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Transformation
Last week my husband finished the patio table he's been working on and we put it in place in the backyard.The table top was constructed of wood salvaged from the firewood-heated "snorkel spa" we...
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My favorite plant this week: Lupinus chamissonis
My favorite plant this week, Lupinus chamissonis, also known as bush lupine and silver dune lupine, is the one that was in contention with last week's choice. It's also a beautiful plant but its...
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Bloom Day - June 2014
It's Garden Blogger's Bloom Day. Hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens, it's a time to take stake of what's blooming in one own's garden and an opportunity to have a look at what's flowering in...
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In a Vase on Monday: Summer Sunshine
I didn't plan to do it. I can't believe I did it. But I did. I cut the first 2 sunflowers to bloom in my garden for the floral bouquet composed in connection with the meme sponsored by Cathy at...
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Foliage Follow-up - Mastering the Mimosa?
I was initially at a loss for plants to feature in this month's foliage follow-up, sponsored by Pam at Digging. Then I looked out my home office window and found myself admiring the mimosa tree in our...
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My favorite plant this week: Leonotis leonurus
One of the best things about the weekly favorites posts sponsored by Loree at danger garden is that they encourage a closer examination of what I have growing in my garden. My favorite plant this...
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A Case of Mistaken Identity
When asked for input about trees, I generally respond that "I'm not a tree person," an inept way to explain that I'm not particularly knowledgeable about trees. I grew up surrounded by palm trees and...
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Summer Solstice Pool Party
It's probably my imagination but the birds seemed particularly active in the backyard on the afternoon of the summer solstice. There was a lot of activity at the fountain, although that didn't seem to...
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In a Vase on Monday: Fuzzy Flowers
Since Leonotis leoanurus is currently making a splash in my backyard border, I thought I'd try using a little of it in my bouquet for "In a Vase on Monday," a weekly meme sponsored by Cathy at Rambling...
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Wordless Wednesday: New Orchid Blooms
Miltassia Shelob 'Tolkein'Unidentified Phalaenopsis
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The Front Porch Gets Dressed Up
As summer sets in here in Southern California, it becomes more and more ridiculous to continue planting. If a heatwave hits, new plantings frequently die, even if they get extra water. Every year I...
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My favorite plant this week: Anagallis 'Wildcat Mandarin'
Anagallis monelli, with its intense blue flowers, seems to be relatively well known, although I only became acquainted with it last year. I came across a hybrid, Anagallis 'Wildcat Mandarin,' on a...
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Trapped By His Own Greed!
That sounds like the headline of a sensational story in a supermarket tabloid, doesn't it? Well, this isn't that kind of article but the title is descriptive. This is yet another account of the...
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In a Vase on Monday: Forget-Me-Not
In early May, following our first major heatwave, I mail-ordered plants I'd had on my wish list when they finally became available. As the price for shipping is the same for 8 plants as it is for 5, I...
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Wide Shots - July 2014
Summer is not a good time for planting here in Southern California. Ideally, gardeners here use the hot, dry months of summer to plan next year's garden, much as gardeners in colder climates use their...
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Happy 4th of July!
Best wishes for a wonderful Independence Day! Here's my version of safe and sane fireworks:Phormium 'Dark Delight' and Hebe 'Wiri Blush'Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'Amaranthus cruentus 'Hopi Red...
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In a Vase on Monday: It started with a rose...
There aren't many roses in bloom in my garden at present and those that do appear don't last long so, when I saw that 'California Dreamin' had a bud opening, I clipped it and, as Cathy at Rambling in...
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The Gardener Goes Inland
My nursery and garden center forays generally keep me close to the coast. Last Saturday, following spontaneous recommendations received from 2 neighbors at different points in time, a friend and I...
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Mostly Wordless Wildlife Wednesday: The Scrub-Jay Rules (the fountain)
The small birds seem to enjoy sharing the fountain.But the Western Scrub-Jay bathes alone! No others dare approach to intrude upon his ablutions. Juvenile Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
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