Refreshing a Winter Focal Point

October 2014

 Somehow it has worked out that most of our entertaining at the SJC house takes place in the winter months. Dozens of relatives come from all over the country to visit and dare I say hundreds of friends stop by some time between Halloween and Valentines Day. Needless to say, they are certainly missing the prime time in the gardens which I would have to say is spring, followed by summer and then fall.

November 2014

By the time winter rolls around most of the prettiest scenes are tired and taking a rest. Roses are either spindly or cut back, most iris are sleeping and of course the clematis, wisteria, flowering shrubs and vines are either bare or devoid of blooms at best. Even the willowy grasses are often cut back to bristly stubs. I am thankful for the azaleas and camellias, of which I have planted many, and there are always the plants that look good consistently year round which add the foundation to the gardens. I do try to add some seasonal color in the way of cool season annuals that I probably would skip if not for the onslaught of guests. As you can see by the top picture, the Moonlight Garden was showing signs of a long hot summer a couple weeks ago, so a carload of bright white perennials and annuals in addition to some organic fertilizer has brightened up this focal point and will go a long way to keep this garden looking good until the spring plants start to wake up. If you look closely, my 'Golf Ball' (more like Basketball) pittosporum look terrible, having been covered with blight all year. They are supposed to stay small and round, hence the name, but these became so large and gangly they were trimmed back at the wrong time and have become a mess. I'm debating whether to remove them all together or just cut them back and
give them another chance. But enough about problems! I've been out every weekend with a watering can and some seaweed fertilizer to make sure this area is robust for the upcoming months and all our guests because next weekend there will be soccer balls, baseballs and maybe even a few Frisbees landing among the newly planted daisies and phlox and they need to be as robust as possible!

Just for fun here's a look at years past. If you are on Pinterest and 2010 looks familiar to you, it has probably been pinned a few thousand times!

2009

2010

2011

2012

A Few Observations

 Every year my husband and I go away for a couple weeks to a health resort to allow my dear significant other to focus on his well-being. We typically go in the winter and I usually look forward to the warm weather and change of scenery, but this year as we left on the first full day of spring I was kind of disappointed to be leaving behind the gardens when all the excitement was just starting. We returned to spring in full bloom and lots of things going on so I thought I would just share some of the random happenings in SJC, starting with this beautiful amaryllis bulb that was kind of just stuck in the ground a couple years ago. You know that one corner of the garden where you put all kinds of odds and ends and just see if they make it? Well, this one did and is blooming proudly. It is precariously close to where the dogs cut through the path so I am tempted to cut it and bring it in, but I kind of like seeing it in the garden bed.

 The Anna apples are all ready growing like crazy. I should thin them, but my granddaughters love to pick the fruit every time they come over and they will get thinned by them soon. They were very disappointed this winter when there wasn't much on the fruit trees so I am glad there is at least something for them this time!

 I almost missed the first show of roses and I am feeling really guilty because even though I made many trips to the nurseries in the last few months, rose fertilizer never made it home with me so they are not as lush as they could be. I need to make it up to them this week!

 The California natives are all still blooming away and will probably be for another month or so. It has taken a few years for these rock rose (cistus) in the Moonlight Garden to get to a good size and covered with blooms, but they are lovely now and actually showing off during this dry weather, which is how they actually like it! I should probably put in some more out in the front street side garden where keeping plants looking good is a challange.

 I found the first clematis of the season starting to open.

 There were a number of orchids in bloom that had been sunk in the ground in their pots in a planter off to the side yard. Many types grow so easily for us in our mild climate that we take them for granted.

 There was actually a large group of dutch iris that was still blooming much to my surprise and delight. I always forget about them, but they just do their own thing. An impulse buy from Costco I believe.

 The aloe in the urn by the front door is joining in the show and sending out a bloom for the first time.

The snapdragons that were planted last fall are almost waist high and look more like a field of wild flowers than winter annuals. They must have loved the organic fertilizer that was used when they were planted and the bunnies must not be in the mood for snapdragons for dinner!

I think the overlap of the natives blooming, the winter blooming shrubs, vines and annuals, the spring blooms and the start of the summer annuals make this such a wonderful time in the garden for us here in Southern California. It is almost too much to take in all at once!

Signs of Spring

 The first day of spring is bursting with color from all kinds of natives, shrubs, bulbs, perennials, annuals, and groundcovers.

 There are still buds waiting to wake up on the birch tree and Boston ivy, but

lots of other plants are in full bloom.

 Clivia lilies are making quite a statement in orange and yellow with primrose tucked underneath.

 Contrasting foliage has been adding color all winter long and continues to create drama as the flowers emerge around them.

 Reblooming iris and heliotrope have been blooming on and off all winter but look even more lovely with snapdragons that are finally starting to bloom.

 Native blue ceanothus makes a beautiful background shrub along the path.

 Helichrysum 'limelight' is as bright and colorful as any spring bud.

 So many shades of green in one garden make an interesting scene even without any flowers.

A small native iris peeks out from a sea of pretty blue ajuga groundcover. Just the beginning of a lovely sring season.

