Can't get enough

The roses are out, and yes, there are red roses around, but how often to you see roses in this peachy color?

And then the California poppies are going wild. Oddly enough, their color mimics the roses. Mmmmm.

Seriously, don't do this!

Our City is serious about our trees, sort of. Our neighborhood in particular has some very fine old growth trees. On my street we have Deodars well over 100 years old. There are native Oaks on some streets that are far older than that. When those trees were planted, many of the roads were dirt and there were no paved sidewalks. Trees thrived in spite of drought and Santa Ana winds. With the proliferation of cars came the infrastructure improvements for their benefit. Unfortunately, that has left some of the trees struggling. The parkways on some streets are so narrow, they barely contain the trunks of trees now trying to survive. This poor tree is surrounded with concrete: the street, the driveway, and the sidewalk. Now the people who live there are trying to help out by putting large rocks around the trunk, presumably to keep water in. Alas, this particular effect is actually bad for the tree. It does keep moisture in, but not deeply in the soil. It holds moisture right on the tree trunk and roots, allowing for rot and insect activity. In other words, it is slowly killing the tree, not helping it. It's basically a form of volcano mulching, which is taking chips or mulch and surrounding the trunk like a volcano. Trees actually need open space to about the mid-point or edge of their canopy.

Add to that, some homeowners don't want to be bothered with weeding or mowing, and have boxed in trees with cement blocks, allowing for no water to get to the roots. Actually, this is not exactly sanctioned by the City, but too often goes unnoticed. The sad thing is, it took years for this tree to finally die of thirst and is designated to be cut down. I shake my head in sadness each time Nellie and I walk by.

Some people just like to show off (and rightfully so)

We have a new neighbor, M. You've met her dogs Baloo and Leia. Many evening walks end with a nice chat about gardening and Baloo cadging treats. One evening the topic turned to M's parkway weed situation. It is covered in foxtails which are extremely dangerous to dogs and other creatures. The barb-shaped seeds can hook between toes on a dog's paws,  get wedged in ears, get pulled up a nose and stuck, and tragically, can enter the brain. Needless to say it is a scourge. M realized she would actually have to pull it all out by hand and her parkway section is fairly long. I naively figured it would take her weeks to get going and get it under control. Here is one small section to show you the foxtail infestation.

The next day, Nellie and I were walking by and I couldn't believe my eyes. M had not only cleared a sizable patch, but had added soil amendment AND, as if that weren't enough, she put in plantings. When queried about if she had help (no) and how she managed to do it so quickly, she responded in a very offhand way that it only took her 5 hours, and she had to stop simply because her yard waste bin was full. She then added that it should take five to six more sessions and it will be done. M works full time and still has energy for this hard labor. I'm impressed, amazed, and in awe.

Don't hate me because I'm swaleful

And here you naively thought we were done with the whole swale thing. Hardly. The following examples show you just how decorative and useful they can be.

This house has put swales on the parkway and in their front yard. Not only do they show off the plantings, but they are elegant in their simplicity.

This swale is a bit different in configuration and I suspect budget had something to do with it (like my attempt). It's mostly gravel, and while it doesn't have the pop of the top two, it does what's intended and captures water. This garden has recently been revamped and in a couple of years should be awash in native plants.

Speaking of native plants, or at least drought tolerant, this swale defies the usual standard by actually having succulents going down the center. It is also a magical addition to all the blooming foliage.

Dogs rule

Another day at the dog park and hijinks ensued. First off, Nellie and Scotty certainly have it down. 

Now, you've no doubt noticed Scotty has the longest tongue in the doggie kingdom, and unfortunately he has a habit which only bothers us and doesn't seem to faze him one bit. That habit is biting his tongue and looking a bit like a vampire after a good feed.

While Scotty and Nellie certainly rule the park with Nellie's herding and Scotty's serious attention to ball throwing and fetching, occasionally they allow others to join in the games. Today was a new one. Two dogs who were decked out in very fancy togs joined the melee. We didn't catch their names, but they certainly made an impression. First up is Tee (for t-shirt). He kept giving Nellie looks that I could only interpret as confusion for who she was and what her job at the park might be.

