Autumn To Do List

Annual Rose Pruning and mulching aside, of course.  There's a long list.  Nothing gets done in summer--especially this past summer, when it was so hot for so long.

I think I'll have to hire someone to trim the neighbor's trees back to the property line.  They are dropping torrents of filth and gum.
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Trim this area back:
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Sad little 'Fair Bianca'.  I could move her to a spot right next to another, more successful Austin rose.  She could then bloom her yearly three or four exquisite blooms and be easily overlooked the rest of the time. Moved!
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'Marie Daly' needs and deserves a better spot:
Given!
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I planted some Sedeveria 'Vera Higgins' in two of the small spaces between steps here.  Add Sedum 'Coppertone' to the other two step spaces.  Give each space a drip line.
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Plant that Clematis in the ground.  It's not dead (I hope), it's dormant: Planted, and growing!
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Oooh!
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Replace a dead blueberry with a new one:
Done!
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Do something with all those bulbils:
4/28/13 75% given away, 25% remain

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Dig this out:  (Okay, gone)
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Plant some low-growing succulents here:
4/28/13 A few Aloe noblis added, but still a cringe-inducing area...
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Move that Metrosideros 'Springfire'.  It's too close to the Yucca queretaroensis and Y. rostrata.  4/29/13 not yet...
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At least little Y. rostrata has obviously grown.  Here it is back in February 2011 (first row, on the right).  The Y. queretaroensis have grown some too.
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Deadhead the Cotyledon.  It will look so much better:  Done!  And it does.

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Dump rain water on this area until it looks better: Dumped it all--not better yet. :(
4/29/13 Winter helped, but now it's almost summer again...
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Both the Euphorbia and the Maireana sedifolia need to be cut back.  I've found the Maireana will come back fresh and pristine from a woody stump.  Take great care with the Euphorbia due to the caustic sap.
4/29/13 The Maireana ended up dug out and replaced with an Aloe ferox.  The Euphorbia is shortened, and I was really careful with it. 
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Dig up and replant the Agave offsets
4/29/13  I ended up tossing the offsets because they were either oddly shaped or they got badly damaged in the dig-out.  I redid the area with various potted succulents and Agaves.  Looks better.  
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Get rid of 'Tea Clipper', finally.  Too much size for too few admittedly glorious flowers.   Done!
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Argh, 'Tea Clipper'!  Walk the plank, mate-y!

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 A rampant root stock 'Dr. Huey' has sprouted here.  Shoveled.
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These roses ('Wildeve', two  one 'Jubilee Celebration', two 'Lady Emma Hamilton') need to be moved.  It will create planting space for some of the Agave bulbils. 
4/29/13 Done, and it was painful.  Agaves installed.  Roses moved and adapting to their new locations. 
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A couple roses can go here, along the wall, after I remove that sad lawn that belonged to Cuddles.  It's 90% Oxalis and dandelions now. 4/29/13 Lawn gone, and I don't miss it!  A rose planted in memory of Cuddles
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One of the 'Jubilee Celebration' roses will go here, where one died:  
Moved and planted.  And painful it was, for both of us.
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Is it time to dig out that huge 'Sombreuil'?  Still thinking...4/29 still thinking.  A 'Climbing Iceberg' might be so very much better...
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The cooler weather has fired up my gardening ambition (or self-delusion?) again--I still need to get pathways made on that slope so it can be properly planted.  If I could just do one or two blocks a day, it would be done in a month... 4/29/13:  still not done, but I have done some--maybe 1/3 of what is needed.  It's a start...
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I'd like to cut this Salvia discolor to the ground again.  I do it every three years or so.  After a cut-down it all grows back fresh and new.  
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 While I was standing considering the Salvia with my camera on and ready, two hummingbirds swooped in and proceeded to have a vicious in-flight fight right in front of me.  I would have gotten the photo of a lifetime.  Did I take it?  No, I was gawking at the salvia.  GRRRRRRRRRR!  4/29/13--didn't cut it back after all this winter--too many hummers feeding on it. 
 
      

Comments

  1. Well I'm here to tell you I get at least SIX blooms a year on my Fair Bianca..but I've only had her since about 1995 so maybe she needs more time to mature. Doesn't take up much space, that's for sure !

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    1. Mine was only planted in '00. So in only five more years, I'll get an extra two flowers every year!

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  2. Plants, white furry dogs...always the distractions from the perfect hummer shot! I think some of those bulbils must be liberated.....

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  3. I feel exhausted just looking at your to-dos, and I know there are just as many awaiting me in my garden. Who needs a gym when we gardeners get such good workouts at home.

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    1. I think the gym might be easier, but the garden smells better.

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  4. I didn't realize just how many roses you are growing! What I'd give to be able to work like you're planning to outdoors. The ground is saturated here, so I tread gingerly around and wish I'd done much more prior to monsoon season. Happy December!

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    1. On the other hand, you don't need to go outside and water. Happy December!

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  5. Too much work! Cover it all with black plastic, throw some gravel on top and go to the Bahamas. I'll take Boris and Natasha. See, problem solved. I like the idea of just two blocks a day-sounds like a great self challenge.

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    1. Bahamas? I guess I could go visit Mitt Romney's money.

      I confess I didn't install two blocks yesterday, or today. Maybe tomorrow...

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  6. I can see those humming birds, in my mind's eye that is. You may not have got the photo, but the description was very vivid.

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    1. They grab your attention when they are fighting!

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