the winter rains drenched my ramshackle garden. deeply soaking everything.
the copa de oro vine i raised from a scraggly stick given to me by sharron’s daughter, lucy, finally bloomed after 2 years.
now i’m figuring out how to contain it. solandra grandiflora can ramble and is known for its ability to root easily. it sends out large branches that shoot up and then relax down to the waiting soil where it will send down roots and keep moving.
i’m going to just let it GO and see what happens. i think the unopened flower buds look like giant noses. hee hee.
my rosemary in the front is over 6 feet tall. it too enjoys lording over the other plants.
as i’ve mentioned, some pruning is in order.
meh.
untended. slightly disheveled.
i don’t even bother to pull the long grass stalks.
the cats need them!
the epiphylums have started blooming out back.
the hibiscus, garden variety & tropical are also putting on a show.
even the olive trees are blooming!
oh pride of madiera!
i remember going on an urban hike a decade ago and bringing back 4 or 5 clippings that turned into giant shrubs.
now i’m spotting the ones with the bluest flowers in the neighborhood so i can start a few new cuttings in the front.
this time i think i’ll use rooting hormone. might be easier.
all of my gernaniums came from cuttings taken on walks years ago.
i collected a few fine specimens on my last 2 trips to santa barbara. they’re rooting on the kitchen table right now.
also a handful of christmas cactus cuttings i brought back from new mexico…
DO NOT leave me unattended in your garden. just don’t.
i can’t help myself.
i don’t think my laissez-faire gardening style would work in a climate that has a real winter.
in other news:
found in the classroom!
a bit more sketchbookery…
see you soon!
“slightly disheveled” you say? , funny. Your gardens are beautiful Mary Ann. I do my best but here in CT the winter knocks back a lot of stuff.
wow! incredible!
Can you do a video of your garden pretty please?
Oh my, what a glorious garden!!!
The Cup of Gold vine takes me back many years. My grandmother had one that climbed up the side of her house and grew all the way across the front of her wide porch. Those huge golden flowers fascinated me and the name was magical.
I didn’t know rosemary could grow that high. It does not tend to do that here in Pa.
thanks for the visit to your garden!
Since I know you love flowers and cactus, I’m sending this link to you. Be sure to scroll way down, and watch the time lapse photos video!
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/science/cactus-superbloom-spring.html?emc=eta1&_r=0
Hi Mary Ann–Your gardens are absolutely gorgeous! All the best–Deb
Beautiful, gorgeous, yummy, llovely–what a fabulous yard to sit in and look at all the flowers!!
A peek into your garden is pure bliss. We are rain soaked here in the PNW having experienced a wetter than normal winter and spring. We have 2 dominant colors: plenty of green & way too much gray so the vibrant colors of your yard are balm to my eyes. Such pleasure for gardener and on-looker alike.
Surely a glorious, very happy garden, as is! ♥
You could sell tickets to your garden, Mary Ann. I love your style…right up my alley. Just let things grow wherever they’ve a mind to. Oh, and your style would do just fine here in the NW (Hint, hint) You might have to give up some of the sun lovers and adopt some hardier winter proof things, but there are always greenhouses too! I have always wanted a cute little greenhouse.
I love gardens that are like a continual fireworks show, with everything blooming in their own moments of glory. I planted my window boxes today in pinks, yellows and chartreuse, and have a pink hanging geranium basket hanging above them. That is about as far as I have gotten so far.
Your photos are sure sharp and lovely!
karen,
i think i need a photo of your windowboxes. i have some but haven’t planted in years. just one lone geranium comes back every year! dies in summer, returns in winter.
We share the same philosophy about pruning… xox
oh yes we do!!! blowing kisses!
You would have been right in the crowd of plant pinchers, so common in the Victorian era. Everyone wanted what everyone else had. Geraniums especially, were pinched like mad, so hard that you might go out and see you had nothing left! As long as you donʻt take the whole plant, most people are happy to share.
i love knowing that and must read more about this…a book on victorian gardening may be just what i need!
I am so jealous of your rosemary..here in Manitoba, (Canada) I grow it every year, try taking it in for the winter to keep it growing, and it dies out before Christmas every time. Oh how I wish to be able to grow year-round!! Rosemary is my all time favorite!
deb, when i go out to move the watering hose i brush against it. i always smell like rosemary! wish i could transport half of my bush to you. it grows like wild here in bush form and trailing form which are lovely on rock walls.
Isn’t nature miraculous! Such an abundance is in your garden. The colors, textures, physicality and variety create a beautiful daily tapestry. And you have the artist vision to see it all. Thanks for sharing. Smiles: Sharon
yes the natural world is MARVELOUS. intoxicating… 🙂
My epiphylums (?) are full of buds too. I had lunch at Mesa verde last week and thOught of you…b
mesa verde! lucky you! last time i was there i had a grilled “cheese” utterly delicious!
Can definitely see noses.. Love the lush beauty of your garden.
How beautiful..You Are lucky you dont live here in Ct, the deer and the woodchucks have had a competition to see which one would bring on the most destruction on my garden..Had planted over 100 tulips=zero flowers now, roses just a thorny snack for the woodchucks. The irises are OK so are the daffodils and the peonies, unfortunately they are only spring visitors, so thank you for giving us a glimpse of your garden always such a pleasure to look at…
why thank you annie. woodchuck. woodchuck? !!! i must investigate these hungry creatures. they sound v.v. cute.
um…https://aos.iacpublishinglabs.com/question/aq/1400px-788px/answer-much-wood-could-woodchuck-chuck_e32ad5cfa8ac2ce4.jpg?domain=cx.aos.ask.com
I’m bowled over by the lushness and color of your garden, Mary Ann. Just what my color-starved eyes needed. It’s been cold and rainy here and nothing’s in bloom at our place. The daffodils put up bloom stems and are still waiting for a nice sunny day to open, but snow is in the forecast. I did see a tiny patch of grape hyacinths in bloom outside an old abandoned cottage today though, but mine haven’t even put up flower stalks yet. Spent all day yesterday, and I mean all day, reading, while it poured outside. Lovely. If you haven’t seen the British TV show Shetland, I think you’d like it. Based on murder mystery books by Ann Cleeves, though different, too, and set in the starkly beautiful Shetland Islands. Put on the subtitles so you don’t miss a word. It’s really good. xo Diana.
i want to spend a cool day reading in a montana hideaway while it pours outside.
awwwwwww. magic.
The plants in your garden are all fabulous and make me twitch with envy when I see your photos. Up here in Oregon we just don’t grow such tropical delights. But roses we can grow!
I think you really must be a wonderful gardener if you can grow these beauties from cuttings. Very impressed.
oh thanks cynthia!
my specialty is grass, weeds, and some flowers sprinkled here and there.
i used to be more devoted, but these days i just let it all GO.
wherever it wants!