I'm giving everything a nice drink for a 3 day triple digit heatwave. Putting up some umbrellas, which I haven't had to do many times this year.
I thought I'd share an August morning walk around - I go outside and look around the garden every morning after breakfast (eggs on avocado dill rye toast). I wish I could get my hands on good marble rye, I'm a fool for it.
I love how the Tillandsia look in August, the warmth plus daily shower has them so robust. Unlike everything else in front that feels overgrown, slightly scorched & crazy!
Evidence. I can barely get the green bin through here.
The big removal of cherry tree, Oleanders, rosemary, etc is at a standstill. I met with a fence guy yesterday - I can easily shake that shorter section to & fro. I think a good winter wind would take it down. Now is the perfect time to have it replaced before I start planting.
Blahsville. I'm dying to get my hands dirty and re-do this area.
Crinum down!
Of course the staghorns are always a joy, they get a daily shower as well.
Superbum has increased it's "apron".
I'll admit, at first glance I thought "oh, the edges are so cool". hahaha, of course it's been chewed to shreds! Without my glasses it was a fun new Dahlia.
And the back, (that's my kitchen window). And some messy boxes with rocks.
Walk up to the shade house.
I've started on the pillar stand, a couple 3' rebars pounded into the base, hopefully that's enough to secure it. I should also pile some gravel around the base. I remembered a TALL grow pole Ivan had put together for a Monstera and wondered if it would fit in the center? Got the ladder and the grow pole - YES! It fits perfectly. I've tucked in a couple baby staghorns, and will add whatever else I can find to stick in there. The top I'm guessing will be filled with Bromeliads, maybe some Rhipsalis here & there? I'd also like some orange blooming Epiphyllum. Work in progress.
A mess of potted this & that waiting in the wings.
One of the Yucca filifera has sprouted another head? Or is it a pup, I'm not sure - very danger prickly so I'll wait & see.
A squirrel planted a peanut & a sunflower with my palm. I've let both ride, will I actually get peanuts from that plant? Baby aloes under the umbrella, and a Fouquieria splendens that loves summer water. I give it a nice monsoon most afternoons.
From the very back slope corner - messy from the pepper tree.
I think I prefer evening sun shots to morning. When does your garden photograph best?
This ponytail palm has gone full Santa Claus and cracked the pot. I added a thick leather belt to hold in the belly.
Next time around I'll do evening photos. I'd love to see morning/evening photos of your gardens, hint hint!
Your morning sun makes for very pretty shots. Your staghorn ferns are exquisite - I still haven't managed to mount the one I have! You're lucky to have squirrels that plants sunflowers - mine just eat Leucospermum flowers without helping them self-seed, at least to date.
ReplyDeleteWe've had little morning sun here due to the perpetual marine layer. Today was an exception as whatever marine layer there was had already burned off at our elevation by 6am - and as soon as I was dressed I was outside watering everything I missed yesterday that the irrigation system doesn't reach. I hope the heatwave is milder than we each fear.
Ugh, I feel guilty every time I see the staghorn babies I have still sitting in pots. And this is a great time of year to take care of that, yet I continue ignoring them. My squirrels in the past have been pure evil, I'm lucky at the moment. Getting that marine layer is such a gift, our high temp predictions keep going up.
DeleteYou have quite a morning walk around. I was impressed by the staghorns, which are well named.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anvil, I hope you're feeling better!
DeleteRedoing your front yard will be so much fun. You have a large area to work with, and pretty much a blank canvas, right?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how good your tillandsias and your staghorns look. You wouldn't know is late August!
For best photos, early evening for sure!! Same here.
That back corner will be cleared out completely, once the cherry tree stump is gone. This has been such a nice mild summer. Now for a mild winter, knock on wood!
DeleteAnother redo project on the way, this will be fun! Those amaryllis shoots look very promising, and I love how the staghorns make the porch look so cool and refreshing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Frank! A few more days of heat to get through, then I need to get serious.
