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Before it gets hot...
I visited South Coast Botanic Garden earlier this week, primarily as another exercise in the use of my new camera but also because it's only going to get hotter as the summer progresses so the clock...
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In a Vase on Monday: Off to a fiery start!
Well, summer rolled in like a lion here and I can only cross my fingers in the hope that it'll achieve the proverbial gentleness of a lamb as the season progresses. We topped 94F (34C) yesterday....
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Wild & Weedy Wednesday: Desirable weeds?
I'm joining Cathy of Words and Herbs for Wild & Weedy Wednesday again this week to show off a few plants that have shown a proclivity for straying. They aren't native wildflowers and they haven't...
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June's tour of South Coast Botanic Garden (Part 2)
Last Friday, I posted part one of my June tour of South Coast Botanic Garden. Today's post covers where that one left off, starting with the Palm Circle near the entrance to the garden.The Palm Circle...
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In a Vase on Monday: More lilies
After teasing me with promising buds for well over a month, my lilies are now unfolding one after another. This week, in recognition of Independence Day, I chose to cut one stem of Lilium 'Friso' to...
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Wide Shots - July 2024
July is one of my least favorite months. It's hot. It's dry. The rainwater I collected is gone. The bulb blooms that delighted me in spring have disappeared, leaving homely foliage to die back oh...
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Butterflies love warm temperatures!
I've yet to miss making at least one visit to my local botanic garden's Butterfly Pavilion for its summer SOAR exhibit. The Pavilion opened for the first time on April 1, 2021. It opened in May this...
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In a Vase on Monday: A change of plans
I'd planned to construct an arrangement around Lilium 'Pretty Woman' but discovered that it was past its sell-date as the saying goes so I had to switch gears. I noticed that my Leonotis leonurus...
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July's ups and downs (so far)
We've been very lucky with respect to our daytime temperatures so far. While another so-called heat dome is still toasting most of California, launching wildfires, our temperatures along the Southern...
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Bloom Day - July 2024 (Early Edition)
Time is short and the heat is on so I got an early start on my Bloom Day post this month. Even though my eyes see a diminished supply of flowers, there's still plenty of color in my garden, although...
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In a Vase on Monday: Just one
I usually create more than one floral arrangement for "In a Vase on Monday," the popular meme hosted by Cathy of Rambling in the Garden. My decision to limit myself this week wasn't due to a shortage...
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Happy hummingbirds
We're lucky to have both resident and migrating hummingbirds here along the Southern California coast. Their activity is more noticeable and intense during the summer months when the various species...
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Post-Fling Chores
While making lists in preparation for my trip to the Puget Sound to attend the 2024 Garden Fling, I decided I might as well create one to summarize the tasks awaiting me upon my return. So here are...
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Postcards from the Puget Sound
I attended the 2024 Garden Fling (formerly known as the Garden Bloggers' Fling) in Puget Sound this month, my first since the Austin Fling in 2018. It was originally slated for 2021 but the pandemic...
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In a Vase on Monday: Catching up for lost time
Isn't it odd that even a five day absence seems like a dereliction of duty when it comes to one's garden? As my July 19th post indicated, I had plans to tackle several jobs quickly upon my return from...
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Carhart Garden - Puget Sound Garden Fling (Day 1)
The first garden we visited on Day 1 of the Puget Sound Garden Fling was Carhart Garden on Vashon Island. We reached the three acre property surrounded by a fifteen acre forest overlooking...
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Getting back to work
I tested negative for COVID on Tuesday so I figured it was time to get back to work in my garden after nearly a two-week break. The first task I tackled was cutting back the shaggy Agapanthus flower...
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In a Vase on Monday: Catching Fire
Our marine layer is gone and our midday temperatures moved into the low 90sF this past weekend. That's not too bad, at least by comparison to our inland valleys. The forecast for the coming week...
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Froggsong Gardens: Too much to see, too little time
I'm going to jump around a bit and cover the third stop on our Puget Sound Fling garden tour next, with promises that I'll loop back later. Froggsong Gardens, a five-acre estate garden situated within...
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Gray Garden: Artfully Curated
The last stop on Day One of the Puget Sound Fling was Gray Garden.*Â The owners not only graciously invited all one-hundred Fling participants into their garden at the same time but also treated us to...
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