Seeing The Light
Flower stem emerging from Aloe petricola; Leucospermum 'Tango' first flowers color up No gardening today. The wind is ripping branches, leaves, and flowers from shrubs and trees today. At least it's a cold Santa Ana this time, not hot, and a strange one, because the sky is grey with clouds instead of the usual tannish with blowing dust. A low pressure system from the south and a high pressure system from the north are meeting to squeeze Great Basin air, sending it roaring through our neighborhood. The neighbor's dead Eucalyptus rocks stiffly, like Frankenstein's Monster walking; the live Eucs, with considerable grace, sway. An occasional leaf blown hard, hits window glass with a plunk. Birds are absent. Indoors, I look at garden photos and consider light. Late afternoon light: Midday light: Late afternoon: Midday: Advantage, late afternoon. Overcast morning: Sunny morning: Advantage overcast. Late afternoon, really too late, but with the sun behind
With that kind of life force, and a tender-hearted gardener, it's no wonder there's never a shortage of 'Fred Ives' at your place.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love that Uncinia. It should pick up anything reddish in the vicinity.
And the rain lilies are one of my main objects of desire. Now that this county's been re-classified to zone 7, I'm more emboldened to try them. They're one of those plants that mark a garden as southern -- not a usual yearning of mine, but something that my father grew up with in South Carolina and missed. (His now-huge magnolia in the front yard gives the place a much more southern feel than it would otherwise have.)
Well, so healthy--I hate to toss them. I gave a bunch away at a local plant swap. Really really enjoying the rain lilies. They are no care at all, too.
DeleteThat's neat you have a magnificent tree your Dad planted. My Dad planted a grapefruit tree he pulled out of a dumpster. It lived and thrived and fruited for more than 30 years, but new owners of the property got rid of it. Pretty good for a dumpster dive, though.
I wonder if the oak out front will survive to future owners, and if they will treasure it, and wonder who planted it, or if it will be chopped down to put up an apartment tower, as SoCal turns into one giant Manhattan.
One look at your Orbea in flower immediately sent me running into my front garden as I'd neglected to check my Stapelia gigantea for 2 days and, at last sighting, it'd looked ready to pop. Unfortunately, I probably missed its peak but it's still blooming and attracting flies. Mine's the color of raw hamburger, not nearly as pretty as yours. Does yours have a strong odor?
ReplyDeleteSupposedly the Orbea has a bad smell, but I would have had to get down on my hands and knees to take a whiff, so I decided I didn't need to know.
DeleteMy Stapelia gigantea bloomed already, yeah, it does attract flies. It is in an out of the way spot. Cool the shape of the bud and the flower that is like a starfish, despite all the flies.
I really like the uncinia rubra. I would love to have something like this in my garden. I have a pink anemone that likes to pop up right where I don't want it. ha..
ReplyDeleteThe Unicinia coloration is very attractive.
DeleteAnemones will do that, won't they? Mine came up this year where it didn't want to be judging by the toasted foliage. Tables were turned!
That Orbea is really cool. Is it related to Stapelia? I am thrilled with Vermillionaire, a new find for me this year. Cuphea's don't usually do well for me due to our cool night's but Vermillionaire has performed well through heat and cold. A real winner!
ReplyDeleteYes both Orbea and Stapelia are in the family Apocynaceae.
DeleteI am also thrilled with 'Vermillionaire'. As are the Hummingbirds. :)
Pteris cretica ‘Albolineata’ Silver Ribbon Fern? :)
ReplyDeleteThat sure looks like it, Homask. Thank you!!!
DeleteWow, that Fred is amazing! You have a lot of plants I am unfamiliar with, but the Orbea flower is so wonderful, I wish I could grow my own!
ReplyDeleteOrbea stays pretty small, easy in a pot if you have a warm place to overwinter it.
DeleteOrbea is such an interesting plant. Love the flower! Is it as stinky as Stapelia when it blooms? I can relate to both your impulse buys. Belinda is such a beauty, isn't she? I hope she does well for you!
ReplyDeleteSupposedly it is stinky, but I didn't want to find out by getting down close enough to see. This isn't really Uncinia's climate (prefers a cool summer apparently) so we'll see how it goes. It has great color and texture.
DeleteYou tempt me to find an Orbea of my own (I prefer the creamy flowers to the hamburger version)
ReplyDeleteBeing a vegetarian, I'm not a big fan of flowers that look like hamburger, either!
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