a little water & within a few minutes he was standing straight, leaves un-curled & I took this photo. They ought to put a warning on Acers that they are habit-forming & may lead to addiction.. overwhelmingly the most sought-after, popular ornamental tree according to articles published by & for the horticultural trade.

There are dozens of cultivars & growers/collectors that specialize in Japanese Maples, exclusively. If I were just starting, I might just limit my acquisitions to Acers & Conifers only..they complement each other because of their diversity.

 Pictured here with his cousin, also an Acer Palmatum, but a different cultivar, I hope these two will become bookends, hopefully both maturing into like-sized trees, and as with all of the trees in my collection, their growth & development documented here to you to share, should you so wish.

   

Just for Fun - Wk 5

Dwarf Tomatoes 

Now you see 'em..now you don't..was able to reduce numbers this week by gifting 2 of the plants..just 1 more to go.

5 weeks and the tomato plants are, as far as I can see, healthy, happy & I think approaching near full-size. I don't think they will become appreciably larger, at least not much taller, which has been my concern all along. Since this is my first experience with these cultivars, actually my first with bush tomatoes, much less a dwarf variety, I wasn't sure just how much room they would take.

And one of the criteria for this little experiment has been to see if one can grow a decent crop on a patio or porch, with limited space for them.

If you look closely, you can see that both remaining plants are starting to develop flowers, which, of course, mean fruit cannot be far behind.

I will continue to attempt to reduce the population to a single plant this week & hopefully make someone else as pleased with these plants as I am.

NM Hatch Chili's

The Chili plants are starting to catch-up with the tomatoes..the last week has been typical so. Cal weather this time of year..cool, grey overcast mornings, with sun burning-off the coastal layer by noon & bright, warm afternoons, apparently ideal for these plants as this is the growth surge I've been looking for.

Like the tomato's, the chili's are starting to form tiny flowers, which I expect will bud over the next week or 10 days. Fruit follows flowers & of course, that's why we're growing these plants.

Once these plants start to show some production, I don't think I'll have any problem finding homes for them..may even have to start some more, but we'll wait & see.

Buxus microphylla (Japanese Boxwood): Update

 excerpted from Photo/History page for Japanese Boxwood

The Boxwood  has a good headstart on developing a canopy, so I decided to pot him-on. The photo shows him in a full-size training tray, which I had to use to accommodate a large & well-developed root system, which required root reduction; best described as "close your eyes & hack-away". The 'rule of thumb' is to remove no more than about 30% of a root system, at a time..I think I took about 50% of the buxus's root ball.

One of the things that attracted me to this specimen was the "nebari"..the base of the trunk where, as the plant grows & matures, slowly reveals & exposes the juncture of the tree & his roots.

The trunk has the "weathered" look, as if he were much older; part of this is because it IS older than you would think..I am told that it takes 7 years to grow the typical boxwood for retail sale.

This little tree is healthy, strong & seemingly up for anything, so it will be fun to watch how he develops over the next few months.

Cape Honeysuckle : Update

 exerpt from Cape Honeysuckle Photo History

Re-potted the Cape Honeysuckle, for better or worse..I found this little unglazed clay pot by accident some time ago, but really didn't have any one tree in mind.

The Honeysuckle was long overdue for a repot, so opportunity met requirement. Because so much time had elapsed since the tray-potting, I had to do more root pruning than I had anticipated or wanted.

He seems like he has come through the "surgery" well & is even shown new growth since I re-potted him (lighter green color leaves in photo)

Because the trunk has an obvious bend, I've always planted this guy offset from center & adhered to that convention with this repot, but I may change my mind.

I will let him rest now, & acclimate himself to the new container. I do like the round shape or perhaps it's just the newness..we'll see as time goes on.

..and the 'chicks' for free..

Back in February, I published a picture of several (7 to be exact) cuttings from the Hibiscus, taken during the initial "cutback". I actually ended-up with 11(pic) & they all rooted!

All of them have buds or have budded-out & grown leaves & appear to be healthy, If these cuttings are anywhere near as vital & strong as the parent plant, they will make fine plants.

I will grow-them-on & report on their progress, from time-to-time.

See the full history @ Hibiscus 'Brilliant' 

 

Just for Fun - Wk 4

 NM Hatch Chilis

Not much to see here..the chili plants have grown, but not remarkably so. The plants are healthy, vigorous & sport a deep green that, I hope, is a predicator of the size & quantity of the fruit they will bear.

