Spotted: Front yard rock people in East Sacramento

Now you see 'em...

'Sungold' tomatoes in November

... soon you won't. As November weather goes, this has been a warm one. In fact, I haven't even pulled some of my summer veggies yet. See my 'Sungold' tomatoes? They're still tasty and going strong, even though I've switched to cool-season crops and frost will come. Soon, I must remind myself.


Persian shield, coleus, cuphea, cyclamen, etc.

I planted the same plants in these front porch pots, but varying sun exposure favored the tropical looking Persian shield on the left and coleus on the right. I love both heat lovers and am happy to have memorial photos because soon they will be nothing but a mushy memory.


Dahlia imperialis

My tree dahlias-- which I'm renaming two-story dahlias because they're 20 feet tall-- have a chance to bloom if these warm temps continue!

The garden is pretty much taking care of itself right now. It has to because I'm busy with Thanksgiving plans and other stuff.

Impatiens balfourii seed collecting

The last of my Impatiens balfourii plants, commonly called Poor Man's Orchid, are going to seed. This somewhat obscure Himalayan annual has seed pods that, when ripe, explode when touched. That makes for some pretty challenging and often comical seed collecting.

My friend Weeder gave me seeds a few years ago and because I. balfourii is a reliable reseeder, I haven't had to replant. Her mom planted seed many, many years ago on the family ranch in Carmichael and Weeder has cultivated them-- or they've cultivated themselves-- since taking over the property after her folks were gone. Since she took over the property, not the seeds. Now that she's in the process of selling the place to a developer, we're both collecting seed to save and share around.

I've gotten pretty good at catching seeds in my left hand while gently pinching a pod with my right hand at the point where the pod connects to the stem. That seems to be the trigger point. Weeder reported that she caught a fair number of seeds recently... in her hair. The rest made it into a paper bag.

I'm playing around with making custom seed packets using coin envelopes (Office Max, Office Depot, etc.) and printing my own labels.



I wondered if it would be easy to find I. balfourii seeds online and it's not! Select Seeds doesn't have them. Annie's Annuals sells the plant, but not at this time. Thompson & Morgan? Nope. Johnny's? Nope. J.L. Hudson? Nope. Hortus Botanicus? YES! I shouldn't be surprised. This super coolest of nurseries in Fort Bragg, CA has lots of amazing plants.

On Dave's Garden, two DG members want it and one has it for trade. I'd be interested in knowing if other garden bloggers are growing it and where they obtained seed. Did you buy it? Was it passed along by a friend or family member?

I suppose Poor Man's Orchid could become invasive under the right circumstances, but unless you have nothing but shade and moist soil, it should remain a well-contained and welcome rarity. The plants are easy to pull but are so pretty that you won't want to.

Meet one of my new favorite plants-- Cuphea melvillea

Weeder gave me this Cigar Plant (Cuphea melvillea) for my birthday in July of '06. Look how well it's done in dappled sun next to the house. I love its tubular pinky yellow flowers and so do hummingbirds. I also love its height range of 4-6 ft. It's kinda floppy and not at all formal which just makes me love it even more. We're pretty sure it came from Windmill Nursery, but which grower? Annie's? Blooms? Proven Winners? Where's that damned plant tag?

January 16 edit: I now think this is C. micropetala.

Tree dahlia bud watch, 2007

My tree dahlias (Dahlia imperialis) have grown taller and taller each year. Yikes! Of my three main canes, one snapped but two remain. Threats against this November bloomer include wind and frost. Both fingers way crossed.

I'd like to train them to bloom a little lower to the ground, but I'm not sure of the best time to head them back.

Wish me luck!

Not sure about this Fall thing...

Dan and Annie have run of the yard, but this morning they seemed unable to budge from this sun-soaked doormat.

Visit to the Sacramento Old City Cemetery Native Plant Demo Garden

As I sit in my living room recliner trying not to think about the fact that my fourteen-year-old boy is out wandering dark streets dressed-- in a rather impromptu fashion-- as a "frat boy", complete with toga (bed sheet) and sideways tie-on-the-head... I welcome the distraction of blogging about why I spent a few hours Sunday at the Old City Cemetery.

When I was in college, I did an internship at the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Sacramento Chapter's Native Plant Demonstration Garden at the cemetery. Having recently reconnected with my internship sponsor, she invited me to come by for one of their organized tours and asked if I'd take some pictures.


Seeds for sale, refreshments and literature


The tour


Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) and California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)

The demo garden is an interpretive garden designed to show the public how native plants can be grown in an urban environment and how they provide much-needed wildlife habitat. It's a win-win situation because many of the plots being cared for by CNPS volunteers are no longer maintained by family members of the departed.


Woolly Blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) and Bush/Golden Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)



Many of the garden's natives are attractive to bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, creating a much-needed refuge right off busy Broadway and Riverside. Most of the natives are also extremely drought-tolerant and can exist on natural rainfall once established.