Nellie was trying to make sure Tee was on the up and up the way dogs do. Tee's expression says it all.

Then there's Skirt (because obviously she's wearing a skirt), who wasn't thrilled photos were being taken and she gave a rather baleful glare when I finally got her to hold still. She mellowed somewhat after that.

Lest you think Tee and Skirt are not utterly delightful, let this reassure you.

Just passing by

Walking Nellie in different areas used to be very easy. Of late, not so much. That doesn't stop me from noticing things on the same streets we walk down almost daily. Of course, as I'm judging how people treat their yards, what colors they chose for the house, and generally whether I approve of their life choices, something striking will show up. Some delightful discoveries made themselves evident.

A birdcage affixed to a palm tree, not holding a bird, but plants:

Wonderful hand painted cinder blocks that act as planters:

A very artistic sunburst security door:

And my personal favorite. a dog and squirrels peacefully co-existing:

It doesn't get better than that.

 

Once you see it, you can't unsee it

As one does while walking dogs, and as a snoopy person who likes to check out gardens and other details as inspiration for my own projects (which admittedly usually stay in the still-thinking-about-it stage), I've passed by this wonderful drought tolerant garden many times. Stopping to take a photo of a particularly well designed section, I suddenly saw IT. Couldn't stop giggling all the way down the street. Make sure anyone under the age of 50 is out of the room. Take a minute. Hint: it's toward the back (click on picture to make it bigger):

Now to get your mind back on planet earth, enjoy the bird of paradise in full bloom:

These are going wild in front of a house that looks abandoned but isn't. Sadly it appears the people living there need help fixing up their property, especially the house. There are times when a magic wand would come in so handy.

Not my fault the spring has brought out so many blossoms

Probably not the last post about the multitude and magnificence of the blooming plants all around right now. If you're not into beauty, skip this one.

In Memoriam

Our street has seen the unfortunate passings of two wonderful dogs. Bruno was very old, had multiple issues and his family planned and helped him exit peacefully. Ellie, on the other hand, had an unexpected emergency. After many ups and downs, all hope was gone and she was euthanized being held by those who love her.  I say love, not loved, because I believe that no one ever stops loving a family member, even if that member wears fur. 

The real tragedy is when that family member is not allowed to age or be surrounded by the people who cared for them. I came across this a couple of days ago, posted on a tree facing the street, and it made me cry. It also made me angry. If you can't read it, click on the picture to make it bigger.

Corner houses have more room for art

This corner house has become more and more of an art project over the years. The owners have experimented with different looks and now have achieved what can only be the finished product. The use of succulents and rocks around the focal point of the gardener is quite wonderful.

Moving around to the front, there is color and design that shows thoughtfulness and good planning.

And now, moving farther along, we find something a bit puzzling. Why would a table and logs for chairs be put on the parkway? It is a nice conversation piece, but is it really a place for conversation? Inquiring minds want to know. Also, while it looks very trim and neat, putting down artificial grass, a.k.a. plastic, is truly an environmental no-no. It does little to discourage weeds, is hotter in the sun than natural ground covers, and only adds plastic bits to the air, water, and soil. 

But lest you think all I can do is criticize, we'll end on a high note of the lovely archway to the house. So much character and charm.

 

Can't help falling for you

My love for beautiful gardens and fabulous flowers is especially great when someone else is taking care of them and thereby doing the hard physical labor to make them look as good as they are. Hence my fascination and, let's face it, envy, of those who manage to get great results with what appears like minimal struggle, but is probably not as easy as it seems. 

I've tried to grow Lantana for a few years now, and can only get a small bush maybe knee high. This one is almost to my shoulder and in soil not suited for anything at all. How do they do it?

Some bushes just seem to explode with joy.

The palette looks like an artist's brushwork.

This really is a sweet Angel

We have a gangsta' gang we walk with, and you better believe they strike terror in the hearts of absolutely nobody (because they are so cute and sweet). You've met them before: Nick the Norwegian Bundledorfer; Bert the Schipperke; and Charlie, the mystery mix. Side note -- if you Google Nick's breed, you won't find him. We have thoughts about his parentage, but it's a tossup between Shih Tzu/Pug mix or Shih Tzu/Pekingnese mix. Hence the Bundledorfer designation. (BTW- yes K, I still think he's part Pug).

