Probably not much change, but I wanted to "lift" this bed and freshen the top dressing.
Here is a before, sorry for the "hot" photos, this area really gets blasted by the sun. I was working on a timeline, I had a 3pm dentist appointment. *I'm just about at the end of a 7 month invisalign treatment to move a molar back in line.
THIS was the main reason, this ground cover is beautiful in spring covered with tiny pink flowers. Then as we get hotter it turns into a brown crispy blob. Not tough enough! And the blue elf aloe does ZILCH for me. Scorched ends. I find that when plants are labeled drought tolerant full sun, that doesn't always cover my full sun situation. We are headed into 7 days of 100°, Wednesday is supposed to be 106°. Thankfully we do cool down at night, I'll go out in the mornings and hopefully clean my house in the afternoons. :)
Some big fruits on Echinopsis had split open.
I set aside the silver torches and sedum autumn joy and agave that I wanted to put back in the bed after I added a good amount of soil to raise it a bit. Put in the shade under Hakea laurina.
I'll admit to stopping and doing a bit of a dance after getting this big rock into place. I used the handtruck, it is heavy!
And dressed again with rock, definitely better.
These gargantuan slanted tweezers are fantastic for picking anything out of thorny aloes & agaves.
from the other side. The aloe in the upper bed is a variegated Hercules. Should put on lots of growth in the next year and be the focal point. The ponytail palm is in a pot and just temporary for some softness.
Goofball, when I went out to pick some blueberries for my oatmeal -I caught Dr. coming down the tree.
Anyone else getting hit by lots of heat? Do you do anything to protect your plants? I'm going to put some shade cloth out in the front for the week. Have a great weekend :)
I gather that you do not have back issues. 😊
ReplyDeleteMy back in hanging in there, knock on wood. I do seem to lose my balance and fall more than I ever used to, hahaha.
DeleteI have back issues and have had back issues for going on 15 years - I am way past wanting to do this kind of gardening work - and my plants don't have thorns! I have a lot of respect for all the work you put into your garden. (I also am most probably going to be helping my dentist reach his financial goals in the coming year or so)
ReplyDeleteUgh, I do sympathize. My mom has had issues with her back for years and gets so frustrated about it. The dentist can alway seem to find something that I should do that will cause pain and cost money!
DeleteConsidering this time of year and the heat, I think that first image of your yard is just fine :) You got quite a bit done with a dentist appointment looming.
ReplyDeleteHa, yes I was under the gun! 85 is fine with me, but this next week of triple digits will scare me back inside.
DeleteYour garden looks great. The split fruits of the Echinopsis look very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThey taste like really mild dragonfruit. Thanks!
DeleteIt is interesting to see what cacti/sucs you use in your hot bed. I am a succulent enthusiast and have learned through expenisve errors some prefer shade.
ReplyDeleteThey sure do!
DeleteDoc makes me smile.... LOVE your garden.
ReplyDeleteCarla
Thank you Carla, he does bring me loads of joy :)
DeleteWow, seven days of 100+! I can't even imagine. I know it's a "dry" heat, but anything above 90, no matter the humidity or lack of, seems uncomfortable to me unless I'm in a lake, the sea, or a pool. ;-) That split Echinopsis says a lot! Looks like your changes were dramatic, but should make a nice improvement. Good luck with the final stages of your Invisalign treatment.
ReplyDeleteIt's better than humid for sure, but 106 is an oven either way, haha. I admit to jumping in the pool to cool off during the summer. Nothing better to cool a hot head. Thank you!
DeleteYour heatwave sounds nasty, Tracy! I put in 2 hours between 8 and 10am working on my back slope this morning and I was semi-miserable - and our temperature hadn't even reached 80F when I called it quits. We had one heatwave hit 113F several years ago and I hope I never see that again - it took 2 years before our lemon tree even started to recover. I hope your brush with 106F is overstated or at least brief!
ReplyDeleteYour back garden looks more impressive every time I see it. The split fruit on the Echinopsis is almost as wonderful as the flowers.
You do kind of get used to it. 85 feels pretty nice to me, when the humidity is low. But 106 is why the back garden is all cacti and succulents. It's going to be a scorcher. Thank you Kris!
DeleteI'm glad you have a pool to cool off in. Can't imagine doing that kind of work in 85F weather. You did a great job--the area looks great.
ReplyDeleteI got rid of 'Blue Elf', too. Hummers did like the flowers, though. I hope you and your plants get through the next week--100+ for a week--yikes!
hahahahah dr.... that Echinopsis fruit looks so cool!
ReplyDelete:). It does, I would've eaten it but the flies were enjoying it!
DeleteEven small changes are so rewarding. Reading your post gave me the incentive I needed to get rid of MY 'Blue Elf'. It's not dead, it's hanging on, and I should give it credit for that. But it never looks good.
ReplyDeleteAre you saving your trichocereus/echinopsis seeds? I just collected some off my 'First Light' and 'June Noon'. They're easy to start.
Oh, thanks for letting me know. I am going to let "come what may" with that fruit that split open. I do have several big fruits this year - I'll definitely try my hand at starting them.
DeleteWow ... I had no idea Livermore got so hot! (former Californian) No wonder you have so many cacti and succulents.
DeleteYes, I pulled all the perennials that were in the back garden a few years back. Started over with dry garden.
DeleteWe are getting moderate temps now, only in the mid-80s in Nashua, NH, but the 90s will be back next week. As apt dwellers now, we now longer have any plants to protect. Your garden certainly keeps you busy and just reading about all the gardening you've done made me want to take a nap.
ReplyDeleteHaha, Beatrice. mid 80's sounds wonderful, I hope your enjoying it before it heats up again!
DeleteWow...you got a lot done with all the heat! I love your collection of cacti and succulents. The variegated Hercules is amazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lee!
DeleteNice work, that rock appears to be huge! Today marks the beginning of our 5-day at our above 100 degree stretch, thank god we have a/c, so many folks up here do not.
ReplyDeleteWhew, I grew up without it - it's really a game changer to be able to cool down inside. Sleeping in a cooler room is a huge deal.
DeleteNice revamp. There are always a few plants that just don't perform as expected. We just need to keep reminding ourselves that our gardens, in a way, are just one big experiment to see what does well and what doesn't, all without taking it too personally when they fail. For sun and heat, I have rigged up some temporary shade with black nursery flats and black 50% shade cloth propped up with sticks. But, looking at your last post has me thinking I need to use lighter colors. Unfortunately, I never know what is going to scorch beforehand. Something that looks good in the morning can be completely bleached out by the evening, and by then it is too late.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, and as the hot days go on it takes more of a toll. If the garden was all done and perfect, what would I do with myself!?
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