Ready to receive heaven's gift I heard rain thrumming in an empty tub outside the window at 4:03 am. Tuh. Tuh. Tuh. Such a wonderful sound is the sound of rain. 0.91" for the day as of now, 5.38" for the season that began on October First.
The sun is already out again this afternoon:
Yesterday I managed to empty most of the previous storm's rain, stored in barrels, into the Syzigium hedge behind the house. Then I took a few garden photos. My knee is better but not yet well enough for real gardening. Aloe castanea:
And there is lots of nectar. So much so, it drips onto the leaves:
Near Aloe castanea, the oldest Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffiths' is now flowering.
Mediterranean climate eclectic, you might call this part of the garden. The Aloe, Arctostaphylos, a Kalenchoe beharensis, Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite', a 'Meyer' Lemon that survived a near-death experience, and Bismarkia noblis. A bit of Protea 'Sylvia' and Ligustrum japonicum peek in at the edges:
In the pond garden, the dormant dark stems of Parthenocissus tricuspidata are echoed in the dark branches of Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tasman Ruffles':
On the patio, out of this morning's rain, a recent plant purchase I never got to blog about, a variegated Aspidistra, to the left of a Sansevieria and Pyrrosia lingua:
Wet walls after the rain. Aloe noblis variegated in the pot:
That's what's up here: not much. There are plants to plant and roses left to cut back, but they'll have to wait until the next rain storm is over and until the knee is better recovered.
I'm glad your knee is better. The Aloe looks wonderful in that pot. The rain here was almost overwhelming. According to the local news, a cell got stock hovering over my area of the peninsula as well as Long Beach, resulting in partial closure of the 710 freeway as well as 2 of the main roads on the peninsula - there were even shelter-in-place orders for a time! And our neighborhood road was a river.
ReplyDeleteI saw the flooding in LB and Seal Beach on the local news and wondered if you were affected. With the geological instability on parts of your peninsula a heavy cell must have been a worry. Your local road was a river!?!?!? Oh yikes!
DeleteWe got .12 more overnight and the forecast for coming days looks to have bumped up the expected rain a bit more...
I'm glad to hear your knee is healing. Your garden is looking happy with the dousing. The blooming Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffiths' is very pretty. Castanea bloom color really stands out with it's dark rich color.
ReplyDeleteThanks. The garden and the gardener both perk up when it rains here.
DeleteSo glad you're getting around again! (and getting some rain)
ReplyDeleteSlowly, slowly. The rain makes everything better.
DeleteAloe castanea has beautiful blooms. I must ask: aren't hummingbirds drawn to its the nectar? I'd expect them to fight over it...
ReplyDeleteChavli
Actually, I don't think so, no. They are at A. cameronii, A. ferox, and A. hardyi in that area, the several Grevilleas, an Agave, and the Arctostaphylos, but castanea is not getting any visitors that I've noticed. Wrong flower color?!? It's not as easily visible as most of the other plants, so it might be getting some.
DeleteHobbled out there today in a brief period of sunshine, and bees were at the castanea, quite a lot of them.
DeleteSaw photos of the 710 flooded, yikes! Love love Aloe castanea in bloom...and reports of the improving knee! And the term "mediterranean eclectic"!
ReplyDeleteNow another chance for flooding over the next day or two. Hopefully enough people saw the submerged cars to stay out of flooded roads. "Mediterranean eclectic" seemed apt. :) Lucky to be able to garden here.
DeleteYour eclectic Mediterranean planting seems like magic. I looked up the Kalanchoe and hopefully don't convince myself that I NEED to have one in a pot here and end up lugging it in and out of the house each winter. For now I'll try to be happy seeing it through your eyes!
ReplyDeleteGlad the knee is getting better, hope you're up to full speed in time to enjoy a lush and well-watered garden.
My first attempts at that Kalanchoe failed--too hot and dry a location. In a different place with a little irrigation and afternoon shade it has done very well. It's also supported by a big chunk of concrete because it was leaning and ready to fall. If you lay a leaf on soil that has some off/on dampness it will grow new plants at the edges of the leaf.
DeleteGood news on your continued recovery. How interesting that there is that much nectar in A. castanea. I'd be tempted to taste it. As long as it isn't toxic. I couldn't find anything about it from a quick search online.
ReplyDeleteI tasted the nectar--cautiously. Slight sweetness. Aloes are used medicinally in their native countries--so not generally poisonous but of course one must always be extremely careful. Saw bees at it--wonder if the honey would have that rich brown color...
DeleteWishing you continued healing. Your garden always looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susie, it's improving. (gardener's knee and garden), just slowly. :)
DeleteLove the blue stamens on the Aloe castanea. Glad your knee is improving.
ReplyDeleteCastanea has plainer foliage, but the flowers are striking and the plant is much tougher than most. Thanks--it is getting better.
DeleteBeautiful photos, as always. I'm glad your knee is healing well, and that you're receiving needed rain (hopefully not too much?). Take care, and enjoy the beauty of your garden. :)
ReplyDeleteSome areas of SoCal got too much. We did well--a lot for here, but not too much.
DeleteI will! I was able to hobble out today, feed the koi, relish the fresh fresh clean air, pull a few weeds... :)