Bee on Woolly Blue Curls (Trichostema lanatum)


Bird's nest in a manzanita shrub


Aristolochia californica
Dutchman's Pipe Vine




Epilobium canum
California fuchsia, Hummingbird Trumpet


Heteromeles arbutifolia
Christmasberry, Toyon, California Holly


Heteromeles arbutifolia 'Davis Gold'
Yellow Berry Toyon

Gardeners and photographers love the cemetery because not only is it a very restful place-- extremely restful... doesn't get any more restful-- it also contains a beautiful Historic Rose Garden, the CNPS Demo Garden and many very tenderly cared for plots exploding with life and color. And there's history there. And events. It's actually a pretty happenin' place.

If you're interested in Sacramento history, California native plants, or roses, it's also a great place to volunteer.

Karen Baumann in the Chron.

There's an article on SFGate.com about Karen Baumann, the east Sacramento resident who dared to plant a front yard garden containing... edibles.

Garden warrior uproots policy

Unlikely rebel wins change in code to allow more edibles

Ron Sullivan, Joe Eaton

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Autumn in the garden

Coleus 'Dipt in Wine' (thank you, cloverann, for reminding me of the cultivar name)


Stock


Rumex, Heuchera and trailing snaps in my Target wall planter


Volunteer zinnia


Echeveria in a biodegradable rice hull pot


Amazing how a pressure washer revitalized my Costco-purchased teak outdoor dining set. Bonus points if you can spot the dog chew toy!


Hummingbirds have been loving my Salvia leucantha. It froze to the ground last winter.


Japanese anemone


Coleus 'Royal Glissade'


My apple green chair planter is on its last legs (literally), but is hanging in there. I just replanted it with cool-season color.


Purple ornamental kale seems made for this pot I brought back from Mendocino

Windmill Nursery Open House Pics & Video

I blogged about the upcoming Windmill Nursery Fall & Christmas Open House & Charity Event back in August and attended the event Saturday evening. The nursery looked great, with lushly planted demo beds (and more to come), container plantings, new signage on plants, Christmas displays and outdoor lighting.

Before night fell, I snapped a few pics of the nursery, inside and out.


Andrew talking to nursery reps.


Cheryl snapping me snapping them


Citrus


Wide selection of plants from Blooms, Annie's, Monterey Bay and more.


New cold-hardy tropical demo bed


Cool-season color


Halloween planters


Cool-season planter


Seasonal and succulent planters


Open house attendees listening to raffle results


Christmas tree display. Yes, folks, it's time to start thinking about the holidaze...

Windmill put on quite a gourmet spread, with beer, wine and catering by Carmichael restaurant La Perla Bistro . We were treated to live music by local band Fair Trade. The lead singer has a great voice and according to Windmill family member Andrew, this talented musician is also a landscaper!

CLICK TO START VIDEO


http://www.myspace.com/fairtrade

Since 10% of the night's plant sales were going to Wind Youth Services, I felt I should do my part. Shopping at a nursery at night has always been a fantasy of mine... seriously... and now I know how super fun it can be.


(night shots by Cheryl Hawes, AKA Weeder)


Like the new do? Let me just say, "How could I resist?" and let it be known that I was very gentle with this hanging plant. Perhaps I should just say "No comment."

Special Order fruit trees from Dave Wilson Nursery

If you live in California, you can special order fruit trees through Dave Wilson Nursery and pick them up at participating nurseries. Order deadline is November 16 for Jan/Feb. shipment.

Download Order Form

Annie Hayes coming to Bushnell's next Saturday!

You won't want to miss this.

Bushnell Gardens Nursery
Annie Hayes of Annies Annuals & Perennials will host "Twilight with Annie"
Introductions of the hottest picks for the upcoming season.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2007

6:30 P.M.

Annie's Annuals Fabulous Fall Planting Party

We arrived around 11am, just in time for luscious strawberries, banana-chocolate chip muffins, grapes and drinks. Hot mess Amy Winehouse was rockin' in the background... my kinda nursery.

At noon, we were treated to a great demo by garden artist Keeyla Meadows. Keeyla showed us an easy and inexpensive way to paint and draw on clay pots. She talked a lot about color, which happens to be the theme of her next book, which I hope is published soon, soon, soon.

During our visit, two lucky ticket holders each won a 15-minute shopping spree. Of course, they had to don bright and shiny capes and crowns while dashing around the nursery filling their wagons. What price, dignity? Pretty low from what I witnessed. Hah.

After Keeyla's demo and the shopping spree announcement, I filled a flat (all the little red wagons were taken) with some cool-season color to take home. All 4" plants were 25% off.

After the festivities, demo and plant shopping at Annie's, we swung by Oakland for lunch at Genova Deli, picked up coffee beans at Cole Coffee, did a little shopping at Heartfelt, bought a cupcake at Teacake Bake Shop in Emeryville, then headed home. A great day!

We sorta spaced and ran out of time for visiting Cohn-Stone Studios, but it's still on my to-do list for someday.