mid July 2025

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 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 position will keep any frostbite forming on the tops.  
I can always pop a large styrofoam cup"hat" on them to protect on a cold night. 
Moved over with friends, 
And the Beaucarnea recurvata, Ponytail palm is blooming.  Not half as exciting as a Yucca bloom - still fun.
Just for fun, from the way back...whoa, the house is still that funny light gray-blue.  I pushed the Ponytail home on a flat wheeled hand truck (from a neighbor half a mile away).  Sophia and Ivan were over, he dug the hole & moved it in place. (04/06/2021)
This was the beginning of the back garden transformation, at the time I had no idea I would be ripping out just about the entire yard.   You can see one of the tiny Acacia 'cousin itt' that now gracefully drapes over the edge. I didn't remember that this was planted at the same time!  
That was a fun walk down memory lane, I'll have to dig out more of those oldies to remind myself of changes.  The whole reason I started blogging was to have a record of what in the heck I've done. Mistakes, triumphs and everything in between. 

In flower news, the lilles have gone bonkers this year - the milder temps helping them really hang out and enjoy summer. This one is as big as my head and HAIR. 

This one, unknown - I'm the worst planting bulbs/corms/rhizomes - never mark them.  Opens multiple white petals and slowly turns pink.  
After 5 days...
Everyone seems busy with summer plans, I know I've slowed down on posting.  Are you busy in the garden, or in the summer slowdown?  Have a wonderful weekend :). 

Comments

  1. Liz A.July 16, 2025 at 10:07 AM

    Quite the transformation. A blog is a good place to keep track of things. And it's fun to look back at old posts to see where we were.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)July 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM

    So many cool plants being re-homed in your backyard. It's great to see I'm not the only one constantly making tweaks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM

      How could we ever stop tweaking things, I don't think it's possible!

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJuly 16, 2025 at 4:54 PM

    Deep dive into early garden photos are always so satisfying and often mystifying, the rate of change always blows my mind.
    That white-to-pink Lily is stunning. I wish you had a name for it!
    Chavli

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 17, 2025 at 7:57 AM

      Me too, I've gotten much better at labeling in the past 2 years. But those bulb orders always arrive at once and I rush to get them in the ground.

      Delete
  4. Kris PetersonJuly 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM

    You're very industrious given temperatures in the 80s and 90s! I can't tolerate work at those temperatures for long anymore. I love your Dianella - I have another variety that isn't nearly as pretty running all over the place, which I'm determined to pull at some point. Your lilies look great - mine are mostly done, except that the 'Zeba' blooms have just started to open! I ordered those bulbs after seeing those flowers all over the Puget sound area last year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 17, 2025 at 7:58 AM

      I was scared of the Dianella running rampant, so I stuck it in that pot. It must be incredibly vigorous as I don't think it's received any water hidden back where it was. I remember 'Zeba' as well, they were everywhere and fantastic! I'm glad you got your hands on some.

      Delete
  5. AnvilcloudJuly 16, 2025 at 6:12 PM

    That first lily just about made my jaw drop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 17, 2025 at 7:59 AM

      The sheer size of it is incredible, and big waxy leaves help it stick around for a bit!

      Delete
  6. LisaJuly 17, 2025 at 10:06 AM

    The Dudleya is such a pretty color. That last lily, opened, is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A Creative Spirit in PortugalJuly 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM

    I do love your garden with all the different cacti. You have really transforemed it. Your lilies are FANTASTIC. I am jealous.

    ReplyDelete
  8. HollisJuly 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM

    I like the "arrangement" in the first photo especially. Nice rock :)

    ReplyDelete

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I'd love to hear from you, ~Tracy

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