Then and Now

Emboldened by chuck b over at my back 40 (feet) (http://back40feet.blogspot.com) and his wonderful post on his garden's transformation over the past several years, I've decided to share some before and after pictures of my backyard.



March 25, 2007. Two ancient, aphid infested orange trees were just removed from the center of yard, and finding myself baffled by the amoeba-like shape of the faux stone patio, I somehow had the idea that more meaningless curves would be a GREAT IDEA. The bare, concrete block walls are vaguely reminiscent of a prison yard. Note too, the spindly, struggling Eugenia hedge at the top of the photo.

June 15th, 2007: The flower bed is filling in a bit - but the walls are still incredibly barren. Note the pitiful, dark red dahlia tied firmly to the stake against the wall. It's almost like a firing squad!

June 23, 2008: The curve of the flower bed has been corrected, but if I had an extra 10k in my bank account that patio would be removed permanently. Note the cat, (far right) who after an exhausting day of doing absolutely nothing inside the house, has staggered outside to flop down in the sun.



April 2009: the walls are slowly being covered with Boston Ivy and a varigated Lonicera. The roses are beginning to bloom, and digitalis catch the late afternoon sunlight.

May Bloom Day (Early)

I work with numbers. All day. Financial statements, cash flow analysis, complex, multi-page spreadsheets. There is something intensely soothing, satisfying, about numbers and how they all tie so beautifully together.

But at the end of the day, there is joy too, in the tumbled, messy glory of the garden at this time of year.



Breadseed poppy. Grown in partial shade, the color is softer, the flower more delicate than usual.

An unknown Austin rose. Planted several years ago, it is just now hitting it's stride, it's long arching canes covered with buds.

Digitalis 'foxy'.

Pat Austin - one of my favorites!

Tea Fire Update

Brilliantly sunny and breezy, it's the perfect afternoon to see how things are progressing in my mother's garden - and besides, she's got two new ladies I want to meet!

This charming little sign was spared in the fire. Weathered to a silvery grey, it welcomes you with a picture of a dancing goat.

On the hillside above, blacked trees stand, a startling contrast to the brilliant sky and verdant grasses.

But all is not lost! Remarkably, six months after the fire, this ancient Sycamore is just now showing signs of regeneration.

Poppies and Linaria carpet the slopes below the rebuilt corral, where Gardenia and Annalia watch me approach.



Despite a new turquoise collar, Gardenia is camera shy, turning her head at the last moment. "I'm just not ready for my close-up..........."



At last, after patiently scratching her ears, I manage to catch her in profile. A little aloof, she's still settling in.

In the garden, Delphinium and a rose colored Poppy.

A Visit to Tim's Nursery

No visit to Abigail would be complete without a trip to Tim's Nursery.

Nestled in the rolling hills outside Martinez, it's a very long drive down a winding country lane, past several very muddy horse pastures, a house with an amazing array of faded plastic flowers in front, and finally - this sign:

The nursery is flanked on one side by a truly amazing border, packed full of flowering trees, overgrown shrubs and tangled perennials.



The nursery itself is a complete jumble - and everything looks like it's been there forever: all the plants are rooted firmly into the mud.

With cries of delight we search through the tumble down shade house at the back of the nursery - hostas and astilbe and ferns are strewn around, pots splitting open, self seeding annuals everywhere. I unearth a perfectly gorgeous weigela in a 5 gallon can - for $12.00.


On this visit, I finally meet the mysterious Tim. When he hears that I've driven up from Santa Barbara he is silent, smoke from his cigarette curling up around his face. He finally says: (with absolutely no inflection) "That's a long way to come."


The very sweet Mario helps us load everything carefully into the car: trunk, backseat, floors - he tucks them in as tenderly as one would a sleeping baby.

A Vist to Annie's Annuals

A horrifying 'sign of the times'? Well, this is definitely not hanging on Annie's front gate.


THIS is the sign that greets you when you arrive at Annie's - and you know right away, it's going to be a great experience.

And this: Right about now my heart starts beating a little faster.

Colorful demonstration beds, absolutely packed with annuals, perennials and California natives - all beautifully arranged and extremely healthy.

Instantly recognizable, Annie herself was there, working along side her staff. But just in case there was any confusion, this staff member makes a disclaimer:



The sales office: This year I brought along a carefully chosen list and a budget - but as always, the sight of all those lovely rarities overcame my resolutions and.....well.......it was SO totally worth it!




You can find them here: www.anniesannuals.com

A Visit with Abigail

Abigail is on hiatus from the blog - we're hoping it won't be long before she's back posting again.

Meanwhile, a tour of her garden:

The gardens surround the house - cool and very green even in the mid-morning heat. Immense tree ferns shade the front porch, fuchsias and a pale blue polemonium (that I instantly covet) share space with the last of the season's primroses.

In the backyard, the garden looks far older than it's 22 years. Mature, flowering shrubs mingle with an absolutely enormous 'Cecile Brunner' rose. The rose has clambered far up into the oak tree and forms a solid backdrop of pale pink, scented roses.

Early morning sunlight illuminates the emerging perennials in the circular bed, and a small, pink flowering dogwood punctuates the curve of the border.





Groupings of weathered, terra cotta pots enhance the feel of age. Since her soil is a heavy clay, plants requiring sharper drainage (like these succulents) are happiest in containers.

Tools of the Trade: sprinkler and weeder lie neatly side by side.

As always, her garden is a source of both inspiration and envy. (I truly almost plant-napped that polemonium)

Tomorrow - a post about our visit to Annie's Annuals in Richmond!

Wildflowers at Chimineas Ranch

Chimineas Ranch is a remote and beautiful area - just west of the Carrizo Plains National Monument.

The fawn colored hills are sere and seemingly barren - even in early April. But there are an amazing number of wildflowers spangling the bleached grasses, hugging the lean dry soil, clinging precariously to the steep, sandy banks.

I am fortunate to be in a group that is led by an extremely knowledgeable botanist. Quiet, unassuming, he leads us straight to the areas of greatest interest. At each stop people tumble out of the vehicles, notebooks and reference guides in hand. Plants are scrutinized, animated discussions ensue. More than once loupes are employed to examine pistils, stamens, the tiniest of pollen bearing anthers. At first self conscious (I have no loupe! No field guide!) I soon enter into the spirit of the day and in short order am flinging myself into the grass, camera clicking madly.


Fiddlenecks - Amsinckia menziesii


San Joaquin blazing star - Mentzelia pectinata.


Long beaked filaree - Erodium botrys

Blue Dicks - Dichelostema capitatum

Indian paintbrush - A Castilleja of some sort. (But I have no idea which, since I have no loupe! Or field guide!)

And finally, lupin in a dark and smokey color that absolutely sings against the taupe and grey of the native grasses.