The upside of drought

When the soil is as dry as ours was for more than eight months, there are far fewer weeds to pull!  As much as I yearn for rain, it does generate a plethora of weeds.  Try as I can to keep weeds under control, I usually focus on the areas I see at the front of my beds.  The areas tucked behind the plants up front often get ignored.  When I spotted two brightly colored blooms and moved into a bed in my front garden to check them out, I discovered gobs of weeds I hadn't anticipated.

Helleborus 'Anna's Red' and the first Freesia stood out among all the green around them

Here's what I saw once I moved beyond the plants at the front of the bed:

I removed a large but floundering Centaurea 'Silver Feather' shrub in front of that tall sprinkler, revealing Shasta daisy foliage (Leucanthemum x superbum) behind it.  I found a lot of crab grass (Digitaria sanguinalis) hiding among the Freesia foliage - making its removal more difficult - but overall at first glance it wasn't too bad.

Things looked a lot worse as I moved further into the bed, where the crab grass mingled with the foliage of Santa Barbara daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus), alyssum (Lobularia maritima), and clover (Trifolium repens).  The latter 3 are attractive plants with weedy tendencies.

Pulling the weeds without dislodging Freesia bulbs was a challenge

I'd cleared most of this area a month ago so it wasn't looking too bad, although it could use mulching to suppress new weeds

I spent a few hours weeding the front border, cutting back some larger plants in the process.  It's not perfect by any means but I think it looks better.

This is an "after" shot.  In addition to pulling weeds, I cut the ornamental feather grass (Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum) to the ground, thinned the other ornamental grasses (Festuca californica), and trimmed back the other Centaurea 'Silver Feather'.

Another after shot

I can't claim all the weeds are gone - I pulled only some of the Santa Barbara daisy and alyssum foliage - but it looks much cleaner

Not all grass seedlings create a problem.  I've been encouraging the growth of Lagurus ovatus, also known as bunny tail grass.

I didn't deliberately sow bunny tail grass seed along the front walkway but I'm leaving it alone there for the time being.  The dry arrangement sitting next to the front door let loose the Lagurus seed.  I've actively promoted this grass in 2 other areas as I enjoy the plant's flowers.  Hopefully, I won't regret letting it do its thing.

Now that I've made a dent in the most problematic section of the front garden, it's time to tackle parts of the back garden; however, that's a job for later this week.  The soil there needs to dry out further - or that's my story any way.

The back garden border is an even bigger mess than the front garden.  That dark stem in the middle of the photo belongs to a spent wild carrot (Daucus carota 'Dara')) I failed to pull late last summer.  There are already wild carrot seedlings popping up among the other weeds!

Because this area is full of prickly plants like aloes, agaves and yucca, pulling weeds without getting stabbed is a dicey proposition

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Spring prelude

The atmospheric river came through as predicted last week, delivering nearly two inches of rain here.  Our total for the 2025 "water year" (counted from October 1, 2024) now stands at 4.81 inches.  That's not great given that our rainy season usually ends in April but at least it already tops our totals in 2018 and 2021.  After colder-than-usual temperatures last week, it warmed up this past weekend and it's feeling more like spring.  The garden's showing more of what I'd characterize as spring flowers too, which those of you in colder areas of the Northern Hemisphere may appreciate as a prelude to the change of seasons.

The first of the fragrant Freesias opened over the weekend.  The first of the Calendulas I sowed from seed in November also popped up and I tucked a short stem up front.

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Calendula officianalis ' Cantaloupe Mix', noID Freesia, Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia, Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', Narcissus papyraceus, and Leucospermum 'Sunrise'

Two hellebores also made their initial appearance this week.  Cutting a stem of one of them inspired a second, smaller arrangement.

The Camellia stem was a last minute addition.  It probably won't hold up for long as a cut flower but, as many of the blooms hit the ground during the storm, I wanted a little time to enjoy one up close.

Back view

top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Anemone coronaria 'Bianco Centro Nero', Helleborus 'Anna's Red', Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection', and Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold'

For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Bloom Day - February 2025 (Early Edition)

With a significant rainstorm in the forecast, I took advantage of clearer skies before it arrived to take photos for my February Bloom Day post.  I'd hoped to squeeze more photos in between showers but the rain has been steady since Wednesday morning so I went ahead with what I had.  I'm also keeping to my regular Friday schedule and publishing my Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post one day early.

I'll start with the flowering succulent plants this month.

There are more than double the number of Aeonium arboreum in bloom this month than there were last month.  They're getting overbearing and I may start cutting them down to give away soon, as I think I did last year.

