tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post3484589511491626741..comments2024-03-28T16:38:10.153-07:00Comments on Late to the Garden Party: It's Snowing!Kris Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-82882241134098781252016-02-17T19:22:40.285-08:002016-02-17T19:22:40.285-08:00I haven't had the problem with suckering and, ...I haven't had the problem with suckering and, up until this year, we hadn't had any significant issue with the fruit. For some reason, the tree produced zillions of those tiny fruits this year, all of which smash and stain the driveway pavement when they fall. It really was terribly annoying but I can't account for why it wasn't a problem in prior years. The tree appeared to be a mature specimen when we moved in 5 years ago. I'm hoping it's like the fruit produced by some apricot trees and plentiful only at periodic intervals.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-47788013457569497162016-02-17T19:07:31.091-08:002016-02-17T19:07:31.091-08:00Does your callery pear produce small fruit that dr...Does your callery pear produce small fruit that drop in the fall and make a nasty mess everywhere? Ours do, and I hate them for that reason (and the suckering) in spite of the pretty flowers. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17583583634141549759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-77308722830692769332016-02-17T15:47:45.817-08:002016-02-17T15:47:45.817-08:00Thanks Peter!Thanks Peter!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-81088841091787314002016-02-16T21:28:20.863-08:002016-02-16T21:28:20.863-08:00Fingers crossed for rain for you!Fingers crossed for rain for you!outlawgardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273973572989510382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-18991474332970910912016-02-15T11:29:56.960-08:002016-02-15T11:29:56.960-08:00Real snow here would probably signify some worldwi...Real snow here would probably signify some worldwide environmental catastrophe, Anna. Bill Murray's quote in "Ghostbusters" comes to mind - "human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria."Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-53200407811520249132016-02-15T11:26:46.267-08:002016-02-15T11:26:46.267-08:00The Pyrus is beautiful in bloom, although it creat...The Pyrus is beautiful in bloom, although it created a mess with its fruit, which neither birds or squirrels will eat. It hasn't fruited so heavily in any prior year we've been here so I'm hoping that, like some other fruit trees, that phenomenon will only occur every few years.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-61983580113704861862016-02-15T04:57:37.098-08:002016-02-15T04:57:37.098-08:00And here I was so excited for you - your very own ...And here I was so excited for you - your very own snow!!! Sorry to hear you never got the promised rain. I hear Portland has experienced an unseasonal heatwave too. I'm on my way home right now. Your post made me wonder if I have any blooms in my garden yet - aside from the usual winter stalwarts.Anna Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02353084595743927603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-73817742769541528472016-02-14T14:41:30.872-08:002016-02-14T14:41:30.872-08:00For half a moment, I believed you! We actually did...For half a moment, I believed you! We actually did have snow flurries this past week, but while it was very pretty coming down, nothing stuck. You Pyrus calleryana is marvelous, and how fortunate that you can enjoy your Cyclamen from inside! I love all the color in your February garden. debsgardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656883577922890561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-61053319688938570732016-02-14T12:35:24.693-08:002016-02-14T12:35:24.693-08:00Brrr! Snow is pretty but I don't envy you thos...Brrr! Snow is pretty but I don't envy you those temperatures, Eliza!<br /><br />Most of the mulch I use comes from a local provider. It's labeled "garden mulch" but I'm not sure of its composition - it looks like finely ground wood material. I used larger redwood chips under our Magnolia tree and we've picked up wood chips left by the city's tree service on occasion but it's of very variable quality. Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-57502926503884618112016-02-14T12:24:55.575-08:002016-02-14T12:24:55.575-08:00Maybe the forecasters should try rain dancing - at...Maybe the forecasters should try rain dancing - at least that would be more amusing. The ornamental pear created a mess with its fruit this year but the flowers are welcome. The petals are dropping quickly - they're all over the front garden and driveway now.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-50035304590921663882016-02-14T12:21:50.470-08:002016-02-14T12:21:50.470-08:00It's a little cooler now, Angie, and there'...It's a little cooler now, Angie, and there's a chance of rain next Thursday but even the forecasters are warning that, at best, it won't be much.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-68768542250705263142016-02-14T12:20:07.249-08:002016-02-14T12:20:07.249-08:00'Pink Sugar' has proven to be "vigoro...'Pink Sugar' has proven to be "vigorous" here as well. I divided up some of last year's crop when it got ratty and used the plants to fill some of the empty space left by removing the lawn but, at this rate, it could fill my entire garden in a decade. 'Opera Rose' appears a little more restrained but it's early yet!