Stressed Out Avocado Trees

This is how bad our avocado trees look because of the drought which has come to an end this year. The brown tips on the leaves is a sign of the alkaline soil due to being watered with the sprinklers for many years instead of rain water. The trees are just starting to bloom and soon all these leaves will fall to the ground and healthy new ones will emerge along with the fruit.

Tight Buds

This peach colored clivia is the only one in bloom this time of year.

All of the orange and yellow ones are still tight buds and it will be at least a month before they are in full bloom.

Yellow!

What a bright splash of color these yellow narcissus make in the quiet garden this time of year.

Cymbidiums

All of the cymbidium orchids that live outside are in bloom. They require little care throughout the year, just enough light and a little water will keep them thriving until they surprise everyone with late winter blooms.

Fallen Angel

This mischievous looking little man with wings in entitled 'Fallen Angel' and was a gift from my husband a number of years ago. He overlooks the back deck in Laguna where he keeps an eye on everything.

So Fragrant

The blooms on this pittosporum tree are just as fragrant as citrus blooms! It fills the air with a lovely sent for weeks this time of year.

A Lot O' Compost

The compost pile in Laguna has grown so big that you can't even see the structure of the bin anymore! The source of all this wonderful debris? We had the trees trimmed last fall and all the cuttings were chipped and added to the bin. With all the rain we've been having it won't be long until this is reduced to every gardeners dream, 'black gold'!

An Ant To Remember

A few years ago some friends gave us this amusing "ant" made of scrap metal and rocks for the garden. I'm sure they have forgotten all about it, but I think of them fondly whenever I see it.

Spring Must Be Around The Corner

The early season apple trees in my Laguna garden are blooming so it can't be long now for spring to be in full force!

Slowly Disappearing

The property in SJC is a haven of privacy. The yards are enveloped in walls of greenery that have been there for many years and completely conceal the actual fence that surrounds the property. Until now. All along the back fence are oleanders that were so thick you couldn't see through them. Because all of the oleanders in our area are dying from oleander scorch, the wall is also dying out and revealing what lies behind it. In this case it is our neighbors' properties and horses. We have been working diligently to replant the wall with species that are thick and quick growing, but only time will give us the privacy that made this area so special.