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GOLD

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 It took 3 days (2 were afternoon only) of shoveling, but I have most of the front top dressed.  I say most because there are 2 beds not complete, makes no sense to top them off yet.  Of course, I CANNOT wait to fill in all the empty spots! A neighbor drove up and wanted to talk, I'm sorry it's in 2 parts. It is very gold, lol - but it softens over time.  Somehow it all looks more natural as time goes on and plants get larger.  We did get light rain yesterday, finally.  Today I spent the afternoon weeding while the ground was softened.  More rain forecast for next week.   I had enough gold fines leftover to spruce up the pathways in the back with a fine coat & a bit of raking.   I l💚ve when the sun is a bit higher in the sky and starts hitting more of the back garden.   The Dudleya are looking February fine, as they do.  Dudes. The spruced up pathways give it a boost.  Thankfully the aloes didn't suffer from...
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Winter?

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Our temps have been ridiculously mild for this time of year, 70° today.  Next week we are headed into  a little colder than usual February forecast, 50's & 35's high/low with some scattered rain.  I know we need it, we're way dry -but still yuck.  We're at 7.22" for our water year rain, I think I misspoke in an earlier post.  I've been busy plunking in plants that I "think" can deal with colder/wetter. Finally, we're filling in! There are plenty of spots that I will fill in later, probably beginning of March.  In a few weeks, I'll feel better about giving small plants a proper start.  Today, I'm standing back, and not fiddling with close-in glamour shots. Lots of kids zoom or walk past when the middle school & high school lets out.  This morning I'm getting a load of 3/8 top dressing rock, California Gold.  I want to get it spread around (like mulch) before we get rain.  It really helps hold everything together.  Plus, I'll...
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In The Thick Of It

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 I'm back from Portland, and eager to get to work on the front garden renovation.  This is a large overhaul, bigger than I realized.  I have struggled with my overall vision, and the next minute been inspired. Rinse and repeat.  I thought this mid way point would be a good time to do a post on how it's going.  First, get more of this c*ap pulled out.  I left the clumpy nothing burger aloe (to the right of the solitary Aloe ferox hyb.) while it was blooming.  There was a resident hummingbird guarding & feeding from it.  Now other aloes are popping off, so the hummer is covered nectar-wise.  Yuck, thousands of leaves. Rip and toss.  Yet another 2 yards of soil delivered. Never enough.  I get overwhelmed thinking end picture, and reminded myself just get those rocks placed and dump the soil around.  No thinking about possible plants right now!  Better, I will probably pull the Aeonium, kept a few Delospermum for dogs to p...
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A Day in Half Moon Bay

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Sophia, Ivan and I headed out to Half Moon Bay yesterday.  The main purpose was to pick up an order I placed back in November (and subsequent orders, lol) from  Hans @ Dry Oasis Plants .  Some kids were swimming, the weather was lovely - but I wouldn't call it swimming weather 😉 There are a stretch of nurseries off the highway, it's a bit challenging pulling back OUT onto the highway.  I've ALWAYS wanted to visit them, specialty succulents, orchids - I think the carnivorous plant nursery has closed. And I don't want to be a downer on it, it was fine.  But fairly tame findings all in all. Sophia and Ivan are quite knowledgeable on orchids - and let's just say there were some Trader Joe's references.   *Not a slam on TJ's we've all happily purchased plants there.   Ivan had arranged for us to visit his friend Joseph's greenhouse, located behind the main strip of retail nurseries.  He is  FloraEpiphytica  on etsy.  Things go...
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