Clik here to view.
Bloom Day - January 2022
After one of the coldest and wettest Decembers on record for California, January thus far has been warmer and completely dry in the southern part of the state. The long-term projections for the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In a Vase on Monday: Complimentary colors
This week I put together two smaller arrangements using flowers in colors on opposite sides of the color wheel. The first one was created using blue flowers.Because I so frequently have difficulty...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Drought-tolerant Foliage Plants
Although my garden is already showing signs of gearing up for spring's floral explosion, many of my foliage plants are looking so good they warrant some attention. December's heavier-than-usual...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The southwest sloping succulent bed
In late 2020, suffering from the stir-craziness that accompanied the pandemic, I decided to tackle a complete renovation of the moderate slope on the lower level of our front garden. I worked on it...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In a Vase on Monday: From exuberant to dainty
After a full week of warmer temperatures, the three bulbs of Hippeastrum 'Luna' I planted in a single pot exploded into bloom. In addition to the stem I cut for a previous IAVOM post two weeks ago and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wednesday Vignette: Spring cracks open the door...
Yesterday's sunrise was evident only as a glowing pink light beneath a thick marine layer. The morning marine layer had largely disappeared of late but it paid us an unexpected return visit yesterday...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Small garden projects
I'm still trying to stay close to home to avoid unnecessary exposure to Omicron. This week's garden projects were a mixed bag. The one I got the most enjoyment out of involved a dried grape vine, my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In a Vase on Monday: This and that
The red hellebores in my front garden grabbed my attention this week and I created my first arrangement to play off them. I kept discovering suitable companions, snipping as I went until I had more...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The evolution of the front garden
I spent some time looking back at the evolution of my front garden this week. I've previously reviewed the development of the back garden, the north side garden, and the south side garden. As the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Another stab at addressing my back slope
You may have noticed that I often refer to my back slope in negative terms, frequently referencing it using adjectives like "horrible" and "hideous." The slope and I have a difficult relationship. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In a Vase on Monday: Pink and blue again
There aren't many new flowers on the scene this week, although I've been pleased to see bulbs and various shrubs developing buds. We've had a seemingly never-ending series of Santa Ana wind events...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wednesday Vignette: Too much of a good thing?
Several years ago, a garden blogger asked: what name would you give your garden if you were to assign it one? One of the names that occurred to me at the time was 'Aeoniumville'. As my go-to filler...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Aloe blooms drew me in but the flowering trees and shrubs captured my heart
I woke Thursday morning to news of Southern California's first significant wildfire of 2022. It had broken out overnight in Laguna Beach, fifty-plus miles to the south of us, after a stretch of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In a Vase on Monday: Not up to Valentine's Day standards
While I have a few red flowers in the garden, I couldn't come up with any mixes that excited me. Given last week's unseasonably hot and dry conditions, my color schemes were driven by a desire to make...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bloom Day - February 2022
Spring arrives early in coastal Southern California. Despite the complete lack of rain in November and again in January, the heavier-than-usual rain in December raised my expectations for a bountiful...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Queen of Hearts says...
Off with their heads! Alice in Wonderland's Queen of Hearts wasn't known for her patience. As spring moves ahead at record speed here and my focus shifts to planting, deadheading flowers, and, in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In a Vase on Monday: It's not an illusion
My calendar reads the same as yours but it IS spring here in every way that counts. While it's not nearly as warm as it was two weeks ago, new flowers are awakening daily. The pace of bloom isn't...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wednesday Vignette: A Rorschach test for gardeners
I was captivated by the tree shown below during a visit to my local botanic garden earlier this month. As I struggled to understand why it fascinated me, it occurred to me that what it symbolized may...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Garage area garden refresh
The area on the west side of the garage, sandwiched between the hedge that fronts the street and and the driveway, was the last area we addressed in our campaign to remove all our lawn after moving in....
View ArticleClik here to view.
In a Vase on Monday: Blue and yellow
Blue and yellow flowers were the natural choice for an arrangement this week. It's a small way to signify support for the Ukrainian people in light of the aggressive, unprovoked actions taken by a...
View Article