HarryIt's been raining here. Harry has been stormy, too. Sessions with a trainer have helped, but we're still working on rough spots, some of which have been very rough for all of us (except Natasha).
The late fall and winter Aloes are waking up. I got around to cleaning up an A. striata with rotted out roots--hopefully I can get it re-rooted. It had a lot of dried up leaf bases to get off.
There are new roots developing. They are yellow:I left what appeared to be soil. The stem looks solid now with new roots exposed. Poppped onto a mound of gritty cactus mix, now it's up to the plant: If that does not work, pulling off the lowest leaves and cutting back to expose fresh stem will be next. The plant is full-sized and looks healthy otherwise. Flower stems are emerging on many Aloes now. The October rain we were fortunate to get gave them a good start.
A. vanbalenii:
A. 'Moonglow':A. rubroviolacea. Seven multi-branched stems emerging so far. This one flowers slowly, over several months:A. suprafoliata' stem emerged right after the October rain. It's showing color now:A. 'Rooikappie' flowers off and on year round. This one under the shade of the Oak is on at the moment:There are many roses in bloom yet, the flowers in in various states of ruin because of the rain, but that's okay--the rain is more important. 'Princess Alexandra Of Kent', not too ruined:
xThe biggest show at the moment is the Tagetes lemonii up on the west slope:The Pentas will soon look miserable for the winter, but should come back as the weather warms next spring. This one worked a stem though its neighboring Agapanthus: A reminder that struggling on can lead to victories, and even small victories are still victories. 2025 Hydrangea, new Hellebore foliage preparing for 2026. That's another of the healing things about gardens: a reminder the tired need to rest a while, a reminder they will wake up again.
The rain is telling the Acers to drop their leaves:A bit of gorgeous leaf color from Lagerstroemia 'Cherry Mocha':Another Yucca 'Bright Star', better late than never:And there goes Agave parrasana, which must be 15 years old. There's at least one other smaller, younger parrasana in the garden.I'm happy I managed to get a post done at all. Now, back to Harry.
Harry is so dang cute. Bring on the aloes! The Tagetes is a fantastic bright spot, especially with the darker days.
ReplyDeleteThe Tagetes is at its best with the sun hitting it--the golden flowers glow. But it does brighten a cloudy day. Speaking as a SoCal gardener, any rain brightens the day, too!
DeleteWhat the heck has Harry been up to!? At least Natasha is not bearing the brunt of his antics. That tagetes surprised me too, such a tough plant to make it thru summer and bloom like that in fall.
ReplyDeleteHarry goes ballistic on walks sometimes and I have to call for help to control him. He's very strong and very quick. It's not safe for either of us.
DeleteA Tagetes elsewhere in the garden in a non-irrigated area died over the summer--was quite surprised to see it spouting new fresh stems and foliage this week. Tough they are!
Meeko has yet to learn the lay of the land either - she wasn't well-socialized when I got her - but she's coming along (slowly) as she approaches her 2nd birthday in early February. I do wish there were people who train cats (beyond Jason Galaxy), though.
ReplyDeleteI hope your Aloe striata improves - some of mine could use help too, although I'm mainly counting on their outgrowing their tarnished bits. I've seen signs of Aloe blooms developing here too; however, I don't have anything matching the variety of yours.
Cats seem more complicated than dogs. Either genus, we'll just keep working at it until we're all happy, right? Had to look up Jason Galaxy.
DeleteRain timing was good for the winter-bloomers--just when they need water, it arrived!
You discovered that Aloe striata just in time to save it. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteAloe suprafoliata stem looks almost blue in the photo... so good!
I thought Pentas were annuals... I guess not in So. Cal.
Chavli
The suprafoliata is a beautiful blue, flower stem included. The plant is the beauty--the flowers have a "bad hair day" sort of growth habit.
DeletePentas are often treated as annuals even here because they look so bad in winter. I read recently though they can go down to zone 8--cut to the ground and mulched they come back and do well as the soil warms in mid-late spring. I'm thinking of trying that method on one of them this year, because they really do look awful all winter.
Oh, I'm glad you got some needed rain! Your Aloes look lovely and healthy. And the Yucca, and the Rose, and... Harry--so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth. We're starting to hope it might maybe fingers crossed be a decent rainy season--always a cheering thought. Aloes washed clean of all the dust that builds up all summer--they look so much better almost instantly.
DeleteHarry is beautiful! And he looks so well behaved :-)
ReplyDeleteI find aloes re-reroot relatively easily. Of course warm weather would help...
Harry looks well behaved, yes. Behaves--we're getting there. One day at a time.
Delete79F today, 79F tomorrow. :(
My experience is the same, they will re-root pretty easily, if the bad stuff is taken off, so the firm good areas can push out new roots.
Well, it seems you, Kris, and I are all dealing with young'uns and the havoc they can wreak. I'm not envious of the destructive streak that young dogs can have, but gosh, some cats are so complicated! I need to get more Tagetes in my garden next year. Let's see if I actually follow through.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt cats are far more complicated than dogs. Dogs follow rules--they are pack animals and there are pack rules so human rules come easy for them. Cats, which are solitary hunters, make their own rules.
DeleteTagetes seem unattractive to critters--nothing touches the ones I've grown here--rabbits dont touch them--so maybe they are worth a try in your more rural area.