Sneak Peek

I'm about 35%? through the front garden changes.  I guess.  Below, late summer mess.  This was about the time I was seriously READY to make some changes.  Also around this time, I had a nice woman stop by to tell me she had submitted my garden for the Livermore Beautification award.  *I think she actually shared this info with Ivan first, when he was chopping down the cherry tree.  It warmed my heart to hear that, what a nice gesture.   

In the midst of my destructing the front, I keep thinking about this Beautification Committee coming by to check things out... what must they think? Ha haha, maybe I can show them the backyard and they'll forgive me?

 Friday, I started ripping everything out at the bottom of the stairs -by the sidewalk, where the raccoons love to dig - then remembered to snap a photo. The poor Aloe ferox, blocked from sunlight and drenched in leaves!

The iris patch has gotten out of control, a few lining the path is acceptable.  Not this!

I honestly don't mind overgrown, I like a jungley garden.  But this feels better.  I can breathe. Notice the rocks by the sidewalk to thwart the little hands of raccoons, take that! Plus cayenne pepper for flavor.

I still have pots strewn here & there (I need to make labels).  I will go the extra mile and use clear labels for these guys, hopefully the labels "disappear" next to the small plants.

the left side, while facing the front of the house. Alstroemeria Isabella in a pot.  I know she's well behaved, but I've been personally harmed by Alstroemeria.  Also the height is nice.  

from the driveway, everything is so small, lol. And I have a few more things to pop in - including cuttings of a showy blooming all the time ice plant  -Malephora crocea from Gerhard, succulentsandmore. I did add a couple of starts of beautiful Artemisia pedemontana gifted from Gerhard!

I'll do more in depth when I get the top dressing done. A couple things that look nice already, Mangave 'Lavender Lady'.

And Artemisia schmidtiana "Silver Mound' so soft. 

Saturday, I focused on the bed to the right of the walk up to the front door.  The Aloe ferox has been relieved of all that was gathering inside her leaves-and is getting hit with more sun. In the past, the winter blooms have suffered from fungal something or other.  I'm hoping more sun helps, along with treatment. 

Again, things are small and look a bit silly.  I added a couple Aeonium 'sunburst' cuttings, pedestrian but they do well year round here and add a bit of cheeriness. 

Some highlights, Edraianthus jugoslavicus.  I added a few different Edraianthus and Arenaria here.  I'm hoping they do their great "cushiony alpine" thing amongst the rocks.  Fingers crossed.  

I couldn't resist these sempervivum ciliosum 'Borisii' when I saw them at the UC Davis plant sale.  I'm hoping they form a big mat of circles? 

Aloe cipolinicola - I've heard they can tolerate to 20° and also read they don't tolerate frost.  *I do see record of it surviving zone 9b so I'll play along. 

And to the left, I'm also giving 3 Agave victoriae-reginae a choice spot.  Ordered from Mountain Crest Gardens, in 2" pots it won't blow the budget if they croak.  I planted in mostly black lava, to stave away rot.  It could be cute if it works out.  

I'll keep moving on to the "middle bed" and then to the fence, and then top dress it all. My arms are sore, but I've been sleeping like a well-fed baby!

Ms. Mantis has been hanging out on the potted cacti by the back door.  Crawling around on all those prickles!  She ended up on our back door, I moved her to a more sane area.  She crazy.

I hope you're having a lovely weekend!