Late to the Garden Party

I tried growing Anigozanthos, better known as Kangaroo Paw, in my former garden and, as I recall, it was a miserable failure that put me off these plants until recently when I added one, purchased on impulse, to the border created this past fall when we removed a large section of lawn on the southeast side of our house. It did well right from the start. In fact, it put the annuals next to it to shame. When I was no longer able to tolerate the annuals' scraggly foliage, I replaced them with 2 more Kangaroo Paw of the same dwarf variety, 'JoeJoe Red.'

3 Anigozanthos 'JoeJoe Red' surrounded by Papaver nudicaule, Agonis flexuosa 'Nana,' Phormium 'Amazing Red,' and Crassula lycopodioides

I also put 2 Anigozanthos 'JoeJoe Yellow' at the base of one of the raised planters in the vegetable garden. They seem to be adjusting well there too (although it looks as though I need to put out some snail bait.

More recently, I've added 3 taller Anigozanthos 'Bush Eternity' below the hedge along the street I pruned back within an inch of its life last month.

Anigozanthos 'Bush Eternity' in newly planted border in front of pruned hedge

Close-up of flower on Anigozanthos 'Bush Eternity'

The 'JoeJoe'varieties grow just 12-15 inches tall and wide (30.5-38.1cm), while 'Bush Eternity' is said to get 1-3 feet tall (30.5cm-1m). All do best in full sun with regular water and good drainage, although Kangaroo Paws can tolerate periods of drought. They hail from southwest Australia and the evergreen foliage grows from rhizomes. The sap in the root system reportedly supports survival during extreme dry spells. Some varieties can die back during the heat of summer but recover in the fall. They're suited to USDA zones 9a-11 (Sunset zones 15-24). Estimates of cold tolerance range from 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (or -6.7 to -1.1 Celsius).

The sword-like dark green foliage of these plants is attractive in its own right but the plants are generally grown for their unusual flower spikes, which have a fuzzy texture rather like velvet. According to my references, they should bloom from late spring through fall; however, my oldest plant has bloomed continuously since I acquired it in September. I cut back the blooms as they fade and the plants pump out more spikes.

They attract hummingbirds and, if I was faster with my camera, I'd have pictures of a hummingbird drinking nectar from 'JoeJoe Red' to share here but I haven't succeeded in capturing that moment yet. Baiting for snails and slugs is recommended. In cool, moist climates they can be susceptible to a fungus that causes something known as ink disease but I haven't had a problem of this nature thus far. I've tried only the red and yellow flowering types but there are also pink and green varieties. Based on my initial success with the plants in my current garden, I'm tempted to try a pink variety, although no one I know locally has had luck with it.

The Anigozanthos hybrids are my choice as favorite plant this week. I'm joining Loree of danger garden in here meme celebrating favorite plants in her garden and those of other participating gardeners. You can find Loree's choice and other contributors' input here.

Our weather in southern California couldn't be more different than the winter conditions affecting so much of the US this year. After a couple of long-awaited rain events last week, our temperatures soared back up into the low 80s this week. Northern California received more rain than we did and the mountain areas got some snow but, even with that, the state remains firmly entrenched in a serious drought. In fact, one speaker on a news program last night said that a study of tree rings indicates that 2013 was California's driest in 400 years.

I've previously commented on the impact our unseasonably warm weather has had on my garden. A number of plants, most notably the Agapanthus, are blooming considerably ahead of schedule. Most of what was blooming in January is still blooming so, rather than publish pictures of all the same flowers, I thought I'd focus on the heaviest bloomers this month, as well as some of my newer acquisitions.

If I was to recognize one genus as the most floriferous this February, that award would go to Osteospermum. Right now, every single member of this genus in my garden is blooming, and blooming heavily.

Osteospermum ecklonis '3D Silver'

Osteospermum 'Lemonade,' a new acquisition

Osteospermum 'Serenity Purple'

Osteospermum (no ID), white with a blue eye - some of these originally had spoon-shaped petals but they seem to have reverted to a more conventional form, which my Sunset Garden Book says is common in cooler weather. I guess I'll have to wait until the temperature reaches 90F for the petals to snap into proper shape...

This trailing variety of Osteospermum, here when we moved in, seems happy in partial shade

Osteospermum 'Zion Copper Amethyst' - during the warmer portion of the year, all of the flowers tend to bloom a purplish color but, during cooler periods, we see this nice range of color in the blooms on the same plant

Other plants deserving recognition for heavy bloom include the following:

Alstroemeria (no ID), which comes back every year after a period of summer dormancy

A sun-saturated photo of the white Argyranthemum - all the Argyranthemum are in full bloom now too

This Bauhinia x blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree) currently has more flowers than leaves

Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' - its performance is so impressive in an out of bloom that I've added 2 more to the front border

Cuphea x ignea 'Starfire Pink,' which blooms continuously until I hack it back

Erysimum linifolium 'Variegatum,' one of my favorites for the sunshine glow it adds to garden beds

Grevillea lavandulacea 'Penola' - those flowers make up for their tiny size in sheer number

Hebe 'Patty's Purple' - this is the 1st year it has pumped out a steady supply of blooms

Papaver nudicaule (Iceland Poppy) - the bees and I love them

Limonium perezii (aka Statice or Sea Lavender) - ordinary, perhaps, but the bright purple is welcome in my dry garden

Lavandula multifida (Fernleaf Lavender) - its photos never do it justice

Some relatively recent additions to the garden are also adding color:

Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' - how can you not love that color combination?

Geranium x cantabrigiense "Biokovo' - these created a blanket groundcover in my former garden but I've had a harder time getting them to establish here

Nemesia 'Berries & Cream' - I'm as much a sucker for these blooms as I am for pansies

Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP,' planted in the dry garden - it died out in my backyard border in 2 years. I'm hoping it'll be happier with drier feet.

Pericallis hybrid (aka Florist's Cineraria) - I used to grow the taller varieties of Cineraria but they're hard to find now

Pretty purple viola (no ID)

As the blooms from bulbs are so temporary, I guess I should include a few photos of those as well. The Anemones and Freesia are among my favorites.

