GardenBook

   I've acquired a modest collection of Mangaves over the last few years-most of them are still in pots  but I am slowly transitioning some of them to the ground. The advantage with pots is that it's easier to move them out of harms way in winter, which as it turns out is a must-do for some cultivars. Some are also apparently a gourmet treat for snails. I bought most of those that I have collected from the UC Davis Arboretum plant sales-they had them back when nobody else did. This year though I opted to hold off buying any more until I  have a better plan for winter . I saw inconsistent reactions to rain and cold  so a year to just to shift plants around and  observe the results seemed like a wise choice.   The rainy season of 20-21 has featured (so far) only 8.19 inches of rain (season normal in the 25" range) and lots of frost with typical early morning temperatures in the 29 to 32 range. The coldest temp I registered here was 24f . It's not un...

  It feels good to write 2021. And it feels good to have had my first Moderna vaccine. By April Bloomday I will be fully vaccinated. What could be better than getting your life back ? This winter has been interesting. The lack of rain results in night after night of frost. This week rain is predicted for the next few days and though we will not catch up to normal (25"vs. 7.48")  I am collecting what I can for the containers. What I really need is a rain barrel. And what California needs are enterprises that install rain catchment systems for homeowners.     Leocodendron 'Little Bit'. I love this plant, it was  my first success with the genus. Though technically not blooms, the cones are decorative enough to pass .  Thalia. I tend towards the white Daffs, and I think I'll tuck in a few more of this one in fall. This has been a banner year for the Hellebores . I have many that are mature now and bloom heavily. And over the last two years I've probably ac...