My garden after the first rain in 9 months - WARNING lots of pics

15 years ago

Spring and fall seem to be the seasons with the most amount of significant growth for such short seasons. I think the primary reason would be that the summer is far too dry. Anyway, here are some pics from my yard as things begin to lush up after the first rain since February. Enjoy!

A desert/tropical nook with some fragrant roses arching over

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Mina Lobata

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Pealrgonium

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Pomegranates! the fruit of fall and winter!

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Oleander

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The last of the Erythrina blooms

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Blue Potato Bush - collapsed under its own weight

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Bougainvillea x buttiana

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Australian tree fern, kentia palm and princess flower

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Princess flower close up

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Passiflora Edulis flowers and fruit

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Bougainvillea Barbara Karst

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White Brugmansia

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Rhododendron Rutherfordiana "alaska"

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Canna

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The last of the duranta blooms

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Plumbago

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Chrysanthemums

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Meyer lemon blooms

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Osteosperumum

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Tecomaria Capensis

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White Brugmansia

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And lastly, tecoma stans

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Comments (6)

floweryearth
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Your garden is utterly beautiful. Many of the plants you have made me reminiscent of when I lived in Miami, which I didn't think was possible!

The thing is, I have always suffered with severe zone envy. I lived in Miami all of my life until two years ago, and never appreciated what I could have had. I was so hung up on having a English cottage garden that I missed out on all of the wonderful things I could have enjoyed, (such as many of the plants in your garden).

What your collection of pictures shows me is to make the best of what I've got. Because each climate has a beauty of its own, if I'm so hung up on what I can't have, then I will really miss out.

Thanks for sharing!
crunchpa
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Fantastic.....I love to see what people in other parts of the country are doing with their yards.......Thanks
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1. Yes, that is black spot on your roses. 2. Yes, you can prune your privet. I prune my privet up from the bottom like a crape myrtle to create a small tree. I underplant it with shade plants like columbine, ferns, etc. Pruning it up will give you the same options - more space for planting perennials giving the garden more color and texture. 3. Best groundcover? I think it would be whatever you want to plant under that tree. It is small now, but will get shadier as it gets larger, so think of things that might transition well into a shady condition in the future. How about growing rock rose under your sweet gum? It blooms in sun or part shade. Autumn sage would work too. 4. Rose pruning should have been done in February. I wouldn't worry about pruning it now. I have read that you really don't need to prune that rose, but it will grow to around 6-8 feet tall and wide. Let it grow this summer and if you still want to prune it next February, then wait until then. 5. It looks like that third one is growing. Maybe try moving some of the mulch away from the base. It might be smothering the roots too much. Sometimes pulling the mulch away a bit will help it grow better because the sun can get to any new buds that may be hidden under the mulch. Another thing that helps is to "fluff" the mulch a bit with a digging fork. Sometimes it gets so packed down, that it makes it difficult for air and water to penetrate. So, just loosening it up a bit will help all your plants. 6. If the Belinda's dream roses are going to be in the shade (roses not receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight) due to the crape myrtle, I would move the roses now since that would be easier if you just planted them. The crape myrtle can also be moved to a different location if it is also newly planted, but would be difficult now if it is established. You might have a problem with transplant shock. Good luck with your garden. It looks very nice!
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Central_Cali369
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You're Welcome.
Floweryearth, i'm guilty of the same thing. I am in zone 9b, but i always find myself trying to grow things that are NOT for my zone. lol. Sometimes i go a zone higher and sometimes a zone lower. Some examples are Dypsis Leptocheilos (zone 10), Dypsis Lutescens (zone 10), lilacs and paeonies(zone 8 or below for optimal flowering). And ask me why i run and buy more every year. haha. I have three lilacs (none of which actually bloom like i have seen them in colder zones) and i've tried paeonies countless times. I think you've hit the nail on the head, we should make the best of what we have. By the way, i'm glad i was able to remind you of Miami.

Crunchpa,
That's the reason why i like lurking around this forum. lol. I like seeing the gardens in the Southeast primarily (Georgia, Virginia, the Carolinas...) Rain really makes a world of difference - especially since we get very little of it.
floweryearth
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
central cali,

Here in north georgia we have been in a terrible drought for some years now, as I've heard that most of cali is. I totally agree with you say "Rain really makes a world of difference - especially since we get very little of it", because it's the same over here.

If you want a lilac, I happily recommend Lavender Lady. I tried growing an old french lilac I got at walmart last year, and it bloomed... then completely declined. It's flowers were tiny, whereas Lavender Lady had huge flowers of stronger fragrance. (The only thing I must say is that although LL had a stronger scent, the french one had a sweeter, more refined perfume). This year I planted a Blue Skies lilac.

As for peonies, I have had the best success with Sarah Bernhardt. However, I would recommend that you spend your money on a pack of peony poppy seeds instead. They may not be as large or have the fragrance, but let me tell you that they are lovely, have a longer bloom season (if planted while it's cool), and I really don't like the scent of my peonies. To me, it is like a combination of a rose and carnation at first, then I notice a disturbing under scent of medicine, and something unpleasant I don't know of. If you want a better perfume, I recommend a good old rose and/or carnation because at least you will enjoy a pure aroma.
natalie4b
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Those lemon flowers must smell devine!
How wonderful it must be to grow tropical plants year after year outdoors.
Enjoy!
And thank you.
~Natalie
janellelee
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh I have just fallen in love with your garden!
Its breathtaking!
Thanks Jan

My garden after the first rain in 9 months - WARNING lots of pics

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floweryearth

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My garden after the first rain in 9 months - WARNING lots of pics

Comments (6)

floweryearth

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floweryearth

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