FloralFriday Hot Pink Silk Floss Trees Bring More Fall Color to LA

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…

FloralFriday Rosary Plant Flowers Open in So Cal

The flowers have finally opened on my Rosary Plant (crassula rupestris). Woo hooo! I’m excited because not all of my plants bloom every year. This little guy is in a 3 inch pot and it is his second year. I am completely enchanted by these cute little succulent plants. I’ve got them filling in pots Read More…

Newsflash: Rosary plant (Crassula rupestris) getting ready to flower

I have exciting news from my garden. The rosary plant has flower buds!  I’m excited because my rosary plants don’t all bloom reliably every year. Rosary plants, or Crassula rupestris, have low-water growing requirements similar to other succulents, but prefer partial to deep shade.  I love these little succulent plants.  I’ve got them spread out Read More…

Plant Profile: Ethereal White Sage Blooms Add Grace to Southern California

California White Sage (Salvia apiana) This beautiful shrub is native to Southern California and Baja. It is usually found growing wild in the coastal sage scrub habitat on the western edges of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. The books say it will grows five feet tall (at least) and 5 feet across, but I have 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…