Pins & needles
Look at this little b*st*rd.
My husband James has 2 younger brothers. When they were young they would play "down the drain". The game was the 3 boys sliding down the stairs on blankets. When his grandparents were over for a visit, laughing at the boys playing their game. James, about 6 or 7 -feeling much older and wiser than his brothers announced "Look at those little bastards!".
I preemptively sprayed the peaches with hot pepper wax. Won't hurt anyone, but maybe keep them off the fruit. *I'm going to need another bottle.
I've been filling in spots and general clean-up. I need to grab a few more bags of California gold rock for top dressing.
All that bare dirt needs covering! This mish mash area in front of the porch wasn't planned out. I think I'd like it to be all foxtail agaves, we will see how they winter before I act on that.
One of the few plants I left in tact in the front garden. Leonotis leonurus looks so much better this year, not so much flopsy mopsy as in the past.
It suffered a little scorching during the 90's we had, being in the pot is probably not ideal.
The new growth on this Protea compacta is luxurious. So much so, I ? the ID. However the older leaves look typical. Woo wee, I love it.
During covid houseplant buying mania, Alocasia frydek were stupid expensive. Especially the variegated form. I didn't fall for it... these are from Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. I have to sing the jingle or look that up, Grocery Market Bargain Outlet was my first try.
So far, so good. I have a bad reputation regarding neglect of houseplants.
It's almost June, which is unbelievable. I have a friend visiting near the end of June, which I'm very much looking forward to. Hopefully I can share my new adventure next post. Any fun trips planned for summer?
I love your garden! I'm going to have to see if I can find some of these plants at my local store to add them. Growing up, we had so many squirrels that were such a nuisance as well. I wish I knew about the hot pepper wax to try to keep them off our peaches and apples!
ReplyDeleteI've no idea if the hot pepper spray will do anything, time will tell.
DeleteBeautiful gardens. I'm not familiar with that spray. I'll have to look it up. I've been using a cheese grater and leaving small shavings of Irish Spring around the garden beds. If we don't have much rain it works. I am always a little alarmed that I might be polluting, but I don't need to use much, and so far it doesn't seem to do any harm just grated onto the grass around what I don't want disturbed. I think I might post about it soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the little bits of soap you leave are fine. Maybe I should rub the top of the fence post with Irish Spring!
DeleteI love Grocery Outlet. I go frequently. And, I just booked my flight to visit my brother in Ohio in July. So, yes, I will have a little getaway.
ReplyDeleteOh, how nice! A good summer vacation. Grocery Outlet is a bargain, I need to check in more often.
DeleteHa ha, good luck with the little beasts you have visiting. That one really did put up his dukes. He wants to fight.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as the babies are born they start to dig up my pots. Our little dog Ernie tries his best to keep them at bay.
I love your garden, thank so much for sharing it with us.
I will be excited to hear about your adventures in the month of June, how can it be June already?
Ernie is doing his best! I need a little Ernie running around, no doubt the squirrel wouldn't have been so brave.
DeleteNew adventure! Fingers crossed it goes the way you want. Are you still doing the nursery job a couple days a week? I was hoping for "tales from the frontlines" as a regular blog feature. Love the Leonotis leonurus.
ReplyDeleteThank you, mine are crossed as well. No, the nursery job is over. I was hoping for tales from the frontlines, but honestly it was just a seasonal job. How boring!
DeleteSomehow I didn’t realize that monarchs would get to there. I had mistakenly thought they were a more eastern sort of critter.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wouldn't think they'd get to you! I had to look up their range, it's quite an expanse.
DeleteSorry about your squirrel troubles!
ReplyDeleteThis group is trouble!
DeleteI love your Leucospermum too. I'd probably be harvesting most of the flowers for arrangements. The last 3-4 years squirrels have become a huge nuisance in my yard. They're so brazen.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if someone is feeding them? At least run away from me.
DeleteLove the foliage of Protea compacta, 'luxurious' is an excellent way to describe it.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to find a monarch butterfly in the garden. Milkweed is so helpful to them on their migratory path.
Great side table that Alocasia is standing on!
Chavli
I had to stop everything and just watch the butterfly, you are right - such a delight! Thank-you, it's a little bench I couldn't resist putting a plant on.
DeleteThat' one gutsy squirrel! Mine generally go after the bird seed but I now restrict the seed to to the colder months so they visit less often. However, they've developed a taste for the mature Leucospermum cones, specifically those of 'High Gold'. They literally stripped my shrub of the cones over a period of a few days this year when I wasn't watching, Beware! It's become an annual event.
ReplyDeleteThey stripped the cones!#@$!! Mine have moved on to ripping up the couch, ugh.
DeleteThat is the best squirrel photo I've ever seen, I think!
ReplyDeleteWe have a very sassy squirrel, too. All in my face for being in HIS territory.
Squirrels have wrought so much destruction in my garden over the years.
Is someone feeding them, why are they so bold? I want them to be afraid of me, not the other way around. This one wants to rip my face off.
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