Euphorbia rigida adds a bright spot of color to this succulent bed

Clockwise from the upper left: Aloe 'Moonglow', A. striata, noID Gasteraloe, and Echeveria 'Serrana'

Crassula orbicularis var rosularis and C. 'Springtime'

Two forms of Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi.  The one on the left is a cultivar called 'Lavender Scallops'.

Mangave 'Silver Fox' is in full bloom now

Spring is off to its usual early start here even among the non-succulent plants.

Pyrus calleryana (aka ornamental pear tree) signals the start of spring when it blooms here

Anemone coronaria produced the first bulb blooms here this year.  Clockwise from the upper left are 'Mistral Azzurro', 'Mr Fokker', 'Mistral Bianco Centro Nero', 'Mistral Rosa Chiaro', and 'Mistral Grape'.  (I didn't have a current photo of 'Mistral Rarity', which is the prettiest of all in my opinion.)

The flowers of Bauhinia x blakeana (aka Hong Kong orchid tree) are plentiful but still so far above my head I need a telephoto lens to photograph them

Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection' is blooming, although rain and colder temperatures are causing the flowers to drop in large numbers at the moment

I grew this Echium handiense from a cutting last year.  It's already leggy and I'm hoping to take more cuttings when it finishes this bloom cycle to give it a new start.

This Lavandula dentata is almost too big for its spot in my north side garden but I can't fault it for its exuberance

The plants that routinely deliver haven't disappointed me.

Gazanias self-seed freely in my garden, producing flowers nearly year round

I missed at least 3 other species Grevilleas currently in flower when I took my photos but, clockwise from the upper left are: G. 'Peaches & Cream', G. 'Superb', G. lavandulacea 'Penola', G. 'Scarlet Sprite', and G. sericea

Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' is another year-round bloomer

The colorful bracts of Leucadendrons aren't true flowers but they masquerade as them.  From left to right are recorded in my records as: 'Blush', 'Summer Red', and 'Safari Sunset', although I suspect the one in the middle may actually be 'Winter Red'

The Osteospermums are slowly rolling out their flowers.  Clockwise from the upper left are: Osteospermum '4D Pink', O. '4D Silver', O. '4D Violet Ice', O.'4D Sunburst', O. 'Serenity Pink', noID white variety, and what's possibly a mutant form of O. 'Berry White'.

Polygala myrtifolia (aka sweet pea shrub) also self-seeds freely in my garden

Some plants I hadn't expected to bloom this early in the season are already off and running.

Leucospermum 'Sunrise' looks as though it's going to put on a better show this year than it did last year

Metrosideros collina 'Springfire' is putting on its best show yet this year

The Moroccan daisies are also just getting started.  I'd reclassified them as Pyrethropsis a few years ago when a name change was announced but their former name, Rhodanthemum hosmariense, has regained preference.  The pink cultivar is called 'Opera Pink'.  Oops!  The pink flower is Arctotis 'Opera Pink, which I mistakenly listed as a Moroccan daisy.

I find Aristea inaequalis almost impossible to photograph.  The flowers close midday and their bright blue color never shows up as clearly in photos as they do to the naked eye.

The first Cistus blooms showed up this week.  Left to right: a dwarf variety I don't remember ever planting, Cistus 'Grayswood Pink', and C. 'Sunset'.

It appears that the plants commonly known as Cineraria are now classified as Pericallis but those I've purchased as Cineraria (shown in the left and middle photos here) generally have less refined flowers and foliage than those sold as Pericallis 'Senetti' hybrids (shown on the right).  

As always there were a few surprises.

Clockwise from the upper left: Lachenalia aloides, Lepechinia fragrans, and a noID Tillandsia

I'll wrap up as usual with color-coded collages featuring plants keeping a lower profile.

Top row: Hardenbergia violacea 'Neema', Hebe 'Grace Kelly', and Limonium perezii
Middle: Nemesia bicolor, Salvia 'Bee's Bliss', and S. discolor
Bottom: Salvia rosmarinus (aka rosemary), Teucrium azureum, and noID Viola

Clockwise from the upper left: Antirrhinum majus, noID Cyclamen persicum, Eustoma grandiflorum, Fuchsia 'Windchimes White', Jasminum polyanthum (neighbor's plant that spills into my garden), and Narcissus papyraceus

Top row: Alstroemeria 'Inca Viena', Arctostaphylos 'Louis Edmunds', and Arctotis 'Pink Sugar'
Middle: Argyranthemum 'Aramis Apricot, noID Calibrachoa, and Cuphea 'Honeybells'
Bottom: Cyclamen persicum, noID Nemesia, and Pelargonium 'Little Pink Splash'

Clockwise from the upper left: Bignonia capreolata, Erysimum 'Wild Orchid', Lobelia laxiflora', Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun', Oxalis pre-caprae, Salvia 'Skyracer Orange', and Tropaeolum 'Alaska'

Check in with Carol at May Dreams Gardens for other GBBD posts on February 15th.  In the meantime, happy Valentine's Day and best wishes for a pleasant weekend!

