Hi I can't believe I am the first to respond--should I go and get a lottery ticket? Thanks a lot

Hello, How close to the ocean is your garden? and what is the average day temperature during summer? With no water at all for 3-4 months in summer during our annual California seasonal drought, band sized and many gallon sized plants might die from lack of water if planted right away in your dry garden. Where day temps are more often in the 80's and higher, I would go with Ramblers which the East Bay park department says are drought tolerant in our area, and species and species hybrids. For 20 and more years, in the woodland acreage at the Morcom amphitheatre of roses, in Oaklland , Califorornia grow many R. brunonni outside of the irrigation system, ( many are seedlings from a mother plant) a few R. moschata, and many Banksiae., as well as Alberic Barbier, all do fine with no water at all during our annual summer drought which lasts 3-4 months each year. I volunteered at that park and made a cultiver and rose species database in the late 1900's(crikey that makes me sound old) and early 2000's. Large trees shade these roses for 4-6 hours out of the day, but all but those in the deepest shade bloom normally. My 'Albertine' was lost when moving and found months later crammed between several pots, with no water, and it lived and thrived. Because so many of the Rambler roses are species hybrids, and said to be drought tolerant, here, I would try the re-blooming rose 'Mermaid' in a dry garden after it had grown to be 5-6 feet tall. It reblooms very well and is gorgeous. I imagine a dry hillside planted with Mermaid, with a few Veilchenbleu , Kiftgate, Silver Moon, R. laevigata, Alberic Barbier, Susan Louise and other R. gigantea hybrids. R.californica transplanted after their roots are 3 feet long, or more. . If I never intended to water them. I might plant Califorinia lilac, ceanothus as mounds for the ramblers to ramble over. If I watered deeply once a month as Gregg does, I'd try the same with the largest cultivars of Old Garden Tea roses, and a few Tea-Noisettes. Tea roses seem to be common among the found roses in warm climates, where live and bloom without being watered during summer, in California and the Southern States. I believe that any of the huge roses R. gigantea , for instance, may be drought tolerant to an extent because of the depth to which their roots reach. R. palustris is said to be drought tolerant as well as wet tolerant, and it has a long bloom cycle too. A row of Susan Louise could provide more shade if needed, it is a gorgeous plant, grown on the ground or as a tree shaped rosebush with the lower canes removed. I would add R. californica, I rarely remember to water mine and it is glorious. It grows to be more than 13 feet tall and has a big bloom cycle in June and scattered bloom of c. 15% for 4+ months after wards, I find that the scent of its leaves has an affect of aromatherapy. The eglantine Meg Merrilees has the strongest foliage scent of any of the eglantine hybrids I've smelled, as good as the species. R. primula would be a treat by the edge of a pathway, for its incense scented leaves. Alba Semi Plena is also reported to be drought tolerant where summer temps average in the 70's F. I spoke to a woman at the Old Rose celebration who told me of a large 'Anna Olivier' growing by a highway near Santa Cruz, California. I'd try growing a large plant in a low-water zone. I've documented a 'Grandmothers Hat' and 'Alliance Franco-Russe' both mature plants, in abandoned gardens in Oakland, where they received no water from a hose nor rain for 3-4 months out of the year, for 10 years (g.hat) and 5 years (the Old Garden Tea). the grandmothers hat is a climber of c. 12 feet tall, and growing up a fir tree, the alliance f.russe was c. 8 feet in each direction the last time I visited it. I hope you can use some of this info. Good Luck, Lux

We had colder weather here today and yesterday than we did on Monday. Monday morning's low was 49, but yesterday and today it got down to 45 degrees, and in certain spots in my yard it is 3 or 4 degrees colder, and so I do not put anything sensitive there. I keep orchids outside all winter, and they are doing okay, but they are in the warmest part of the back yard and are semi-protected. I have basil and tomato plants in pots next to the house, and they are doing well. I seem to get more tomatoes in the winter than I do in the summer. None of my Kalanchoes have ever gotten damaged, and I have some of the in the coldest parts of the yard. The heliconias never get damaged either.

Thanks, jkom! My husband has really worked hard on this bougainvillea, so that it arches over our gate. It's doing this on it's own. There is no structural support, so we hope we can continue to allow it to arch like this. It is so pretty. Our really tall friends need to duck a wee bit, but it's worth it I think :-) It is probably 'San Diego Red' or 'Barbara Karst'. It is a deep magenta pink/red. Here are some pics of our other very large bougainvillea in the back of the side yard, that cascades down to the lower yard level (you can see the Cantua buxifolia and Phlomis behind the fountain, as well as some pale yellow nasturtiums). It is most likely 'James Walker' as it is a combination of pink and orange, sort of hard to tell in my photos: And I noticed on the way down to the lower yard, my lovely Scabiosa 'Fama Deep Blue' is now in bloom: My 'Sweet Crisp' blueberries are going to really perform this year, too. I'm anxious to try this new to me variety. These are as big as marbles right now: And here's a peek at the Walk & Pick orchard walk. I had noticed all the owl poop on the walk the other day, below the gate arbor. Well, met that owl face to face last night, as he swooped down the walk right in front of me. I about had a heart attack. He was completely silent, and pretty sure it was our Great Horned Owl, since he wasn't white (that I remember, I was sort of screaming at the time): Golden Dorsett apple set: Apples and some stone fruit (apricots, apriums): The other side of the walk with pluots, plumcots, necaplums, necatrines, apricots, peaches (yup, that's Morning Glory on the fence. It is ONLY there because my husband is in love with the blue flowers, which cover the fence in a couple of months. Plus, there is passaflora on the fence, too, so I'm at both with a machete all year to keep it out of the fruit trees. At least I have a yard full of pollinators from it): And a shot from the bottom, standing in front of the greenhouse looking upward to the arbor gate: And lastly, my welcome sign in Scottish Gaelic. Translation: Hundred Thousand Welcomes (and a sad shot of the abandoned Valencia orange orchard): Thanks for letting me share my little piece of heaven in N. San Diego county. I am always in awe of everyone else's garden, so you kind words really mean a lot to me :-) Patty S.