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Still waiting for El Nino to arrive. Northern California's getting rain and snow--up north, the snow pack is at 121%-156% of normal (great news!) while our local rainfall still lags at 51% of normal. El Nino remains El Noshow here, though scientists still believe it will arrive...eventually. Rose pruning in the meantime.
Dr. Retina gave me the all-clear to garden on Tuesday morning, so plenty got done on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday night, while I was engaged in the vigorous, high-exertion activity of sitting on the couch watching "Guardians Of The Galaxy", the eye had another "event", so once again, gardening is verboten. Once again, relegated to planning, not planting.
I really like 'Jude The Obscure', but it's coming out of the Fall Project area in favor of tough, xeric Maireana sedifolia, picked up at the Huntington for less than $5. Too hot a spot for Jude anyway--his canes were always scorched.
Aloe vanbalenii looks distinctly unscorched at the moment. He greened up with the 3+" of rain we got in early January, which now feels like a long, long time ago.
I didn't get a chance to move the little Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' before the eye crashed again. I thought about putting it here, in front of the trellis.
On the other side of the wall and other side of the path is probably the best spot for it, but these roses are long-established and good performers--I don't want to disturb them.
On the other side of the path? Too close to the house, probably. Any of this stuff is re/movable, though.
There will be time to mull over the choices, while the eye heals up again, but not a lot of time, since the Magnolia will start waking up soon.
'Belinda's Dream' rose, ready for 2016:
Where are you El Nino? Must you be El Noshow? It would be so easy to sit idle while rain pours down outside, instead of being forced to do so by an errant eye, once again about as red as one of these 'Prospero' blooms, but not nearly as pretty.
I hope your weather is more satisfactory than mine, but feel free to complain. It's what weather is for.
Sorry to hear about the eye "event". Perhaps Dr. Retina will prescribe milder TV now too? Funny that I just saw an article about CA rainfall yesterday, and it listed rainfall amounts and reservoir depths/percentages and things were looking better, even for southern CA I thought. Maybe I didn't read carefully enough?
ReplyDeleteIt is better, it's just hard waiting, and waiting for more rain, and not seeing it arrive.
DeleteI think I was laughing to hard. GOTG is 1 funny movie.
I'm sorry to hear about your eye and hope it heals soon. I really enjoyed your presentation at the garden club meeting and it was really good to see everyone again. I've missed all of you ladies. : )
ReplyDeleteWe've missed you to, and don't be a stranger! Hope to see you at more meetings now. :)
Delete"too", not "to".
DeleteNow get those feet up.. the garden can wait. Your health is far more important.
ReplyDeleteThe garden is happy to wait, I'm the one having the impatience problem. But yes, resting now, feet up.
DeleteAnother "event"??? That doesn't sound good. And just laughing? You be careful!!!
ReplyDeleteDr. Retina said it was nothing I did, but no more zip lines, base jumping, or trampolining. ;^)
DeleteOh no! Another eye event! Same eye? Could you wear a patch over the problem eye and garden safely, or is it simply the activity that Dr. Retina believes to be the issue? As to the weather, I've already posted on El Noshow myself. I retain the hope that the rain will push through that troublesome ridge of high pressure but I'm no longer counting on it.
ReplyDeleteNot activity, it just happens. It's just not stabilized as yet. Some eyes take longer than others.
DeleteYeah, noshow--sigh. I'm getting tired of hoping.
Yes, we're getting plenty of rain up here in the Sacramento region. Maybe not having too much rain down south is a good thing (for now). Not as many mudslides as a result? I know, it's probably better to deal with that and have the water.
ReplyDeleteI am happy for you getting rain up north. Great news!
DeleteLovely photos. I hope your eye heals quickly.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda, I hope so too. Not seeing is no fun.
DeleteWell, dang! That eye is entirely too "event"ful for your gardening style, Hoov. Although I rather like the idea that you were laughing so hard at GOTG that you set it off again. Don't worry; El Noshow will likely morph into El Nino as soon as we cross the Oregon state line into CA next week ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am Groot.
DeleteNope, warm and sunny here all next week. :( So hurry on down. Let's plan on it starting to pour just as you re-cross the Oregon state line on your way home.