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

More changes to the front succulent bed

I did an extensive job of renovating the succulent bed in front of the garage last March, pulling out almost half the plants that had been there. New plants were added but while some plants were reintroduced, others were potted up for future use.  I didn't touch anything in the background on the northwest end of the bed as most of that space was occupied by three very large 'Edward Goucher' Abelias that had clearly been there for years before we purchased the house fourteen years ago.  They'd been sheared by gardeners on a regular basis, leaving the centers of the shrubs a twiggy mess.  They also shaded surrounding plants.  Not long after I "completed" my renovation of the succulent bed, I decided to start pruning the Abelias to provide my succulents better sun exposure.  I cut the first shrub by two-thirds but eventually asked my husband to dig it up for me.  A few months later I hacked back the other two.  A second shrub was pulled out in its entirety in January.  The third one got the ax last week.

I started replanting, using plants I had on hand, including some I'd potted up during my original renovation of the bed in 2024.

This is the "after" shot taken from the front of the bed

Despite the best efforts of my husband and myself, the Abelias aren't entirely gone.

The first Abelia we removed has manged to resurrect itself but I'm keeping an eye on it.  If I can't keep it below 2 feet in height, I'll be digging it up again.

There was quite a bit of empty space to fill even if it wasn't evident from a distance.

View of the back section of the bed from the path used to move our trash bins to and from the street

I partially filled in this area with Aeonium cuttings, leftover Aloe plants, and segments of a flat of the groundcover Ruschia 'Nana'

I filled in this area along the flagstone path at the back of the bed with a noID Aloe, Crassula swaziensis I got by mail order in January, and more Ruschia

This area received the small division of Kumara plicitilis I potted up last year and a clumping Aloe juvenna among other things

I also tucked in pieces of Ruschia throughout other areas of the succulent bed

Here are closeup photos of the plants I added:

Top: Aeonium cuttings (possibly 'Cyclops'), Agave 'Multicolor' bulbils, and Agave attenuata (with Philodendron 'Brasil')
Middle: Aloe juvenna, noID Aloe, and 3 Aloe striata x maculata pups
Bottom: Crassula falcata pup, 3 Crassula swaziensis 'Variegata', and one Kumara plicitilis

I also added more Aloe brevifolia pups and a potted Aloe (aristata maybe?)

Various containers and other features continue to anchor the space.

The disintegrating chiminea left behind by a prior owner has been straightened up.  It supports a few Tillandsia wired to its front door, including one now flowering.

Although it could use repotting, Schefflera 'Neon' is happier outside than it ever was in the house

I repositioned the large pot containing Dermatobotrys saundersii and took several cuttings to see if I can successfully propagate it.  If the cuttings take, I'll remove the mother plant and replace it with something more colorful.

My new Agave 'Snow Glow' still has pride of place in another large pot

Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense'  has struggled with our colder-than-average temperatures but I think it'll be happier with the increased light it receives now that the Abelia shrubs are gone

The bed's signature plants also remain in place.

This clump of Agave attenuata is looking as good as new since I cut back the rosettes that were damaged by agave edema over a year ago.  When we moved in 14 years ago, this clump was the only succulent in the entire garden.  A lot has changed!

This Agave attenuata 'Raea's Gold' was relocated here in March 2024 when it grew too large for its spot in my back garden

Cuttings of what I think is Aeonium 'Jack Catlin' planted last year

These Echeveria agavoides (possibly 'Red Edge'), planted last March, are also doing well

I still have work to do on the rock edging surrounding the front of the bed.

I need more brick sized pieces of stone to finish edging the bed.  I'm hoping my husband can find a way to break up the small slabs of rock I have on hand for that purpose.  The stone was saved when our living room chimney was rebuilt last July.  I moved the smiley-faced stone piece I had elsewhere to fill in one spot but I still have another 3-4 feet to fill.

I've also appropriated some of the stone removed when our chimney was repaired last July for use in my north-side garden.

I need to level the stone here.  Most of the slabs contain pieces of the concrete used to attach them to the face of the original chimney.

I'm planning to shop for more small succulents soon to fill in the areas in the north-side garden left empty when I cleared out the massive 'Rosa Gorda' Agave in late January.  I suspect I'll inevitably pick up more plants for the front succulent bed too.  The renovation process is never really finished...

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party