Spring forward!

I don't know about you, but I felt that hour being snagged away.  Sunday was a perfect 80°, flip flops on -sweat in the sun- day and I didn't want to come inside. 

I don't see any predictions of rain in the near future, we are dry dry. I was headed round the back yard, I almost missed that the tall Pilocereus pachycladus was blooming.  Kind of an odd short lived bloom, my favorite thing is the crazy hair-do.   

And to the front "back" corner, Grevillea synapheae has exploded.I almost walked on by this plant from UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, but I'm happy to have it.  It's a funny contorted little thing.  

I went from thinking I don't have much to work on... to OH I HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO DO!

First up, the "FARM AREA" The absolute messiest area that I can never seem to keep tidy. 

And truth be told, it's not going to get much better this summer.  One raised bed is to be a cutting garden, the other for tomatoes.  I can't give up the summer tomatoes! Seeds have sprouted, although I should've started them earlier in January.  Lots of clean-up - and my main focus, build some kind of shade for the avocado trees.  This is IT for them, shape up or ship out! 

And the bed in front of "the farm". Oh my gah, it's too much for me. Aloe striata & cuphea are fighting each other for the spotlight. I love an over planted display, but this makes me rub my eyes. 

First up, I need to get my hands on this pot.  The lavender brings in bees, but it certainly doesn't need this real estate.  Also, there is a tree aloe in there!  I believe it's Hercules, it was suffering from a half-rotted trunk, I threw it on top of the pot and it rooted. 

Unearthed. It has sprouted several heads due to the damage. OR, it's not Hercules as my spotty memory recalls.  Dichotoma? Even though it looks it -I really don't think it's Ramosissima? 

I stuck it above a large boulder in the front, it's damaged trunk reminds me of the Cypress trees all over Monterey and Carmel.  We will see if it does something interesting, I can always pull it. 

Frame up, rebar & pvc pipe.  Please keep in mind, my janky shade is a temporary solution.  IF the avocado trees don't perk up and make my favorite fruit for breakfast -they are history! I'm using things I already have laying around before I invest any money in a proper "house".

My handy dandy bucket of extra large clothes pins.  These are so useful, I use them for frost cover as well. *Longan tree to the left, will also benefit from some shade. 

Behold! I warned you, it wasn't going to be pretty.  

Some fertilizer for them, now get it together! 

The whole thing shouldn't have taken as long as it did.  But it was full of "put this and that away".  I built this corten steel planter I've had hanging around.  It was so much larger than I expected.  I was going to use it in front of the porch, but the size is not right.  I'll keep it to the side, until I'm struck with an idea. 

I put Agave weberi in a new pot.  A neighbor friend gave this to me last week, she's had it in a pot for 8 years.  Given to her by a local wholesale grower that I've never met - I need to finagle a meeting!  Agave weberi can get 10' wide, so in a pot it will stay.  There were a few babies I potted up as well. 

The pot with all the lavender growing in it worked for a Stenocarpus sinuatus that David had given me last summer.  *Potted to the left 👇. The Firewheel tree can grow to 100' in its native rainforest habitat.  Like A. weberi, it's staying in a pot.  When Kyle visted he advised to keep it in the shade and give it lots of water during heat spells.  So that would mean constantly in the summer, and the hose is conveniently located 1' away.  This front bed is unfinished, obviously.  

Sorry for the all over the place post, it was that kind of day.  

I'd like to send my warmest healing thoughts to Kris.  I had been missing her regular blog posts,  Loree texted this weekend to let me know Kris was recovering from a medical issue.  She's a wonderful lady, full of energy and encouragement.  We're all sending you 💚, Kris!