lol, Anita. Once when living in Alabama I had a very well-dressed neighbor who liked my garden and flowers, even though she thought I was a bit, umm, disheveled, let's say. One summer morning she and several other neighbors congregated in my back yard while I was out gardening. I happened to be wearing something a cut above my normal gardening attire, and she commented on it. I just smiled and said, "No it's just regular gardening clothes." Where upon she responded, "Well, aren't all your clothes gardening clothes"? I had to laugh, but do know that even dressed in heels and a dress I will sometimes stop and pull weeds out of the front garden on the way to the car. So I totally relate to your story, Anita. We probably all do. Gean

Robin, David does cite an exception to your list - the Deut will be happy almost anywhere in your yard and would enjoy the winter rains. Just as some additional information, one thing I've noticed is that there are several, if not hundreds, of exceptions, but in general most pachycauls go dormant. Under the above-mentioned structure, of all my Adeniums the Adenium arabicum never lost its leaves (so I watered it in winter) and, oddly enough, the from-the-winter-rainfall-area Pachypodium namaquanum lost its leaves for the briefest amount of time of all my Pachys (I had around 11), so if it was in leaf I kept watering it, although in San Diego they were protected from the rains most of the time in the winter. Up here, my Fockea edulis, Raphionacme flanaganii and Jacaratia corumbensis do not go out of leaf in winter, so they get some water, though not as much as in summer, when they're outside and in full (shaded) sun. The rest of the usual suspects (Cyphostemmas and Burseras, with the odd Commiphora) go dormant wherever I've had them. But I'd agree with you - learn what you have and where it's from, and that will help a lot.

I just found your blog while doing my initial research on pool builder (found it in your Yelp review). I loved reading about your experience and seeing the pics along the way! Thank you so much for the wonderful insight. I have to say that your pool installation has made me so excited to pull the trigger on our own, and now when I need a break at work, I go to your blog -- my new "Happy Place".

You are probably right that the russelia might appreciate more sun than your coastal conditions provide. A shame; I love that they are always in bloom for me. I have a 14" Lochroma 'Royal Queen' planted for them to taste eventually, but the darned thing is growing at such a snail's pace I partnered a Callistemon rigidus with it. The winner of the most vigorous shrub award wins the garden spot. Hamelia--A nemesis plant. Whenever I go to look for it at the nursery, they aren't being offered. Then I plant something else in the spot, and there they are for sale again. They usually are available during the summer, when they would quickly become sun-crisps if I were to plant them then. Maybe a brief holdover period in a pot would allow for planting in cooler weather. I just have to remember to do that. So many plant options, too little garden space. :)