How Many More?

So close, and yet...
 
Not done chopping yet? 

Quit playing in the dirt and pet me.

Winter cleanup seems to have taken forever this year, though I'm way ahead of where I normally am at this time of year.  Last winter's wonderful rainfall encouraged significant growth, so there was lots to chop this winter.  How many more plants to cut back? 
The pruning bouquets are piling up

 Couple here...did these this morning.  Took 5 minutes. 

Did some other stuff in the area, too--hydrangeas, and pulled out the Leucophytums that were beautiful but had completely blocked the path.  That took longer. 

 These were the "dwarf" Leucophytums.

Two there...another five minute job. 

 Two there, 'Bolero' (2004) and 'Snowbird' (1936)  They will be the very last, because there are still quite a few flowers on them.

 I worked on 'Sombreuil' most of the day today.  Hours.  Not done yet. 

 Update:  Got it done Monday.

Next projects are raking, some weed pulling, and a lot of mulching, which is an arduous job, but extremely satisfying when completed.  
January Scenes...Delosperma--no trimming needed.  

Unfortunately we've had a dry January--must keep hoping there's going to be more rain before the season is done.  
 Echeveria coccinea

 I saw a beautiful, healthy 'Kings Fire' Grevillea on Succulents And More which tempted me to trash my very poor specimen, but decided instead to give the plant another hit of iron chealate/10% nitrogen.  It has, at least, sprouted some of its very photogenic flower buds.  

 Still, a pathetic specimen.

It isn't always the location, climate, or gardener who is at fault when the plant is a failure.  Sometimes it is, but sometimes it is a plant that sat in a hot spot at the garden center, or went un-watered by the grower, and was set back too far to recover.  

I've kept it as education in how to better grow Grevilleas.  The very, very sad 'Superb' down in the gully has finally grown significantly and started to flower after several doses of chelated iron/10& N last winter and spring.   'Kings Fire' is in much worse shape.

Hummingbird colors.  It's cool that the bird colors matches the urn colors...

...and unusual to see the colors of this little guy.  He was pale orange and brown rather than the more usual rust and green color.  Juvenile?  

 So that's what's up in this garden as January wanes.  Hope hope February and March turn rainy.  Hope.