tz_garden

 I'm back home after visiting with lifelong friends in Cave Creek, AZ for about a week. *We all met in high school in Portland- David Douglas HS, home of the Scots!  I'm looking forward to catching up on all your blog posts I missed out on.  I came home to the Aloe africana bloom getting taller, way over my head.   Close-up.  As you can see hoses strewn about, I left sprinklers on timers during the time away.  It was HOT.  I have gazillions of weeds to pull.   And little pots everywhere.  Aloes from  John Miller Institute for Aloe Studies . He sent an email out right before I left.  Aloe Time! 2025 Offering! I couldn't resist. Including Aloe namibensis & Aloe powysiorum he recommended (I'd not heard of either).  I was anxious to check on the garden.  During a quick walk around, was delighted to see Brunsvigia grandiflora had woken up!  Closer.  From Dec 3, 2024.  This is what it looks like for...

 After getting a couple bids on the fence, ahem -I decided to give a go at repairing it.  $7k isn't in the cards right now.  And while I'm at it, why not paint it black. This is a Frankenstein fence job, out of my jurisdiction.  But I think with my repairs,  it will make it through a few more winters for a couple hundred bucks. Before: After.  *Different direction, sorry. This 3' side is 77' long, the other taller (6') portion of the fence separating the front from the back is probably 30' guesstimate.  I didn't leave too many plants along the fence line, but it's crazy how much better they look with a black backdrop. The area connected to the the gate (to the backyard) is ready for some love. No idea what I'll do with the stock tanks.  The fixing & painting took one full day, and 2 afternoons.  I was sore when I was done- mostly my forearm from painting, but also my legs from squatting 10,000 times. So I switched to something fun this af...

To rip out all the stupid plants by the fence.  We are going to have this barely standing 3' fence replaced.  Ok, some plants got a stay. For now. A view from the bottom of the path. According to the fence bid, this stretch is 77' long.   It's a sign to make some changes when a rando pot of succulents stuck in the bed looks fresher than anything around it. I removed a "who knows" rose that's been there forever.  Some of these plants I put in 13-14 years ago, when I was new to this zone. The rose 'Brass Band' is staying, for now.  An excellent performer, I'll have to see if I can work it in?  And, a plant I lost track of *from Martin Grantham via Ivan.  I don't know what it is,   Telanthophora uspantanensis.  This was in a little clear cup when it was brought over from Berkeley.  It had to be placed on the fainting couch, didn't deal with the transition to the hot.  Seems ok now! Martin is growing these in Eureka and they h...