Every now and then, when we are very lucky, an Angel joins our group. Yes, her name is Angel and she's a real Labrador who just had her 13th birthday. Please note, she is in very fine spirits and good health, has a fabulous smile, and for the occasion is wearing a handcrafted scarf with a ladybug and daisy motif. In other words, this Angel is stylin'.

 

Did I mention my architecture obsession?

Okay, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I have waaaaaay too much time on my hands and an over abundance of fascination with architecture and architectural detail. Guilty as charged. Mostly though, if you have noticed the trend of my fixations, it most often has to do with anything resembling tile and mosaic work. Imagine my astonishment when I truly looked at a house, which is spectacular by the way, and realized the gables have pebbles between the wood beams. Have no idea how long that would take to achieve, but it certainly takes more effort than simply slapping a coat of paint on wood. What is so fascinating is that it isn't immediately obvious. It certainly doesn't beg you to see it, and yet, someone took the time and effort to add that touch. 

 

Lessons in Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus wrote Lessons in Chemistry which was an Apple TV+ miniseries last year. As a frustrated feminist (and no, I'm not even remotely a chemist), this book hit so close to home in so many ways. Even if you watch the TV show, please also read the book. The Divine Ms. M brought it to my attention and I happily put it on hold through Libby. I was 1,632 on the list. You read that right -- over one thousand people were ahead of me for the the multiple copies of the e-book from the library. I was in for a long wait, but no worries, I have other books available to read in the meantime. 

Well, I got lucky. The Library has a jump the line feature which only gives you seven days instead of the normal 14 or 21. I took it. Finished the book in 3 days because I couldn't put it down. While it takes place in the 1950s and early 1960s, so much of what goes on is still prevalent today. And that is soooooo frustrating. The story has dark moments, infuriating scenarios, and uplifting, witty, and humorous passages. My favorite character, as anyone who knows me will understand, is the dog. Six-Thirty is his name and yes, you will have to read the book to find out why. My only criticism, and this could well be because I don't know children that well, is that the daughter of the main character had such an advanced vocabulary and education at age four. While I don't doubt the capabilities of genius children, it made me wonder a bit. That notwithstanding, the book is almost a PERFECT read.

READ THE BOOK!!!!!!

Is this a bit nuts or...?

Nellie and I walk by this house frequently, and every time we go by, I wonder what the rationale for obstructing the sidewalk to the house is meant to do. It gets in the way of someone parking in front and walking straight up. Notice that in the pots there is a small sign that says Private Property. Clearly the pots are on what constitutes the parkway, which is City property. It is also odd because people generally leave items on the curb for passersby to take or for bulk trash pickup. The pots have been there for years, so clearly everyone understands they are not being given or thrown away. Mmmmm. And naturally I'd pick trash day to take the picture.

On a fun note, we also pass by a house on the same street with two small Shih Tzus, who are very vocal in telling us we can't walk in front of their yard. Today, however, the dog gods were smiling upon us and they both stopped yapping long enough for me to get pictures of their cuteness. They are adorable and just maybe they will start accepting our presence. I doubt it, but we can dream.

Beautiful blossoms are always welcome

With the past two years of abundant rain, plants that had barely survived the years of drought are making a comeback. Of course, my ignorance of actual flowers definitely shows. Irises I know. Occasionally my brain will store away a plant name if it is unusual enough, like Protea. The reason I remember those blossoms - had to look them up the first time and managed to remember they are from South Africa and represent change and transformation. And then there are the shrubs in neighboring gardens that are just so beautiful, and I haven't a clue what they are. They say ignorance is bliss, so I'm one blissful lady.

Irises:

Protea in two colors:

I am famous (infamous?) for hating pink. Even as a child I refused to wear or play with anything pink. However, I will make an exception for blossoms or anything in nature. I'm not a total monster. Just love these, whatever they are: