The silk floss trees are blooming in Los Angeles right now. I’ve seen them blooming along the 101 Freeway, in front of office buildings and this one, which is blooming in front of a DWP station with a drought tolerant theme. Chorisia speciosa trees are native to south America. They grow up to 60 feet tall Read More…
Category: Southern California
Hopseed Bush Or Dodonaea Viscosa, Fast Growing Drought Tolerant Screen Plants for So. California
I have been profiling a number of drought tolerant, fast growing screen plants lately and Dodonaea belongs on the list too. These lacy shrubs are also called Hop Bush or Hopseed Bush after their seed pods that resemble hops. Hop Seed bushes come with leaves in either bright, lime green or dark purple. Both versions Read More…
Plant Profile: Desert Willows, Chilopsis Make Good Choices for Fall Planting in Dry Southern California Gardens
Yes, it’s going to be 90 today, but my Favorite Time of the Year is just around the corner! It’s almost time for Fall Planting Season. This is your chance to decide what your personal landscape will look like next year – and how much money you are willing to give to the DWP each Read More…
Daffodil Flowers in Sparkling Waterford Crystal: Friday Floral
Yes, it is January, but I already have daffodils flowering in my garden. I planted these bulbs years ago. We’ve had a little rain here in southern California so they’ve taken that as their big chance to flower. I know we’re still in the dead of winter, but they seem to have their own schedule. Read More…
Brush Cherry; Drought Tolerant Screen Plant Profile
Brush Cherry, or Carolina Laurel is a pretty, dependable garden shrub that grows quickly into screens or hedges. These shrubs can grow up to 30 feet tall and 10 – 12 feet wide. I have seen mature stands of Carolina Laurel grow even taller. Carolina Laurel is versatile too, growing in full sun to part Read More…
Spring Flowers In Southern California
Warm weather is bringing flower blossoms and sprouting bulbs here in Los Angeles. Here are a few pretty baubles blessing my garden right now: Lavender is blooming all over. We’ve has a few bouts of rain lately and the lavender is putting on an extra fragrant show. This one is in my ‘back 40’; an Read More…
Rain, rain – yippeeeeeee!!! So Cal needs a few sprinkles
The other night, late at night, when I was reading a creepy book in bed I kept hearing this strange tapping noise. What the heck? It seemed to be coming from outside… all over outside. It took me a while to realize it was rain. Oh yeah, I remember that sound. That’s when we got Read More…
Wisteria Pods Popping Over My Patio, It Must Be Fall
Here’s a beautiful photo of my wisteria in bloom. I need it to remind me why I love that vine on my patio. After the flowers set seed they turn into giant seed pods. Right about now is when the seed pods dry out and start popping. They explode, sending out four or five seed Read More…
Blue Flowering Sage Herb Plants for #FloralFriday
The sage is blooming now, it is so pretty I just had to share it with you.This is regular culinary sage. I must say I am very impressed with how drought tolerant it is! It is growing with some lavender and artemis plants. Both plants are known to be drought tolerant bloomers, but I was Read More…
Yellow Flowering Cactus Pear Blooming
My cactus pear is flowering! I can’t wait for the pears. Here’s a little piece I wrote for my main garden website: Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) are useful in the landscape for dramatic impact, adding a southwestern feel to any landscape. Opuntia cactus also have edible pads and provide the red cactus pears of Read More…