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-37305629147949057252016-02-14T09:21:42.445-08:002016-02-14T09:21:42.445-08:00What kind of mulch do you use in SoCal, what is lo...What kind of mulch do you use in SoCal, what is locally available? I love learning about your gardening area, so different than mine. <br />This morning it was -13.7 when I got up with wind chills in the -30s. God almighty - this is extreme for us! <br />Enjoy your gentle (if warm) climate! Hope you get some rain soon!Eliza Watershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879335295393594236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-49590259913159211722016-02-13T11:39:52.184-08:002016-02-13T11:39:52.184-08:00The pear tree looks pretty in bloom... I'll be...The pear tree looks pretty in bloom... I'll be interested to see whether my fruit trees are blooming yet. I've decided the forecasters are just trying to use 'positive thinking'... They probably believe that if they keep predicting rain, they can make it rain. Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14441140267067281722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-3821854565218312382016-02-13T08:50:04.164-08:002016-02-13T08:50:04.164-08:00You had me fooled Kris! The ornamental pear is a ...You had me fooled Kris! The ornamental pear is a beauty. I like the combo with the Heuchera and Arctotis. I'm hoping that your Cyclamen prefer their new home and thrive for you. I hope you get a turn in the weather soon. Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682908724307784154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-63399128719009046272016-02-13T08:14:02.697-08:002016-02-13T08:14:02.697-08:00As Denise said, El Nino turned into Charlie Brown&...As Denise said, El Nino turned into Charlie Brown's football. Your 'Wilson's Wonder' is such a beauty--so enjoy seeing it. Nice looking Arctotis--will have to look for it. 'Pink Sugar' is a monster here--didn't expect that. Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-14181047997183495142016-02-12T21:20:25.224-08:002016-02-12T21:20:25.224-08:00After a week, it's also pretty tiresome, espec...After a week, it's also pretty tiresome, especially as we don't expect a break until the latter part of next week (if the forecasters can even be trusted as this point).Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-69153824442381663132016-02-12T18:09:56.188-08:002016-02-12T18:09:56.188-08:00I remember the Santa Annas from childhood and they...I remember the Santa Annas from childhood and they were miserable. I'm glad the mountains are getting the snow they need but I really hope that rain shows up. But at least you have some color to cheer up "winter". But 90's in Feb? That's insane!!Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-23781385107842000582016-02-12T11:46:44.352-08:002016-02-12T11:46:44.352-08:00Too much of anything is unwelcome - be it heat or ...Too much of anything is unwelcome - be it heat or rain! February is traditionally our rainiest month but this year is proving an extreme exception - I just hope it doesn't prove to be the new normal.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-34854526651772120382016-02-12T11:44:07.097-08:002016-02-12T11:44:07.097-08:00I've had very mixed results with Heuchera myse...I've had very mixed results with Heuchera myself, Christina. I've tried a number of the gorgeous hybrids with the same results as you described with your variegated selections - premature death in the fall. I've even had problems with Heuchera maxima, a California native, although I've a handful of these limping along in my garden now. Thus far, the ones that have done the best for me are the Bressingham hybrids. Their foliage isn't flashy but, placed in partial shade in fall 2014, they've handled the heat and water constraints here (thus far). The Heuchera 'Palace Purple' are another experiment on my part. They reportedly need only moderate water, as well as partial shade, but it remains to be seen whether they can handle the heat over the long term.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-66807623936845639552016-02-12T11:23:22.213-08:002016-02-12T11:23:22.213-08:00The trees do consistently color up here, although ...The trees do consistently color up here, although that event was delayed this year, probably because our warm weather extended well into November. Still, they came through when the temperatures dropped in December.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-88746231145786568242016-02-12T11:20:42.539-08:002016-02-12T11:20:42.539-08:00I'm sure cyclamen like your weather more than ...I'm sure cyclamen like your weather more than mine, Mariana!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-52181281549699840582016-02-12T11:20:07.467-08:002016-02-12T11:20:07.467-08:00Cyclamen are winter plants here, Sarah, but our pe...Cyclamen are winter plants here, Sarah, but our periodic warm spells make them a risky investment even during the coolest portion of what passes for winter here and I pushed the envelope further by buying my plants in late January. If they'd been in full shade they might have been okay but the area I selected was just too sunny and this current heatwave is just too relentless.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-12553353567177905692016-02-12T11:11:23.190-08:002016-02-12T11:11:23.190-08:00The San Gabriel Mountains did get snow earlier in ...The San Gabriel Mountains did get snow earlier in the year, Jessica - I could see it in the distance from our backyard (at least before the smog layer thickened). But snow in coastal southern California would probably require reversal of the poles or something equally cataclysmic.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-56826979796757387302016-02-12T11:07:42.888-08:002016-02-12T11:07:42.888-08:00I'm not putting any faith in the long range fo...I'm not putting any faith in the long range forecasts, Jane. I found it interesting that, in one of the LA Times recent articles, a weather expert admitted that they had relatively little experience with El Nino on which to make definitive projections. I don't know if forecasters overstated that limited experience or if the media simply exaggerated the early assertions about El Nino but, as with political campaigns, we should all beware of hype.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.com