tz_garden

 Echinopsis 'Dutchman's Gold' from Brent Wigand, discovered from reading  Gerhard's blog .  Such a fabulous addition and the blooms are so bright and beautiful, I can spot them the second I step out back.  Several other Echinopsis in this area are budded up. In my typical fashion, I can't find the tag on this one.  I've narrowed it down to Echinopsis 'Chorlette' or the descriptive 'Version 16'. hahaha, I can only laugh at myself.  I think it will be easier when they all bloom and I can take a better guess.   I just love it! So soft, this one was gifted so I'm not to be blamed for no name.   And this morning the second bloom opening, I just wish they lasted longer. But there are more on the way to enjoy. I mainly wanted to post this morning to post a question.  On many WordPress blogs, I am unable to leave a comment.  I'm wondering if anyone has had the same problem?  I've tried different browsers to get around it, but it m...

 While in Cave Creek, AZ we had an uninvited guest who hopped on the rental car.  I'm posting a saguaro pic first, if you don't like creepy crawlies skip this. After we drove to Lowe's to get a few things (our host had just moved in and is renovating a cool ranch house), we loaded the trunk of the rental car.  Carol closed the hatch back.  I turned around to say something to her instead I said "don't panic Carol and put your arm down".  She had an ENORMOUS TARANTULA ON HER CHEST! An Arizona Blonde, as it turns out.  Obviously I didn't get a picture of the tarantula on her chest, if only I was an "influencer" I would've thought of that, hahaha.  Here it is after swatting to the ground.  We returned back to the house, Carol immediately poured herself a glass of wine.  I don't blame her!  The tarantula was unharmed, she crawled away.  Lots of empty land nearby for her to be fine. I have to say, with this group this is par for the cours...

 I've been spending every second I can in the garden, so many weeds & moving things around.  Blooms galore, I absolutely treasure this time of year! I wish I could've driven home from Cave Creek with a carload of plants, I did manage to carry home a Talavera snake.  The price on Talavera there is vastly different than here in Livermore.  About 1/4 of the price!  Anyone want to roadtrip?   Various blooms... from the greenhouse, this vivid purple shocked me.  Cactus blooms are the best. Iris No memory of planting this one, lol. Jerusalem sage I need to pull the poppies & honeywort, they are a little aggressive this year.   *Not my sideyard, but spotted on a run - isn't that lovely? Love this shock of red when I step out into the back garden. One of Ivan's astrophytum's in the greenhouse sent out a nice soft bloom.  Still trying to set rocks. Epiphyllum, I thought this was 'King Midas' but looks too pink to me? And a BIG Happy ...

 I'll be gone for a few days to visit with friends in Cave Creek, AZ.  A few pics before I go, I'm thinking now that we are getting into the 80's there will be serious changes to the garden. Aloe speciosa sent up a late bloom, it's first - I'm thrilled! I'll be checking this the minute I get back home. The ranunculus really exploded! The Raoulia hookeri has been added to the small crevice garden, so far so good. I have to admit I can't remember what this is.  Another thing to check when I get home to see if the blooms opened. The Lotus berthelorii is early blooming, so pretty. Poppies, of course.  Red chief I believe. A patch of iris with sunflower starts behind.  The sunflowers are my attempt to shade the tomato plants when it gets hOTter. So sweet, anemone. Greenhouse bloom, lasting longer than most cactus flowers do, day 3. I need to get everything out of there when I get back. And a question, does anyone grow Liparia splendens, mountain dahlia?  Mine is...

Things are happening!  I've neglected to update, but I've been busy weeding, planting, etc.  I thought this Iris was 'dangerous mood' but it is missing the black.  So no idea what mood this is, hahaha.  She is pretty and full of mood, though. A pretty snap that overwintered from 2023, very fruit punchy and 3' tall!. A shoutout to the lovely Viburnum that gets absolutely neglected in the back corner and looks lovely all year, especially now.  Spring Break was last week, all the kids were home!  We went to American Soil & Stone and brought back one thousand pounds of rock.  Thanks to Ivan for the heavy lifting.  *Filling the car. I usually place the rocks first and then rinse.  Olivia was serious about uncovering the beauty and got to rinsing. Some beauties. I did feed them for their troubles, a Basque cheesecake - one of the desserts I made for Easter.   The sea of blue honeywort in the front garden needs to be tamed, I'll pull s...