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I spared an Italian Cypress, at least for now. It is 10' from the house. Other than Cypress removal, the differences made by the trimmers are subtle. In this area the Ficus and the Eucalyptus was cut back to the property line. This will discourage Ficus root growth and reduce Eucalyptus litter.
The Metrosideros 'Gala' height reduced slightly and cut back from the property line.
Height and width reduction on Pittosporums will make them a little bushier.
Removed the silver-blue Arizona cypress. It was browning--too hot and dry for it, and its ultimate size would be too large for the space. There's the stump. The root system will decay in the ground, undisturbed.
The garden does not look dramatically different overall, but it looks more...cared for.
As autumn begins there is stuff to cut off and put into the green waste. The fern that volunteered in the top of the koi shower became enormous this summer. Time to do something, and finally cool enough to do it. Because the fern roots were in flowing water, even in full summer sun with temperatures in the 90s for weeks the fern stayed green and unburnt. It also grew like crazy.
I started chopping, using the koi's shade screen to keep the chopped stuff out of the pond.
I cut off all the foliage on the pond side, and then suddenly realized I'd given the fern a mullet. Whoops!
Moving on, Anenome 'Pretty Lady Emily' has never looked so good. It gradually grew its way into the sunniest spot in that bed.
Sweet!
Also blooming now are the red-gold Asclepias, the one the Monarchs don't like (they like the all gold ones).
Flowers on the first 'Bright Star' Yucca opening.
The 'King's Fire' Grevillea looks awful. Too dry? Too alkaline? What do you want, honey? I fear it is doomed.
The Lagerstroemia 'Ebony Embers' blooms gradually, a bit at a time, rather than all at once, like 'Dynamite'.
And there are starting to be roses again. Sure is good to be gardening again.
HB (won't mistake you for Kris this time!) When summer ends there is lots of pending work in the garden, I'm glad your roses are bouncing back, I adore roses and I love the fall when they are back to life. Yesterday I was trimming my flowering peach because it was blocking sunlight to the roses and roses are top priority in my garden. It's very interesting what you said about asclepias and Monarch Butterflies, I planted those deep orange asclepias here hoping to attract them but they ignored them, now I know why!
ReplyDeleteThere's no substitute for roses. The fragrance, the colors...
DeleteVery strange about the Asclepias because they are the same species, just different color flowers. Why the butterflies like one but not the other is a mystery.
Everyone got a haircut just in time for back to school. Your koi pond fern is pretty amazing. So happy that you get to play outside again.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, it is haircut time. Yes it's been great to be out there for several hours at a time. Missed it!
DeleteOMG, I've never seen a fern that large...let alone one with a mullet. I adore that Lagerstroemia 'Ebony Embers'...
ReplyDeleteMe, too, and me, too. I'm thinking why not try a more interesting fern or other plant in the koi shower? That one isn't my favorite. It volunteered and then took over.
Deleteomg, I thought Gala was a dwarf. I need to give mine away pronto. Nice to see the bismarckian still lurking in the background! My 'King's Rainbow' behaved like your KF and has departed the garden over the summer, a much weaker grower. But now that I think of it, everything I plant in KF's spot against the pavement and back of the house thrives. I pulled out the Ken Taylor flannel bush yesterday -- he would have loved KF's spot! Those anemones are insane...
ReplyDelete'Gala' stays pretty small for several years, but yeah, it's not a dwarf. Was surprised to see it in your garden on your blog. That in the post is about 10 years old. They do tolerate pruning very well. Bismarkia is growing and happy. I'm still hoping to figure out a place for it.
DeleteSo, I'm not the only one with KF problems? Hmm...
:: Lagerstroemia 'Ebony Embers' blooms gradually, a bit at a time, rather than all at once, like 'Dynamite'. ::
ReplyDeleteI love it when cultivar names actually make some sense or convey information about the plant's behavior.
Yes it's cool, isn't it? Grevillea 'Superb' is another aptly named plant.
DeleteI'm glad you're enjoying the cooler temperatures and making the most of them. Good tree trimmers are worth the expense and your post is a reminder to call my arborist and get into the queue before we start the possible but still not cleared kitchen remodel - I don't think I could handle pandemonium inside and outside at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThat fern is incredible - and just a little scary. I'm flat-out envious of the anemones.
The crew did a good job. I asked them to be very very careful of Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffith' and Protea 'Sylvia' which were in the falling zone of the Euc and Ficus, and they protected them--not a twig damaged. Tree trimmers that take care of plant-lover's plants are the ones we have to use!
DeleteMy bathroom remodel approaches. I dread the chaos to come as well. I hope your kitchen remodel is approved and gets going.
What an epic fern. It picked a great spot to pop up!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy big. I'm happy I cut it back. I probably need to cut it back some more.
DeleteWhoa - that fern is ENORMOUS!!! Weird to think that CA was too hot and dry for an Arizona Cypress. I would have (apparently erroneously) guessed that those kinds of conditions would have made it happy! Go figure...
ReplyDelete~Anna K
We did get only about 4" of rain last rainy season. 5" is the average for the Mojave Desert.
DeleteWhen you mentioned "fern Mullet' I got a big smile on my face. Amazing how when a plant is were it wants to be it can grow so large. I like all of your tidying up. Things are looking good. I really like the dark foliage of the Ebony Embers. It is a nice contrast. Have fun gardening.
ReplyDeleteCrazy how big that Fern got in full sun, and how perfectly green it remained despite a very hot summer. Thanks for your kind words, it is such a joy to be able to garden again!
DeleteA mullet might make a comeback, you never know.
ReplyDeleteNobody I know has ever undergone a bathroom remodel and stayed sane.
Mullets. David Bowie had one for a (brief) time, so they can't be all bad.
DeleteI don't claim to be sane now. We did the bathroom remodel thing at our old house. My most vivid memory is going to bed right next to a 1 meter high, 3 meter wide pile of soil and rocks they dug out to get at the main drain. Had to negotiate around the pile to get into bed. Should have gotten photos, but too horrified.
Slightly off topic: What is the "Garden of Flowing Fragrances" at the Huntington? Is that just a fancy name for the herb garden, or something else altogether?
ReplyDeleteI ask because Timber Press has just published a promo for Gardenlust, a book of newer gardens to visit worldwide, and that's in it.
(http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2018/09/gardenlust-bucket-list )
Don't know the cutoff the book uses for newness, or anything else. James Golden's Federal Twist in greater-Philadelphia New Jersey is on the list, as is Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage. The Annenberg estate has been around a long time, but maybe only recently open to the public? Federal Twist is only open a few times a year as part of Garden Conservancy Open Days, though it may open by appointment.
The G of FF is official name of the Chinese Garden.
DeleteThe Annenberg Estate was opened to the public fairly recently and the garden (I think) got a complete remodel going from lawn and bedded-out begonias to climate-appropriate plants. SucculentsAndMore and AGrowingObsession I think have good posts on it.
Thanks! I'll check them out.
DeleteThat fern is a monster! I love that you think it's been left with a mullet :)
ReplyDeleteNice that you were able to tackle so many items off the tree-pruning list. After your stress last summer I'd always have the threat of anything flammable near the house in the back of my mind.