The weather here has been fabulous, hovering around 70°. I've kept busy- unloading the greenhouse, removing couch & table covers. Generally being bossy round the garden (to myself! ha). I got this area cleaned - this is outside the kitchen window. Patio/dining area directly outside our back door. It is a nice warm spot, so I had all kinds of pots piled up here. I needed to tidy everything so I could get to the mangave that bloomed, and the pups started blooming because I waited too long. *I have a cold, forgive me for sloppy errors today.
And I dug right in! I moved a few mangave pups to the hellstrip out front. I had no ideas on what to do next. I thought about moving the agave attenuata to the slope - I could use this sweet spot area for zone 10 plants that wouldn't survive elsewhere in the garden. But I like the softness of them here.
Well, the crassula undulatifolia sure doesn't need to be here. I slapped a chunk of it in a pot, TBD.
Not being able to make a firm decision, I left it like this. I'll sleep on it.
My sad Agave ovatifolia looks a bit worse every day.
I treated it, but nope. I was dreading hearing the clicking sounds of agave weevil that Gerhard
Succulentsandmore described, but I was brave and took my ear pods out to listen for it.
Thankfully, just rot. And I can't leave it like this, I dug it out and put aside to see what in the world will happen - the core is firm and no signs of rot.
I heaped some well draining mix and added Aloe barbara-jeppeae.
Named after Barbara Jeppe Wikpedia -by Tom McCoy and John Lavranos as tribute to Barbara. It's green because it's been coddled in the greenhouse over the winter, but it should color nicely to reds under outdoor stress.
Planting around the shade house has barely begun. I'm really looking forward to this!
In other news, I had a moh's surgery on a squamous cell cancer on my face (between lip & nose). It was small, and they got it in one swoop. I can't lift anything for a few days, no running. I have stitches from lip to nostril. I will spare you a photo, I look like I underwent massive upper lip injections. (WHY DO PEOPLE DO THAT!?) So this is my reminder to wear your sunscreen. This is the third one I've had removed, because of damage I've done to myself when I was younger. I was born in 1966 - so summer layout sessions coated in baby oil, tanning beds you name it, I'VE DONE TERRIBLE THINGS! I'm headed out for a nice walk,
with sun protection. Take care, and please let me know if you're tackling a project - I don't like being idle, I can live vicariously through you!
Ciao! Sero che tu ti riprenda presto. I progetti ci sono ma per quello che riguarda le nostre piante grasse posso dire che sono ancora chiuse nelle serre o sotto i teli, spero che riuciremo a farle respirare un po' dal prossimo mese! Ci godiamo sempre molto le tue immagini!
ReplyDeleteTi auguro una buona settimana.
Grazie! Penso che il freddo sia più fastidioso dei punti. Una bellissima settimana anche a te! Spero che il sole ti riscaldi presto
DeleteSuch a beautiful garden. I keep learning new words, pups, and how different they are. My garden sleeps. I am looking forward to it. (ツ) from Jenn Jilks , ON, Canada!
ReplyDeleteI love checking in on your wildlife and snow photos of your property!
DeleteSorry to hear you've been sick. That's no fun. But you've made some great progress on the garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm sure I'll be better enough to at least pull weeds tomorrow!
DeleteThe cleaned up corner bed looks great! Best wishes for a comeback for the Agave ovatifolia. I hope you recover quickly from the cold and the surgery too - that's no fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kris, I feel much more myself today - other than annoying cough!
DeleteSorry about the spot and in a conspicuous place. I've had one removed, near my temple. I think they called it pre-cancerous.
ReplyDeleteYou are gardening already. Whatever we do will occur in almost three months. Good grief! These days what we do, or what my wife does, if set up a few pots of bedding plants, while we let whatever perennials remain from bygone days to do whatever they will do.
Ooh, the temple feels like a sensitive spot, too. Having a runny nose with stitches underneath has been a cruel joke! I think we are getting "fake spring" looks like rain/cold is headed our way this weekend!