Waiting for Rain

I turned the sprinklers off a couple weeks ago to try to conserve water while the weather is cool and plants other than natives are somewhat dormant. There are some spots in the yard like this one, that stay cool and damp in the winter with minimum water due to the deep shade and being at the down side of the slightly sloped property. This area was originally a swampy mess when we first moved in and it was only grass, but now the ferns and flowering shade plants and ground covers keep it in check. I added some primrose a few weeks ago for a touch of winter color in hopes that we get some rain this season and sure enough, we have had some this week to keep them perky, although we will need much more to catch up and make a difference in the drought conditions. It is not just the rain along the coast we need, but snow in the mountains to fill the rivers and creeks this spring and summer. We still have time in our rainy season, but today the sun is shining beautifully and there is not a cloud in the sky. As much as we love our mild weather, we understand the need for rain and will gladly welcome it when it comes. There are always some plants that can be sacrificed during a drought in the gardens and many more that will survive tough times, but let's hope we get the rain and can look forward to a lush garden this summer.

An Annual Vistor

I have a soft spot in my heart for tall, wispy annuals that reseed themselves every year and this is one of my favorites. So often we tend to think of annuals as those fancy hybrids in bright colors that show up covered in blooms, stuffed in "pony packs" at every big box store and nursery we visit. I have to admit I pick up a few here and there every year when I need a quick fix, but my favorite annuals make themselves as at home in my gardens as the perennials and are just as reliable. This is nicotiana (flowering tobacco) 'Lime Green', by Annie's Annuals. A classic in any cottage garden setting and so pretty and easy to grow. This particular one is in my chartreuse and purple garden and unfortunately has grown so tall as to flop over and lay among the veronica because I was negligent in pinching it back. A word of caution though. I usually think it is a weed coming up in the spring when it first emerges. Large leaves the pop up with vigor before the flowers show up can catch you off guard until you remember it is a welcome annual occupant of the garden!

Try Honeywort

There are some simple plants that I am just crazy about and cerinthe major purpurescens, or Honeywort, is one of them. It is an old-fashioned shrubby plant that is considered an annual, but it reseeds itself so easily that it has lived in my Laguna garden for many years with no need for any help from me. It has the most lovely shade of blue-green foliage with bluish brackets and those charming pinkish-purple flowers that hang like sweet little bells. It blooms for months in the spring and on into summer and the bees love it.  It likes full sun and I understand it makes a good cut flower when the ends are sealed with boiling water. I highly recommend you try it!

A Front Door Feast

 I must admit one of the favorite parts of my gardens is the small area right outside my front door in SJC. It was a small patch of grass when we moved in which I promptly ripped out and planted a birch tree. The color scheme in this area is one of my preferred - purple, chartreuse,  and gold. Roses, iris, euphorbia, heliotrope, hardy geraniums, flax, status, lavender and many other annuals in addition to background shrubs, grasses and annuals make it a feast for my eyes and nose.

Easy, But So Pretty

I'm sure everyone has a spot like this in their garden. One that is almost no-maintenance, but makes them smile every time they walk by, at least for most of the year. This is one of those spots for me. Two native-ish plants that are drought tolerant and reseed easily every year. The pink ones are Mexican evening primroses (oenothera speciosa) and the little daisies are Santa Barbara daisies (erigeron karvinskianus) although I have seen many other common names for both of these plants in different parts of the country. They can be invasive in small gardens, so either plant them in a contained bed like I have here or be diligent about weeding out the seedlings in the spring. Of course you can always let them just take over and sit back and put your feet up in the pretty splendor all summer!

A Little Help for Spring

I finally made it to the nursery last week to pick up a few "pretties" to help the feeling of Spring along a little bit in the gardens. It seemed to do the trick mixed in with all of the perennials and shrubs that are coming into bloom!

At Least I'll Have Sweet Peas

I am feeling a bit frustrated that the garden in SJC is looking so desolate and bare this year, although it is still January and I shouldn't expect much I guess. Many of my lovely lavender plants probably should have been replaced last year.  They really only look good for three or four years at the most around here and then they start getting scraggly and woody. Years ago I used to start dozens of cuttings in the fall to replace the ones that were on their way out, but I am too far behind with that to make a difference this year. Many of the shrubs and tree have grown significantly, shading out other plants that previously were show stoppers, leaving them stretching and weak. The rabbits have been getting very bold, venturing way into the gardens to munch down entire beds of plants instead of being satisfied on the few areas of grass that are left. The one thing I have been good about following through on the last few years is getting my sweet peas in the ground in the winter months. I pick up small seedlings and stick them in the ground around some bare wire obelisks I have in the garden, to be rewarded in a couple months with loads of those sweet smelling blooms, perfect for handfuls of cut bouquets. I do wish that I would follow through on getting some of the prettier hybrids, but at least I get some of them going! It is still very cold and damp, making it not very enticing to work in the garden. Roses being cut back and fertilized are the main task this month and I should just be more patient and enjoy being cozy in the house!