No flowers, as yet, but I expect we will start seeing buds on the larger plants. The 2 still in 3" pots will need to be transplanted soon, but there's no rush..probably some time this coming week. I hope to "gift" 1 or 2 this coming week..with the number of new projects coming on-line, I will need the space.

Dwarf Tomatoes 

The tomatoes have doubled in size & another week's growth will mean they'll be crowding the shelf they occupy. I'm not really sure just how tall these bush tomatoes will grow, but I do have floor space, which is probably their next stop.

As you can see, this pot houses 2 plants; I felt like the plants were too young to be ripped apart earlier in their development, but now I wonder if it will even be possible to separate them..I'll give them another week & see how they look.

Like the chilis, I hope to reduce their numbers before they get much larger..maybe next week?

Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) - Update

Decided to take the next step in this plants development & move the Creeping Fig to a tray. He has been in a training pot for 5 months, so he should be ready. Despite his gnarled & rugged appearance, this is still a young plant with his best years in front of him. What his role might be, however, is up for grabs & will depend on how well he takes to down-potting..can he live in 2-3 inches of soil? Can he handle 2 root-reductions in 6 months? Well, we're gonna find out.

Structural pruning is complete now, for this tree..for better or worse..from here on out, it will be "pinch & grow" as he forms a canopy & grows foliage.

Or, as this is a "creeping" fig (actually a Ficus), he may want to find something to climb. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing how he evolves.

See the full history of this tree @ Creeping Fig or use the Tree Inventory menu

 

Oldest Plant on the Patio

 This space is usually used to introduce a new specimen, but today, I want to re-introduce not only the oldest, but an original 'grown-from-cuttings' little tree that deserves some recognition. This  is one of the reasons I started this blog..to "organize & document"..

April 5 was the 2nd Birthday of "Goldie", a Japanese Golden Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus 'Aureo-marginatus'), the first home-grown specimen in my collection, originally collected from a hedge growing in front of our apartment building.

May 2026

April 2024       

See the full history of this plant @ the Photo/History page: Japanese Golden Euonymus

 

A Growbox for the Hibiscus

 (exerpted from the Photo/History page for Hibiscus (Rosa sinensus) Brilliant)

It's not self-watering, doesn't have a gro-light, isn't even built out of wood, but, I think it will do the job of hosting the Hibiscus for a few weeks, self-draining, allows adequate air & water circulation, allows root growth without crowding the plant or restricting it...and the best part, costs under $2.00. It's just a plastic basket, with drain holes drilled into the bottom.

It certainly isn't a container designed for display, but it does give this specimen a chance to "catch his breath" after de-potting, a 30% root reduction (pruned) and re-potting in a loose potting mix that will encourage new root growth without restriction..roots can grow right out of the sides, if left untended.

The theory behind this is that this basket will allow faster & possibly less traumatic recovery for the plant, after root-pruning & downsizing..just have to wait & see, but a worth-while experiment, I think.

Just for Fun - Wk 3

 Dwarf Tomato's:

The tomato's are "bustin' out all-over", as you can see from the photos. They outgrew the 4" pots & I re-potted them in cut-down 1-Gal leftover nursery cans.

Since I didn't have any terra-cotta pots that were comparable in size, our experiment to see whether plastic or terra-cotta was better for growing tomato's has been concluded as a draw.

When I re-potted, I planted them as deeply as possible, pruning the bottom leaves (sacrificial) in order to maximize space for root growth. More roots means the plants can hold-up better against the afternoon winds & as they are on the west side of the patio, make maximum usage of the afternoon sun.

I am looking for homes for, at least 2 of these plants..any takers?

NM Hatch Chili's:

The Chili's are on the E-side of the patio & get all morning sun, as opposed to the 'maters on the West..the competition now will be whether morning or afternoon sun is most compatible for these plants, for whatever that's worth.

All 5 of the seedlings survived; 3 are potted in 4" pots, w/ the other 2 still in 3", but they will probably need to be repotted by next weekend.

Realistically, I only need 1 Chili plant, but all of the seedlings survived (Iwish I had this much success all the time). 

I'm looking forward to seeing blooms on the larger plants & that means the chili's can't be far behind.

