tz_garden

Went for a visit yesterday with my usual cohorts, Sophia & Ivan to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden.  I had never been, they visited approximately a year ago.  The garden is in the middle of fixing a retaining wall, so we had to enter in a roundabout way through the main campus.  We parked and were walking down to the nursery to pick up some plants I had ordered online.  When we saw THIS.  These, there's actually 2-one male, one female.  Leucadendron argenteum.  To say I lost my mind would be an understatement.  Sophia was laughing at my response to seeing a full grown specimen.   In the sunlight, it looked like a shimmering metal tree - and yet, the foliage is incredibly soft.  I'm beyond infatuated.  *Mine have grown well, having been planted in 2024.  But I'm well aware I'm taking a chance on them living - they like it a little cooler, more coastal conditions and a bit warmer winter than they'll get ...

 I'm slowly continuing the take down of the front "rear" garden.  I'm needing a bin dump to really get going again (tomorrow).  I'm in the summer slow down. It's been 80's-90's, the most mild summer I can remember.  I could get used to this!  Dudleya still looking nice, usually scorched by this time of year. During my chop down, I spotted a forgotten pot of Dianella ensifolia showing off vivid purple berries.  When Ivan and Sophia come to visit, I'm the lucky recipient of things passed along -this one from  David ! A fabulous Stenocarpus sinuatus.   This one from Ivan. No way this San Pedro cactus cutting has rooted yet, but it's certainly showing signs of life.  and these incredible Euphorbia ingens cuttings. That big one is much taller than me! I moved a lone Lophocereus marginatus, Mexican fence post cactus to a grouping a couple feet away.  And stood up the Euphorbia ingens here, I'm hoping the fence + an early morning sun posit...

 It's that time of the year where I try to stay away from planting, especially in the back - it's just getting too hot.  I was feeling antsy for a project, and it hit me last night.  Why not start removing plants from the front? Great idea, except for it being 100° today.  Oh well, don't fight it when inspiration hits. This area is to the right of our house. The changes I'm certain of- taking out the two Oleander, the always suckering cherry tree & two rosemary. What to add, I don't know yet. My first focus is winter interest.  It is severely lacking, which is stupid.  It's nice most months of the year.  Sorry for the bright sun photos.  I did just buy a new Sawzall, but I was too intimidated to be lifting it above my head to cut.  And the Oleander is toxic, just felt like a bad idea.  I stuck to old school cutting and pruning. Chopping up the pieces well, so I could fill the carts with as much as possible. One Oleander down! (they a...