Strawberries Where I Least Expect Them

I have no recollection of planting this little patch of strawberries in the Moonlight Garden, but they seem very happy and prolific. I'm sure I thought there was some logic to this (I do have other strawberries in the back where the veggies and fruit trees are), but it escapes me at this time. I have wild strawberries growing in Palm Alley that were most likely planted by the birds, but these are definitely not wild. Oh well, I'll just take credit for them and enjoy!

A Sweet Discovery

I can get easily distracted by all the big things in the gardens. What needs to be done seasonally, what needs to be changed visually, what is not doing well culturally. Sometimes it is easy to overlook the small things, like this sweet little succulent that has been quietly growing in a container by the pool for a number of years. I have never really noticed it before, most likely because the pot is jammed full of stuff and I am usually walking by at a quick pace on my way elsewhere. Maybe I need to take some cuttings and spread it around a bit. It is too charming to go unnoticed!

What's Starting To Bloom?

Nasturtium and Strawberries

Bearded Iris and California Fuchsia

Spanish Lavender

'Royal Sunset' Climbing Rose

Bearded Iris

Although today is more like a winter day with cool temperatures and rain, Spring has definitely arrived with lots of blooms opening everywhere. Here are a few that are brilliant today despite the gloomy weather!

Putting The Garden To Good Use

Abby

Oliver

Caden

Evelyn

Ava

I often wish I did more entertaining in the garden during the year.  We have many opportunities to entertain but they often are during the cooler months or require an indoor setting for some reason, but there is one time of year that the gardens are always put to good use and that is the annual Easter egg hunt! We have been doing this for as many years as I've had gardens and we have seen many kids toddle through the gardens hunting for eggs until they "age out" at twelve years old. This year there were five "hunters", three of our grandchildren and a grand niece and nephew. It was a perfect day for finding hundreds of eggs with the weather being extra ordinarily lovely. What is a garden for if not creating special memories?

Pretty Ajuga Borders

The flagstone path outside my front door in SJC has finally come alive with Spring color. The ajuga that is planted along the edges is blooming with abandonment and I love those spiky purple blooms filling in among the Pacific Crest iris. I find that in the right spot ajuga is a great plant in our area for a low grower that spreads nicely without being too aggressive. It does take some sun to do so, although I know it is ofter touted as a shade ground cover. Love it, love it, love it!

My Nemesis

If you enlarge this picture (double click on it) and look right in the middle of the grassy path you will see my nemesis, Bunny. He is a tricky little devil, disguising himself as a sweet little fluffy fur ball with big brown eyes and a cute cotton tail, but he is a chomping machine. He alone (well with many siblings and cousins I suspect) can make me give up on dreams and abandon weeks of hard work in one night of decadent foraging through my vegetable beds. He is cavalierly hopping around in the early morning even though he can clearly see me and the dogs on the other side of the yard. A bold creature, this Bunny. Well I've outsmarted him. Where the lettuce and carrots once grew there are now rose bushes and he is forced to nibble on the grassy paths. Not quite sure who won this battle but we are now at peace.

Home

After a few weeks away it was nice to return to the signs of spring in the gardens! All my favorites are starting to bloom. Lavender, wisteria and even some roses are all showing color. There are blooms on the irises that will be opening soon. It is good to be home.

Chocolate Mint

This spot in the garden is the lovely (ahem) septic tank access area in SJC. Two years ago it had to be torn up and many plants (including palm trees) moved to find and reach the tanks. Afterwards we put in some faux wooden stepping stones to make it easier to access next time and added a number of plants that had been propagated from cuttings in the gardens. As you can see it has filled in nicely and there is no signs of the massive undertaking that was there a couple years ago. The happiest plant seems to be this 'Chocolate Mint' scented geranium (actually a pelargonium) that gets just the right amount of dappled light to keep it growing happily without getting leggy and yet enough shade to make the dark purple splotches very prominent. If you are not familiar with this beauty, it is very easy to propagate from cuttings, easy to grow, and has a heavenly chocolate-mint aroma when the foliage is crushed. It does bloom, but the flowers are insignificant and it is primarily grown for the attractive foliage. A lovely distraction from the rather unpleasant, but necessary goings-on below it!

Bird Abodes

I am on a quest to attract birds to my SJC garden. I know they are around, they just don't seem to make it into the garden where we can enjoy them. I've had to abandon my bird feeders because although they fed the birds by day, they became rat feeders after dark. I know we will always have rats in the garden, they actually do some good by controlling the snails and slugs, but I prefer not to put out a buffet to attract more than necessary. I have hung some new bird houses and hopefully they will be occupied this spring. Nothing fancy, but simple and practical. Hopefully the birds will think so too.

Lavender Time

The lavender is starting to bloom. Be still my heart! I love all my lavenders as they signal the start of Spring. Their dusty colored foliage and vibrant blooms means roses, iris and wisteria is soon to follow. Lavender is a short-lived perennial in our area, requiring to be replaced every three or four years to keep it looking good. It is my go-to plant for sunny areas that I'm not sure what to add to fill in empty spots. I have a number of different varieties for different reasons. I love Spanish lavender for the abundance and color of the blooms. French lavender is so elegant and this year I swear I am going to cut the crop and bundle it to fill baskets throughout the house. My rooms will be filled with lavender potpourri and I will sprinkle it in my bathwater. I am counting every opening blossom!