2024: The Year in Review

2024 was a rough year in many respects.  The misery and strife so many people in various parts of the world continue to face on a daily basis and the hideous political climate in the US trouble me greatly, even though I know there's little to nothing I can do about either.  I also lost a beloved cat and an old friend.  And, after dodging COVID for four years, I succumbed to the virus for a time.  However, overall, I know I'm very, very lucky.  My garden is a regular source of comfort and a reminder of the beauty that nature provides, even as we continue to abuse our environment.  Today's post is a homage to the gifts my garden and the environment around me provided to brighten my life in 2024.

January

Sprucing up the dry north-side garden was my first project of any significance in 2024.  Of course, the area will need another round of work in 2025.

The nearby City of San Pedro was building a succulent bed to front a massive mosaic wall on 25th Street and put out a call for succulent donations.  I loaded my car with a range of cuttings, divisions and pups and delivered them, photographing the wall for my blog in the process.

After repeated visits to the vet, my beloved Pipig seemed to recover from an ailment I'd feared would take her.  I hoped for another year or more with her but sadly lost her her to a stroke in early June.

February

I cleared a couple of overgrown 'Blue Flame' Agaves from the south-side succulent bed in February.  This is the "after" shot.  I'm facing further removals in 2025 now that my "mutant" Agave 'Blue Glow' is blooming for a second time.

Among other things, that cleanup exercise revealed an attractive Agave americans mediopicta 'Alba'

A trip to South Coast Botanic Garden (SCBG), approximately 6 miles away, was timed to take advantage of the aloe blooms.  This is Aloe 'David Verity'.

March

The Xylosma congestum hedge that surrounds much of the main level of my garden put on its "ring of fire" display

Spring generally gets an early start in my location, especially when rain was as ample as during the 2024 "water year."  The blue Anemone coronaria were among the first flowers to take off in my cutting garden.

Babiana stricta, planted years ago, paid a return visit

The reliable Freesias put on a good show

I managed to get my hands on one of the Anigozanthos in the 'Celebration' series.  Although unlabeled, I think it's the variety called 'Fireworks'.

April

For the first time in the 14 years we've lived here, adult peafowl established an ongoing presence in our neighborhood.  This photo was taken by a neighbor but I've taken plenty of photos since, including some in my own garden.  They disappeared for a time but I recently spotted 6 peahens and a peacock so I anticipate they plan to spend another nesting period with us in the coming year.

I attended the South Bay Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale

I revealed the newly renovated succulent bed in the northwest end of our front garden

May

Self-seeded Echium, Centranthus and Limonium were in full bloom at the entrance to our neighborhood

The back slope of my garden was looking its best

A good friend treated me to a visit to the Huntington Gardens for my birthday.  This shot of Aloes and Portulacaria was taken in the Desert Garden.

And this photo was taken in the Japanese Garden

This combination of plants in my back garden was one of my favorites

June

Our marine layer's "June Gloom" was in full force, with none of the neighboring homes visible

Bearded Iris 'Gypsy Lord' made one of its rare appearances

During SCBG's 'BLOOM' exhibit, this Calodendrum capense (aka African cape chestnut) was putting on an especially good show

Epiphyllum 'King Midas' put on a good show in my own lath (shade) house

July

I paid another visit to SCBG for its annual butterfly exhibit

I caught a hummingbird drinking nectar from the Lobelia laxiflora outside my home office

The Garden Fling

I attended the Garden Fling in Puget Sound in late July.  Although my photos were taken between July 19th and July 21st, most of my blog posts were published between August and early October so I'm giving the Fling its own category.  I haven't covered every stop on the three-day tour, nor tried to call out all the Fling's highlights.  The following are just a collection of my favorite photos from the trip.

Carhart Garden on Vashon Island

Froggsong Gardens, also on Vashon Island

Gray Garden, featuring its "Toadhenge" stonework display in the background

A shot of the stumpery at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

This 'Zeba' lily was photographed in the Risdahl-Pittman Garden but I spotted it in several of the Fling gardens.  I was infatuated by it and ordered bulbs from a mail order seller, scheduled for delivery in mid-February 2025.

View of Mount Rainier from the beautiful Paulsen Garden

The Heronswood's Formal Garden

Vignette in the Heckler Garden, one of my favorites

Brindley Garden

The official greeter at Windcliff, carrying one of his owners' shoes

August

Brahea armata (aka Mexican blue palm) in bloom in a neighbor's garden

Agave 'Multicolor' and Aloe labworana in my front garden

Bed off the south-side patio showing the 3 Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' shrubs I'd pruned severely earlier in the year

Meeko, a shelter rescue I adopted in late August.  She's an ardent climber!

September

View of my street-side succulent bed following removal of a few overgrown and badly sunburned agaves 

Pelargonium schizopetalum bloom

The first Protea neriifolia blooms. 'Claire' is on the left and 'Pink Ice' is on the right.

A waterwise display at Roger's Garden on my only visit to the Orange County garden center this year

October

A rare appearance by Hymenocallis festalis (aka Peruvian daffodil), planted years ago in my front garden

A visit to Deep Roots Garden Center in Manhattan Beach prior to its closure.  Thankfully, it's moving, not shutting down entirely as so many of my favorite garden centers have done.

The last hurrah in my warm/hot season cutting garden shortly before I cleared it out to plant cool season bulbs and annuals

Barleria obtusa (aka bush violet), which blooms reliably each fall in various spots within my garden

November

Part of my fall giveaway to neighbors, which in this case included 'Fuyu' and 'Hachiya' persimmons, as well as a lemons, leftover Halloween candy, and a variety of succulent cuttings and pups

The second bloom flush of Aloe lukeana, 4 months after the first

My last visit to SCBG in 2024, where I admired this area, renovated earlier in the year

View of the Los Angeles harbor after a rainstorm passed through, leaving just 0.08/inch of rain

The boldest example of fall color I have in my garden, an Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'

December

December's Bloom Day, headlined by Camellia sasanqua, was very pink

My store-bought Christmas wreath, spruced up with a few cuttings from my garden

My most recent project, a revamp of the southwest end of the moderate front slope.  Work is still in process.

So, that's 2024!  My hope is that 2025 will turn out better than expectations based on the current news headlines.  In the meantime, do your best to take care of your garden if you have one, the earth we all share, and the people and furry companions you treasure.

All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party