GardenBook

 In March , I blogged about the Northwest corner of my garden; an area that I purged over winter and fall, more than ready for a do-over . There has been progress, though slow primarily due to plant availability. I decided what I wanted here and for once I didn't waver from my design (term used loosely) due to gardeners impatience syndrome-a condition for which there is no cure but which can be managed with the all-natural medication known as Discipline.Discipline is readily available but often unpalatable. So, I ordered and waited. Mail order plants that come in spring can be small, but this was my expectation and the important thing was the vigor of the root system. No disappointment on that front.   Here is the area this evening..The most growth from the newbies has been  Passiflora caerulea which is on the redwood trellis. I may live to regret this purchase, but I promised myself to be diligent in monitoring it's activity and taking action (up to and includin...

 I rushed out to snap  a few Bloomday photos before the promised rainstorm arrived..urgency was not needed as the storm veered away from my neighborhood and not a drop of water was seen in my carefully staged but primitive rain collection system. I had in fact drivin down the valley earlier with my windshield wipers on only to see the pavement get drier as I closed in on home. Couldn't those clouds have moved about 10 miles south before heading east to the Sierra Foothills ??? It seems everything is in bloom this month,  and here are just a few offerings for our monthly virtual floralscape , hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. . Clematis Rooguchi is a Bloomday regular . And this is C. Juuli , I wish had had done better at capturing her charming pinwheel petals. The worlds cutest grass, Briza media. My newest grass, Calamagrostis 'Avalanche' sports a reverse variegation pattern from it's brother 'Overdam'. Back in my garden after a f...

 Armed with a list and a budget , I made my first 2015 visit to Annies Annuals . In the last several days I have been able to move from the digging stuff up phase to the actual plant installation phase of the various renovations I have happening here. I have orders pending with  Digging Dog and Joy Creek , both of which I expect to see by the end of the month. I lingered in the parking area to admire the Paulownia tomentosa in glorious bloom and the perimeter plantings.. Ooo la la , check out the Cussonia   Annies is vast , and the sales area has expanded  further in the last couple of years , as has the staffing . I was asked multiple times if I needed help-as a professional at Annies shopper , I didn't in fact need help , but I can imagine how overwhelming this nursery could be to a casual gardener or a first time visitor.  The display gardens were all spring-y and rosey... The Flower ...

 The roses all say 'look at me' this month, but there are so many others to see-a mild winter has meant early flowers for many that are in most years still recovering from what passes for winter here. Buff Beauty got to stay during my great rose purge of 2013-2014. The inventory of 70ish has been pared down to 35.    Giant wingspan on this noid Clem.  This color is legit..the tag long gone . I acquired this when the late great Chalk Hill closed up shop.  Lavender and Euphorbia 'White Swan' Jean Giono The fabulous Madame Isaac Pereire All the Gasterias are blooming ! Awkward for photos though ... Pelargonium 'Splendide' ..I've murdered 2 of these, but I swear I will prevail this time. Margaritas anyone ? Ptilotus 'Joey' a good Aussie plant for a container in drought times. Ramona..this was my first Clematis and she lives on after 20+ years.  Gruss an Auchen with Golden Celebration. ...

 I've had a few days to ruminate over my visit to the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show last Saturday. There is no way to flip the ratio of pro to con. Sadly, the cons win. Last year I posted of my hopefulness in the direction the show was taking , and the spiffy redesign of the website in conjunction with the speaker line-up for 2015  pointed the way to good things.  On the positive side, the seminars were first rate. I attended three: Dan Hinkley, Rebecca Sweet and Billy Goodnick; I have heard both Dan and Rebecca speak before and had high expectations (which were met ) and how could a guy with a Crimes Against Horticulture Facebook page be bad ? These three talks were the highlight of my day , and without them I probably could have done the show in about 3 hours. Rebecca was informative, accessible and charming (and for those of you aware of her current health issues, she looked great-what a class act that lady is) but she and Dan both had show management perp...