I took the opportunity of a relatively cool, overcast day to feed the plantain tree. I gave it some chicken manure pellets and compost. Between the semi-regular rainfall and the olla, I haven’t had to hand water at all. I planted this guild of plantains, sweet potatoes and Thai red roselle in March. The largest plantain pup had two leaves on it at the time. I hope to see it flower by the end of the year. #zone10 #gardening #OllasByOsa #Subtropical #Florida #pottery

It’s still super hot but the plants sense that it’s late summer and have begun to flower again. I love all mallow family plants and was given permission to collect seed from native cotton at the community garden the last time I volunteered. This is the first blossom from one of two plants I propagated—a fluffy cotton ball to follow. #NativePlants #gardening #Zone10 #Florida

I planted some seeds this morning and then it finally decided to rain heavily for the first time in many days. Hallelujah! Here’s what I started. I’m #zone10 and this is an awkward time to start seeds—high heat and pest stress—so I have to be selective: Seminole pumpkin (round two!) Whippoorwill cowpeas Rosita eggplant Everglades tomatoes Globe amaranth Pigeon peas I’m jealous of everyone’s cucumbers & big tomatoes. We have to wait until mid fall for that. #subtropical #gardening

Watching my garden bed veggies struggle a bit while the #EdiblePerennials in the landscape flourish pest free, on rain water alone, with little to no soil amendment. I wish I had thought to beef up my perennial garden sooner instead of hyper fixating on seasonal veggies for so long. But by this time next year, we hope to have a food-abundant landscape. #gardening #zone10 #climate #Florida #EdibleLandscape

Surprise! I must’ve been less attentive in the garden this past week because I didn’t notice this pumpkin forming. It’s the first one so far. It fertilized itself and hasn’t suffered blossom end rot (yet!) This is my first time growing Seminole pumpkins and I think I started them too early. I was excited lol. I have a few more seeds that I will start in August so that they can be ready by November, just in case the ones in the ground now don’t produce well. #zone10 #gardening #Florida

I thought I’d be able to give my big banana olla a rest since rainy season has begun, but we just went a week without rain. These plants are such big drinkers, that the extra irrigation is still helpful. It’s a pleasure watching life congregate around the pot which we fill with #rainwater. When you dig up an olla after a season of gardening, you can see how the roots have wrapped themselves around it, seeking hydration. #OllasByOsa #SustainableGardening #handmade #pottery #irrigation #gardening