Let's have a Tete a Tete ~

I love daffodils, they are one of the bulbs that we can grow in our warm winter climate without any fuss or bother; to me they are such happy flowers. They do not naturalize as readily here as in cooler zones but with luck they will come back and increase. Such is the case with one of my favorite daffodils, the miniature variety, Tete a Tete.

My driveway is long, in the old style with an open divider down much of the center, I have spent lots of time trying to make it look appealing and not resemble a runway. Some of my experiments with it have been unsuccessful, but miniature daffodils are happy and thrive in this location.

Since I drive over it, anything planted here needs to be both heat tolerant, and low growing. Currently, the daffodils are inter-planted with dwarf junipers, trailing verbena, thyme and succulents. It is watered with drip irrigation. 

I have had trouble finding Tete a Tete bulbs in the past but this year they were readily available so I also planted them in other parts of the garden -  along the edges of paths where with their diminutive size they won't get lost. But here in the driveway is my favorite spot for them.

The delight is short lived but well worth it. 

Thank you for visiting.

Nursery Hopping ~

Whenever I drive up to see my sister in Carmel, California I look forward to doing a little nursery hopping along the way, and after I arrive.

My first stop is always at Seaside Gardens in Carpenteria, a coastal town just a few miles south of Santa Barbara. I can't remember how I found out about this wonderful nursery but it is a destination point for me every time I drive up Highway 101.

Seaside Gardens has beautiful display areas, and offers all kinds of plants. Above is a section of their cottage gardens plants. However, because of very stringent water restrictions in this coastal area the amount of succulents you find here is amazing.

Beautifully displayed and arranged for your selection.

Once I arrive on the Monterey Pennisula, at the first chance I head for two wonderful nursery's, both located on Carmel Valley Road, in Carmel. 

The first is Valley Hills...

 '

...the second is Griggs. They are only a few mile apart and strangely owned by the same people, but seem to have slightly different merchandise.

Carmel is such a beautiful spot to visit and it is nice to be able to bring home a few reminders of my trip. I was very restrained this time, I only bought two plants: Salvia Waverly, with white and pale pink blooms and a Tobiuchina, better know as Princess Flower...oh! and a beautiful pack of burgundy Dahlias with pink splashes which I can hardly wait to see bloom.

It was a great trip, I am so fortunate to have a sister that lives in such a lovely place which gives me to opportunity to visit and enjoy. 

Thank you for visiting.

Happy Valentine's Day ~

Odds and ends ~

Last week after my gardening class I stopped by the local Armstrong's and was very lucky to find some plants that are usually a bit difficult to find in pony packs: Imperial Stock, that's the tall and extremely fragrant variety, I am hoping that it might act like a perennial in my garden, and cleome, which I grew last year and loved.

I also picked up some more common things: alyssum, loved for it's fragrance and rambling charm, some succulents for my driveway median, and another lavender to fill out the lavender walk at the far back of the garden.

It is early in the gardening year I am still cutting back and cleaning up, but a few things are starting to bloom. The flowering pear, a baby still, is looking good and these very dependable succulents are pretty with their coral-pink blooms and foliage.

And across the garden, although the trees are still bare, the lavender is blooming and the first of the alstroemeria flowers are starting to open up.

My final purchase for the week, was a gift to myself of a new cordless blower. I have an electric blower, it is old, heavy and I hate dragging the cord around, subsequently it never gets used. But this new, powerful and light weight blower - it only weighs a little over 5 pounds - is a gem, and makes cleaning my decks, garage and pathways so much easier then sweeping.

I am taking a road trip up to Carmel, California next week to visit my Sister. so I have been rushing to get everything that I bought planted before I go. It is supposed to rain which will give everything off to a good start. Some of my daffodils are starting to bloom, it will be fun to come home after a week away to see the changes in the garden.

Thank you for visiting.

A winter highlight ~

In the early months of the year my garden is at the lowest ebb of bloom - the deciduous trees have finally lost all of their leaves leaving bare branches, the perennials, including most of the roses, have been cut back, and it is a bit early for bulbs. Still, it is fairly lush compared to cold winter areas where snow covers the ground.

So, except for our lack or rain I really have no reason to complain, in factI like this much better than the torrid summer...even if I have more color in the garden then.

But...

 there is one exception, and that is my camellias. Planted here many years ago by the previous owners they have become small trees and every year at this time they offer up their beautiful flowers. And my favorite of them all, the white camellias.

The flowers are abundant, in a creamy white with yellow stamens.

Such a welcome sight when everything else seems so bare to me.

When I pick a few to bring in the house I am always reminded that white camellias were Coco Chanel's favorite flower. She enjoyed them both in the fresh and artificial form. It appears that in my fondness for them I am in pretty good company!

Thank you for visiting

I hope the day brings you some unexpected beauty.

A perfect start to the day ~

Every morning is a little different for me depending on what I have lined up for the day, but my perfect morning starts with...

 

a few minutes of yoga - sun salutations to limber up, clear my mind, and give me an energy boost.

Then out for my morning walk. I always try to get in at least two miles. Walking every day is the basis for all of the other fitness activities I enjoy. A daily walk is so important for good health and it is so easy to do. You don't need a gym or any equipment other than good shoes and it can be a time  to get in a little meditation or listen to a book or music. I like to listen to Coffee Break French podcasts.

Then coming home to Miss Twiggley and a simple breakfast, always with a pot of freshly brewed tea, soft music, I favor Mozart in the early hours of the day, and something else very important - the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle, I feel very deprived if I don't get to do the puzzle.

Everybody has their own routine but for me this is a blissful way to start the day.

It is the simple things in life that make it so enjoyable don't you think?

I hope that your life is full of lovely mornings

Thank you for visiting.

The last flush of bloom ~

 In our temperate climate which grows warmer each year, although it is supposed to be winter, roses are still blooming. Because of the somewhat cooler temperatures the roses although not so abundant are even lovelier now. This however is the time to prune roses in Southern California so it must be done, but it is difficult to cut back a bush lush with flowers and buds.

 

I take a bucket of water into the garden and as I prune I put the cut roses into the bucket, when I am finished work I have flowers for some of the most beautiful bouquets of the year.

I love this picture, I think I will use it in a greeting card. Don't you think it would be pretty?

The majority of roses in my garden are pink, in a variety of shades. The bushes I pruned on this day were old rose varieties, mostly Tea roses. As you can see they have the multi-petaled flowers and form of many Austin roses, but seem to perform better for me. Unlike Hybrid Teas which like being severely cut back, these roses are pruned lightly, more of a gentle shaping and removal of any deadwood.

I haven't finished pruning but last week on a trip to Home Depot to pick up chicken manure I was pleased to find some really nice roses. Nothing exotic, or special, but some old standbys that I think will be successful in my garden.

So, here are some of the new girls, I can hardly wait to get them in!

 I hope you have a 'rosy' day.

Thank you for visiting.

A big mess ~

December is the one month of the year that I put all gardening thoughts and work aside.  I just don't have the time or energy to spend time working in the garden and also enjoy the all the holiday preparations and activities.

But in January, well that's when all of my neglect becomes very obvious. The garden is a mess!

Such a mess that it almost seems impossible that I

 will ever be able to get things back in shape.

It is hard to believe that this is how this part of the garden looked just a few months ago.

But I try not to get too discouraged.

 My plan as usual, is to start in one place, clean-up, prune, lay down chicken manure, maybe plant some some seasonal annuals,and then move on to another area. With diligence and persistence this seems to work.

And then I can spend time doing something I love, picking out new

ROSES!

I hope that your new year is going well with lots of plans and adventures ahead.

Thank you for visiting.

Adrienne