Recently some improvement in coloring of some stands of westside bigleaf maples, as the show winds down. Sometimes pretty decent, although often the tree is already partly defoliated. Not talking about ones with tar spot, of course. The yellow and near-orange shades actually show up better against the green native conifers than the exotic species (red maple, Keith Warren hybrid maples etc.) marching through and along nearby commercial spaces would. These need blue conifers to set them off. Likewise, there there is a reddish vine maple in front of a partly silvery Sitka spruce in the woods that can look good. Black hawthorn and Oregon crabapple are usually orange etc. but tend not to blaze like the garden favorites that originate elsewhere. The crab can have an interesting mix of shades, cascara even more so. All three are wetland species, making these habitats the only places where there is predominantly reddish fall display in the wild in local lowlands - except where some vine maples are red or partly so.

Oh heavens, Jeanne! What a "welcome to the neighborhood" that was. I am glad that they didn't lose too much, but still, how devastating. I doubt this makes you feel too much better, but my whole family on DH's side all live out there in southern California in various places. We've had scares over the years and close calls, but they never lost anything to any of all the numerous fires. Even though the fires are common, those victimized by them are not as numerous... I mean it's not like everyone is out a home now and again out there or anything like that. I would figure that being devastated by a fire like this wouldn't happen all the time to same family. I think it's something that might happen once in your lifetime, if even that... I don't know if that helps ya, but it's just my 2 cents... Also, not sure if this helps you, but I remind myself that worry is the opposite of trust or faith... that wakes me up sometimes.... I guess that depends on your faith, though, or lack there of. ;-) As for the seed sorting, once again, you are very organized about this and doing a terrific job! Don't worry if you need to slow down a bit (or pause things) when life happens. We all do understand. I hope you and your daughter are feeling better soon... I am sure it was traumatic. Blessings, Angela

Excellent OA! Love the striped tablecloth and the coordinating plates/chargers. Your wire cloche and ravens fit in very well with your theme as does the framed The Raven picture. Tell me, Denise, are you dining with "Lenore" or Mr. Poe, himself? LOL! Love your placecards! Great job! DD

Here's a few of my giants. Dasylirion longissima. Foliage tops out at about 7 feet. Stalk is from last year's bloom and was probably 16-18 feet. My baby Nolina nelsonii. Bloomed last year for the first time and is now bifurcating to develop two heads. A group of younger N. nelsonii. Nine foot cannas. Some 10 foot barrel cacti. Trichocereus terscheckii. These babies haven't bloomed yet and will eventually branch to resemble saguaro. A cuddly little seven foot Agave americana. Six foot common elephant ears under a very juvenile Sabal mexicana. The Sabal mexicana's same age sibling. Lastly, my favorite tree on the property. The burl at the base is 7 feet high and about six feet in diameter. The canopy covers about 6,000 square feet. A youngster -can't be much over 500 years old.