Southern California's attempt at autumn colorFifty 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 caressed 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 just a hint of color.The light has to be right:
The Cordylines helps out:And the sun, along with a healthy imagination:
Autumn color here is more rose than leaf. Yet more rose pictures. 'Darcey Bussell' has intense color in November.And a little chlorosis in 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?
FIFTY! That's going to be a great showing, and I'm so impressed with how well you've healed. Oh, your blue/blue combo beats fleeting fall color any day. The Xerosicyos danguyi is a little naughty ;). Your roses never disappoint, they are perfect. I'm waiting to see if we get any of this atmospheric river - zilch so far. I'm tempted to water, just to make sure it rains.
ReplyDeleteWashing the car or some windows works every time here.
DeleteThe Xerosicyos was getting a little friendly, yes. It was planted on that slope for a long time where it struggled and nearly died because too dry. It recovered when replanted at the bottom of the wall, so I guess it's celebrating.
Congrats on the slope planting, that must feel very good. Love the Senecio/Agave 'Blue Glow' combo. Who needs fall color when you've got that?
ReplyDeleteWorking on the slope didn't hurt--first time in a long time.
DeleteWho needs fall color? We're gardeners, we want it ALL!
Growing that ficoides hot against a wall is the right idea. I had one in dappled sun and it grew huge and lanky and top heavy. One left in full sun, unwatered container, has kept good color and tight proportions. Hooray for diligent physical therapy and spring daffodils!
ReplyDeleteMy experience as well. The ficoides, given too easy conditions, misbehaves badly.
DeleteThe idea is that the daffs will be an annual event up there--we'll see what happens.
Hooray for your graduation to slope gardening ! I always buy 'Teal' daffs from Scheepers, and have 'Thalia' in the ground. I've been growing 'Teal' in pots as an annual, but this year I'm going to stash the pots in the utility area and reuse the bulbs next year. More $ to buy actual plants ! Look forward to photos of your Tazettas on the slope .
ReplyDeleteHad to look up 'Teal'--wow, pretty! I chose 'Cragford' as being reliable for a no-chill zone; whatever I bought that has been up there for 20 years certainly has no trouble coming back--although during the worst of the drought--they grew poorly. But they survived to thrive again.
DeleteCongratulations on your "certification" for slope work! That's quite an achievement. You've got more fall color than I do. Only my Acer 'Sango Kaku' has colored up. Even Diospyros 'Fuyu' is running behind this year and I'm not sure the drying effect of the winds isn't going to cause the leaves to drop before they ever change color up this year. I've planted Ranunculus and Anemones in my cutting garden but, so far, I've only added a few new Freesia bulbs elsewhere this year. I'm hoping my existing daffodils and Dutch Iris come back in large numbers as I haven't planted more of either.
ReplyDeleteKnee continues to improve. :)
DeleteI eyed the Ranunculus at the local nursery. They had six packs of them...very tempting but...too much to clean up. I'll be admiring your photos instead. The grape foliage is turning gold--a nice effect! Surely your Ginkgo will be a show stopper sooner than later. The Ginkgos in the neighborhood here are quite beautifully golden now.
Nice! Rivers of daffodils are so pretty, and especially nice when they naturalize. It's going to be beautiful, year-after-year-after-year. Happy to hear that you're back to your old self. You worked hard and diligently (if not always patiently) to recover, and it paid off. Go you! One evening a few years back, as I was driving home from work, there along a modest slope next to the road, was a riot of California poppies and lupines. The whole slope was covered with them. It took my breath away. Random beauty is my favorite — but somebody had to have the foresight to sprinke some seeds there, and I am very grateful that they. Elizabeth did. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteSomething to make March something to look forward to. Surprise beauty my favorite too, and sometimes the plants in my own garden will oblige. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Elizabeth!
DeleteOh, wow, 50 bulbs! I didn't do any this year. Feeling lazy. Well, upon further reflection, that's not true. There were the dozenish more rare bulbs I forgot that I planted. Xerosicyos is a fun plant. I tried growing it from cuttings, but it never took off and just slowly declined as a very unhappy house plant. Nice to see what it is supposed to look like when it is happy! Not much activity here. Hiding inside dealing with inside stuff. Feeling the gloomy weather blahs and not having much energy. We'll see if that shifts. I need to get some seeds planted so they get properly stratified.
ReplyDeleteA modest number really, but they do multiply here pretty good. Hoping. The Xerosicyos like heat and water. Not suprised about the heat, but the water was.
DeleteGloomy blahs--hope you find some sunshine somehow.
Can't wait to see your daffodil display. I envy gardeners like you with enough foresight. I'm the type who, when seeing daffodils somewhere, goes to a nursery and buys ONE :-)
ReplyDeleteI learned that from reading garden blogs! Buying just one plant?!?! You?!! ;^)
DeleteDaffodils are a lovely reward for diligent knee exercises. One of my hikers is still immersed in Getting There ...
ReplyDeleteThe journey has been long, but the rewards have been great.
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