White Petunias

This is not the time of year to start planting annuals - at least that is what I would tell anyone seeking my advice. But here I am once again, enticed by that which I cannot resist, and did not get to a couple months ago - planting white petunias. I am not crazy about petunias because they attract those hungry little worms that quickly chew away the leaves and buds, and I am not going to bother spraying, organic or not. That being said, I seem to succumb to buying flats of these trailing pretties every summer to fill in empty pots that were once filled with cool season annuals. White petunias, they push my buttons - but in a good way!

For The Love of Sweet Peas

I adore sweet peas but I usually forget to plant these cool season annuals that love to climb up anything nearby with those charming little twisty tendrils, until I see them in a vase or someone's garden and by then it is too late. This year I managed to pick up a couple pony packs in the winter (I know, I know, they are ridiculously easy to grow from seeds) and stuck them in a garden bed next to a pretty wire obelisk and forgot about them. I have been thrilled to have a massive about of blooms that smell heavenly to cut for myself as well as give to others in huge bouquets. I wish they were the beautiful hybrids that are so charming with their colors and patterns, but they will do just fine for now. I must remember to plant them next year too.

Welcome Back

I am so happy that my 'Lime Green' nicotiana (flowering tobacco) was reseeded and returned this year (although I thought it was a weed at first and almost pulled it out). I love my green flowers mixed in with my purples in the garden by the front door in SJC. I had coveted this reseeding annual for a while and now I am thrilled it has become a fixture in this garden bed - at least for this year.

The Bareness

Where did all my lovelies go and why do I always entertain in the middle of winter? We have family coming from the east coast as well as a hoard of friends and neighbors stopping by this weekend and my gardens have gone underground! Roses, daylilies, geraniums, wisteria, hydrangeas and iris are my pretties that I keep around the house for my passing-by pleasure and this is not their time of year. There are a lot of natives, grasses and Mediterranean plants that are waking up in other parts of the garden, but certainly not at their peak either. Thanks goodness for cool season annuals to indulge my craving for color, otherwise non-gardeners visiting my home will think this blog is fiction!

Adapting To The Shadows

The Problem

The Solution

A few years ago I planted a number of trees in the back yard in SJC. I was replacing lawn and adding some much needed shade in a hot, sunny area. Because I was limited as to the size of trees I could get through the side gates, there were three small trees that were not much more that large shrubs at the time I planted them. I added extended flower beds around them to help take up the slack while they grew. After a shaky start (they were getting too much water from the sprinklers that were previously intended for the lawn) they started to grow and now I have something that resembles actual trees! And I also have some much coveted shade. The problem is the perennials and shrubs that I had originally planted were sun lovers and they are wondering what happened I'm sure (do plants wonder?). So it is now time to move them and replace them with some shade plants. This weekend the weather was like a beautiful spring day and my son and I, along with a hoard of other people, made a trip to the nursery to pick out some color to add to the empty beds. I am a blue and purple lover and always start by beds with those shades and then add color from there. Delphiniums, larkspur, cinerarias and a few columbine will be much happier in the dappled shade than the roses and salvia that were originally there.

Adding Dazzle

Before things get too hectic with preparations for the whole family coming for the holidays, I am busy looking for bare spots to add a bit of "dazzle" to the gardens. There are some family members that only come once a year and it is not exactly the prime time for the gardens, so I try to make sure that they are as lovely as possible for late fall, early winter. In the Moonlight Garden there are a few spots that I add details in the way of annuals every season. The rabbits are always grazing in this area and they eventually eliminate any delicate, low growing flowers, so adding snapdragons, verbena and violas along with some white mums is almost mandatory to fill in the empty spots. The white flowers can be seen across the yard which, depending on the weather, is how they will most likely be viewed by most guests. They add a bit of sparkle even on rainy or foggy days and I like my family to know that I've been busy making our home as special as possible for their arrival!

Winding Down

Taking off for a couple weeks to recharge as summer winds down. Just received a lovely box of narcissus bulbs from a friend that I look forward to getting into the ground when I return. I will plant more bulbs this fall for a glorious spring bloom, I will!

Rabbit Proof

The only thing in the garden the rabbits don't eat seem to be the nasturtiums and the strawberries! (Note the empty vegetable beds behind the strawberries!)

White Snaps

I put in flat of white snapdragons in the Moonlight Garden early last fall so I would have some blooms during the holidays. They immediately went somewhat dormant and I thought they were a lost cause this year until this week when I went out and they were blooming profusely. I really like them because they add a sparkly vertical (albeit short vertical) element to the beds and the rabbits that are abundant here, don't seem to like the taste of them. The question is now should I add some more to enhance the ones that are already blooming for the upcoming garden tours next month or should I look for white annuals that will be happier in the warmer days of summer? Such decisions!

Speaking of Annuals

I love the color of this tall ageratum that is typically known as an annual but has been blooming in my front garden since last summer. It has been a cold, wet winter, not typically weather that you think of when you think of growing ageratum, but this is a somewhat protected area that may have been the saving grace for this heat loving plant. I am so impressed with it I am going to put in some more since I am so enamored with the shade of purple and the performance. The bees will be so happy!