-

I'm back!   The crinums began opening while I was away, probably a "grandma plant" to some, but I love them.

My friends and I attended Harefest for the weekend, camping in Canby at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds.  Was a great time.  It was at 100 in Livermore for 4 of the days I was gone - I was sure my perennial garden in the front would be crispy and crunchy, but it really pulled through pretty well.  I put up shade cloth and watered really deeply before I left.   My friend Tina (choking Ozzy) and I (I guess I'm trying to growl? hahaha) with the Black Sabbath tribute band.  

Family dinner Saturday, fast forward to Sunday -my oldest daughter Sophia and her BF Ivan have been encouraging me to properly mount some staghorn ferns that were stuck here and there in pots.  Ivan found some manzanita branches, and bark to bring over.  Also, he trimmed my palm trees and had the fantastic idea of using those curved palm branches as a good base.  Here is a large potted staghorn in a random basket,  and four that were mounted - but the base was falling apart.

Sophia & Ivan, getting to work!  They are both avid plants people and I really can't describe the amount of help they have been - physically and artistically.  It was muggy and warm, so we kept moving further and further into the shade.  
 
This whole project has opened a whole new can of worms.  I starting cleaning the porch, rolling up the old rug- got rid of shelves, threw things away.  I'll do another post on the finish - I'm very inspired for a porch makeover.  Of course I didn't take proper pictures of the real messy side with the shelves unfortunately.

*Ivan explaining that the fern was actually going to choke itself to death because it was mounted incorrectly. 

In other news, does anyone have guesses on this wee sprout on Lophocereus Schottii Monstrose - new branch or flower?

In the middle there, slight little red spot.  I'll be keeping my eye on it!

And a gorgeous bloom from Ms. Mars sunflower, she reseeds politely every year.  First bloom was July 4th, very appropriate coloring with the sunset hitting the backside.
We're expecting mid 80's for the next 7 days, that will feel nice after the 105 Saturday.  How hot is it where you are?  

Comments

  1. Kris PetersonJuly 24, 2023 at 12:41 PM

    Great job on the staghorn ferns! I have one languishing in a pot too...And that sunflower is stupendous. We've hit 89F here today but I don't think the thermometer has stopped climbing. The marine layer that bailed us out the previous 3 days seems to have abandoned us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 24, 2023 at 5:56 PM

      I'm just watching the news now, it does look like the heat from AZ is headed your way. Tomorrow will be 95 here, then a 10 degree drop (which I'm really looking forward to). Hoping you're not getting too scorched!

      Delete
  2. Beth at PlantPostingsJuly 24, 2023 at 4:17 PM

    You've been busy! Looks like Sophia and Ivan are good helpers. :) The Staghorn Fern arrangements are wonderful. And the Ms. Mars Sunflower is nifty. I'll have to look into getting a similar one. I really like the pattern of it. We've been hottish (for us here in S. Wisconsin) much of the summer. This week, we're in the high 80s and 90s until the weekend. Apparently Iowa and Nebraska (and other Midwestern states) will have highs in the 100s.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 24, 2023 at 5:59 PM

      Yes, they are the best - and so fun to talk about plants for hours without boring anyone, lol. Whew, that is hot for S. Wisconsin! I wouldn't think you'd be that hot, this year feels drastic heatwise for everyone. I'd be happy to send you some seeds from the Ms. Mars heads - they are drying up now. It is a little shorty sunflower, not a nice tall one. The color makes up for its diminutive size.

      Delete
  3. Hoover BooJuly 25, 2023 at 4:57 PM

    Bravo Sophia and Ivan. Nice to have a little help once in a while and plant-talk is the funnest.

    Beautiful Crinum and especially the sunflower--out of the ordinary.

    I looked up Harefest, wondering if you were a pet rabbit aficionado. Whoops, music not bunnies. I'm more than a bit out of touch culturally. Coolish weather ahead--enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 26, 2023 at 9:06 AM

      Well, I'm happily out of touch as well - it was 80's music. :)

      Delete
  4. danger gardenJuly 27, 2023 at 9:10 AM

    Wait what? The fern was going to choke itself to death? Please tell me more, I don't have a clue what the difference between correctly and incorrectly is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 28, 2023 at 8:56 AM

      I need to have Ivan answer this - but if I understand correctly when the growth tip is facing downward, the shield frond can cover the new growth and suffocate itself. However, I'm reading and it seems the fern can right itself if it is mounted incorrectly. This one was in trouble tho, it couldn't seem to figure it out.

      Delete

Post a Comment

I'd love to hear from you, ~Tracy

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
 Looks like we are headed into a nice drying out period.  Livermore didn't get too overloaded with rain, thankfully.  I'm going to share some more pictures of the Aloes that are beginning to wake up, some of these blooming for me for the first time! Aloe mutabilis  Aloe ferox x capitata -blooms a little damaged from being moved/planted but still that nice fluffy capitata look. It's raining now, but these are so bright it's joyful to look out the kitchen window and see the blooms.  Aloe munchii a little behind but should be open soon - along with A. tangerine  I like this little vignette (by the AC unit) - this area used to hold a too big for the planting bed Bay Laurel.  I liked the laurel, but too tight quarters.  I planted it, I'm the problem it's me.  Ivan helped me get the base of the hefty roots out.  Although I'm seeing the pedilanthus is absolutely NOT taking off against the house.  Which is ridiculous, this is a sweet spot. A. Tatangerine's have
Read more

Spring energy!

-
Image
 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
Read more
-
Image
  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
Read more