Welcome to stella_blue's Member Page

Our Garden is strictly for fun by amateurs. No painting by numbers here. We simply grow what we like.

Setting: Residential neighborhood small 1/8 acre lot with horse trails, & greenbelt. Located in Yorba Linda between Prado Dam/Santa Ana River & Chino Hills S.P. in Orange County, CA

When we moved into our home it didn�t take us long to realize that watering and mowing the lawn was a waste of OUR time and resources with no real benefits. We immediately vowed to be completely lawn free someday. It didn�t happen in a day or a week or even a year but it did happen. Now there are only a few inches of unplanted earth left at Stella Blue.

Before: April 1991 Average water use was 30+ units of water a month (1 unit = 748.10 gallons).

After:May 2003 Average water use now 12-15 units of water a month (1 unit = 748.10 gallons). Only difference between then and now is no LAWN!!

I�m in Sunset zone 23 boardering 18, and USDA 10 really 9.5. Our Heat Zone is 7 with one border (zone 6) heading to the coast and the other (zone 8) heading inland. Our worst weather problem is the dry Santa Ana�s traditionally October � January they can gust 50+ miles an hour. Next I guess is the hot mid day sun of summer, we are still making some changes. The worst pest white fly and regular ants.

In creating our garden Stella Blue we have completely indulged our passion for plants and rocks. At the same time we have created a habitat for local hummingbirds and even some migratory birds, butterflies, insects (beneficial), lizards, bunnies, raccoons and other wildlife. We have 25 separate growing areas and irrigate with a combination of automatic dip, misters and sprinklers. We try and use organic fertilizer and insecticides first and whenever possible.

When we first started we paid particular attention to California natives and other drought tolerant plants. But� when you love to garden and you live in the sweet spot of Southern California with a Mediterranean Climate (7 to 10 micro climates) you know how very fortunate you are. So the adventure begins and you include plants from Bolivia, Mexico, Madagascar and South Africa to name a few. They include many different succulents, agaves, aloe, crassula, hoya, cactus, bromeliad, kalanchoe, echeveria, vegetables, herbs, orchids, palms and other tropicals.

I am just now having the time to catalog and learn the botanical names of the over 400 plants we purchased from sales at arboretums and botanical gardens throughout CA, AZ and NV.

I�ve lived in Orange County, California since 1961 and at our current home since 1991. Gardening has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. My family has farmed in Tuscola County - Fairgrove, Michigan for over 125 years. Memories of my grandmother are few but most enclude gardening. Oh.... I remember the surprises she had on her porch. I have a Jade Plant from a cutting of the one she kept in the parlor. Growing up here in SoCal my parents home had a nice collection of plants. My playhouse had it�s own window boxes and Cactus and Succulent Garden.

When I�m not gardening what are some of my other passions? Watching nature, exploring, rock hounding, sharing, peace, discovery, hiking, the experience of live music, the internet, working on our dream, tent camping, visiting family, building our website www.nicheofbliss.org with virtual garden database and digital pictures to share with family and friends. My newest passion Gourds!

Mostly just taken time to smell the flowers. Helping where I can....

Favorite Forums: California Gardening, Gourds, Cacti & Succulents, Seed Exchange, Plant Exchange, Round Robin Exchange, Tropical Plants, Butterfly Garden, HummingBird Garden and South African Native Plants.

My Motto
Deadhead Deadhead Deadhead! Like the music plays the band the flora and fauna creates the garden.

Hello Fellow California Garden Enthusiast

We hope you will consider joining The Southern California FUN Gardening Club. "One that doesn�t focus on roses or orchids or anything too scientific."

We are looking for members ready to have some FUN.
We want to hear from you if you live in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego or San Bernardino Counties.
Let us hear your ideas.
Here is a link to The SOCAL Fun Gardenong Club message board
http://socalfungclub.proboards22.com

and home page
http://www.nicheofbliss.com/socalfungclub/socalfungchp.htm

October 24, 2003
I hope everyone is safe from any of the fires burning in SOCAL. We are getting ash here in Yorba Linda from the Fontana fire.

February 7, 2004
Ah.....yes, the sweet spot of SO CA. Don�t you just love it??

Everyone was out at our place today birds, bees, bunnies, and even the big lizards.

Lots of things in bloom orchids, salvia, hardenbergia (purple & white), Strelitzia reginae & nicolai, Jasminum (yellow), Eremophila aurea, Acacia cultriformis, lavenders, Scilia eruiana, camellia, Euphorbia characias wulfenii, and Thunbergia alata.

Just forming buds now Mellianthus, Echium fastuosum, and Agave vilmoriniana with more on the way. Wildflowers starting to pop up.

I am finding it difficult to not start my seeds but I know we can have still have that cold snap here. I best wait.

last update 03/23/04

I live in: United States

My zone is: ss23us9b So CA

My Birthday is January 11 .

My favorite forum 1 is California Gardening.

My favorite forum 2 is Seed Exchange.

First registered on January 23,2003.