While I've grown quite a few of these from tubers, those pictured here were purchased in 4-inch pots last month

However, these Anemone 'Dr. Fokker' were grown from tubers

As was this pink variety

I wish I'd planted more Freesia bulbs this year - this purple one was planted last year or the year before

As was this white Freesia

Ming kept me company as I photographed blooms for this post. It tuckered him out.

Ming relaxing during our picture-taking exercise

That's it for my February bloom report. Please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, our gracious host for the monthly Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day event, to see what's blooming in her garden and find links for other contributing gardeners.

Okay, I couldn't stop myself with the title of this post - I like alliteration. However, the Phormium in my garden do deserve attention. I seem to accumulate more each year we live here. They do well in my USDA zone 10b (Sunset zone 23/24). Many are drought tolerant, which is helpful when rain is in short supply and the state of California has declared a drought emergency. They're also relatively easy to care for and they come in a range of sizes and colors. I fully expect that more Phormium will enter my garden this year when I plant the new border area (assuming we ever finish digging the lawn out).

So here are the stand-outs in my garden:

2 Phormium 'Amazing Red' went into the side yard border last year - it grows just 2 feet tall and wide

I have no record of the name of this Phormium I planted in the front border shortly after we moved in - my best guess is that it's P. tenax 'Atropurpureum Compactum,' which grows 5 feet tall and wide

Several smaller Phormium 'Chocolate Baby' are also planted in the front border - they grow 2-3 feet tall and wide

I added 3 Phormium 'Dark Delight' to the backyard border last year - they grow 3-4 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide

Phormium 'Tiny Tiger' is indeed small - it grows just 1 foot tall and wide

Phormium tenax 'Yellow Wave' sits in the dry garden - it grows 3-4 feet tall and wide

These lovely Phormium are my contribution this month to the meme sponsored by Pam of the fabulous Digging blog. Please visit Digging to view her foliage choices and connect to other gardeners' selections.

I was seduced. And I succumbed. Yet again.

You may recall that I mentioned that I was thinking of getting a Japanese maple to replace the Mountain Pepper (Driyms lanceolata) I'd planted at the site of the large Eucalyptus tree we took down early last year. (My misgivings over the selection of the Driyms were described here and the reasons for the removal of the Eucalyptus were discussed here.)

This is Driyms lanceolata shortly after planting last February - it's an attractive plant but perhaps not the best choice as a focal point for the bed

The Driyms, in the center foreground in this photo taken at the end of January, grows slowly and has been eclipsed by the surrounding plants, particularly the 3 Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey'

After some scouting about, I decided to go ahead with that plan and, last Sunday, headed to Roger's Gardens, an Orange County nursery, to pick up the maple I'd selected, an Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost.' At this point, it looks like a stick in a pot but the images of the plant I found on the web convinced me that it will make a much better focal point for the bed than the Drimys, which I plan to move to another area of the garden.

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' in its nursery pot

The 'Purple Ghost' purchase was planned but I can't visit Roger's without checking out what else is available. I cruised through the nursery and found myself putting things onto my cart I hadn't had any plans whatsoever of purchasing when I left the house. The first of these were tulips. I'd long ago given up on tulips. With the exception of some species types, these don't come back in southern California. They require a long period of chilling in the refrigerator and then, just when they're about to bloom, one of our Santa Ana winds comes along and withers the buds. No matter how beautiful they are, they're a bad investment here. But Roger's had some already sprouted in nursery packs. They weren't unusual varieties and I know they won't last long but they didn't cost much so onto the cart they went. The sun shining through their petals was just impossible for me to pass up.

I popped the tulips into a partially empty pot, where they'll keep very temporary company with a Euphorbia

Then there was the Puya berteroniana. Sure, I've admired pictures of its turquoise flowers and spiky foliage on-line but it can take 6 or more years to reach blooming size. (You can find a picture of it in flower here.) Still, 6 years can fly by, can't it? Onto the cart it went.

A baby Puya berteroniana in its nursery pot

Then there were some Osteospermum with spoon-shaped petals. I already have Osteospermum of various types throughout my garden, as noted in my recent Bloom Day report. I didn't need more, yet 3 ended up on my cart.

One of the new Osteospermum, already planted in my backyard border

Several other things ended up on the cart as well. In an exercise of self-discipline, I decided to put 2 plants back. That's when things really got out of hand. Having returned those plants to the spots I picked them up from, I walked by another Japanese maple and stopped dead in my tracks. I walked back to my cart. Then I walked back to the maple. Then I walked back to my cart and brought it to the maple. Then the maple and I, along with my other purchases, checked out and drove back home, my wallet a little lighter.

Could you have turned away from this plant?

Look at the branching structure!

Look at the picture of the mature leaves!

Look at that new foliage!

Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa' is a dwarf variety, often used in bonsai. I was attracted by its form, already evident in the young plant, and the appearance of the new foliage, with its chartreuse color. In summer, the leaves become a medium green, shifting to a golden orange color with red tips in the fall. It was pricier than 'Purple Ghost' but I decided that its dwarf stature might make it the perfect focal point for the new border we're creating in the backyard, where we're removing another long strip of lawn. That bed should be ready to plant within a few weeks, if not sooner - so this purchase is really just a head-start on plant selection.

What garden plants have tempted you recently?

It's already spring in this area of southern California. Plants are putting on new foliage and many are beginning to pump out flowers. Soon they'll all be vying for attention and it will become increasingly hard to pick a favorite - I can almost hear them crying "choose me, me, me!" already. I was tempted to focus on a couple of these, Acanthus mollis 'Summer Beauty' and Phlomis fruticosa, but they're nowhere near their peak yet so I passed them by for now. Instead, I picked Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' (formerly classified as Diosma pulchra). It has produced a light scattering of flowers all during the past year but it's blanketed with tiny pink blooms now. It blooms most heavily from winter through spring.

