Little Pleasures

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read572 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.

Knott’s Berry Farm rides.
California Botanic Gardens.
Silverwood Lake.

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 …

Succulents bloom.

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!

Staying Hydrated In The Garden

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read707 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.

Allium Drumstick.

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.

‘Madame Galen’ Trumpet Vine 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.

Corsican Stonecrop 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!