Joe Seals
@backtothenewbasics.bsky.social
Horticulturist, ex-chef, ex-culinary arts instructor, writer.
Author of "Back to the NEW Basics [of gardening]" (https://a.co/d/a1YPIil). Human companion to a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Liberal.
Visit my Substack: https://joeseals.substack.com
Author of "Back to the NEW Basics [of gardening]" (https://a.co/d/a1YPIil). Human companion to a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Liberal.
Visit my Substack: https://joeseals.substack.com
Gaudium (formerly Leptospermum) laevigatum, commonly known as the Coast Tea-tree.
December 18, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Gaudium (formerly Leptospermum) laevigatum, commonly known as the Coast Tea-tree.
There were plenty in coastal and southern California, where I grew up. Usually older trees. It takes a while before they produce well. And even though it's self fertile, it produces much better with a second tree.
December 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
There were plenty in coastal and southern California, where I grew up. Usually older trees. It takes a while before they produce well. And even though it's self fertile, it produces much better with a second tree.
Looks like Casimiroa edulis.
December 18, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Looks like Casimiroa edulis.
Scoop them up, place them where you want them, dibble holes, and bury them (not too deeply).
December 15, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Scoop them up, place them where you want them, dibble holes, and bury them (not too deeply).
You can keep a "pet" cactus. You can keep a "sister" cactus. You can keep a "cousin" cactus. You can keep a "god" cactus. You can keep a "beloved" cactus. You can keep a "colleague" cactus, a "companion" cactus, a "partner" cactus, a "nunyabizniss" cactus. An "anything-you-f'***-want" cactus.
December 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
You can keep a "pet" cactus. You can keep a "sister" cactus. You can keep a "cousin" cactus. You can keep a "god" cactus. You can keep a "beloved" cactus. You can keep a "colleague" cactus, a "companion" cactus, a "partner" cactus, a "nunyabizniss" cactus. An "anything-you-f'***-want" cactus.
That's definitely Wahlenbergia stricta.
Wahlenbergia stricta (R.Br.) Sweet, Austral Bluebell (World flora)
Wahlenbergia stricta (R.Br.) Sweet (Austral Bluebell). Family Campanulaceae. Genus Wahlenbergia. 'World flora
identify.plantnet.org
December 12, 2025 at 2:53 AM
That's definitely Wahlenbergia stricta.
I'll try to be there.
December 11, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I'll try to be there.
Theoretically, it's originally native to Bangladesh, SE Asia, S. China, Taiwan, New Guinea, and N. Australia. It was carried to Hawaii and New Zealand by the Polynesians (Austronesians). In modern times, it has naturalized in almost every other tropical and wet subtropical county, including Belize.
December 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Theoretically, it's originally native to Bangladesh, SE Asia, S. China, Taiwan, New Guinea, and N. Australia. It was carried to Hawaii and New Zealand by the Polynesians (Austronesians). In modern times, it has naturalized in almost every other tropical and wet subtropical county, including Belize.
There's two or three Heliconia species that look like that. I'd guess it's Heliconia psittacorum, which is also the most commonly grown. Common name: Parakeetflower.
December 7, 2025 at 1:40 AM
There's two or three Heliconia species that look like that. I'd guess it's Heliconia psittacorum, which is also the most commonly grown. Common name: Parakeetflower.
WHAT'S LIVING IN YOUR SOIL - part 3
The True Spirit and Soul of the Garden -- Part 3
joeseals.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:16 AM
WHAT'S LIVING IN YOUR SOIL - part 2
The True Spirit and Soul of the Garden -- Part 2
joeseals.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:15 AM
WHAT'S LIVING IN YOUR SOIL - part 1
The True Spirit and Soul of the Garden -- Part 1
joeseals.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:15 AM
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS - part 1
That underground part does a lot more than you think
joeseals.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Early growth stage of Pulvinaria urbicola. It attacks hundreds of plant species, especially citrus and tropical indoor plants. Keep a close watch on your plants.
November 29, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Early growth stage of Pulvinaria urbicola. It attacks hundreds of plant species, especially citrus and tropical indoor plants. Keep a close watch on your plants.
Yes, scale. For a specific ID, what's the plant and where's your garden?
November 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Yes, scale. For a specific ID, what's the plant and where's your garden?
Do succession. An early pot, a mid-season pot, and a late pot. Start a crop indoors in late March, the second in mid-April, and the third in early May. Give or take. They're generally day-length sensitive so they'll bloom closer to when they should bloom rather than to your schedule.
November 29, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Do succession. An early pot, a mid-season pot, and a late pot. Start a crop indoors in late March, the second in mid-April, and the third in early May. Give or take. They're generally day-length sensitive so they'll bloom closer to when they should bloom rather than to your schedule.
One of my favorite annuals. Bloom time is usually late-ish summer through fall but some areas can start in mid-summer. Sow seed direct in April/May-ish. Big pots, full sun, good putting mix, fert. Unless you're growing them for cuts, go with dwarf strains. If for cuts, check out Johnny's Seeds.
November 29, 2025 at 3:42 AM
One of my favorite annuals. Bloom time is usually late-ish summer through fall but some areas can start in mid-summer. Sow seed direct in April/May-ish. Big pots, full sun, good putting mix, fert. Unless you're growing them for cuts, go with dwarf strains. If for cuts, check out Johnny's Seeds.
I have two cultivars growing in my Corvallis, OR garden. One (five plants) was planted last spring and watered to establish but hasn't been watered since June. The other (three plants) was planted in Early October just before a good rain (as planned) and received no water afterwards.
November 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I have two cultivars growing in my Corvallis, OR garden. One (five plants) was planted last spring and watered to establish but hasn't been watered since June. The other (three plants) was planted in Early October just before a good rain (as planned) and received no water afterwards.
Yes, indeed. I've never heard that common name.
November 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Yes, indeed. I've never heard that common name.
Looks like Hatiora salicornioides, "Drunkard's Dream"
November 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Looks like Hatiora salicornioides, "Drunkard's Dream"
Chloe, my mini dog, likes it. She didn't like the mud and rocks that were there just 7 months ago. It's down to only 3 or 4 species now; that was part of the plan.
November 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Chloe, my mini dog, likes it. She didn't like the mud and rocks that were there just 7 months ago. It's down to only 3 or 4 species now; that was part of the plan.