Close-up of Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' in partial shade

This shrub, sitting along the driveway, gets more sun

A 'Sunset Gold' on the other side of the front pathway with another one visible in the background, sited at the edge of the lawn

I have 6 of these plants in the front borders lining the driveway. Two were added recently as part of my ongoing effort to decrease the jumbled appearance of my garden by repeating more of the same elements in individual beds. Pale pink isn't my favorite flower color - I bought 'Sunset Gold' for the chartreuse color of the foliage, which is more evident in new plants than those in full bloom.

This recently planted shrub, not obscured with flowers, provides a better view of the foliage

The scent of the evergreen foliage, which gave it the common name of 'Breath of Heaven,' was also an attraction. In addition to serving as a good filler plant in the border, the feathery scented foliage is a nice filler in cut flower arrangements. The soft texture also makes it a nice accent for plants with large leaves or sharp edges in garden borders.

'Sunset Gold' is a dwarf variety. It grows about 1.5 feet (.46 m) tall but can spread as much as 4 feet (1.22 m) wide. Mine are placed around the edges of the front borders. It's a well-behaved plant and, unlike its taller cousins, it hasn't required regular pruning to keep its growth under control.

This Coleonema album needs a good pruning twice a year and even then can get straggly-looking

Coleonema does well in well-drained soil in both full sun or light shade. The yellow gold color is more prominent in full sun. In partial shade, the foliage of 'Sunset Gold' takes on a more lime green shade and it may grow taller. It requires a moderate amount of water. It's said to be hardy to 20 or 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.67 or -3.9 Celsius). It's suited to USDA zones 8-11 (Sunset zones 7-8, 14-24).

Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' is my choice as favorite plant of the week for the meme sponsored by Loree of danger garden. Visit her site to see her choice and to link to other gardeners' selections.

Around the same period last year, I kept finding long branches of our California pepper trees (Schinus molle) dropped all over our property. At first, I assumed that the gardener had trimmed some of these for unknown reasons and forgotten to clean up after himself. Then I speculated that the Santa Ana winds had brought them down. But the volume of debris kept increasing so I soon concluded that neither of those explanations made sense. Finally, I discovered the culprits sitting atop one of the pepper trees, tearing out branches before flying off. Crows! Assuming that they carried off half of what they left behind, they did a pretty thorough job thinning out the foliage of several of our 7 pepper trees.

I saw 2 scouting about last week but didn't think too much about it. Then, this morning, I began coming across pepper tree debris.

First this

...and then this

Then I heard them - their cries are unmistakable. I wasn't quick enough with my camera to catch both members of the pair sitting in a tree on my neighbor's property but I caught a photo of one before it flew off to join its mate.

I have no doubt they'll be back as the debris I collected this morning is a small fraction of what I picked up last year.

Debris collected this morning along one pathway

A portion of the debris collected one day last year. I stuck it in an empty hanging basket in the foolish hope that the crows would take it from there rather than continuing their tree thinning activity but apparently fresh material is better in their view.

According to an on-line resource affiliated with Cornell University, breeding pairs take one to 2 weeks to build their nests, which are constructed from scratch each year. Nests have 3 layers: a base constructed of sticks, a filling made of mud and grass, and a thick bowl of "something soft," which I assume is where the pepper tree branchlets come into play.

This year, so far anyway, they seem to prefer the 2 pepper trees that were trimmed in late January, even though the other 5 trees have a lot more foliage to pick from. My husband speculated that the open branching of these trees allow them to swoop in, pick what they want and fly off more easily than the trees with denser foliage. That makes sense to me, especially as I recall that their favorite tree last year was the one with the lightest foliage.

The crows prefer these 2 California Pepper trees

...to this untrimmed tree

The internet is full of interesting information on crows, deemed by many sources to he highly intelligent creatures. Click here for an article on 6 "terrifying" ways crows have demonstrated how smart they are. Among other things, their abilities include facial recognition, conspiracy, planning and trickery. Hitchcock's film, "The Birds" no longer seems like a fantasy to me. I think I have to seek peaceful coexistence. The good news is that the presence of the crows hasn't seemed to bother the smaller birds in my garden - the crows seem to be more interested in nesting material than prey. While they are predators, according to the Cornell source, their main food sources are grains, earthworms and other invertebrates.

A trio of small birds enjoying an undisturbed bath in the fountain

Have you had any interesting experiences with crows in your garden?

In my post on January 1st, I mentioned that I wanted to extend the small bed that encircles the backyard fountain along an existing pathway, linking it to the side yard border we created last year. By February 1st, we'd gotten started.

Before work began

After the edge of the new border was defined

Last week, we finished digging out the sod.

New extended fountain bed

In January, my husband also removed the snorkel spa on the far left side of the backyard border. I described this spa, which is heated using firewood rather than electricity, last year. Taking out the spa proved to be relatively easy but clearing the 6-inch layer of gravel underneath it took time.

Photo of the snorkel spa taken last year

The wood salvaged from deconstruction of the spa will be used to build furniture for the backyard patio - someday. At present, it's neatly stacked in the garage.

What I hope my husband will turn into a patio dining table

However, the most important thing is that the spa's removal leaves another empty spot to fill with plants!

Bed sans spa

We ordered topsoil to backfill the new beds. It took the 2 of us several hours to move and spread the soil over the 2 beds.

3 cubic yards of topsoil

New bed with fresh topsoil

I've been deliberating on my planting scheme for some time. I have a long list of options for both the new beds but I've yet to draw up planting plans. However, I signed up with Pinterest and created a bulletin board to capture ideas for the new border. (I ended up creating 5 boards - Pinterest can easily become a time-consuming obsession!)

I already have a few plants for each new bed. One of the Japanese maples I splurged on recently will go into the extended fountain border. The Driyms lanceolata supplanted by the other Japanese maple will go into the bed formerly occupied by the spa. I also have a few plants I mail-ordered from Annie's Annuals & Perennials set aside, as well as a new pot, which will mark the transition from the side yard path to the grass path between the 2 backyard borders. I've even got some seeds germinating - my first attempt at starting seeds indoors rather than directly planting them in place.