Check back next Saturday for the next installment of "Just for Fun"

'Kohuhu' Waking-Up

 (excerpted from Photo/History page for Pittosporum tenuifolium - 'Beach Ball Kohuhu')

'Kohuhu' responded to the minor pruning yesterday, as if he had been waiting for someone to pay attention to him. I counted 22 fresh, new, bright-green buds, even though I only pruned 1/2 dozen. (pic below

I also took advantage of the opportunity to put him into a training pot. Although I would rate the root pruning as minimal, it required me to remove almost all of the potting mix, which is something I try not to do on the 1st re-pot. All seems to be going well though I did remove the tap root, while I had the chance..beyond that, minor root prune (just to even out growth).

I have no "master plan" for this little tree, but he has already shown that he is viable & willing, given the barest necessities. For now, I will just continue to provide his needs & see how he looks in a month or two.

Update: Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Densiflora)

The time has come for Baby Manzanita to leave the security of his nursery 'can' & start his progression to adulthood. Potted him in a training tray, which he will probably outgrow before fall. 

Root pruning was minimal, as is minor foliage pruning, even at this early age to keep him "within bounds"..these trees have a tendency to grow "helter-skelter" in all directions if not controlled.

You can access the full history of the Howard McMinn Manzanita here, or use the Tree Inventory Menu.

Intro: Japanese Boxwood

'Green Beauty' cultivar is a selected variety of Buxus microphylla var. japonica, which is native to the islands of Japan. While its wild ancestors thrived in the mountainous regions of East Asia, this specific cultivar was developed for its superior ability to maintain a deep, emerald-green hue even in the face of summer heat and winter chills—conditions that often cause other boxwoods to turn a brassy orange

Acquired: April 2026; Home & Garden Center: Cost: $6.00 (1/2 Off Sale)

Boxwood is often referred to as "Man’s Oldest Garden Ornamental." It was so popular in ancient Rome that Pliny the Younger famously wrote about his Tuscan villa, describing his boxwood hedges clipped into the shapes of letters spelling out his own name—the first century version of a personalized lawn sign!

Update: Italian Stone Pine

Yesterday, I re-potted "the Stoner" into what may become his 'forever home' after spending 4 months on the patio in a training pot. If you're interested, you can see/read the history of this plant on his photo/history page, but here are before & after photos:

May 2026

Jan 2026

                             

I've done very little to this tree "topside" or above-ground, but had to remove the tap root & prune the feeder roots to make a good fit. It's hard to see from the photo, but he is showing new growth at the tips of the upper branches, which will become candles. That means it's a good bet that this tree will survive & grow.

Just for the Fun of It - Wk 2

The tomatoes have grown appreciably, visibly, although I'm not sure that's it's easily seen in the photo. They don't get much morning sun, but get about 4 hours of afternoon sun. I will leave them located where they are for now, but the summer afternoon sun may be too much for them.

The plastic pots are on the left side, terra-cotta, on the right..growth looks to me about equal..the plants in terra-cotta seem like they are slightly ahead of the plants in plastic containers.

The Hatch Chili Peppers did not grow as much as the tomato's, but the individual plants that I transplanted to 4" pots did show a growth spurt. This photo also shows an older pepper that was propagated a couple of weeks before the others..

These guys get mostly morning sun (2-4 hrs) & some afternoon sun & but they're not growing as fast as the tomato's, in spite of getting more sunlight.

In the case of both, all I want is 1 plant, of each..I propagated expecting a 50% attrition rate, but they fooled me & all of them lived. If they all grow-on, I will give away the extra plants.

New Addition to Tree Inventory

Pittosporum Tenuifolium - 'Beach Ball Kohuhu'

The 'Beach Ball' is a variant of the Kohuhu ( a fast growing evergreen that grows to 20 to 30 feet) and is much smaller (3'-4') w/ glossy medium-green leaves on dark stems. Native to New Zealand, this plant was first introduced to California in 1865. This plant has since naturalized in California & Australia.

Largely. indifferent to soil types, if well-drained; thrives in full-sun to partial shade; requires low-to-moderate water; often pruned in a spherical shape. Seaside tolerant, hardy to 15-20 ° F, does particularly well in cooler coastal gardens.

Acquisition: March 2026; Home & Garden Center; Cost: $10.00 (50% off)

Click-on Beach Ball Kohuhu for the Photo/History page or use the Tree Inventory Menu

Just for the Fun of It...

