I just realized that it’s the first day of Summer and we are already half way through the year. A couple of months ago I couldn’t stand the cold and here we are, getting ready to brace ourselves through some incoming heat waves of the season.
We have not been able to enjoy the outdoors as much as we would have loved to. The weather has been quite unpredictable;we enjoy those Santa Ana winds, just not when combined with heat and humidity.
Not much is happening in the garden. Unlike the other Daylilies, Siloam David Kirchhoff Daylilies are now awakening with beautiful blooms. The Gauras are thriving with vigorous growth and hosting the Caterpillars of the White-lined Sphinx.
Siloam David Kirchhoff Daylily.
Earlier this month I dug up the perennial bulbs and got rid of them all, except the Allium Drumsticks which I relocated. I love their eye-catching oval shaped burgundy blooms.
It’s hot out here and there isn’t much to do, except walk around and enjoy the beautiful plants.
So what’s happening in my garden? A few day ago, I got rid of the perennial bulbs, all excluding the Allium Drumsticks which I really like. I pruned and shaped the Autumn Sage, Texas Sage, Lavender, Boxwood and the Dwarf Myrtle. We also completely removed and got rid of the second Navajo Globe Willow tree on our property. These trees are easy to grow from cuttings, but don’t thrive in the High Desert and are susceptible to diseases.
English Lavender.
The Daylilies have started to bloom.
Pretty Woman Daylily.Stella D’Oro Daylily.
I planted a few Ornamental Grasses at the right corner of the end of my property along side some Spanish Lavender, Autumn Sage, Miniature Rose bushes and Agave Ovatifolia (which I recently transplanted).
Fountain Grass.
The Pomegranate tree is blooming and producing fruits.
Pomegranate tree.
I have quite a few Yellow Bird Of Paradise Bush ll around my property which I constantly prune and shape. They are one of my favorite ornamental trees along with the Desert Willow.
Yellow Bird Of Paradise Bush.Desert Willow tree.
Once in a blue moon we have some unfortunate events going on around the garden. Today we found a damage on the irrigation tubing caused by either a thirsty gopher or Ground Squirrel. These rodents have figured out where things are around here and the are becoming quite sneaky. These Agave Ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’ have all been dug out and relocated. The mature Agave was damage by a Gopher.
Tuesday night was so noisy and I barely slept. There were probably three to four stray cats going around the house and making weird noises by the windows.
I used to love my neighborhood and neighbors. I use to think our block was the best and had the best – and for a while it was so. Most of the folks we met here when we bought our home have either died, sold the home and moved or have become landlords. Nothing is the same and we are now surrounded by dishonest individuals; they put on a mask in public, but behind closed doors their true nature comes thru.
Although I do not own a pet, I am against all form of animal cruelty. I despise careless and abusive pet owners. Why get an animal when we can’t care for it properly? When we can’t guarantee it won’t become a nuisance to a neighbor? Just don’t do it because it’s wrong. The neighborhood is filled wit stray animals and it started about two years ago. I am not sure if lousy animal owners come and drop off their furry companions here or if perhaps to save face, some neighbors let the animals roam freely.
There’s a family in the neighborhood who lies a lot and who has been taking in cats and dog regardless of being told by the landlord not to do so. Our cameras have caught the animals as well as other irrefutable proofs we have, still they are set on the lies and deceits. How can people stoop so low? How can people deliberately ruin the peace of a neighborhood for their selfish needs? These people are always on the lookout, fearing that they will eventually get caught. I was told a story about a lady who was so guilty that one day, when she saw a car parked by her house, she immediately texted the landlord saying that she couldn’t go outside because she was sick. The landlord replied saying that she was at her home. This is exactly what I call ugly people, fake people.
Cat hair and damaged plants.
This morning I found cat hair everywhere in the yard as well as damaged plants. The poor cats are probably hungry and I do not have pet food. Besides, feeding one will attract the others and before I know it, they will all take refuge on my property.
Please, do not own pets if you are not serious about the responsibilities that comes along.
What a week! Just when I thought that Nature was starting to warm up, the cold weather returned with some kind of fury. Still I am grateful. I was able to sort my thoughts and organize ideas for my next book (yes, it has been too long and I am working on it).
I had plans for the garden this weekend. I bought a set of 3 cobalt blue glazed ceramic planters that I was hoping to fill with plants; unfortunately, the strong winds and dust particles in the air are definitely harmful to my health. I will work on them during the next few days before the heat sets in by the weekend.
Dahlia Flowers.
Hannah Gordon Rose and Little Pete Mini-multiflora Rose are actually Rose Trees and the oldest plants in my garden. Last year I honestly thought they had died and made plans for replacements. To my amazement, they came back fuller and stronger this Spring and I am grateful.
Hannah Gordon Rose.Little Pete Mini-multiflora Rose.
For many years I had these Snapdragon in pots and for all those years, they bloomed profusely and remained quite short. I finally removed them from the pots and planted straight to the ground, where thy have grown taller and seem to be healthier.
Snapdragon Flowers.
Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day with your loved ones.
I am loving these Spring to Summer flowering deciduous Azaleas, the Cannon’s Double Exbury Azalea shrubs; the latest addition to our plant family. With their delicate green foliage, cream, pink, apricot and yellow flowers; they have begun attracting bees and butterflies.
Cannon’s Double Exbury Azalea.
The amount of rain we received this year has done wonders to the plants. I pruned them last year and they have all returned healthier with strong growth on large canes. I used to have over fifteen rose bushes on my property; the ‘Blue Moon’ Hybrid Tea Rose is now the oldest rose bush and the only one I kept from eleven years ago. I love the large delicate double lavender-blue fragrant blossoms. There was a set and only one survived.
‘Blue Moon’ Hybrid Tea Rose.
My lone California Poppy blooming …
California Poppies.
Kordes Perfecta Rose is thriving too. She is the replacement of one of the ‘Blue Moon’ Hybrid Tea Rose lost a few years ago.
Kordes Perfecta Hybrid Tea Rose.
I can’t remember the name of the gorgeous hybrid rose tree below; its flowers however, keep on amazing me year after year.
Hybrid Tea Rose.
One of the rose buds on the Cecile Brunner Climbing Rose formed with elongated sepals. At first, I thought it was a deformed bud, but it opened its petals just fine. Interesting …
Cecile Brunner Climbing Rose (bud with elongated sepals).
Snow has not completely melted on the mountains, giving us that beautiful view.
Mountains.
I am looking forward to the weekend, there is so much to do in the garden.
By JM Perez