Acer palmatum Mikawa Yatsubasa, already beginning to leaf out

Purchases from Annie's Annuals & Perennials: Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame' and Scorzonera hispanica (aka Black Salsify), which I potted up pending placement in the new bed

I bought this pot for another purpose, then decided it would be perfect to mark the transition from the side yard to the backyard (provided that I can pick up its mate this week)

I've still got a LOT of plant shopping to do and I'm looking forward to it! That will have to wait a bit, though, as we have not one but 2 rainstorms expected this week!!!

Phlomis fruticosa has begun its spring bloom cycle and, while the flower power of this evergreen shrub is likely to increase over the coming weeks, its bright yellow blooms are already hard to ignore so I've given it status as my favorite this week. I inherited 12 of these drought-tolerant shrubs with the garden - there are 6 in the front yard in 2 groups of 3 plants each, where the yellow flowers bloom in accompaniment with the blue flowers of the Ceanothus hedge, and 6 more in the backyard, again in 2 groups of 3, backed by the orange-tinged foliage of the Xylosma hedge.

The shrub, which grows 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 meters) tall and wide, gets woody and needs to be cut back hard in the fall to keep it in shape. I'm afraid I did a sloppy job of that this past fall so my specimens aren't in tip-top shape this year; however, my sloppy pruning hasn't significantly impacted blooming. The flowers are unusual. They form bell-shaped whorls around a central stem. If dead-headed after the spring bloom cycle, they'll rebloom on new growth in the summer, although my experience is that the second bloom cycle is lighter.

The leaves are a nice gray-green color. While they're usually described as woolly, they feel more like suede to me. The leaves resemble those of some Salvias, which accounts for the common name of Jerusalem sage, but the plant is actually in the mint family.

Phlomis fruticosa grows in full sun to light shade - most of mine get at least some shade during the warmest part of the day. Those in the shadiest locations are the slowest to bloom. The shrub is said to be hardy to 15-20 degrees Fahreneheit (-9.44 Celsius). They can be grown in USDA zones 7a-11 (Sunset zones 3b-24). They like some summer water in warmer areas.

The Jerusalem sage is my favorite plant this week. Please visit Loree at danger garden, our host for the weekly favorite plants meme, to see her current favorite and link to other gardeners' contributions.

We finally got some real rain! My rain gauge shows 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) thus far with more rain predicted through today. There were worries about the soil's ability to absorb so much rain at one time in many areas, most notably those to the east impacted by last month's fires, but we've had no problems here. The air is fresher than it has been in months and, when the rain paused and the sunlight filtered briefly through the clouds, I took Ming out for a walk and snapped some photos for this month's wide shots post.

I'll start as usual with the backyard. The biggest change is that we finished digging up a large section of lawn to create a new border stretching from the fountain area to the side yard border. I managed to get a few plants in the ground before the rain came but the area is still mostly empty. However, once we dry out a bit, I plant to go to get to work shopping the local nurseries and planting, planting, planting.

This is the usual view of the backyard from the back door, looking out toward the harbor. You can see the new Japanese maple, Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa' and a few other things planted in the new border that follows the paved walkway.

The back border, photographed from the left side

The back borders, photographed from the right side

The biggest changes to the side yard since last month's post are the addition of a new Japanese maple (barely visible in my photos) and 2 pots that mark the transition from the flagstone path in the side yard to the wide grass pathway that occupies the space between the old backyard border and the new, as yet largely unplanted, border.

Side yard, photographed from the front yard lawn looking toward the backyard

The side yard photographed from the small side yard patio. I put Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid' in the 2 new pots and plan to add succulents.

Side yard, photographed from a lower dirt path. The Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' that replaced the Driyms lanceolata (mountain pepper) in this bed can be seen on the far left - it's still little more than a stick.

I've added a few plants, 2 additional Coleonema and 4 Argyranthemum to the front border, but that space otherwise remains the same. The shrub roses are not yet blooming, although I suspect they will be before my April post.

Front yard photographed from the entrance to the driveway

Left side of front lawn and border

Right side of front lawn and border

This month, I added a photo of the hedge on the far right side of our property, fronting the street. I pruned this hedge within an inch of its life in January. All but one of the shrubs that make up the hedge, which I think are Pittosporum eugenioides, are showing signs of new growth. Still, they have a long way to go before they again provide an effective screen.

The shrub on the far left appeared dead before I started pruning and it's the only one that has yet to produce any new growth. It may have to be removed and replaced.

There's nothing new in the vegetable garden to speak of. The sweet peas in the third raised planter have lots of foliage and some buds but have yet to produce a single bloom. However, the Mandarin oranges are ripe!

The dry garden, which I've barely watered since our state's drought emergency was announced in January, has really appreciated the rain. The tree in the foreground on the right is still laden with ripe guavas but the squirrels and the raccoons are making some headway in carrying the fruit away.

Dry garden, photographed from the paved walkway leading to the vegetable garden

Ming photobombing this picture of the dry garden taken from the backyard

That's it for my monthly overview of the garden. I didn't venture down the slope this month as it's muddy there at the moment.

Why is it the daffodils can't hold their heads up? Are they shy? Don't they know how pretty they are? I've been trying to get a good picture of mine but, short of holding their heads up to face the camera, I've done a poor job of it.

I've no ID on this variety even though I have a lot of them

I think this one is Narcissus 'White Lion'

I'm also having trouble with my Freesia, which have a tendency to flop and lay about with their heads on the ground. I need to get more flower stakes.

The Anemones, in contrast, stand tall and proud.

The Ranunculus I planted from tubers in the fall have begun to bloom too, at least the purple variety. I love the flower but I'm not sure how I feel about the color of this one, which reads as more red than purple to me.

The biggest surprise in the bulb category was the appearance of the Hippeastrum cybister I planted along the street last year after their initial bloom as potted plants. Despite being planted in a relatively dry and inhospitable location and repeatedly being dug up by raccoons, it appears that at least 3 of the 6 are going to bloom. One already has.

