JKOM, thanks for the complements on the garden! Adrienne, what appears to be a solid patio of stone is in fact a cantilevered wood structure support deck with waterproofing membrane and large sized travertine tile which spans the undisturbed slope around the pre-existing Maytenus boaria(Mayten Tree) that is all that remains from the "before" garden prior to my design. The tree canopy is in fact about the same size as the terrace below. This did require building a 2 foot tall reinforced concrete perimeter wall on the uphill side of the tree/edge of terrace to span and support the terrace and allow filling against at the uphill side to create a level lawn area. No tree roots were cut, the majority of existing slope around the tree was undisturbed, and the tree has roots all over the yard so that it doesn't need any direct rain/irrigation immediately adjacent the trunk. A raised deck is often a great solution for creating a level patio/terrace/deck around an existing tree, and making it solid is often a better solution for easy maintenance than a wood deck which traps debris between the deck boards and eventually rots out. I've often used this type of raised deck with solid tile for new gardens, even when they were flat and didn't technically need them, to raise up levels to better capture a view or create a special spot within a garden. Six years later the tree is perfectly happy and healthy still, and makes a superb anchor tree for this terrace, although Mayten trees are notorious for constant leaf litter drop. Mayten trees are a moderately slow growing evergreen from Chile that make great substitutes for a weeping willow sort of look, but are definitely only appropriate for zone 9/10 climates. As to no "triffids", sorry to disappoint; while this garden didn't originally start off with any palms, adjacent the terrace there is a rarely seen Trevesia palmata/Snowflake tree from Burma which definitely looks palm-like with branching. I've since added new smaller understory palms within the garden for the owners who purchased this spec-built home/garden 6 years ago now. I planted a Shaving Brush palm, Rhopalostylis bauriei cheesemanii and several clumping Bamboo palms, Chamaedorea micropadix and Chamaedorea tepelijote in an extra large pot at the terrace in the back yard, and also added two Windmill palms, Trachycarpus fortunei in the front garden. You should realize by now, that the "triffids" are everywhere here, there is no turning back :)! I can't say that I have ever encountered a new design client here in northern California who didn't appreciate the appeal of palms in a garden setting, especially when one avoids the problematic and too large growing types that are so much more prevalent here. This fall, I also added a recessed jacuzzi and leveled the previous sloped flagstone terrace at the upper garden for my clients, along with an outdoor shower off the tool shed/play house which is screened behind that wall with the Bougainvillea vine.

A 4' square of her own, edged so that the plants "can't run away" filled with edibles -- onions are a great idea since they can pretty much survive in spite of being pulled up every couple days to see if they've grown. A tiny sprinkling can is also useful, especially if she has to toddle 20 feet to the big bucket to refill. It's amazing the distractions that can be found in that twenty foot distance. firstkim is so right about the weeding. I played 'plant identification' when DD was two (what is the name of this leaf?) with much repetition, but unfortunately she never forgot the first time she waved a dandelion in my face and I answered, "Oh, it's a dam dandelion!" For several years those plants were all called damlions.

I enjoy getting up to the Bot Garden at least once every month, but it is only a 5 minute drive for me! The blue South African bulbs are not Ixia, but Babiana, so you know what to ask for if this is really what you want. I know that Suncrest Wholesale Nursery has several color selections of these, your local retail nursery can order them in. Also Annie's Annuals grows a couple of Babiana species as well. I haven't met that many people willing to let loose a large puya into their garden, I hope you have the room. I also like them, but I would advise to lay down weed fabric all around it and up close now while it is small, because weeding around one of them is murder.

Well, now we know it is a Thalictrum and may be the one you named. Someone mentioned the native T. thalictroides, but the ones I have are not like this one. Anyway, I think the mystery is solved. Thanks to all. Now I have another one to post later. Tags go missing due to critters and wind, and last year due to an injury I didn't do much if any gardening. Need to sharpen skills again.