The wisteria is blooming over the patio, here’s a nice shot for you. The purple, violet flowers are about two feet long. They have a very light scent, a little creamy to me. Wisteria is a vine that looks great over a trellis or the side of a house where the long flowers can hang Read More…
Author: Laura Z
Gardener in sunny SoCal
Start Your Compost Piles!
Spring is a great time to get your compost pile started. All those grass clippings are full of nitrogen and great for mixing into your regular ingredients. Composting is a easy way to improve your soil structure and fertilize your plants. Compost systems can be as simple as a box of clippings and shredded newspaper Read More…
Happy Spring! Here are Some Blue Ceanothus Flowers for You
Happy Spring! Here are some beautiful blue California Lilac flowers for you and a busy bee. Their latin name is Ceanothus. These drought tolerant shrubs grow from 2 feet high to 20 feet high depending on the species. The one in my garden is about 6 feet tall with a 6 foot canopy. Ceanothus is Read More…
Care and Growth of Shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day
All shamrocks are considered lucky and are worn and given as gifts on St. Patrick’s Day. Several different plants are sold as Shamrocks. There is some disagreement as to the exact plant, but most Irish growers will tell you Trifolium repens, or white clover are most commonly known as shamrocks. If you were lucky enough Read More…
Pink Cherry Trees in Bloom at Balboa Lake in Los Angeles
The cherry trees are in bloom in the Sepulveda Basin around Balboa Lake. Balboa Lake is in Anthony C. Beilenson Park the San Fernando Valley, on Balboa Blvd. just off the Ventura Freeway. Drop by if you’re in the area. The city planted huge swaths of matching pink flowering trees a few years ago and Read More…
Batton Down the Hatches! The Santa Ana Winds are in Town!
Yikes! Anyone living in the Los Angeles basin is enjoying the Santa Ana winds right now. Yes, it IS over 70 degrees outside, but it’s the winds that get you. It’s like being in a wind tunnel that has a glitch in the system. One minute it’s 70 mph wind gusts, then it’s quiet. The Read More…
The plum tree rocks
The plum tree is still alive! Woo Hooo!!!! I love the plum tree in my yard. It is about 40 years old. It was probably planted when the house was built. Over the years it has provided dark purple, sweet plums for all the families living here. A few years ago a man drove by Read More…
Color Changing Succulent Plant Aeonium Part 2
Here’s an update on my color changing aeonium plant. In our last episode, my green succulent plant was changing colors for Winter. Here’s our plant developing a creamy white center, about two week ago (on the left). Now the plant is getting red highlights around the edges of the leafs, and the cream is getting Read More…
Plant Profile: Crassula Ovata or Jade Plant, great succulent plants for dry gardens.
Right now is a perfect time to plant your succulent garden! It’s still cool and we have rain so you don’t have to water! Jades are in bloom right now. Crassula ovata or Jade plants are shrubby succulent plants that make excellent choices for dry gardens and container plants. Xeriscaping with drought tolerant cactus and Read More…
Newest addition to the family a variegated portulacaria succulent plant
Here’s my new baby, a variegated portulacaria, also called baby jade, or elephant food. Normally these succulent plants are lime green with brown stems. This little cutie has has white edges with a little red here and there. I’m working on a new portulacaria succulent plant page for main website so I just HAD to Read More…