I have an ID on this one - it's Hippeastrum cybister 'Emerald'

The succulent bulbs, Ledebouria socialis, are also blooming. They aren't easy to photograph either. I love that speckled foliage.

There's more bulb foliage coming up but, frankly, I've forgotten most of what I planted. I know there are some Spanish bluebells scattered here and there for starters. Although I keep pretty good records of my perennials and shrubs, I'm terrible about recording which bulbs I've planted, much less where I've planted them. When they show up, it's always a delightful surprise.

For a relatively small plant, Uncinia uncinata 'Rubra,' has definite presence in the garden. I'm currently on the hunt for more to add to my new garden bed but the only variety I've found available so far is far duller in color. 'Rubra' positively glows.

The pictures above were taken in the gloom of a foggy morning, yet they still look as though the sun is shining through the leaves. It picks up the orange coloration of nearby plants, like Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope,' creating a nice echo. Mine have been in the ground over 4 months now but they're slow-growing and still shy of their predicted size of 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 15 inches (38 cm) wide.

This grass-like sedge, which also goes by the name of hook grass and bastard grass*, is endemic to both New Zealand and Hawaii. It grows in full to partial sun but requires regular water. It's reported to be hardy to 15F (-9C) and deer resistent, neither of which I can personally attest to. I was warned by other bloggers that it can be a rampant reseeder but, to date, I have no evidence to suggest that - as things stand I'd love to have more of these plants to spread around. At present, I wait as the plant sits on my wish list with Annie's Annuals & Perennials.

Uncinia uncinata 'Rubra' is my contribution to Loree's weekly favorite plants meme at danger garden. Please visit her site to see her pick of the week, as well as to find links to other gardeners' selections.

*I was unable to uncover an explanation for this epithet.

Since we finished taking out a large swath of lawn, most of my free time has been devoted to filling the space. During our all too brief rainy spell, I spent my time drawing up plans and researching plants on-line. After that, I began haunting local nurseries - this morning, the cashier at the local Armstrong even commented on the frequency of my visits. I still have holes to fill but I'm making progress.

Bed after initial planting - there's still a lot to do!

The same bed, photographed from the other end

In deference to my agreement with my husband to keep things in the new bed relatively low so as not to block the view of the harbor from the living room, most of the plants I've selected are relatively low-growers, reaching 3 feet tall (less than 1 meter) at most. There are a few exceptions.

Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa'

Leucadendron salignum x laureolum 'Rising Sun'

The Japanese maple is a dwarf. A slow grower often used in bonsai, it shouldn't get much taller than 6 feet at maturity. As I pointed out to my husband, it's also deciduous and it's placed opposite the established Calliandra, which sits in the bed on the other side of the walkway, neatly blocking the back side of the TV in the living room. The new Leucadendron is a "compact" variety, which also grows to 6 feet but it's positioned in a corner area out of the line of sight to the harbor's gateway. I agonized over the Leucadendron, considering 'Winter Red' and 'Goldstrike,' both of which grow to 3-4 feet, as well as 'Safari Sunset,' a taller variety, before settling on 'Rising Sun.'

I'm trying to repeat and group plants to a greater extent than it's my habit to do in constructing this bed. I hope this will create more continuity and increase the impact of the plants I've selected.

Euphorbia 'Blue Lagoon' - I added 5 of these, all of which came in 4-inch pots

As well as 5 Salvia 'Mystic Spires'

3 Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame,' a hybrid of Digitalis and Isoplexis

And 7 Brachyscome 'Brasco Violet,' an annual

Plus 4 Lavandula stoechas 'Voodoo Purple'

Some of the plants I've chosen are new to me.

Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'

Bulbine frutescens

'Gold Dust,' a variegated dwarf rosemary which grows just 8-12 inches tall and wide

Other selections are old favorites I haven't grown in this garden.

Justicia brandegeana

I've also direct sown some seeds and started cuttings of my favorite Plectranthus. There's a lot more to plant and I have to get back to work getting my most recent purchases in the ground.

Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' and another lavender

Assorted groundcover/edging material: Ajuga, Mecardonia, and Veronica

There are plants on my wish list I have yet to find, like another Phormium 'Amazing Red' and Coreopsis 'Big Bang Redshift,' but my search activities will have to wait until next weekend. I'll provide an update soon. Rest assured, though, no harbor views have been damaged thus far.

Photo taken from inside the living room looking out upon the Port of Los Angeles

I recently spent a couple of hours at South Coast Botanic Garden with a friend. She had a rare day off and we met to stroll the garden and have lunch. The sun was already high in the sky when we arrived so many of my pictures didn't come out well but I thought I'd share some of the highlights, which make it clear that spring is here, even if its arrival has been delayed elsewhere.

Aloe, Aeoniums and assorted ice plants were in full bloom near the entrance.

The flowering Aloes immediately grab your attention...

but I was particularly impressed by the flowering Aeonium...

and the bright colors of the flowering ice plants kicked the mix up another notch

The Volunteer Garden was also full of color.

This area contains a jumble of plants but it's a cheerful mix

Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) were in bloom throughout

Blue and chartreuse dominated this bed filled with Echium, Borage and Euphorbia

The California poppies were already in bloom

There were also lots of Scilla peruviana...

and a sea of Snow in Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)...

and even tulips, which survived only a nanosecond in my garden less than 5 miles away

The coral trees were covered with vibrant blooms.

Erythrina of some variety

The Japanese flowering cherry trees were also in full flower in an area clearly designed to host spring weddings.

Prunus serrulata 'Pink Cloud'

Weeds were rampant in the cactus garden, perhaps the result of our recent rains, but there were some handsome Agaves and succulents throughout.

Bed fronted with what I think was Sawtooth Agave

A neater version of the Yucca elephantipes that sits at the bottom of my own back slope, bordered by Senecio, Aeonium and assorted cactus

Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum'

My favorite 'Blue Glow' Agave

The spineless Agave desmetiana

Dudleya brittonii

This area impressed me, although my photo isn't especially good.

The large Loropetalum had leaves with a golden cast that was picked up in the yellow Arctotis at the front of the bed

Before we headed out to lunch, passing a statuesque palm tree, I even picked up a couple of plants at the garden gift shop.

