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Mini makeover

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 I've got so many messy areas that have continued to grow over the summer. Today I will air my dirty laundry for all to see! It starts simply stashing tools, buckets, sticks, etc. and the area builds & builds. I have got to get my act together! Along with needing to tidy up garden "stuff", I have plenty of beds that could use a once over.  My plan is to attack the areas one at a time, so each mini makeover is doable in one or two days.  First up, this is a combination of a much needed bed rehab AND greenhouse spillout situation.  And why the overturned stock tank, it just serves as a junk table.  And is so hot I can't put plants on it.  Not in these temps! Around the corner, even after a clean it's embarrassing.  Most of that is staying there honestly.  It's unseen and I use those greenhouse panels as a quick roof.  I can pop up a quick spot on the outside of the greenhouse- for potted agave or mammillaria that need their feet dry, but don't need frost
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A visit to~

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   The Dry Garden Nursery  Located in Oakland, but feels like Berkeley.  It was nice to get out of the Livermore heat, and into the less hot Berkeley heat.  Although I had no plans to buy anything, it is a fun nursery with lots of inventory. They are growing zone 10a, as opposed to our 9b.  The land of milk and honey, not as hot/not as cold.  *I'm hearing rumors that Annie's Annuals will close their doors Friday.  If true, that is sad.  I knew they were having a 40% off sale, but not that it was final.   These images were taken almost mid-day, sorry about the brightness.  An extremely spiky, Solanum pyracanthum "porcupine tomato" or devil's thorn. However, it's a spreader so a no for me. This nursery is jam packed with plants - Aloe Hercules, golden barrels, protea, cereus repandus  and I think a monkey puzzle tree all crammed in a corner. Cool trunk on Ceiba speciosa, Floss silk tree.   Large agave attenuata, foxtail agave.   Extreme crested Pachypodium lamar
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That can't be right?

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  I don't love waking up before the sun, however with the predicted temps this week I am grateful for the shorter daylight hours.  104° Tuesday, 105° on Wednesday, REALLY? Pretty much hovering on the dreaded 100 all week. Our tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera has started dropping leaves.  I'm doing a low level pick-up, they'll just keep coming.   Messy, messy messy. Thankfully, while we were celebrating a special birthday girl, the temps were perfection and the sunset lighting so lovely.  My pictures aren't doing it justice :( The golden barrel was a glowing ball of fire. I have 17 projects I'm ready to dig into, but realistically I'm not sure how much outdoor work I'll get done this week.  If it's truly going to be that warm, ugh.  I'm feeling positive tho, my dream for the back garden is to not "see" all the way across the cacti & succulents to the fence.  But require/entice a walk down the pathways to see everything.  Plenty of are
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