Multicolor Rose

A fluorescent rose in my garden.

Mesclun Mix

The mesclun I planted a long time ago finally seems to be growing.

New Plants

I managed to rescue some nursery throw-aways from a dumpster today. They were all rare and old pelargonium varieties. I snagged the following cultivars:

Hybrid Pelargonium Domesticum
‘Halloween’

Hybrid Pelargonium Domesticum
‘Inez’

Hybrid Pelargonium Domesticum
‘Glowing Ember’

Hybrid Pelargonium Domesticum
‘Tunia Perfecta’

Hybrid Pelargonium Domesticum
‘Dawn’

Hybrid Pelargonium Domesticum
‘Lavender Grand Slam’

Hybrid Pelargonium Domesticum
‘Grand Slam’

Photos tomorrow…

Autumn Approaches…

As the summer days grow shorter, I can’t help but start thinking about my fall garden. I am hoping to plant several varieties of lettuce in containers, as well as arugala, Swiss chard, and radishes.

I have only grown cool-season vegetables once, but my experience was a success. I had hundreds of bright-red radishes, along with carrots and lettuce. I had so much lettuce I was able to make several huge bowls of salad.

This year, I’m thinking about possibly growing mesclun, a mix of different greens. I am considering growing the plants in wide containers, but I have never done this before.

Anyone got any tips?

Verbena Bonariensis

My blooming Verbena bonariensis.

First Papaver

The first bloom on my Papaver commutatum ‘Ladybird’ from Annie’s Annuals.

Rain!

Finally, after weeks of “unbearable” sunny weather, we are getting needed rain. The grass on the hills is being given a few more days of life before the hot sun bakes it to a crisp. The garden seems to be responding well to the rain, as things have been a little too dry for comfort this past month.

Update:

There was a super heavy downpour today as showers blew through the area. It was sunny and literally 1 minute later the streets had turned into flooded rivers. The rain was coming down in drenching sheets, so hard that waterfalls were pouring off of the roofs of houses. Almost as soon as the downpour began, it stopped, and the sun came out again.

Tropical Forest

I wish…actually my tropical garden looking up from below.

A Growing Garden

The garden is really starting to grow fast. I have bird’s eyes and corncockle, Agrostemma githago, as well as some extremely robust California pipevine plants. All the trees have their leaves now, and my two banana plants are growing well. The king palm has been repotted and I have acquired a 6-foot tall golden bamboo. Summer looks like it will be good for plants this year.

Pipevine Eggs

Finally, after three years of waiting, I have pipevine swallowtail eggs!