Being charmed again by garden designs

Nellie and I decided to go down a street we haven't been to in a couple of years. We certainly were not expecting anything new or fanciful. We couldn't have been more wrong. Apparently the word is out that neighbors are trying to one up each other with whimsical decorations. Case in point is this pebble retaining wall with what ceramic faces (in agony?) thrown in. Needless to say, an interesting idea. As always, to get a larger view, click on the picture.

The wall around the roses is more exuberant with more lighthearted decor.

A bit farther down the street is one of my favorite creatures - a bear. Have no idea what the Mardi Gras beads are for and why they are properly around her neck, but love the notion of feeding the bears.

Another bloom bomb

Planting succulents in an arid climate makes so much sense and they provide some surprises with their infrequent, but spectacular blossoms. Case in point:

Closeup of the blossoms:

Then there are the native and near native garden approaches to sustainability. The first example is a gorgeous array of Lantana, which survives almost everything (except me).

Then there is the strictly succulent approach to a garden:

And last, but definitely not least, the native plants approach. 

Dog park friends and one derpy dog

One plus for going to the dog park is getting to meet and make new dog friends. This week it was two enormous Golden Retrievers who couldn't get enough in the way of rubs and scratches, and who happily played with the other dogs in the park as if they had been best buds for years. 

Then there were the regulars, Husky Mom with her enormous Shepherd/Husky mix son.

And last, but not least, and not at all part of the dog park because he lives in a different state altogether, Bailey being a big derp.

You just gotta love dogs!

They're ba-ack (I sincerely hope)

Every morning is the same routine. Wake up, open curtains, stumble outside to greet the squirrels who immediately mug me for walnuts, and otherwise tend to the Critter Café. This is important business as my critters depend on me to attend to their every need: food and fresh water. This morning, as I looked out the kitchen window while making my coffee, expecting to see the crows and ravens swoop in to feed on the peanuts, I got a wholly unexpected and wonderful surprise. An enormous raccoon was happily chowing down on the peanuts. A raccoon. Now, no doubt you're saying, what's so great about seeing a raccoon? Allow me to explain. 

When we moved into our house with its now-too-huge yard, we loved that we were surrounded by squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks (well, skunks were welcome but the stench wasn't), and beautiful birds. Yes, we saw the occasional coyote too, but that wasn't too much of a problem. We even had a raccoon couple bring their kids into the backyard to stare at us while we enjoyed the outdoors seated on the lounge chairs, which the second we vacated, the raccoons would hop up on and make themselves at home. Opossum mums would show off their babies. It was a lovely time. Then something happened and the raccoons and opossums disappeared. Even the skunk population took a nosedive. Our yard was just as hospitable, our dogs as friendly, but the road bordering us became more congested with reckless drivers. That was over 15 years ago. So to see a furry bandit friend is exciting in the extreme. 

The pictures were taken through the kitchen window, so they aren't the best, but you get the idea. Enjoy Raccoony. (Yup, corny as it is, it's his name). He's near the wheel.

Recycle, reuse, repurpose - sort of?

Confession time. When I cut back my Agave, I don't do a terrific job. It gets whacked back just enough to not attack passersby and that's good enough. OK - not great but better than nothing. Someone else in the neighborhood not only cuts back their Agave properly, but then decided to add a decorative element that is quite ingenious. From a distance, what caught my eye was the sparkle. Curiosity led me to look closer and was astounded to see that bottle caps from various drinks were pushed into the cut area. It's fun, intriguing, and a creative idea. It may even get me to cut the Agave properly and find sparkly things to decorate them. Mmmmm.

 

Architectural battle - who wins?

One of the reasons I loved traveling to different countries so much was the architectural diversity. Standing in the Taj Mahal or a Buddhist temple, visiting the Acropolis versus Notre Dame, was exhilarating for both the history and the beauty. The U.S.A. has some highlights, but we have to make do with buildings in our area that are at best 150 years old. And most houses in our neighborhood are in the 50 to 100 year old category. So it's interesting to see two very different styles standing next to each other. 

The first is a cottage style that looks cozy and so inviting for a visit on the front porch.

Then, in my mind, oddly, stands a massive building that almost looks like a convention center. Mind you, wonderful arches (and we all know how I love arches), but it's the only one of its kind on a block of cozier homes. Mmmm. 

Finally, apropos of absolutely nothing about architecture, these roses are amazing for the diversity of color on a single bush.

Arid environments are not lifeless

One thing that struck me when I was in Australia (back in the dark ages), was that the desert areas were far more vibrant than expected. The Outback isn't a desolate wasteland that one might expect. One of the plants that stood out was Kangaroo Paw, something I have tried to grow here with no success. Alas, my gardening skills are minimal at best, so no surprise there. Fortunately, others have had far better luck, or skill, as the case may be. This combination of reds is so striking and beautiful. While I don't know what the bushy red plant is called, it doesn't matter since it is just a joy to walk by every day and take in the vibrant beauty.

  

Bears and donkeys in our neighborhood

Okay, so the title was a tease, but this wonderful bear is permanently ensconced near the street. Someone decided to put on a baseball cap (backwards of course) to add to the charm. It is true that bears do live in our area, though we are not as privileged to see them wandering about as other towns in the area. I have a true fondness for them, even naming my wonderful rescue dog Kuma because he looked just a bit like one. The good news is, this bear allows you to pet him.

