Tag Archives: Chionanthus retusus

clippings 4/28/21

For Southern California gardeners: Melianthus ‘Purple Haze’ was spotted at Plant Depot in San Juan Capistrano this month, a single plant. After planting, try not to move it around too much; in zone 10, placement that avoids afternoon sun is … Continue reading

Posted in books, clippings, plant nurseries, plant sales | Tagged | 5 Comments

a week in plants

Last week was a good one for plants. I finally found some Acacia ‘Cousin Itt’ in small sizes, under $10 each, to plant under the Chinese Fringe Tree. (Chionanthus retusus, as distinguished from our native Chionanthus virginicus.) This great, mediumish-sized … Continue reading

Posted in clippings, design, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Bloom Day March 2016

No flowers open yet, but the long-awaited beschorneria bloom stalk itself is stare-worthy. Parrot colors of vivid red with buds tipped in green. Improbably taller every day, with new subtle twists and angles to admire It passed by the Euphorbia … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bloom Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

potted plants on the move

The summer containers in nondrought-stricken gardens can become quite a virtuoso display. I’ve understandably pared things down the past few years but am always amazed at how even a relatively small group of pots can exclaim “Summer!” All the pots … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, journal, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Cussonia spicata and the value of plants

I have these weird unwritten rules when buying plants. For example, $30 is usually deemed way too much to spend on one plant. It’s not a conscious rule, it’s just after checking the price, unless it’s spectacularly, once-in-a-lifetime rare, I … Continue reading

Posted in plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Bloom Day April 2013

Spring is moving fast here in Southern California. I’ve already checked out some of the gardens on our host’s site for Bloom Day, Carol at May Dreams Gardens, and saw lots of traditional spring shrubs and bulbs and perennials like … Continue reading

Posted in Bloom Day, MB Maher, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Occasional Daily Weather Report 1/23/13

Eye strain has kept me away from the computer for a few days, so following butterflies around the garden has been more my speed. I blame the eye strain mostly on the amount of political news I read online, far … Continue reading

Posted in Occasional Daily Weather Report | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

snapshot of August 2012

August is always a truth-telling time in the life of a garden and a good month to take a snapshot of it. The hoses have been deployed this week to deep water the trees and soak the now bone-dry soil. … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, creatures, garden visit, journal, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

my favorite garden show

is the one taking place at any given moment in my own backyard. be it ever so humble and jumbled, chaotic, disheveled, contrary, exasperating, etc, etc. That the show blithely carries on while I’m away is always slightly infuriating. More … Continue reading

Posted in Bulbs, Occasional Daily Photo, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

mid-week garden jaunt

There is a beloved, family-owned nursery in Pasadena that, over the past couple years, has become breathtakingly expensive. My now-20-foot Chinese fringe tree was bought here as a sapling they raised from seed. Many of my agaves were found here, … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit, plant nurseries, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments