Stretching Out

This is the kind of day (very hot) that stretching out as far as you can might make you feel cooler.  What do you think?

 Taking a little time to "freshen up".

What are you doing today?

Ivy

Black Is Beautiful

And, especially stunning in the garden!

It is not a color that you see that often among flowers.  But, putting them in some companion planting can be outstanding. Contrasting with a bright color works well.

Also, planting them in a focal point is especially nice. These are planted at the corner of the driveway and is very noticeable with lots of Oozes and Awes! Since I have not bought any garden supplies or plants this year I thought it would be fun to show you these unusual black petunias from a couple years ago. 

And, this was a fun project from the past.  Do you ever find that for various reasons you don't continue using some creation from the past?

Hope you are enjoying a pleasant weekend.  Hopefully, I will be able to go to a garden center before long and see what mischief I can get into!  I know I will not have any difficulty buying ~~~~~ but getting the plants into the ground is the issue.

It's pretty quiet over here but hotter than I prefer!

Mary

A Light Bulb Went Off

A few days ago I was thinking about all that dry brown dirt where the ground cover had been.  It never occurred to me until now that I may have an answer.  And it is from past experience many years ago!  When I was in my twenties and we were landscaping the garden of our newly constructed house we used Dichondra as a lawn.  Oh, how I wish I could remember the details surrounding that decision. But I can't. It may have been that it was popular at that time and it did not have to be mowed if you did not want to.

Dichondra (Dichondra repens) is a perennial groundcover plant (in USDA zones 7-11) that has a somewhat upright, creeping habit with circular leaves. It is not usually over 2 inches (5 cm.) in height and retains its bright green color in temperatures as low as 25 degrees F. (-3 C.). When this groundcover becomes full, it appears as a dense, carpet-like grass and is often planted in places where other turf-type grass does not grow well.

This is quite exciting to me. I think I will see if the local nursery can order a flat or two.  If I recall, I think I have seen it near flats of other lawn grasses.  I will be able to wait until our temperatures drop to the 70,s to get it started if I want to plant with seeds!  I think that will be my choice.  And, of course it is less expensive if using seeds. 

And, it has a higher (USDA) planting zone of 7-11.  That if better than 9 for Prunella.  Less trouble with freezing temperatures.  Additionally, my current soil base is going to be alright for this project.

Wish me luck.  I'll keep you posted on the process.

Mary

Maybe One Of You Can Help

How did my ground cover - Prunella Vulgaris - which is a perennial herbaceous plant that blooms June through September - go from this - - - - - - - - - 

To this over the winter?  It's gone!  All of the Prunella is gone!!!!

 

I have been growing this ground cover for many many years working at getting it to cover the common areas on the one side of the house. I have saved seeds every year and used them to cast out seed!  And, it self seeds very well and can even become invasive!  It looks like someone scraped every plant out except for a tiny bit here and there up close to the rock border.

Throughout the years there have been many years when we have some snow in the winter and occasionally some frost. Could it really be that one night of freezing weather has robbed me of all of the ground cover that I have nurtured all these years?  During this past winter I was not well and I was not outside in the garden to notice any change..

Any ideas for an alternative plant?  I have always used a ground cover since I can not use a lawn mower!  This is an informative website about Prunella. https://www.thegardenhelper.com/prunella.html. 

If you have any thoughts on this issue please let me know in the comments.

Thanks 

Mary

Do You See White

The garden flowers are slowly finishing their bloom for the season.  But, the White Garden is being a "SHOW OFF".   There have been five beautiful White Gladiolas and more to open.

The Gardenias are still still blooming and there are many more buds to open. By the way, it is  miniature type Gardenia and it looks very delicate for a Gardenia.

The Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon bush is loaded with buds and has bloomed more than any other year. Probably because the bush is getting more sunlight this year.

The Crepe Myrtle tree at the corner of the White Garden is blooming beautifully .  Sometimes it is hard to believe that the plant was a one-gallon size plant when I planted it years ago.  Where did the time go?

                                                                                                          And, there are three White Oleander bushes that were planted last fall and they have grown well and are blooming for the first time.  They are planted on the outside of the fence at the corner.  They actually are planted at the end of the border of Red Oleanders.

