In a Vase on Monday: I couldn't avoid the blues

The first of the Dutch Iris to bloom in my garden are already finishing their run but others have emerged in different areas to carry on the show.  I felt compelled to use some of them in a vase this week as a nod to their beauty but, read from a different perspective, the title of my post also says something about my mental state.  Last week marked yet more horrid news from the current administration.  The Hands Off! protests held on Saturday across all fifty US states, one of which I attended with protest signs in hand, were reassuring - and, hopefully, they're just the start.  The rallies in the US reportedly brought in hundreds of thousands of attendees (100,000 in Washington, DC alone).  According to the Fire Department's estimate, the local event I attended brought in 7500 people. 

My first arrangement contained four varieties of Dutch Iris.

I'm not sure the addition of the pastel yellow snapdragons was a good call but I needed something balance the varied blues of the Irises

Back view

Overhead view

Top row: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Anthirrhinum majus, and Iris hollandica 'Eye of the Tiger'
Middle: Iris hollandica 'Mystic Beauty', 'Pink Panther', and 'Sapphire Beauty'
Bottom: Phlomis fruticosa, hybrid Salvia 'Bee's Bliss', and Scabiosa 'Flutter Deep Blue'

Much as I like blue, I'm happier with my second arrangement this week.

The pincushion shrub, Leucospermum 'Sunrise', is putting on an especially good show this year and it kicked off this arrangement

Back view, including a few of the species tulip, Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia'

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Alstroemeria 'Inca Sundance', Calendula officianalis, Grevillea 'Superb', Leucospermum 'Sunrise', Narcissus 'Sunny Girdfriend', and Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia'

Although we had temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70sF (23-25C) this past weekend and the local TV forecasters have been predicting even higher temperatures this week, the online services I consult are showing temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60sF (17-20C).  Unfortunately, given low humidity and windy conditions, I'm already quickly depleting my rainwater reserves and there's little chance of more rain in the foreseeable future.  At least California's northern mountains are showing a good snowpack, which should help us limp through the summer.

For more IAVOM creations, check in with our host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

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

A visit too long delayed (Sherman Gardens)

I knew it'd been awhile since I'd visited Sherman Gardens in Corona Del Mar but I was surprised when I realized it'd been more than a year.  The garden is small but well maintained and there's always something interesting to see there.  On average, I've paid two visits a year.  A friend now volunteers there every week and, along with two other friends, we reached an arrangement to meet up there, even though we all live in California's South Bay area.  The four of us formerly saw each other once a week or more when we were volunteer docents at South Coast Botanic Garden but the docent role was eliminated as a byproduct of the COVID pandemic and our paths cross far less often.

We arranged to meet at a nearby restaurant for lunch before touring the garden.  Although the distance from my home to Corona Del Mar is only fifty miles, that trip can take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half so I allowed myself extra time to get there.  As the traffic gods were with me, I arrived about twenty minutes early and spent some of that time strolling the garden's exterior perimeter.

View of the front of Sherman Library & Gardens where it faces the Pacific Coast Highway

One side of the garden's perimeter is covered by espaliered Calliandra haematocephala shrubs (aka red powder puff), one of the plants I'm eliminating from my garden because it collects dry debris, but then this garden is constantly maintained and also not located in a fire risk area.  I found another, beefier Calliandra, accented by Aloes, on the opposite end of the exterior wall.

Following lunch, we toured the garden with Kay, now a Sherman's docent, pointing out the highlights.  The sun was high in the sky at that point so I offer my apologies in advance for the sharp shade-sun contrasts in many cases.

This is the Central Garden just inside one of the garden's main entrances.  It's replanted on a seasonal basis.  The beds were currently filled with Anemones and Ranunculus.

While my friends checked out the gift shop I admired the bright purple Petrea volubilis, a tropical vine commonly known as queen's wreath, covering an arbor in the Tea Garden

We passed through the Tea Garden on the way to the Succulent Garden.

An assortment of bromeliads and succulents filled this former fountain, turned container.  Also note the small succulents planted in the spaces between the steps on the left.

One densely planted corner, including a container showcasing a blue Cycad (Encephalartos horridus).  A partial list of the plants in the Succulent Garden can be found here.

The edging of this section of the Succulent Garden is elaborately patterned

Another corner of the Succulent Garden, further demonstrating that one can never have enough rock in such areas

I fixated on the massive Agave in the background here (which I can't identify) and its equally massive asparagus-like stalk.  Kay pointed out the huge trunk of a tree-like Euphorbia to its left (for which I also don't have an ID) and I was shocked.  

For comparison, this photo shows what that giant Euphorbia looked like in November 2023.  Apparently, excess water accumulated over the years, causing the plant to gradually rot and the plant was recently cut down.

This area of the Succulent Garden has undergone significant changes since I was last there too.  Again, note the heavy use of rock, as well as the use of numerous containers inserted within the bed.

These are a couple of closeups of the same renovated area

We checked out the Mediterranean Climate Garden next.

The yellow flowers of Leucospermum cordifolium were meant to be combined with Ceanothus 'Dark Star'.  A partial list of the plants in the Mediterranean Garden can be found here.

Leucadendrons and Leucospermum mingle with a white-flowered Ceanothus here

Other occupants of the Mediterranean Garden include: Euphorbia lambii, Lobelia excelsa, Echium wildpretii (with white flowers), Dudleya, and Sonchus palmensis

The Sun Garden was up next.  The plants are changed out regularly to show off seasonal annuals and perennials.

