Daffy?

 

Southern California's attempt at autumn color

Fifty Tazetta Narcissus 'Cragford' bulbs mail ordered back in September; they finally arrived over the weekend and I got them planted up on the west side slope.  Yes, I was finally safely able to handle the slope.  That was a very cheering thing.  All the months of physical therapy and follow-up weight lifting made it possible.

30 of the 50:

 See?  Well, not yet.  They have to wake up and grow:

There will be little groups of 3 or 4 bulbs something like this (X marks the spots):

There is already a clump of Narcissus that has been there for 20+ years.  The Tazetta type of Daffodils/Narcissus are very long-lived in our climate and handle the dry summer dormancy perfectly.  The thought is to add more and make it a real Spring show. 

And now, bulb planting complete, time to admire the Curio (Senecio) ficoides 'Mount Everest'/Agave 'Blue Glow' combination in the planter at the bottom of the slope's retaining wall.

SoCal autumn color--blue and blue:

Also using the wall as backdrop, Aeonium 'Zwartzkop' is being perused by a straying stem of Xerosicyos danguyi:

The Acers really don't color up here in the autumn.  Not cold enough.  Too bad--it is one of their great beauty moments.  With very early morning sun backlighting the browning leaves, there is a just hint of color.

The light has to be right:

The Cordylines helps out:

And the sun, along with a healthy imagination:

Some more rose pictures. 'Darcey Bussell' has intense color in November.

And a little chlorosis on the leaves:

'The Poet's Wife':

'Iceberg', of course:

'The Ambridge Rose':

That's what's up here, besides continuing to chop down summer's growth.  How about you?