Damn that eye thing. You must be pretty frustrated at this point. With our steady rains (the good news) my rose pruning is in a woeful behind schedule state(bad news) and they are starting to break the modest dormancy we have here. The giant Claudia Cardinale was tamed between storms this past weekend. Haven't touched Sally Holmes-
ReplyDeleteCrazy I know but I'm more worried about El Noshow than about my eye. Can't do anything about either one except be patient.
DeleteEnjoy that frequent rain for me, okay? It sounds heavenly, schedule-busting or not.
Sorry to hear about your eye! I hope it recovers and stabilizes soon. You are very good at pruning your roses - I'll be doing that this weekend, but mine never look that neat when I'm done.
ReplyDeleteThanks--it has improved faster than previous "events"--that's something.
DeleteI take ridiculous amounts of time on each rose. I've missed them. Because of the drought they had a tough year.
If I can be of help let me know. Meanwhile, maybe a jaunt in my T to search for hilarity will be good medicine
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like fun!
DeleteI have 30 inches of snow outside and more on the way. Too bad you have to take out Jude. He's one of the few roses left in my garden. I hope your eye improves. :o)
ReplyDelete30" of snow!?! I guess you don't have to get out there today and water, then? ;^)
DeleteI'm a 'Jude' fan still. Perhaps I'll get another for a not-so-hot spot.
I hate recovery setbacks! Sounds like the "all clear" might have been premature. Please be a good patient and practice zen-master level patience! (JTO has such a wonderful fragrance, I know it must be hard to see it go.)
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed--it was so fun to be gardening again. Patience, patience...
DeleteI can imagine your unpatience but be careful there will be time enough for the garden. On the photos it all still looks nice and tidy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janneke, you are very kind. It is a good reminder to me. I need it!
DeleteI'll add my best wishes for a thorough recovery. Sending strong eye-mojo from Inlandia! The old Burkard Nursery in Pasadena had a huge Jude the Obscure that I just loved... whoa, what a flashback :-/ Rest up, think rain, and take care --
ReplyDeleteThanks, Luisa, the mojo is much appreciated. Thinking rain, thinking rain!
DeleteHave you considered watering with ollas? They do save up to 70% in water use.
ReplyDeleteI have mostly drip irrigation--that works well. I'm thinking of pounding some empty pipes with holes drilled in them, vertically into the slope, to pour water into, so specific little plants can get enough water to establish themselves.
DeleteDear Hoover, I am so sorry that you are still experiencing problems with your eye, I hope it heals completely soon, wishing you all the best. Perhaps some protective eye wear would be advisable when working in the garden in future, I know it is so easy to get poked or scratched in the eye by some sharp branches or thorns.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is beautiful, you seem to have so many 'rooms' with various plantings. 'Jude the Obscure' is a lovely rose.
We have had rain on and off for over a week after the dreadful heat, the frogs are singing happily.
Take it easy and rest up for a while dear friend.
xoxoxo ♡
I'm so happy you got some rain! That's great news. Hopefully you get more gentle rain, and less heat.
DeleteI always wear my sunglasses in the garden because they offer good protection. I was in the garden today, but only to sit and relax. :)
I'm studying your pruned rose photos to see how it's done. The few we inherited have been rudely neglected but they seem to pump out flowers anyway. How did roses get such a bad rep? They seem pretty bulletproof...unlike eyes. Be careful and get your "Ohm" on.
ReplyDeleteRoses are out of fashion currently. They'll be back "in" eventually. I can't do without the fragrance.
DeleteBeing careful--sitting by the pond, doing financial reports for the HOA. Gardening would be healthier.
I looked your roses page and they are so beautiful. do you do summer prune? Your David Austin roses are fantastic. I just start to grow DA rose this year and Not sure they can live in my zone. which is 9. I also in southern Calif.
ReplyDeleteI do what I call "hard deadheading" rather than summer pruning--for the roses that get quite large, I take off much more than the usual amount '(2-3' instead of 6"-12") after every round of bloom, to keep them a manageable size throughout the whole year.
DeleteDA roses generally grow well in Southern California, though some are better than others.
Keep in mind roses should not be trimmed too much until they are well established. When they are young I just pick off the spent flower heads and leave the rest. They need time to get strong.
Delete