I didn't get a good photo of the garden's mascot, Sherman the otter, on this occasion because people were always in the way but he's holding that umbrella alongside the pond

Closeups of the some of the annuals currently in bloom

We strolled the Formal Garden next.  For a long time, this area focused on roses.  The online description describes it as a knot garden that mixes hedges and herbs but, on this occasion, I was surprised to see that there was a definite emphasis on succulents, especially Mangaves.

The overturned pots and driftwood additions made this area seem far less formal than it used to be

This area incorporated pillars constructed using fencing wire stuffed with moss and soil, with holes filled by small plants and the pillar topped with Mangaves (mostly 'Mission to Mars').  Some of the other plants are identified here.

Moving along, we wandered through the Orchid Collection.

The featured orchids were mostly Dendrobiums and Cymbidiums

Next up was the Bromeliad Garden, which was in the midst of redesign when I last visited Sherman Gardens in late November 2023.

This area is also heavy on rock, presumably to better showcase the individual bromeliads.  A partial plant list can be found here.

I caught a photo of the garden's workshop nearby with its doors open.

This is the neatest plant workshop I've ever seen!

The last area we toured was the Tropical Conservatory.  This is one of my favorite parts of the garden but, in contrast to the relatively cool outdoor temperature, it was very warm and humid on this occasion and I discovered that the majority of photos I took were foggy.

This photo of the koi pond was the best one I managed, probably because I snapped it immediately after I entered the enclosed space

Highlights in this area include: the resident turtle, a noID bromeliad, what may be an orchid, Pavonia multiflora, and another bromeliad

That's a wrap for my garden activities this week.  I'm scheduled to attend a Hands Off! protest with a friend at the Torrance Civic Center on Saturday.  That should be altogether different!  Have a good weekend, however you intend to spend it.

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

New spring arrivals (week 5)

I was going to bring an end to my spring arrival posts last week but, wherever I turn, there's still something new to see.  And then we all can use a bit of cheer these days, can't we?  I've even tucked some fresh foliage shots into this post.

First up are the flowers:

This is Ageratum corymbosum, a plant I purchased from the former Annie's Annuals & Perennials many years ago.  I'm still awaiting news on the status of the company that acquired the mail order rights to Annie's collection of plants late last year.

I planted 50 of the tiny bulbs of Allium neopolitanum in 2022 and fear I may ultimately regret their vigor

On the other hand, Babiana stricta seems to have done me a favor and spread its seed to a bed on the other side of my flagstone path

The first of the weed-like Centranthus ruber on my back slope are flowering.  It's a lightly irrigated area and I thought it needed color so I moved seedlings there not long after we moved in.  Their vigor is another thing that feels overwhelming at times.

I'm looking forward to a prolific display from Hippeastrum papilio (aka butterfly amaryllis) in future years

Bearded Iris have generally made a spotty showing in my garden but I couldn't pass up this Iris germanica 'Gilt-Edged' variety last year during a late season bulb sale.  An unidentified critter dug up and ate half of one of the 3 bulbs but the other 2 are blooming.

I pruned my 2 Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' shrubs in late winter, which may have been a mistake but I'm getting a spring flush at last

Melianthus major (aka honey bush) gets cut nearly to the ground in the fall but always springs back (pun intended)

I think this is Osteospermum 'Zion Copper Amethyst', which has returned to flower exuberantly each year since 2015

I've had a harder time growing Phlomis purpurea (purple Jerusalem sage) than the yellow-flowered Phlomis fruticosa.  I moved this plant from one bed to another 2 or more years ago and it looks like it's finally going to do something this year.  In contrast, one of my neighbors can barely contain hers on a sunny slope. 

The tiny Stenocactus multicostatus (aka brain cactus) I got earlier this year has already flowered

Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia' is blooming better than her cousin, 'Lady Jane', this year

A lot of the plants I featured in earlier new arrivals posts have exploded since then.  I photographed a few to provide examples.

It's hard to capture just how blue Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt' is on my back slope

Cercis occidentalis (aka western redbud) has a lanky shape but it's still pretty in full flower

Cistus x skanbergii responded well to a little rain and sun

My garden is heavy on evergreen plants but I do have some deciduous trees and plants.  Here's a sampling of those in the process of producing a flush of fresh foliage:

I'd have sworn that dwarf Japanese maple, Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa', had nothing but bare branches last week 

I love Japanese maples but they do well here only in isolated settings where they're protected from harsh summer sunlight and high winds.  Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' (aka coral bark maple) on the east side of our garage has done very well.

Years ago, I planted several artichoke plants (Cynara cardunculus var scolymus) on my back slope from a 6-pack of plugs and they still return and produce chokes each year (unless a plant collapses from their weight)

New bright green leaves clothe the Japanese persimmon, Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu'

On the other side of the fence, sits another persimmon, Diospyros kaki 'Hachiya'.  The trees produce disc-shaped flowers but they're not very showy.

Our total rainfall for the water year to date, counted from October 1st, 2024, is a sad six and a half inches, less than half of what we'd normally expect.  I think the garden's doing as well as it is because the rain arrived just as the days began to grow longer and plants were waking up.  I've made my own humble contributions by dumping much of the rainwater I collected on the driest areas of my garden.  After a very brief heat flash a week ago, our cool temperatures returned, often accompanied by a morning marine layer, which has probably also helped the garden avoid excess stress.  However, some plants have been notably slow to bloom.  I've just about given up on calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) and two of the Echiums teasing me with flower stalks for weeks now have yet to bloom.  I won't even speak of the sweet peas!

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