Potting in Propagation

 Hey only one more day on propagation:(  Had a pretty interesting week.  I learned about compost tea on Wednesday as seen on the right and left.  Pretty cool they mix it up and then let it brew til Friday and then disperse it to the different departments of the garden and they use it as needed.  However they need to use it shortly after recieving it because the bacteria in the mix don't survive long in the tea.  The rest of Wednesday and Thursday were spent topping up all of the cuttings they had accumulated over the last few weeks.  After taking root they had to be bumped up so they could grow larger.  The garden is just starting to turn and the fall colors are amazing.  A forsythia seen at right is a gorgeous mix of reb pink and orange.  While walking in the orchard during lunch today I saw this pheasant wondering and it looked like a good picture with the long orchard rows.  Today I spent some time in the reception area of propagation where plant material enters the garden and is monitored for pests and disease until it is okayed to go out into the garden.  In one of the reception houses was a pulmonaria which is native to Hawaii I think but it produces the beautiful smelling flowers that they use to make leis.  Wednesday night Leila my roommate and Jacks another trainee went for an outing to Sainsbury one of our local supermarkets.  I took a few picks of my food just thought it would be cool to show you what I have been living on peanut butter, apples, and cereal among other things.  You can see some of my british biscuits(cookies) that they like to eat with thier tea.  I have to admit that I haven't quite gotten into the tea but I am a big fan of hot chocolate.  Also I bought beef/hamburger or minced steak.  I figured it cost about 3 pounds per pound which is about 5 dollars per pound.  All the meat and produce veggies and fruit are much more expensive here.  Nothing is really produced on the island so everything is shipped in which increases the prices a lot.  Shopping has been difficult but I am starting to get the hang of it.  Things are going great here settling in, sad to be leaving prop but looking forward to working formal my new department.