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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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It's been lovely, after a very windy day to start off our warm weather.  I've pulled a million little grass seedlings from the paths, but really nothing to "show" it's just maintenance.   My current dilemma is... the Acacia 'Cousin Itt'.  They look lovely right now, but they get scorched by the first stretch of super hot days.  So that is typically June, then they continue to look half dead until Fall.  I've been looking for a replacement, a different 'Cousin Itt'  Casaurina glauca - and Ivan found 3 of them for me!   As I've been busy, I keep putting off pulling out the Acacia.  I think because they look so nice right now.  Enough is enough!  I'll do it today.  I did get the orchids and air plants hung back on the front porch.  Most of the staghorns were fine for the winter, but a few smaller ones did spend the winter in the downstairs shower. These sweet tulips have opened up in the slope, a picture of one doesn't do it justice. 

Rain on the Monday blooms

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There was a quick shower this morning, and now I can feel the sun breaking through.  We are moving into dry warm weather.  Almost 80 by the weekend. I thought I'd share a mostly silent morning view. I'm cheating on this one, this is from Sunday - no rain. I guess a good place to stop is the California poppy. Have a great Monday.   I've been cleaning up outside, moving things around but the pictures aren't very fun.  

Spring energy!

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 Hello!  Livermore was the recipient of 1.5" of rain over the weekend, which is great.  However, I am READY for the warmer weather.  Next week it is predicted to be in the 70's all week! Below is a beautiful cold hardy orchid Sophia & Ivan gifted a few years back and is blooming right on schedule.   The front perennial garden is getting there.  I'll do a post in a couple weeks when things are in their glory. Blue honeywort is blooming everywhere, I find it hard to get a good picture of these.   Beautiful almost turquoise blue Corydalis flexuosa 'porcelain blue' is happy in a shaded spot in the slope.  I wish I had ordered more, now they are out of stock at Annie's Annuals.  Succulent blooms. Banksia petiolaris is pushing out new growth, I'm always thrilled when the crazy Australian plants live.  The new growth is a striking pinky red quickly turning gold then finally green.  Very fuzzy leaves. Ozothanus diosmifolius 'pink' is beginning a nice lo

Spring Clean for the May Queen

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I've been busy cleaning over this gorgeous warm weekend.  My focus Saturday was around the raised garden beds.  I also managed to get this rain chain planted out with succulent cuttings, they'll be in dappled shade when the birch tree leaves appear.  We will see if this ends up being cute. I filled a brass one as well for the front of the house, attached to the gutter - I think I like the black better? Anyway, they will both look better as they fill in. You can see I've got clutter everywhere to put away, embarrassing! Well, I'm just going to show the whole mess of it.  Here is the before.  This is definitely the "junk drawer" of my garden.  But it's about time to put tomato plants in so I need to get cleaning.  I'm waiting on a few more cauliflower before I clear those beds.  There are also radishes & carrots that are delicious right now. Last year I struggled getting to the tomatoes because of a too closely planted rose, Princess Alexandra of Ken