Gardening Archives – Page 2 of 33 – Strength Of The Small

Yard Sculptures Garden Decor Home Decor Gardening

Beautiful Garden Statues

By JM PerezFebruary 7, 20231 min read916 views

If you are one of those individuals who enjoy spending time outdoors, then you surely agree that garden statuary and sculptures make great addition to a garden; they breathe new life into any outdoor space. I love beautiful sculptures. I have a few inside my home and a lot more in the garden.

What style are you aiming for? The zen garden, shabby chic, country feel, fairy garden, Alice In Wonderland, Prayer garden? What I like about garden sculptures is that they come in different size, form, shape, color, tone, texture, value, materials, etc.

The following are a few of my favorites …

*Muse with Harp by Carlo Bronti.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Flora, Divine Patroness of Gardens by artist Carlo Bronti.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Magdalene the Danish Milkmaid.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Dione, the Divine Water Goddess.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Ascending Angel.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Hebe, the Goddess of Youth by Bertel Thorwaldsen.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*St. Francis in Nature’s Sanctuary.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Harmony at Ease.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Angel of Patience by artist Candice Pennington.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Reflection Reader by Candice Pennington.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Jessie and Her Balloon.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Little Girl Reading.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Finishing the Eighteenth Hole.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Back to Back Brother and Sister.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Monteverde Angel by Giulio Monteverde.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Striving for the Heavens by Evelyn Myers Hartley.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

PRAYING ANGELS

*Divine Guidance by Candice Pennington.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Quiet Countenance.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Constance Conscience.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

GUARDIAN ANGELS

*Kneeling Madonna & Child.*
*Source: Rosary.com.*

*Blessed Mother of the Heavens.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*The Risen Jesus Christ by Carlo Bronti.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Guardian Angel Child’s Prayer.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Queen of Angels, Guardian of Children by Salvatore Gallelli.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Heaven’s Guardian Angel.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Heaven Free Fall by Evelyn Myers Hartley.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Garden Angel with Children.*
*Source: Shop.CatholicSupply.com.*

*Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane by Carlo Bronti.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

BIRDBATHS AND FEEDERS

*Surrounded by the Wings of Love by Candice Pennington.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Angel Bearing Gifts.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Summertime Reflections Cherub.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Angelique’s Garden Splash.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Tranquil Guardian Angel.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

ZEN SCULPTURES

*Thai Teppanom Beautiful Being.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Serene Mira Bai.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Guan Yin, Goddess of Compassion.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Meditating Shy Yogi of Bali.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Rodin’s Thinker by Auguste Rodin.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

*Buddha of the Grande Temple.*
*Source: Design Toscano.*

Happy gardening!

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By JM Perez

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Cloudburst

By JM PerezOctober 16, 20221 min read549 views

The High Desert weather will never cease to surprise me.

Last month for instance, it rained lightly in some parts of Victorville, CA, and not a drop of rain in adjacent cities. An unexpected cloudburst on Sunday afternoon left some areas in the High Desert flooded with just an hour of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

My miniature hybrid ‘French Lace’ rose, with their delicate ivory buds and slight apricot tint is still producing pink roses. From my research, it turns out that the one I purchased over ten years ago was grafted onto a vigorous rootstock and canes from this rootstock are now overtaking the hybrid grafted onto it (pink roses). To save my ‘French Lace” roses, I will have to locate the graft and then remove any canes or suckers developing at the base so they do not take over.

Grafted Bareroot Rose.
Image Source: Jackson & Perkins.

Dahlia ‘Bishop of York’ is putting out beautiful flowers.

Last night as well, we had an unexpected cloudburst. The short and severe storm brought thunder, heavy rain and lightning. Every raindrop is always welcomed in California, as we find ourselves heading into a severe drought.

Happy Gardening!

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By JM Perez

Insects Garden Decor Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening

A New Season

By JM PerezOctober 7, 20222 min read557 views

“Gratitude for the turning of the seasons. May we attune our hearts to their enduring message of renewal.” — Kristin Granger

It’s a new month and a new season, renewing and refreshing …

The weather has been bearable; however, between work and the kids, I haven’t had enough time to enjoy gardening. A couple of days ago, I dug out all of the Russian Sage in the front yard and disposed of them. I loved the plants, but they were spreading too fast and looking more like trees than shrubs. I have been wondering if it had something to do with the fact that they were in partial shade? Perhaps growing tall was the result of reaching out for more sunlight? The Russian Sage I planted in the backyard in full sun around the same time are growing at a normal rate.

