A stop in Berkeley

 I made a quick trip to American Soil & Stone, for a few bags of top dressing rock.  They have the best selection, of course I forgot to get the ginger cobble I meant to purchase so will need to go back.  A 15 minute jaunt to The Dry Garden was a no brainer. As I walked down the street after finding a decent parking spot -I was reminded that the Berkeley climate is more temperate than ours. Do you think they painted those steps to match the blooms?!

There was a cute Opuntia hiding behind.  I can only imagine living steps from a cool nursery, I'd be in big trouble.

This house was across the street.

Cute, and pretty maintenance free.  

I know they are common, but this bottlebrush looked so vibrant on a cloudy day.

And then I was inside The Dry Garden.  These braided willow trees were near the entrance. $125.

This bromeliad tempted me, Vriesea hieroglyphica but it was $60. 

Oooh, super twisted trunk of Brachychiton rupestris.

I'd never seem this plant bloom before, or should I say balloon?  It was HUGE, Solandra maxima var.

I went through the entry to the agave and aloes section, I think I could hear angels singing!

I enjoyed my visit, and brought home a  Bamboo ventricosa 'Kimmei' - a type of clumping Buddha's belly bamboo. I've always been fascinated with bamboo, even as a child.  Do I plant in the ground, or in a pot to stress it and force it to form those big bellies along the cane.  Hmmmm. When I was back home and moving the bagged rock from the car to the back... what the heck?  It hasn't rained since Jan. 3rd, and the rain yesterday was barely anything. This asshole.  

Are you kidding me?  The top of the ground is barely wet. I easily pulled some of the leaves from the center.

This morning I went back out, I'll dig it up!  

Just as I thought, the ground underneath is completely DRY.

I left it on top of a pot.  Too bad, it was quite good sized. So dramatic!

In other news, I managed to plant something in one of the chimney flues.  A little Opuntia macrocentra 'Backlash'.

It may be too close to the path, time will tell.  

Aloes are behind, this one is showing a little promise.  

 Out and About photos of the day, I noticed this dry gardenscape this morning.  The garden is actually quite large and deep, the photo doesn't quite do it justice.

Front.

It is very neat.  I like it, especially practical for Livermore.  My only suggestion would be to triple the amount of plants.  Of course it would no longer be tight and tidy, lol.

That's about it, back to packing closets.  We are getting on & off rain, it's quite warm about 60°.  I hope you're having a joyful weekend.