 "Jerry's Patio", both the blog & my physical reality, are 99% consumed with my passion with the art & science of growing "little trees in little pots", but the reality is that tree cultivation, even of miniature stature, requires months & often years to see the results of one's effort. 

And memories of biting into a fresh tomato that actually tastes like a tomato & the satisfaction of eating the product of one's labor begins to entice..so, I decided to add a little spice to the equation & sowed both tomato & peppers a few weeks ago.

My intention is to just have one tomato plant & likewise, one pepper, but I sowed & propagated 4 of each, which have now sprouted, been potted & moved onto the patio. And I thought other folks might enjoy sharing the fun of growing these plants, with me.

terra cotta on left - plastic on right

I chose a bush tomato, supposedly specifically developed for southern California called Snakebite Dwarf Tomato, by San Diego Seed Co. These were sown on 3/8/26 & transplanted this week & moved onto the patio.

Conflicted between using terra cotta or plastic pots, I decided to run a little experiment & planted 2 of each..it will be interesting to see if one outperforms another..the winner will be the one plant that I allow to grow-on.

These are Hatch Green Chili Peppers - Big Jim by Sandia Seed Co. 'Hatch' is the term used to describe several different varieties of green pod Chile grown in SW New Mexico. Medium heat level= 2000-4000 Scoville; pods are 7 - 9"; bush 30" tall.

These are potted in 3' plastic pots, but I will be transplanting them to 4" this weekend. I may extend the terra cotta vs plastic competition, as well (just for fun).

I will report on their progress as time goes on & hope you might be encouraged to do something similar.

New Feature Added (reprint)

 (Reprint from Nov 16, 2025)

 The inclement weather this weekend has prohibited any outdoor gardening, but it has given me an opportunity to work on the blog and add a couple of features that I want to tell you about.

Translator: On the upper right-hand side of the homepage you will see a new feature labeled "Translate", with a drop-down menu that allows you to view my blog in any of 110 different languages. Try it  yourself..just "click-on" Select Language , pick a language & enjoy.

The other feature is embedded in the Blogger code (Blogger is Google's blogging software). If you "click" on any photo on the blog, it will open in a full-size version & display all of the other photos on that page as thumbnails along the bottom of the screen. You can scroll through all those photos without having to read the narrative. So, if you're searching for a particular photo, you can review them en masse' as opposed to one at a time.

Nov 17, 2025 - UPDATE:

This morning I added another new feature to the blog that seems highly appropriate after the last few days..a Weather Widget . Placed in the upper-right corner, it will most likely be the first thing you see when you log in..enjoy.

New Tree on the Patio - Red Bird Azalea

The 'Red Bird' Azalea is an evergreen, prized for it's flowers that bloom in spring-mid summer, can be grown as either decorative shrub or flowering tree.

 While technically a Rhododendron, with roots in China & Japan, some sources say that the Azalea was developed specifically for cold regions, such as North America & some Azalea cultivars are deciduous.

April 2026

The Red Bird is hardy(USDA zones: 5-9), "greedy" when it comes to fertilization & picky about it's environment..they need rich, well-drained soil, preferably on the acid side (pH 4.5-6) and will not do well in direct sun..think "understory" tree, like a Japanese MapleAzaleas and rhododendrons are often confused because an azalea is always a rhododendron, but a rhododendron is not necessarily an azalea. All plants commonly known as "azaleas" or "rhododendrons" belong to the genus Rhododendron, which has eight subgenera comprising nearly 1,000 species and 20,000 hybrids. Azaleas are found in two of these subgenera.

Acquisition: April 2026; Home & Garden Center: Price: $6.00 (1/2 off sale)

Read more about this tree @Red Bird Azalea or use the Tree Inventory Menu

Update: Mexican Weeping Pine

 This is an exerpt from the Photo/History page for Mexican Weeping Pine

The Weeping Pine has been in a nursery pot since I received the bare-root seedling, last August & I wanted to take a look at his root development & re-pot, if possible.

I was initially surprised at the sparse root growth, until I remembered that these trees are shallow rooted in the wild. I removed enough soil so that I could see that this tree has healthy, white roots, extending around the perimeter of the original root ball & it was no problem slipping him into a training pot & gave him new, fresh potting mix & topped him off with aggregate. 