DeleteSorry you've been sick. In case you don't already know, Kleenex or Puffs with lotion are way, way better on that tender skin than regular tissues when you have a cold. I haven't bought regular tissues in many, many, many years.
DeleteThank you Jeanette, that's thoughtful advice!
DeleteHi, sending you a hug. Enjoy your walk.
ReplyDeleteHow is that cat of yours? Have not seen him as of late?
We are thawing here.. and it feels good. I did start some seeds. I will start more next week. :-)
Thank you Carla, Dr. Feelgood is next to me napping :). I'm glad you got a little thawing. I didn't start my tomato seeds on time, I'll have to buy plants this year, bummer!
DeleteLife handed me several projects in the last few months, so I'm not adding any to the pile at this time. We probably won't have any kind of veggie garden this year. As always, loving your green.
ReplyDeleteThank you Alana, and I can sympathize - sometimes we just need a break!
DeleteI love how agaves attenuata are out in the open, looking spectacular without obstacles obscuring the view. You are correct about sleeping on it: a bit of extra time allow for new perspective and conjures up new ideas.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get better soon. I'd love to see how you continue to tackle the shade house area.
Chavli
Thank you Chavli, you have good advice as always. If I don't have a proper idea in mind, it usually shows!
DeleteThe flu has been the worst this winter, hope you're over whatever it is soon. I do like the empty space in front of the attenuata -- maybe just rocks? So hard not to plant empty spaces tho! I had the moh's done a year ago and am surprised how the scar slowly slowly minimizes to hardly noticeable, but you know this if you've had it done before. So sad about ovatifolia but the aloe looks splendid there. Feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteYou know, as hard as it will be to do - I was thinking the same. Just top dress and leave it. The other spots were leg & chest, so I didn't care much about the scar (as the middle of my face!) It is very reassuring to hear yours is barely visible. I feel slightly embarrassed to be seen at the moment with a big poofed upper lip!
DeleteI was shocked to realize that's soil in the corner up against your house, bordered by a patio. At first glance I thought those were all plants in pots. So sad about the Agave ovatifolia, but you made a nice replacement decision. As for your surgery, yikes! We were born the same year, and I've done all those things. I love (absolutely LOVE) tanning beds. Esp. in the winter here, that feeling of warm baking sun on your skin... needless to say I don't do it anymore. Were your others also on your face? Hope you're quickly recovered.
ReplyDeleteYes, lol I had them leave a planting area there when they put the patio in. OH I WISH I had thought of a few around the pool?!! Wouldn't that be cool. I loved tanning beds, the goosebumps when the heat would bake me. The other two were leg & chest, so not such a big deal. Having it done "right under my nose" was a little more disturbing - but she did a great job. Thanks, I am feeling more myself today. We're both 66'ers!
DeleteThat's a really lovely corner. It looks like a nice warm spot to relax. Don't try to do too much if you're feeling under the weather. My yard is still too soggy to do much of anything.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good reminder to take it easy, Lisa Thank you! It's sunny so it's hard to sit around, I managed to find a good mix of doing easy things outdoors yesterday.
DeleteFirst of all, glad to know they got all the cancer. Fingers crossed you won't have to go through that again.
ReplyDeleteYour ovatifolia looks shockingly sad, but it might just oull theough .
Thanks Gerhard. That area had "sunk" a bit- I should've known to lift it out and add a good draining mix prior to winter. Hopefully it rebounds.
DeleteI love all the cacti and succulents. I collect them and am always looking for different shapes and textures and colours.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anon !
DeleteGlad you took care of yourself and good healing wishes!
ReplyDeleteThank you Susie!
DeleteI enjoyed my visit to your blog. I like your succulent garden. Glad they were able to get the cancer in one swoop. Sorry you had to go through that - again. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteYou too Leslie! thanks :)
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