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Forward!

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I've begun to remove frost covers, which honestly weren't needed this year. Before. Ha, maybe it was starting to take itself down!  The PVC pipe frame really worked for me, I'll definitely use this again.   I squatted down to take a look at the buds in the ferocactus glaucescens and noticed a little ladybug.  Careful! I'm leaving the Pachypodium lamarei "house" in tact for a couple more weeks.  They've held onto their leaves, so why not?  It will give them a little jumpstart.   Sophia sent me this picture, she went mushroom hunting. Gorgeous chanterelle! She's a great cook, paired the mushrooms with homemade pasta (and brown butter). Aloes are starting to wake up, Alex ferox x. capitata. *I did take the Christmas lights down, I snapped the pictures right before. Aloe striata sending up a cute little bud. I started placing the chimney flues and planting them with things I had in the greenhouse or things in pots waiting for a better home. I added a ...
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Batten down the hatches!

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The big "atmospheric river" hit us last night.  There's a bit of a reprieve right now, although it is really WINDY!  I expect the rain will start up again soon.  Minimal puddling in the pathways, but so far so good. #AGAVE WATCH.  Some not so great looking leaves, they aren't mush.  The core is nice and firm. Hmm, I dug a nice trench so the rain will run off to the path (hopefully).   I haven't posted much as I've been in the middle of dumping, donating and getting ready for the new carpeting.  It is all done and now we've started the process of putting everything back.   We went to breakfast to stay out of their way. Livermore Denica's, I made a stupid mistake and ate breakfast with my coffee when I woke up.  All I could manage was a salad.   Olivia had the California benedict (with avocado instead of ham).  And Vincent had "This and That" bacon, pancakes & eggs. They also have freshly made tortilla chips &...
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INSIDE, LOOKING outside

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After a super dry January, we're are finally getting some rain.  Followed by a few cccccold mornings.  The kiss of death for one plant or another I'm sure.  Wet ground, dappling with close to freezing isn't good for my garden.  When we do hit 32° or a few degrees below, it's usually from 4am-6am - so a few hours at most.  *Knock on wood! *From inside the guest bedroom, Sophia's old bedroom.  I've clipped a couple poly panels up to keep some rain off the mammillaria and a group of Pilocereus.  They hate wet, maybe as much as Dr. Feelgood. Pensive and a little ticked about the rain. You'd never make it in Oregon buddy.  *I can't wait for that carpet to be outta here! As I'm stuck inside cleaning out closets and under beds, I keep looking outside. Cleaning is not nearly as much fun as being outside :(.  It occurred to me I could post from upstairs and show a broader view.  I maximized the photo so everything looks shrunken. This view is the...
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A stop in Berkeley

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 I made a quick trip to American Soil & Stone, for a few bags of top dressing rock.  They have the best selection, of course I forgot to get the ginger cobble I meant to purchase so will need to go back.  A 15 minute jaunt to The Dry Garden was a no brainer. As I walked down the street after finding a decent parking spot -I was reminded that the Berkeley climate is more temperate than ours. Do you think they painted those steps to match the blooms?! There was a cute Opuntia hiding behind.  I can only imagine living steps from a cool nursery, I'd be in big trouble. This house was across the street. Cute, and pretty maintenance free.   I know they are common, but this bottlebrush looked so vibrant on a cloudy day. And then I was inside The Dry Garden.  These braided willow trees were near the entrance. $125. This bromeliad tempted me, Vriesea hieroglyphica but it was $60.  Oooh, super twisted trunk of Brachychiton rupestris. I'd never seem this ...
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