He is maintaining a height of 30 inches, which is the same length as when first received. This has been a priority & concern since taking-on growing a pine tree, which normally would top-out at 30 ft. (or more) Overall, just keeping this tree alive has been a challenge, while effectively "dwarf-ing" him.

Stay tuned!

Update: Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii)

Known as a "fast grower" these trees are often used to create windbreaks & "tree lines" & our mini-Leyland is showing signs of growth with very green foliage, as opposed to the blue-green foliage of mature trees. 

My previous experience with conifers..pine, juniper, Cypress..led me to expect slow-growth..barely perceptible..think years, not months, so I was pleasantly surprised when this leylandii showed significant regrowth in a little less than 3 months.

This tree would no longer be mistaken for a Xmas tree & I'm looking forward to what we might be able to do with this specimen. Additionally, I'm surprised at the ease of propagation via cuttings, of which I will document at some point, but for right now, I well-pleased with his progress & development.

 

Access the full Photo/History of this tree @ Leyland Cypress or use the Tree Inventory menu on the r-side of every page  

Update: Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)

The Dragon has recovered nicely from 'childbirth' & I'm happy to report that both parent & child are doing well & both are showing signs of growth.

He has also regrown a substantial portion of the foliage that was trimmed, back in Dec. with new spires towering over the older, shorter plumes left from the 'flat-top' haircut I gave him.

The cutting, likewise is growing, getting taller & producing spires of his own making him look just like the mother plant. (grown from cuttings, he will exactly duplicate, or clone his parent)

Access the Photo/History for: Madagascar Dragon Tree 

 

Update: Coprosma 'Karo Red' (aka Mirror Plant)

The Karo Red may never look like he did 16 months ago, but he has survived & is continuing to fill-out his foliage in the burned areas. The canopy is not quite restored, but it appears he has adjusted well to re-potting..looks like he's "put on some weight". 

As one of the oldest specimens in the collection & his recovery from adversity, he has reclaimed his right to be a front-line tree & to be on display, permanently, I hope.

To see the full life history for this tree, click-on Coprosma 'Karo Red here or on the menu on the r-hand side of every page

 

Before & After: Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)

It used to be, that just about every nursery or plant seller had a "1/2-OFF" or markdown table where the plants that were unattractive, damaged, non-sellable (at least at full price) went, as an alternative to the trash.

And that's where I found this tree..

Acquired: Dec 10, 2025 - Home & Garden Center - $7.50 + tax.

There was an accumulation of debris, dead leaves,"suckers" run amok..air roots that had become pseudo-branches, curling around & entwining the trunk. 

Some major pruning to clean-him-up & remove dead foliage & branches, including root reduction, re-potting into a training pot, I let him rest for the last 6 months.

And this is how he looks today..reduced in height from about 36 " to a compact 15". With a gnarly, twisted trunk & new foliage beginning to re-populate the canopy.

For those that might be interested in knowing more about how all this happened, you can access a complete photo-history at Creeping Fig

You can also access the Photo/History page for this tree & all of the trees in our collection by using the menu on the r-hand side of every page.

Update: Cape Honeysuckle (tecomaria capensis)

(excerpt from Photo/History page for: Cape Honeysuckle (tecomaria capensis)

Now this is more like what I've had in mind..the canopy is developing, looking the best I think it's ever    been..the rock still isn't right, but I think it will find it's place, eventually.

April 2026

Update: Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

 exerpt from the Photo/History Page for Star Jasmine

April 10

The Jasmine is in full-bloom. Not bad for an $8.00 plant from Walmart! My first (successful) "Blooming Tree", but not to be the last. This may even encourage me enough to try (another) Azealea.

Update: Hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) 'Brilliant'

 (excerpt from Photo/History page for Tropical Hibiscus project: 

April 10

April 2026

Removed the "sacrificial" branch & the Hibiscus immediately rewarded me with new growth from the stump left behind. I took the branch because it was foliating, instead of back-budding on the trunk & branches...as you can see now, that problem is solved. There is new growth from both branches & the main trunk. 

    

If you've followed this project, you know that it's one-big crapshoot, starting with my predilection for      "projects" & cheap raw material. Quite frankly, I'm more than a little surprised that this strategy is working out better than I expected. 

He's only been in this pot for 2 months, but I would like to downsize again, however, I don't want to interfere or inhibit the foliage..I've been hearing about using growboxes & that may be the solution for this tree.. I need to do some research.