Oh, and the Clematis - Sweet Autumn that is draping down the fence is just about to bloom.  It starts at the corner of the White Garden where the new Oleander plants were planted. The below photo is what it looked like last year.  These photos are taken from the neighbors side of the fence. But, it blooms on both sides of the fence.

Magnificent?

And, the Bees love the flowers

The garden has been so very different this year.  Granted, it is different each year dependent on weather conditions. There are a few plants that did not make it through the late freeze, like all of the ground cover !!!  I really miss the ground cover that I had nursed along for years from a small patch by harvesting the seed each year!  

There have been next to no unwanted insects which has been nice.  No snails - nothing.  There still are a lot of medium sized lizards scampering around when they feel the vibrations of my feet!  Maybe, they have been my helpers this year keeping the harmful insects under control.  

Time to do some more hand watering.  Yes, I use a lot of water for my garden.  But, since I live alone I can closely monitor my water usage for laundry, dishwasher and showering which allows me to use the water for the garden. 

California drought is no joke!!!  Nor is the World Climate Change!!!

Look who snuggled and squeezed into my chair where I am sitting while I am completing this post. Chin on the chair arm! Believe me, it's "very close quarters" . She loves me like I never thought she would when she would hiss and bite at me - four years ago!!!

Mary

Just A Pretty Flower

From my garden on a Sunday morning.

Sending a Beautiful Day your way.

Mary

They Said It Was Going To Rain

But, I didn't give it any thought because I have heard that so many times that it is very difficult to believe.  BUT, LOOK,  IT REALY IS RAINING.

I thought I heard some heavy rain very early this morning and my first thoughts went to "Is there something outside that is getting wet that should be moved?"  I usually put things away at the end of each day. So I thought it's all OK.  It is raining enough that the downspouts are gushing water into the drainage route and the road looks very wet.  And, the air smells so fresh. There may not be a lot of rain but any rain is good rain! However, we don't want so much rain in certain compromised locations that there will be mud slides.

I am so happy that I could dance in the rain - if my knees didn't hurt!!!

OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY

Mary

This Is All You Get

Uneventful day - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cool inside, Miserably Hot Outside.

Ivy says, check back another day!

Hope you are comfortable.

Mary

What's That I Hear

After finishing my morning garden watering I was sitting on one of my designated "sitting chairs" and was enjoying the sights of my garden when I saw a slight movement and heard something way across the street coming down the long driveway that is covered with a lot of trees, bushes and foliage.

I rushed into the house to get my camera.  When I returned, two deer (mama and a little one) had already come down the driveway and were on "high alert" as they slowly walked behind a garage and into another neighbors long driveway!

This driveway is directly across from my driveway. Out of four quickly taken photos, two turned out OK. 

The beautiful creatures continued on their walk behind houses and toward town which is only a short distance away . I'm quite sure that they took a different route away from Main Street! 

I love where I live!!!  No bears or lions,  but they are not very far away . Maybe seven miles away .  I have seen many videos from home surveillance cameras posted on websites of neighboring areas. 

Throughout the years living here I have seen many skunks, racoons, opossums and foxes.  But, there seem to be fewer as the population and number of homes have increased . Or maybe I have been going to bed earlier (but I don't think so) and don't see the nocturnal visitors !

A memory I always remember is while looking out my living room window with a flashlight I could see a whole family of a Mama Skunk and Eight Little Babies coming out from a burrow under a huge boulder which surround my property.                                  They were so cute !  

                                                        (google image)

And, then there was the time my little dog got sprayed the first week I lived here!!!  Without a doubt, that was a Smelly Event !

Yes, I love living here and I really have a lot of stories (like the Alligator Lizard) of living here as a country girl - or maybe a little old lady!

Stay alert .  You may see a pretty Butterfly!

Mary

Hello

Sunflowers are a favorite of mine.  August is suppose to be the ending of Summer and I am ready for some cooler weather.  This picture looks so cheerful and I am ready for that too. No specific issues, I just think I am tired and some days the world issues have more impact on me even though my goal is to stay strong and focus on gratitude for the many aspects of my life that are exceptional.

Have a Fabulous Day and look for the goodness in the day.

Mary