Trees are starting to shed their leaves; the rose bushes and Texas Sage shrubs are full of blooms.

Last week I spotted a strange looking insect, similar to the Desert Camel at a first glance, but looking like a cricket.

The Jerusalem Cricket (Stenopelmatus Fuscus), also known as Potato Bug, Child of the Earth, Skull Cricket, Stone Cricket, and Sand Cricket is a large slow moving, six-legged flightless insect with a large orangish head, tiny eyes, and antennae spreading apart. It has humpback abdomen usually with black and yellow stripes. The insect is native to the western United States and Mexico, as well as semi-arid and dry climates. The insect feeds on smaller insects, decaying plants, and vegetation. They communicate through vibrations by producing a hissing noise due to the absence of ears.

It is said that the insect is not poisonous but can bite when provoked, resulting in moderate, short-lived pain (sores and skin rash). Their sharp and strong jaws can cut through fabrics and thin plastic. They are most active at night and during the day they burrows beneath rocks, logs, or in sand. According to ocvector.org, in order to find a mate, adults strike their abdomen on the ground (this behavior is called drumming). The vibrations travel through soil and are used to locate each other.
Click here for more information.

Happy New Month and Happy Gardening!

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By JM Perez

Garden Improvement Garden Decor Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Little Pleasures

By JM PerezAugust 1, 20222 min read561 views

It’s a new month and a new leaf has been turned …

It’s hot, it’s scorching hot! It’s a huge relief to know that we have had less brush fires since the start of Summer, and I hope it stays this way. What we really need now is a good rainfall. It rained last night; it rained for less than five minutes, but it rained hard. The downside of Summer showers is the intense heat the next day; but still, a good rainfall is always welcomed.

We visited a few places these past months. We let the kids loose at Knott’s Berry Farm, we enjoyed a peaceful walk at the California Botanic Gardens, we went to a couple of Lakes, and we are planning to have some fun at the Disney California Adventure Park this Fall, when the weather cools down.

I didn’t know how much Gophers love the Gopher plants, until I lost a few in the backyard; I lost everything from the side next to the fence, I lost one plant in the front yard and started seeing holes around the other plants in the front yard. The fix was simple at that point: I got rid of the remainder of the Gopher plants. They came looking once and haven’t disturbed my garden since. What I have learned fighting rodents for the past fifteen years is that they end up winning when they set their eyes and incisors on something.

Most of the succulents are blooming …

I also got rid of all the Salvia Greggii around the Horsetail Reed growing in barrels and my husband spray painted all four barrels white. I got rid of all the Creeping Myrtle planted in the ground, and left the potted one untouched. I think having less plants in the front yard will make it a little easier to maintain the garden.

Happy New Month and Happy Gardening!

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By JM Perez

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Staying Hydrated In The Garden

By JM PerezJune 20, 20222 min read695 views

It’s hard to believe that today is officially the last day of Spring 2022 and that tomorrow will be the start of a new season. Temperatures have been soaring for the past couple of weeks, giving the impression that we are in mid-summer. Either way, I am grateful for the ending season and looking forward to the upcoming one as well as what Mother Nature has in store for us.

Rather than gardening, I am just making sure that all the plants and living things have enough water to keep them going. More plants have graced us with their beautiful and vibrant flowers, like the Allium Drumstick below.

I love the delicate lavender-purple flowers of Russian Sage and its fragrant foliage.

*Russian Sage (Salvia Yangii) in bloom.*

‘Madame Galen’ Trumpet Vines are rapidly spreading, climbing, and attaching themselves on whatever their stems touch. Hummingbirds love the trumpet-shaped flowers.

Clusters of small creamy white flowers appeared at the end of the stems of my Heavenly Bamboo. As gorgeous and drought tolerant as this ornamental shrub is, all parts of the plant are toxic.

*Nandina Domestica (Heavenly Bamboo) in bloom.*

We were pleasantly surprise to see tiny buds of Corsican Stonecrop, and a beautiful star shaped flower.

Days like these I am very grateful that, except for the potted plants in the front porch and those in the patio, every other plant is fitted with drip irrigation (once in a while I have to check the drip emitters and make sure that they aren’t clogged or damaged). I hand water the potted plants twice daily: very early in the morning and early in the evening, and water the shrubs deeply once a week. Doing so keeps the plants hydrated and I avoid being outdoors during the hottest part of the day.

Happy gardening, stay cool and hydrated!

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By JM Perez