Spring/Summer Project 2017 Update #1

Not part of the project

I got a couple estimates for a new pergola.  The wood-and-tile version was expensive, and the maintenance of, and fire danger of, a wooden structure makes it an unacceptable option.  

An estimate for an aluminum version proved to be much less money, no maintenance, and nearly zero fire danger.   A small greenhouse is an option, so next I'll look into pricing that.  In the meantime I could take the old Pergola apart, to save the cost of having someone do it. 
The Margies are trying to come back:

The 'Marjorie Channon' hedge has sprouted a whole lot of new growth.  Whether or not the hedge can return to a decent appearance is still unclear.  I'm going to give the plants more time. 
Hiding this appears to be a good idea:

I need to extend the screening hedge, in hopes that new owners of the property in back, desiring a screen themselves, do not plant something completely inappropriate along the fence line (Ficus, Schinus)*.  If there is already a screen, there is a good chance they will just leave the area empty.  The previous owners of the property have passed away and it is now for sale.   

 A 'Eureka' lemon tree in a pot that needs a place in the ground.  Or just add more 'Marjorie Channons'.  Or a couple more 'Ivory Sheen', which are so gorgeous.  Or  Metrosideros 'Springfire'.  Or a tall Grevillea like 'Long John'.  Thinking, pondering, considering... 

Shortly after we paid to have the palm trees hanging over the fence removed, there was a red flag warning (high winds/high heat/extreme fire danger) and we felt so much safer knowing those palms, the huge Eucalyptus, and the Schinus molles growing over the fence were gone.  How much is relief and a feeling of safety worth?  
A Washingtonia looks best when it looks like this:

I added some plants to the near-empty terrace beds...

  ...extra plants on hand that needed a place in the ground. 

Blue arrows:  some Hippeastrum bulbs.  

White arrows:  A dug up, split up clump of Dahlia tubers provided more plants than needed.  After giving a few away, I planted the rest.  They are doing well and about to flower.  

Red arrows:  three 'Green Tower' boxwood to (eventually, maybe) form a screen that hides the koi pond filtration system from the house in back, so they won't be motivated to plant something inappropriate (Ficus, Schinus)* right along the fence line.  The boxwood are adjacent to the wall so their root systems remain shaded--I'm hoping this helps them grow and do well.
 
A couple of 'Amistad' Salvia suckers appeared on the plant out front--one moved to the base of 'Ivory Sheen' (blue arrow) grew rapidly and is already in bloom.  I planted another yesterday.  More Hummingbird food fights!

This is how you get away with planting successfully in summer in Southern California:  temporary shade:

  Two California native plants:  Asclepias fascicularis and Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum, for a very empty area by the culvert.  These need little water, just to establish, and will provide food for native butterflies.  I noticed the Eriogonum grand rubescens out front were feeding many tiny California native butterflies,  so it would be beneficial to add a few more butterfly feeding plants.

  A Fuchsia planted a few years ago in one of the terraces, once shaded, was left in too much sun once the palms were gone.  Moved to the shady area under the Acer 'Oshio Bene' in the walled garden, the Fuchsia has a better chance to thrive.  
Looks droopy and stressed from the move, but it may survive, and a  rooted cutting of the same Fuchsia planted right behind it means there will be at least one Fuchsia growing there soon, no matter what.  

This is where the Fuchsia was.  That I planted a little Agave gracilips there (look close) tells you how sunny the spot has become.

 The 'Climbing Iceberg' that was so sunburnt on the stairway pergola, moved and cut back has a fresh start in one of the terraces. It looks a whole lot happier.  

The four palms north of the Syzygium hedge were making the Syzygiums lean badly in search of growing space and sunlight.  Palms removed, it took only a few weeks for the Syzygiums to straighten themselves out.  I am hoping they grow enough so that the new owners of the property next door will not plant something inappropriate (Ficus, Schinus)* right along the fence line.   Give time, the Syzygiums can make a dense privacy screen for both properties.  I hope they get the time.
Straightened up and growing right.  Blue arrow indicates one of the palm stumps behind the fence:

 I was given a Hoheria augustifolia tree seedling mistakenly sent to a garden buddy;  the error was corrected by the vendor, but the garden buddy was left with a tree she had no room for.  This is a beautiful but not an overwhelmingly climate-appropriate tree, but under a shade cover and irrigated with koi pond water it has been, to my amazement, thriving.  Placed so as its roots are always in shade, in the area of the garden that experiences the coldest winter soil, perhaps it can survive? 

That's where the Project is at.  It's not pretty yet, but progress has been made.  It needs to be pretty.  Really pretty.  If it is pretty, the new owners of the property in the back will be less motivated to plant something inappropriate (Ficus, Schinus)* right along the fence line to hide it from their view.  

*The old engineering saying goes as follows:  You can have it good, you can have it cheap, you can have it fast.  Pick two.  This goes for plants just as much as engineering projects.  Guess which two most people pick?  Yeah, fast and cheap.  Neither of which are good.