DeleteGreat shots! We are in for a 5-day heat wave beginning on Friday. I dread it.
ReplyDeleteOof, 5 days is tough on everything. Humans & plants!
DeleteLovely. You've got lots going on in the heat of August.
ReplyDeleteToday will be the hottest, I plan on doing some housework inside.
DeleteYour staghorns... OMG, so good! I love what you're doing with the tall rusty piece, it's gonna be grand. I'm heading out in a moment to start watering. It's gonna be a long hot slog through next week...
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think your heatwave is going to last longer than ours? We drop to 86 on Sunday. I'm headed out to do the same :)
DeleteEnjoyed seeing the different areas of your garden. Much variety but all wonderful. The blah bit won't be blah for long once the weather cools and is easier on what ever new plants you give a home to there.
ReplyDeleteI get some good shots in the early morning, some in the late afternoon. The plants seem most alive just after sunrise....as do i, come to think of it.
ha ha ha, I'm probably the same. I haven't yet gone out at sunset to take those photos.
DeleteI always loved your 'Tillandsia-on-the-rail' look on the front porch.
ReplyDeleteYour idea to belt the pot (belly) is hilarious and very clever... it should hold for a while.
A lot of cool stuff is happening on the approach to the shade house! I feel I need a dedicated post on it. Somewhere along that stretch I spot an awesome dark manage (?) - WOW.
Through out the tour this morning I keep thinking of the difference your dark fence is making, how everything is showing so dramatically against it. It was an excellent and bold decision!
Chavli
Thank you Chavli! The belt does make me chuckle, it will do a full bust at some point. Maybe Mangave 'Mission to Mars'? It gets quite large, I love it - I should probably grab a little 3" one to have as back up. Thanks again, painting the fence dark was one of my better decisions.
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteI think my garden photos well in the morning and evening. It just depends what section of the garden I am in.
Hee Hee!
My husband planted a peanut plant a few years ago, we did harvest peanuts.. six peanuts. ;-)
6 whole peanuts! lol I won't hold out hope for a big harvest. You're right - there are good spots for sunrise & sunset.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteMy flower gardens are so small, compared to the roomy gardens you have. I'd actually rather look at yours - so different from my New York State garden. I hope you (and your plants) are weathering the heat wave OK; I've heard about it on the national news.
ReplyDeleteOverall it has been mild here, so really not bad! I love seeing gardens from everywhere, it is so interesting to see the differences. They all look so lush to me.
DeleteWonderful morning shots! Usually garden photos comes the best in the morning and the evening in the golden hours. Have a fantastic week ahead! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLove your observations on the "new" variety of Dahlia. LOL. Your garden looks happy and lovely in spite of the heat. This is going to sound funny, but I'm kind of jealous...we're having a much cooler than average late August, and I wish the higher than average heat of earlier in the summer would have stuck around just a little longer. Apparently, our September will be nice, though, so I'll try to savor the "perfect" weather. Love all your succulents, and your pool, and your landscaping!
ReplyDeleteHa, I do the same- but this summer has been pretty grand, much milder than I remember ever having before! September is almost here :)
DeleteYou have such beautiful gardens. I still remember when we had nothing that could even be called a “garden.” However, we are working step by step to bring it back, and hopefully one day it will look similar to yours. The views of your garden are so wonderful and breathtaking, and you have taken care of it so well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Asep!
DeleteYour garden walk sounds so peaceful, even with the heatwave challenges! Love how creative you’re being with the pillar stand and plant choices, staghorns, bromeliads, and epiphyllum will look stunning together. Excited to see how your evolving project comes together.
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for nearby labor day furniture deals with up to 50% off, be sure to check this out!
Yes to rye bread - I need to learn how to make it myself. Almost unobtainable in our small town. Feeling almost autumnal up here. The nights are getting colder, dew on the windshields. We need rain! I've a few blahsville spots myself. Looking forward to see what you decide to do with it once the fencework is finished.
ReplyDelete