A Phoenix Nashi?

This Nashi finally died this year. Utipa. But there a heap of rootstock coming up - I'll get some scion wood in July from the rare fruit society and see if I can make a Phoenix rise from the ashes.

Peachtree - shaddup

Right. So you self seedwd in my driveway five years ago. Since then I grafted a set of donout peaches onto you and espaliered you up my driveway, bearing fruit.

I grafted Nonno Guiseppe's favourite peach onto you two years ago and you have fruit ripening.

Hey! Self seeded peach in my driveway. If you're unhappy I'm sorry, but you weren't doing much with that good rootstock.

Angel's Trumpet: Pruning Nana's "Darwin Plant"

I gave the Brugmansia to Nana about ten years ago. Both Nana and my Mum are dead.

As we're clearing up Mum's place - where Nana lived for a while - I came to remember when I gave it to Nana.

First of all, it's a pig of a plant. It won't die and will just get long and rangy. Its flowers are nice enough, but everything about the plant is poisonous in some way. I offered some cuttings to my father in law and once I knew what I was talking about he promptly and politely declined.

But Nana liked the plants and I did at the time. When I gave it to her I reminded her that the Angel's Trumpet is unpopular because some people might boil up the flowers for their drug effects and some kids have died.

Nana shrugged. If people are stupid enough to do that why is it my fault. I call it the Darwin plant. Just another element in the process of natural selection.

Ghost Chilli ripening from the top down

One of the hottest chillies there is. 200 times as hot as a Jalapeño. And it ripens in a funny way.

Chain of hearts: no wonder it survives so well

That's one big juicy bulb there.

Lemon - stronger than ever

Hard pruned lemon - whew!

I was nervous. She sat there for a long time. But she's bounced back now. Excellent.