Senegal date palm (Phoenix reclinata)

All in all, it was a great visit - I had time to catch up with a good friend; the sky was a clear bright blue; it was warm but comfortable; and I even got 2 new plants. What could be better? You can see pictures from last summer's visit to the same garden here.

I'm tempted to call my favorite plant of the week the plant of many names. Frankly, even after doing some on-line research, I'm still not sure what its proper botanical name is. I purchased the plant in January 2011 from Annie's Annuals & Perennials as Ageratum corymbosum. Annie's site later showed a name change to Eupatorium sordidum but is now again selling it under the name of Ageratum corymbosum, without an explanation for the change. I've found pictures of the plant on-line under both names, some supplied by Annie's and some by other parties. I also found cross references to Bartlettina sordida, which has remarkably similar flowers but less purple foliage. However, Annie's sells that plant as a separate offering. As my plant looks like an Ageratum and as my original supplier is currently using that name for it, I've used that in the post's title but, in the interest of fair disclosure, you should be aware of the confusion regarding its classification, especially as descriptions of the plant's size and hardiness vary with the classification used by the different sources.

Annie's site projects the plant's mature size as 3 feet tall and wide. Width is hard to assess as I have multiple plants that have grown together but mine is currently closer to 4 feet tall. It's evergreen - or, as Annie's describes it, "ever-purple." The leaves have a velvety quality and take on a purplish coloration as they mature. I prune mine ever so slightly after its main spring bloom, just to clean it up.

It produces some blooms off and on during the course of the year but, in my garden, the heaviest bloom occurs in early spring. Buds began appearing in January but the blooms take their time. It's coming into full bloom now. The flowers have the classic flossy appearance of the annual Ageratum.

It's generally described as a shade plant. Mine receives morning sun but it's in shade during the warmest part of the day. The University of Arizona says it can tolerate some drought but requires water during the summer dry season - mine does fine on a drip irrigation system. Annie's site says it's root hardy to 15F. Dave's Garden projects a similar level of hardiness for Ageratum corymbosum but suggests that significantly higher minimum temperatures are required for Bartlettina sordida. As we haven't seen a freeze in the time we've had the plant, I can't offer assurances one way or another with respect to winter hardiness.

Ageratum corymbosum - or whatever you wish to call it - is my favorite plant this week. Please visit the host of this weekly favorite plants meme, Loree at danger garden, for her pick this week and to find links to other gardeners' selections.

Everything's coming up roses this March Bloom Day in Southern California. Well, that's actually a gross exaggeration. I don't have many roses and only a portion of those I do have are blooming but, because they're getting an early start this year, I thought I'd let them lead this month's Bloom Day parade.

'California Dreamin'

'Joseph's Coat' climber

'Joseph's Coat' in its glory, blooming against the stone of the chimney

'Medallion'

Now that I've dispensed with the flashiest blooms in my garden, I'll proceed to the biggest surprises.

Planted shortly after we moved in 3 years ago and transplanted once afterwards, Helleborus 'Phoebe' has finally bloomed!

A division of an unnamed Alstroemeria from the backyard I planted in the front border a year ago has bloomed

The California poppies I planted from seed in the vegetable garden last year have shown up a month early this year - so far, all the blooms are this creamy pink color

Hippeastrum 'La Paz,' transplanted in a bed along the street last year, has bloomed - I'm hoping that these will establish colonies in time

The Phalaenopsis my husband bought to commemorate our anniversary last year has rebloomed despite getting nothing more than haphazard watering during the past year

Since last month's Bloom Day, a large number of plants have joined the parade of flowers.

Acanthus mollis ('Summer Beauty' I think) has produced several bloom spikes

Aeonium arboreum

Ajuga hybrid 'Mint Chip,' a dwarf variety, grows between paving stones in the side yard

The first blooms of Aquilegia 'Spring Magic' have appeared

Calibrachoa 'Tequila Sunrise,' planted in early winter, has returned to bloom

Ceanothus (unknown variety)

Euryops 'Sonnenchein,' a dwarf variety, planted last spring

Hemerocallis ('Elizabeth Salter' I think)

The first of the Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) to bloom

Iris douglasiana (no ID on variety)

A mix of annual Linaria

Purple Ranunculus

This "purple" Ranunculus bloomed red

I purchased a few new bloomers this month as well.

A new, small-flowered Cymbidium, picked up at the local botanic garden

Hibiscus trionum, also picked up at the local botanic garden

Dianthus barbatus 'Heart Attack'

Some of the plants featured last year at this time, like the Camellia hybrid, the Hong Kong orchid tree, and the daffodils, have already come close to finishing their spring bloom cycle this March, hurried on their way by our wicked Santa Ana winds perhaps. However, many of the plants I featured in last month's Bloom Day post continue to march on. Here are a few of those:

Anemone

Erysimum

Hebe 'Patty's Purple' with Geranium 'Tiny Monster' and an Osteospermum with spoon-shaped petals

A mix of blue and white Osteospermum with spoon-shaped and regular petals

Osteospermum eklonis '3D Silver' and pink Alstroemeria

Osteospermum 'Serity Purple'

Papaver nudicaule

Phlomis fruticosa

Sparaxis tricolor

Spring is already giving way to summer here in southern California as temperatures climb up toward 90F (32C). Despite the pleasantness of the warm days, I'd gladly exchange them for a bit more rain.

That's it for my Bloom Day review. Please visit Carol, the gracious host of the Bloom Day meme, at May Dreams Gardens for a view of what's blooming in other areas of the US and elsewhere in the world.

What's impressing me most in terms of foliage right now is the fresh spring growth on some of my deciduous plants. The Japanese maples, in particular, can't be ignored. I acquired 2 new Acer palmatum in February. At the time of purchase, they both looked like sticks. One month later, they're fleshing out nicely.

Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa' in mid-February

"Mikawa Yatsubusa,' planted in my new backyard bed, photographed yesterday

Close-up of leaves on 'Mikawa Yatsubusa'

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' at time of purchase

'Purple Ghost' one month later, planted in my side yard

The coral bark maple I planted in March 2011 is running a little behind the 2 new trees but its first new leaves began appearing last week. The light green leaves stand out against the coral bark.

New foliage on Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'

However, the most exciting discovery was that the Itoh peony I planted last May has produced new foliage. More Itoh peonies have recently appeared in the local nurseries, tempting me with their fat buds despite their hefty price tags. So far, I'm resolved to ignore their charms until I see whether the peony I've already got blooms for me this year.

Fresh foliage on Paeonia 'Keiko'

I'm afraid that the tree peony I planted in 2011 is still a stick, albeit a stick with tiny pink buds.

Honestly, the plant is almost invisible in my front border

I'm not holding my breath over the prospects of the tree peony but, just this past week, I added another peony to my limited collection. This one hails from the Mediterranean region and isn't supposed to need the winter chill peonies generally prefer. It arrived from Annie's Annuals & Perennials in a 4-inch pot so it may be a year or more before its charms can be assessed. (You can find a photo of it in bloom here.)

Newly planted Paeonia cambessedesii (aka Majorcan Peony)

In response to our recent rain, my grape vine has also produced pretty green leaves. At this stage it seems possible to believe that maybe, just maybe, I'll get some grapes before those dastardly birds and squirrels strip the vine clean.

Grape vine climbing the arbor my husband built to support it

These are my contributions to the monthly foliage follow-up hosted by Pam at Digging. Please visit her blog to see her foliage picks this month and find links to other gardeners' selections.

My cat, Ming, featured in prior posts (here, here and here) during what became a regular routine of daily walks through the garden last December, passed away yesterday. I like to think he's joined his litter-mate, Max, who we lost to congestive heart failure more than 5 years ago. They were inseparable from kittenhood in 2001 until 2008.

Ming up front, Max behind on their screened porch at our old house

They frequently slept together and got into trouble together (my husband called them the Destruction Duo)

Although they looked so innocent

Just like bookends

My favorite picture - Ming reaching down toward Max from atop the cat tree my husband built for them

Ming didn't have the same kind of close relationship with Pipig even though she treated him as the alpha-cat, just like Max did.

Ming held onto life longer than I expected once it became clear that his decline was irreversible. He remained his stubborn self, even as he grew frailer and frailer. I credit the daily walks we took for that as much, if not more, than the medications, vitamin shots, and near-constant feedings he received. If I was out in the garden, he wanted to be out there too and he would let me know it as only a Siamese cat can.

Ming loudly protesting his incarceration inside the house with Pipig standing meekly by

The fountain became his favorite water dish.

He stalked birds and squirrels in the backyard, even though he never came close to catching one.

He stalked lizards in the shrubbery.

He never caught one of those either - unless you count the hapless fellow foolish enough to venture into his screened porch.

He expected me to follow him, wherever he chose to go, but he'd usually wait up for me if I lagged behind.

And if I sat down, he'd usually jump into my lap.

I'm going to miss my garden companion.

At one time, when I was stressed or upset, I'd engage in retail therapy. These days I can hardly stand to go shopping (unless it's for plants, of course). Gardening is my preferred therapeutic outlet. This week I spent most of my free time in the garden, tidying things up, watering, and planting. My extended fountain border is 80 percent done. Because I'm buying my plants in the smallest sizes available to give them the best possible chance of developing healthy root systems in the soil I've provided for them, the bed still looks pretty bare; however, my side yard filled in fairly quickly in 6 months and I'm hoping this new bed does as well.

Hazy morning view of the new bed from the backyard door

View of the new border from the north end

View of the same border from the south end

I was going to include a list of plants here but I realized it would be ridiculously long. The total currently amounts to over 140 individual plants, falling into 40 different genera (and that doesn't include the seeds I've direct sown or the cuttings I'm in the process of rooting). A few plants were featured in an earlier post. The majority of the plants were purchased specifically for this bed but a few were moved from other areas of the garden. Some of the edging materials came in small 6-packs, saving me a bit of money, which is a good thing as I still have empty spaces to fill. I've been looking for Coreopsis 'Big Bang Redshift' and Uncina uncinata 'Rubra' but neither are currently available locally. I know it's early in the year to be looking for the Coreopsis, which the local nurseries usually only offer in flower so I may have to resort to mail order. I've found a variety of the Uncinia in 3-quart pots but the price is high and it lacks the vibrancy of the variety I used in my other backyard border so I'll wait until Annie's Annuals has more available for mail order.

The feature plants in the new bed are a Japanese maple, a Leucadendron, and a Phormium.

Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa,' which in time should grow to about 6 feet tall

Leucadendron 'Rising Sun,' which should also grow to 6 feet in height at maturity

Phormium 'Amazing Red,' a relatively short variety, growing just 2 feet in height

The Phormium pictured above is actually in the side yard but I bought another of the same variety for the new border to help connect the 2 areas. Two Carex testacea were moved from the side border to the new border for the same purpose. Two new pots, both planted with Euphorbia and the same mix of succulents, mark the transition from the flagstone path of the side yard to the grass pathway that runs between the new border and the pre-existing backyard border.

Pot containing Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid,' Graptoveria 'Fred Ives,' Portulacaria afra, Rhipsalis ewaldiana, and unknown Echeveria

Pot containing the same mix of plants on the other side of the pathway

In addition to the long border described above, I've planted the bed formerly occupied by our "snorkel spa," which was dismantled in January with plans to use the wood to make a table for the back patio. The space went from this:

The snorkel spa before it was taken apart

To this:

The bed after the spa was removed and the gravel was cleared

To this:

The bed after planting

This bed, sitting alongside one of our Arbutus 'Marina' trees, has given me a place to put some red-toned plants that clash with plants elsewhere in my garden. Four of the plants in this bed were moved from other areas: a Loropetalum chinense, the Driyms lanceolata, the largest of the 3 Argyranthemum, and a purple/red Ranunculus. The Loropetalum, which had been in danger of being consumed by an overly exuberant gray Helichrysum in the side yard, is no more than twigs with a few leaves but I'm hopeful it will fare better here. My favorite addition to this bed (other than the still tiny Paeonia cambesseddesii in the middle front) is Dianthus barbatus 'Heart Attack.' A perennial Dianthus, this plant is new to me. It was advertised as "almost black" in color but the flowers are actually burgundy.

Dianthus barbatus 'Heart Attack'

I feel I've made good progress with my backyard renovation projects, even though there's still a lot to do. The garden is also a good place to regroup and refocus - and time spent there never results in buyer's remorse.

A very good friend and I were finally able to take an often-discussed and long-awaited trip north to nursery shop in Carpinteria and Calabasas this weekend. I took my shopping list but I wasn't able to find either the Coreopsis 'Big Bang Redshift' or the Uncinia uncinata 'Rubra' I've been hunting for. Despite my recent resolve to exercise some discipline and stick more closely to my planting plan, I'm afraid I went off the rails with impulse purchases. Can you visit 4 plant sellers and buy nothing? I've never had that kind of will-power.

The trouble with impulse purchases, at least in my own case, is that I often have only the vaguest of notion as to where I'm going to put them. I placed Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia on my cart at Sperling Nursery in Calabasas and then considered where I could plant it.

Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia (variety not specified)

Based on the limited information provided on the grower's label, my initial plan was to put it in my dry garden as a foil for Phormium tenax 'Yellow Wave' and P. 'Tiny Tiger.' This would work but I wasn't as happy with the placement as I expected to be. I'd also have to clear out some plants to make room for it.

Grevillea trying on the dry garden

I considered the new bed that formerly held the snorkel spa. A touch of yellow would shake up the collection of plants there. The Grevillea also would get more sun there than it would next to the Phormium in the dry garden. However, if/when the Driyms lanceolata (mountain pepper) in the middle of that bed reaches 10 feet tall and wide, the Grevillea, with an estimated height of 4-5 feet at maturity, would be hidden. The Driyms appears to be a slow grower but the size differentials are a concern nonetheless.

Possible placement for the Grevillea in the red bed

I hadn't initially thought of putting it into my new extended backyard border but I do have a couple of holes in my plan I hadn't yet identified plants to fill. The south end of the bed is among the sunniest in my garden. I think the Grevillea nicely complements the new Leucadendron 'Rising Sun,' Justicia brandegeeana and Phormium 'Amazing Red'already in place there and the height differences don't pose a conflict in this location. Kismet!

Grevillea trying out the south end of the new border

A closer look

No, the Grevillea wasn't my only purchase. Here are some of the others:

6 Anagallis, an orange-flowered variety in the Wildcat series, planted among the Digiplexis and Acorus

Lupinus chamissionis, probably slated for placement at the north end of the new backyard border (provided that it isn't immediately ravaged by raccoons like the one I bought at Seaside Nursery in Carpinteria last year)

A magenta Arctotis, also purchased at Seaside Nursery, now planted in front of the hedge along the street

And my friend gave me a special pot, planted with succulents, in remembrance.

So, are impulse purchases a valuable creative tool to shake up your garden plan, or do they more commonly interfere with your designs? For me, I'd say it's 50/50.

In a mid-February favorite plant post, I predicted that my favorite choices were going to get more difficult as spring progressed. That was indeed the problem this week as I flitted from plant to plant, each beckoning for well-deserved attention. Given that situation, you may be surprised to find that I've chosen a shrub, commonly used as hedge material here, as this week's favorite. I'm a bit surprised myself. But every time I look out my home office window or pull into our driveway, I'm impressed by just how good our Xylosma congestum hedge looks right now.

Portion of Xylosma congestum hedge facing the street

Foliage close-up

Another close-up highlighting the brightly-colored new growth

The hedge was sheared a few weeks ago so it's currently sporting glossy new bronze foliage. This hedge, which extends along 3 sides of our property, is what finally prompted me to hire a mow and blow landscape service a few months after we moved in. Keeping the Xylosma under control requires shearing 3-4 times per year. My Sunset Western Garden Book says that, when grown as a hedge, it'll get 8-10 feet (2.5-3 meters) tall and wide but other sources claim that, left unpruned, it can get much, much larger. It can also be grown as a small tree or espalier, although I haven't seen it used that way in my own area.

This house came with multiple hedges, even hedges within hedges, but this one, if kept pruned, performs - and maintains its appearance - better than all the others.

At the front of the house, the Xylosma hedge runs along the street. On the south side of the driveway a Ceanothus hedge sits atop an interior stacked wall, separated from the Xylosma by a 3-foot wide moss-covered pathway.

Xylosma is evergreen here and attractive year-round, even right after shearing. It's said to be susceptible to chlorosis and white flies; however, I've seen no evidence of either. According to the sources I consulted, it remains evergreen where winter temperatures don't dip below 25F (-4C) and it's root hardy to 10F (-12C). It manages with low to moderate water. One site claimed "medium" deer tolerance, although I can't speak to what that means.

Odd as it may be, despite the clamor of a variety of spring-blooming shrubs, bulbs and perennials, Xylosma congestum is my pick as favorite plant this week. Please visit Loree, our host for the favorite plant meme, at danger garden to see her favorite this week and to find links to other gardeners' favorite plant selections.

My favorite plant this week: Anigozanthos hybrids

Bloom Day - February 2014

Foliage Follow-up: February Focus on Phormium

I was tempted...

My favorite plant this week: Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold'

The crows are back in town...

Preparations for Planting

My favorite plant this week: Phlomis fruticosa

Wide shots: March 2014

Droopy Daffodils and Floppy Freesia

My favorite plant this week: Uncinia uncinata 'Rubra'

Busy, busy, busy...

Bright Colors at South Coast Botanic Garden

My favorite plant of the week: Ageratum corymbosum

Bloom Day - March 2014

Foliage Follow-up: New Spring Growth

Ming Moves On

Garden Therapy

Decisions, decisions, decisions

My favorite plant this week: Xylosma congestum