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Snowball effect

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 Weather has made the full change to all sun, all the time.   We planned a BBQ to say good-bye to the kitchen.  And got to talking about how this King Palm (I believe, from big box store) looks good for 30 days of the year and burnt and awful for the rest.  Gotta go.  Granted, this is a full SUN spot.  Sunrise to sunset, which is serious here.  *Ivan still in his slippers jumped right in.   He made quick work of it and got it out.  The most difficult part was dodging the pokey spikes around, and not breaking other plants, he did good work! Plopped into a pot, semi shade spot for now.  I'm hoping it forms those gorgeous green somewhat bulbous trunk/s.  If not, well.   After the tedious removal of the palm (because it was surrounded by other plants - I thought I should take the opportunity and remove the biggest of the Agave blue flame while I had the chance.  *There are 2 pups there, they grow quickly and wil...
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Good-bye kitchen, it's been nice

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 *This is my kitchen memory post, feel free to skip it šŸ˜‰ .  Well this is it, demo day is FINALLY here (Tuesday, that is).  The earliest photo I found of the kitchen, Dec. 19, 2008.  The kids are so little and darling, walls are builders beige as they say, weird ceiling fan in the tv room.  So many meals, Sister Risotto Cats, rabbits & ducklings first bath in the sink. Family reunions Birthdays Waffles, or "awfuls" as he used to call them Spa day with cousins. First days of school- I always made chocolate chip cookies on the first day of school. One year I was short on time and cooked the entire batch into 6 GIANT cookies. Easter, I believe Thanksgivings Ha ha ha, one of my favorites - Sophia turbo placing the apples in the pie.  Ivan wanted a more "tetris" experience.  and laughter.  Here's to many more!   We're going to have a BBQ this weekend to celebrate the great weather, and a final use of the old kitchen.  Technically I g...
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Spring off & on

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We've had mostly gorgeous weather, but a few showers & wind here and there. The sun feels so nice this time of year, warming but not brutal.  I was out weeding and spotted this sweet hummingbird feeding from an echeveria bloom.   The rat tail cactus have started popping some blooms.  More pots placed out, Aloe Sabaea x. Austroarabica -I'll put this in the ground in a year, I've heard Sabaea appreciates a little shade in hotter climates.  Acacia , potted - for now.  And a wispy Acacia merinthophora grounded (in front of a potted Cantua buxifolia) One of the Aloe speciosa decided to get in on the bloom game! I love the two-tone, and especially the white/green stripes near the base. One of the plants I couldn't resist from Flora Grubb, Grevillea Ivanhoe I moved into place.  A Banksia was struggling here, so I'll keep an eye on this.  The sugar snap peas are just about ready to flower.  Aloe striata looking stately. This was moved from anothe...
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Fun day and I say cool too many times.

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In the front garden,  I have some spots that need filling in.  Typical for this time of year.  I perused around Livermore & Pleasanton and just wasn't finding anything fun.  My next thought was to take a jaunt out to Curious Flora, formerly Annie's Annuals in Richmond.  I texted Sophia to see if she wanted to be my partner in crime for the day. Lucky for me, she was free! I got to Berkeley at 11, we both quickly decided one plant stop, then LUNCH.  FlowerLand it is, good lunch choices around there.  Lo and behold, it was STOCKED with Curious Flora offerings.  And they were unloading a huge truck of succulents as well.  The store looked fabulous,  fresh ginger rock pathways and packed with wonderful plants. I couldn't resist grabbing a Papver hybrid, sugar plum poppy. Even tho it's a one and done, I love the fluffy bloom.   Sophia spotted this Anigozanthos, kangaroo paw from  Waltzing Matilija . The most vivid coloring ...
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