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
They're impressive plants, especially when massed like that. I hope the crazy practice of people stealing the plants from public areas has halted - at least the Point Lobos plants have matural protection.
ReplyDeleteThey are only still there because humans can't reach them. How sad is that?
DeleteI have committed botani-cide on at least one of each of these.
ReplyDeleteMay not be you, may be your area's very hot summers? Lanceolata seems more adaptable than the rest of them. I've killed a couple brittonii , but think to try again by planting them vertically.
DeleteSo cool to see them growing in their native habitat.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it? Gives clues as to how to keep them happy. Of course who would not be happy to live on a spectacular coast with gorgeous ocean views?
DeleteI agree there is something magical about seeing plants growing in the native habitat...and we are so fortunate to be able to have you post these and share these. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHappy you found it of interest. Thanks!
DeleteI very much enjoyed these photos of the carpets of Dudleya, as well as the lesson. Hope your computer gets fixed soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alison!
DeleteBreathtakingly cool. The shot looking up to the clifftop with sunlit Monterey pine is so expressive of adaptation to time and weather forces. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe docent was saying that particular spot might have the purest air in the US because it came straight in from several thousand miles of uninterrupted Pacific Ocean. It was heaven to inhale, quite an experience for someone from Southern California.
DeleteBreath-givingly cool as well!
DeleteInhaling that pure air was as much of a thrill as seeing the waves crash on jagged rocks, the clarity of turquoise water, the soaring grace of pelicans, the otters bobbing in the kelp beds...
DeleteI am tempted by your silvery Dudleya, but will try to be happy with the Carpobrotus cuttings my neighbour gave me.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you can keep it in check. Or is it more vigorous in California than in SA?
DeleteGreat photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loree!
DeleteHow interesting that they like both establishing on freshly exposed surfaces, while they also grow "...in the decayed organic matter of their ancestors." Makes me think of us humans. To begin with, we like to break off from our families and start our own thing. But, after that initial foray into the unknown, so very often we return to the kind of setting we grew up in. Maybe not a precise comparison, but I'm feeling a little philosophical today.
ReplyDeleteAutumn will do that. DNA might have more to do with our interests than we think--the science waits to be done.
DeleteWe went here last time we were in LA over Christmas - well worth the trip. Thanks for identifying these plants.
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