Filling in

When I last provided an update on the projects that kicked off with my "should it stay or should it go?" post, I reported that I'd removed the shaggy Sesleria grasses (with my husband's help).  This week I followed up by filling in those empty spaces in the back garden with succulents.

Areas on both side of the flagstone path shown here were addressed by planting succulents, some newly purchased and some taken as cuttings from elsewhere in my garden.  It made sense to rely on succulents as both areas already contained a lot of these these plants.

Two-thirds of the area between the flagstone path and the concrete block walkway alongside the house had been planted with succulents in 2021.  I added: 3 Cotyledon orbiculata (cuttings), 3 Echeveria 'Mira', 2 noID blue Echeverias, 3 Graptoveria 'Debbie', 1 noID Graptopetalum (cutting), 1 Mangave 'Catch a Wave' (cutting), and 1 Mangave 'Red Wing'.  I'll probably add additional plants as fillers later.

I filled in the area on the other side of the flagstone path with 2 Agapanthus (divisions) and countless Aeonium 'Velour', A. 'Jack Catlin', and A. haworthii 'Kiwi' cuttings. The Aeoniums may all look alike at present but, with sun exposure and time they'll be distinct once they mature.  (The plants in the background are Agapanthus and noID Aeonium arboreum that have been there for 2 years or more.)

 

I decided against using succulents to replace the grass removed in the front garden, instead planting plugs of creeping thyme.

I couldn't get the Thymus 'Minus' or 'Elfin' varieties I prefer so I went with Thymus citriodorus, which is supposed to get no taller than 4 inches

This area was formerly occupied by the 8-foot Duranta erecta.  I haven't decided what to put there yet but I'm considering removing the sad Nandina in the backround and the remaining Agapanthus before installing a medium-sized shrub of some kind to hide the heating unit next to the house and a lower groundcover (TBD).

 

While pulling weeds in the back garden, I concluded that a Russelia equisetiformis (firecracker plant) I'd planted in one area was so riddled with weeds and my arch enemy, asparagus fern, it was irredeemable.  I didn't take a before photo but the Russelia was never happy in this spot alongside the dirt path between the backyard border and the Xylosma congestum hedge that runs the entire length of the main level of the back garden. 

No one walks this path but me, the gardeners who trim the hedge 3-4 times a year, and the occasional coyote.  I removed a pup from Agave attenuata 'Raea's Gold' (bottom left) and planted it in the Russelia's spot, after pulling weeds and removing as much of the asparagus fern roots as I could.

On the other side of the same border I transplanted 3 Agave bracteosa (squid agave) pups I pulled up with the weeds in front of the 2 Agave 'Joe Hoak' shown here.  Given how fast the squid agaves replicate, I may regret spreading them around but I hope they'll prove to be more durable groundcover plants than the creeping thyme in this dry area.

 

I was taking additional photos of the fabulous fresh orange foliage Xylosma hedge when I noticed something very odd in the the Los Angeles harbor.

I've never seen 2 cruise ships backed up like this to exit the harbor through Angel's Gate.  I had to wonder if the harbor is having the same kind of traffic control problems our airports have been experiencing recently.  The ships do not dock in that area - they enter and exit through a channel next to a common visitor terminal.

I took this photo 15-20 minutes after the prior one as the second ship exited the gate

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I hope you enjoy a pleasant weekend - and don't get caught in any traffic jams!

 

All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party