tz_garden

  A glance at the new plantings in the backyard, I think it's looking pretty good in just a couple months time.  I'm posting this as I'm curious to the difference in a year's time.    This will be useful for comparing. Have been lucky here in Livermore, none of the June gloom that has hit other areas in CA.  Sunny, 75-80- I could really get used to this!  It's typically much hotter in June.  Hovering near 90 most days.  In the front, I trimmed back the purple smoke bush.  I like it shorter, and to be able to see the sidewalk  when I pull out of the garage.  There is a fire lane next to our house, no vehicles can go through but we get lots of walkers, bikers coming through. And after.  Ahhh, I can see again! The hebe is usually a bit scorched by now, this is the best it's looked in late June.  The daylilies are starting to show off. In non-related garden news, I've been working on my costume for Harefest in Canby, Oregon.  Billed as the Mother of All Tribute

 Smoke 'em if you got 'em... and a "fluffy top" appreciation post.   End of Spring clean-up is in full force around here, just a short post featuring some little fluffy headed wonders I saw this morning. I'm such a big fan of all speedwell. A flower in a flower, I wish these lasted longer than a couple days.  I gasped when I saw this was open from way across the backyard. Reminds me of Bert, from Sesame Street.  A tall blue pilocereus that barely weathered the storms. I have several stands of Cleistocactus strausii.  They are super fluff right now.  My dream is to see the stands tall and prominent, repeating throughout the garden.  I find the blooms a little weird, but most good things are a little weird.  They are good growers, in the sunniest spots, about 10-14" a year. This cephalocereus senilis x leuchocephalus from Poots Cactus Nursery has only added to his foofy wig since he's living here in Livermore.  My wig seems to get floofier as I get older to

 A quick post - I've been away from the garden for a few days.   I know hollyhocks are basic, I've always loved them.  Flowers all along a stalk, and the nice height what's not to like?  I drove to Santa Barbara, packed up my  daughter Olivia from college and we are back home in Livermore for the summer.  It was 85 all three days I was away, so I did a good watering before leaving.  Now we are weirdly back in the 70's, but sunny so no complaints here! The tomatoes are taller than me,  I have good intentions every year of keeping them pruned and tidy.  Life happens, I'm gone a few days and they take off. Although they are unruly, I usually have more tomatoes than I can handle.  I noticed there is a tomato volunteer between the 2 raised beds.  Likely from feeding the chickens an overripe tomato last year (their coop was here until last spring). More hollyhocks, the fluffy double apricot. All of the various penstemon are so full, will need a trim soon to stop their flo

 Signs of life.   Enjoying some beautiful cactus blooms at the moment.  Rebutia muscula has been blooming for a few weeks now.  In a cement pot I made a few years back - one of the few that didn't end up disintegrating.  Eucrosia mirabilis!  Whew, I forgot/neglected caring for this bulb from  The Bulb Maven  and I'm shocked that it has thrown out a leaf and survived.  This was outside and we definitely hit freezing temps (in Livermore this is usually a few hours in the early am).  Yippee!  I ordered several bulbs from Telos, and I have to say the bulbs I've planted directly in the slope have really been strong.  Tolmie Star Tulip, Scadoxus and Brunsvigia.  I have a new order in that will be shipped to me in July 2023. Echinocereus rigidissimus has been blooming for about 10 days,  each bloom lasts roughly 2-3 days and of course close up at night.  Little busy bee inside. Aloe distans recently grounded has immediately pumped out a bud. unknown in a cracked pot. One of my Alo