As for the donkeys, they are also motionless but are doing the good service of providing a stand for potted plants. They are also very colorful additions to the yard.

Okay - it's true. Purple is my favorite color

Couldn't pass this up. Nature is a wonder and the perfection of blossoms never fails to amaze. Being purple is the icing on the cake. 

Pollinators and passersby rejoice

There has been concerted effort in our area to create yards for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. More yards have native plants. Some yards are little art tests too. This yard meets both requirements. Sort of. If you don't pay attention to the weeds. The round sign atop the butterfly tile says Pollinator Work Zone. The hedgehogs, frog, and snail add to the charm. Click on the picture for a bigger view.

Repurposing the wheel barrow is another good way to keep things out of the landfill and serve a practical need for large plantings. 

These little piggies stay home

These two cuties have been on the blog before, but their people have moved them closer to the front fence so their adorable expressions are now in full view. Nope, couldn't pass them up. And the next time you're about to order bacon, remember these two and reconsider.

Palm trees wrapped in green

To get this out of the way upfront, I am not a fan of palm trees. Well, at least not the very tall ones that grow around here and do absolutely nothing to shade areas or produce any fruit. In heavy wind dead branches can come down and kill you. In fire, those same branches act as torches. Yet here we are. There are two palms that get a pass however because they look lush thanks to the ivy growing at the base and climbing high up the trunk. Quite exotic looking.

You can see the care taken at the base to trim it back. Then it goes wild as it climbs up, making it look like a different plant altogether. Truly nature, when left to itself, is amazing.

A chick and her egg?

Easter is nearly upon us and though people don't generally go all out on decorating, there are the few who come up with cute items. This chick and an enormous egg belie the Easter bunny myth - or not. 

Clearly this is a reference to the Easter bunny considering the number of carrots involved, though why they are in a tree is puzzling, since bunnies can't fly. But we'll take it as a symbol and not a literal bunny lure.

The basket below, with Easter eggs about, may be a lure for unsuspecting children. We like to think they are prizes, however, and are waiting to be scooped up on the neighborhood Easter egg hunt. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

There is no other description than stunning

This Spring has been remarkable for blooming plants. Our area got a bit more rain than we're used to (though not nearly enough), and plants are thriving that have had no chance before. Case in point, these stunning Lillies. 

Closeup of the blossom:

A totally different vibe, but amazing colors and blooms, these roses are something that resist all my attempts to grow them. Fortunately, neighbors have far better luck.

Good to see after a hard year of recovery.

Parkway magic

Some people just know how to make life a little more cheerful and helpful. The same neighbor who has the remarkable sun mosaic on his wall, also put these items on the parkway in front of his house. He provides dog poop bags and a dog waste bin to encourage dog walkers to clean up.

The other side of the tree just has fun stuff.

Wish I could nap like that

Now that Nick's Mom is home full-time, he no longer requires my visits. Apparently, he is so relaxed and happy, he's chosen to take deep afternoon naps like this. That's one passed out pup.

Sunshine makes me happy

Another example of walking by a house a million times and not noticing something wonderful. In my defense, the little tree in front of this beautiful mosaic does screen it from view. Not to mention that it is in a more secretive location than right in front of the house. The homeowner just happened to see me one day and invited me for a close look. He explained the mosaic was done by youth VOLUNTEERS and it is awe inspiring.

Alas the sun was making things a bit difficult photo wise, but you get the idea. The attention to detail is remarkable and the colors are awesome.

Another view:

Another derpy rescue

A friend who has had to move away (temporarily) because of the huge fire last year, has decided to make things better in his family's life by rescuing yet another dog. This now makes three. Though he failed to give me the new family member's name, he did send pictures and, yup, another sweetie. Coming home:

 Now, this is an interesting take on how to take a nap, but to each her own.

And what would doggie life be without a game of tug-a-war.

Some sketches are spot on

Scotty, Nellie's dog park best pal, lends himself beautifully to caricature sketches. The ears standing very tall while the longest tongue on the planet hangs out it too good to keep secret. 

The original:

The sketch:

I rest my case.

 

This is the saddest thing

There are always circumstances that force people to do what it takes to make ends meet, but this is just incredibly sad. A flower vendor is set up at a busy intersection and when I glanced over, there was something heart stopping. A very young toddler is in a stroller next to her. The day was unseasonably hot and even with the umbrella's shade, it wouldn't be comfortable. Not to mention breathing in all the toxic fumes of passing cars and the risk of some inattentive motorist crashing into them. I suspect the mother had no choice but to be there and to bring her baby, but it is gut wrenching that those were her only choices. The picture isn't very clear because it was taken through a closed window, but if you click on it, you can just make out the stroller and the child's cute top knot. Mom is behind the large bucket of flowers.

Ducks weren't enough? Now it's bunnies too!

It's getting serious now with the random acts of cuteness in the neighborhood. Throw bunnies in the mix and you can't help but say awwww.

Invasion of the ducks

Just when you think you've seen it all, something new, and in this case, enchanting, crops up. Someone in the neighborhood has decided that ducks should rule and has released them in multiple places. They are adorable and so small, you can go right by without noticing them. How, you ask. Well, because they are glass.

The duck fairy even put a minuscule duck on my mosaic bowling ball that is a garden ornament in the front yard. Sad to say, the bowling ball tile work is coming off, so it needs to be replaced, but in the meantime, this little speck of a duck has a home.