A close friend visited last Saturday and, in addition to having lunch on my back patio, we took a spin around the neighborhood. I brought my camera of course. Even given the mild winter conditions of coastal Southern California, garden landscapes are muted but I picked some of the most colorful displays to share with you.
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| We initially headed up the main road outside my neighborhood but backed off when we encountered tree trimming activity blocking our way. I took this overhead shot of my neighborhood from that elevation. You can just make out my house (with the hedge lining the street) in the middle of this shot across the street from the house with the colorful trees. |
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| The candelabra aloes (Aloe arborescens) offered the only color at the entrance to the neighborhood |
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| This home with the steep slope featured Bougainvillea with bright red bracts and red tree-like Cordylines |
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| This stretch along the neighborhood road wasn't particularly colorful but I thought it looked pretty good |
Two neighborhood gardens in particular stood out. The first belongs to the neighbors who live directly across the street from me. Their trees have finally developed the striking color people in the northeastern part of the country associate with fall.
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| They have Ginkgos and some kind of noID maples. I have no idea what the tree with the very red foliage on the left is. |
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| More maples |
The other garden of note belongs to neighbors several doors down the block from us.
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| This street-side succulent bed, backed up by colorful Bougainvillea, is stunning right now |
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| At this time of year, I always kick myself for having failed to add Aloe arborescens to my own street-side succulent bed. This clump includes some with variegated foliage. |
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| Closeups of an Agave gypsophila, variegated foliage of Aloe arborescens, and possibly the largest rosette of Aeonium arboreum I've ever seen |
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| This is a wider shot of the bed. I couldn't capture the entire area, however. |
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| This is a more recently planted section (partially hidden in the wider shot above by a bloomed-out Leonotis leonurus) |
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| I'm awed by this stand of burgundy Aeonium every time I see it |
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| On the other side of the house, beyond the driveway, there's another wonderful succulent bed atop a stacked-stone wall |
Most of the holiday displays in the neighborhood were low-key.
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| A simple ribbon affixed to a lamppost, echoing the color of the berries |
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| A holiday-themed sitting area outside a garage |
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| This was the biggest outdoor holiday display, an indication that more families with kids have joined the neighborhood in recent years |
Next year I think I should decorate the exterior of my lath (shade) house.
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| Wouldn't Santa look good hanging from the back of my lath house? |
I've been busy with a bit of last-minute planting and garden cleanup for the past several days. We've got a slight chance of rain tonight but there's a 99% chance on Thursday. The current forecast shows the possibility we'll get an inch or more, with the prospect of intermittent showers continuing through Saturday. Many people may not appreciate a wet Christmas but I'm honestly looking forward to it.
All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
