After The Rain, Before The Freeze.

I went prowling in the garden today, to see what last night's heavy rain and cold temperatures had wrought. We haven't had a good rain in several weeks, so it was nice to see everything washed off, even nicer when the sun broke through the clouds and lit up this Euphorbia...

Every time I look at this Yucca variegata I know I need to move it. Pretty as it is, those sharp points next to the path leading to the front door are not friendly, and probably not good feng shui either. I wish I could transplant with my eyes...

Our native Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) has the Best. Red. Berries. Ever. In simpler times, when I lived in the woods near the ocean, I would use them for wreaths; they ripen perfectly between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and last a long time when cut.

Aren't Aeoniums the biggest divas? Can't you just imagine her as an opera singer in full aria? She's one of the plants I need to protect tonight; with snow on the hills this morning and a valley freeze predicted, she's one of the vulnerable ones. The diva shall soon be going undercover.

My burgeoning Meyer lemon will be fine; it's snuggled against the south-facing wall of my house. There might be some leaf burn, but the fruit should be good on the tree all winter. It's one of my favorite holiday decorations, sitting there all perky by the front door!

A single volunteer Sweet Pea, sprouted from the spot where last years vines lay after cutting; how nice to see a fresh new face!

The last of the red-hot Romas. I actually didn't use many of them this year; they were planted with the idea of cooking, and cooking didn't happen. Bet these green ones would make a great green tomato relish. Which brings up that no-cooking thing again...oh well!

The leaves of a Southern Highbush Blueberry, I think this one is Misty. If it doesn't get too cold they'll stay on the bush all winter; so pretty with the color of the house.

Must remember to bring this exposed succulent under cover tonight (yeah, yeah, and the table mat too). I have a tendency to leave the cake out in the rain, sometimes.

A Nip of Frost

We had our first frosty morning last week; not a killer, but enough to whiten rooftops and leave its unmistakable mark on the landscape. The Boston Ivy on the back fence seemed to transform to scarlet overnight.

The variegated English Ivy took on some pinkish tones...

The Pomegranate leaves began to turn gold...

Some of the Nandina leaves started to curl and condense their colors...

The Dodonea is about as purple as it's going to get...

And the tropical Manihots have left the building.

I am not a winter person, and this time of year tends to fill me with cold foreboding. Even a charming string of hearts isn't a consolation when I think of the bony stem that will soon be all that remains. As winters go, ours are nothing to complain about, but that does not make my primeval reaction to the shorter days any less real.

So I'm thankful for things like the sweet faces of late roses that remind me of high summer.

And for the Chinese Pistache in front of my house. As I write, the mid-afternoon sun is making it glow with every vibrant shade of red, russet, orange and gold that I can imagine. And I feel warm again.

'The End Of The Line' For Gardening Gone Wild

Ah, but which one?

California Fallishness

We had a gorgeous California fall weekend; warm and sunny, blue skies. Great gardening weather, but while I managed some drive-by weeding and tidied a bit, I was a lazy gardener (again!) I get so distracted by the colors, the shapes, and the light, the way plants change, like the Dodonea donning its glossy, maroon winter costume.

~Click any photo to enlarge~

Or how this stone plaque is now so nicely framed by the Boston Ivy; it used to just hang on a bare fence.

I notice how the plants in the courtyard are now flowing into each other, and how the Honeysuckle is on its way to being a venerable old vine, twisting around the post.

I'm still putting my new camera through its paces, and have learned a few things; I love how I can capture so much of the garden in one simple frame.

Nandina 'Firepower' is lovely in the afternoon light. The Isotoma groundcover is perking up after the recent rains.

Fuchsia thymifolia is a lovely little shrub, I've had this in a pot for several years. Yes, those flowers are extremely tiny!

I'm not a big fan of boxwood, except for this variegated variety. I love how it glows, in its tidy way, where I dot it through the garden.

Begonia richmondiensis is SUCH a sucker for a close-up; please click on this one to see the larger version, but only if you love a shot of iridescent pink on a Monday!

The only thing cooler than Manihot leaves are Manihot leaves on a bamboo-dappled October afternoon.

Moonlight Yellow Nasturtiums are one of those plants that you will always find in my garden. I give it some suggestions, but it really decides where it wants to be...

Like in the middle of the carpet roses!

Fig leaves! That's it, just Fig leaves!

Another Nandina shot; I love the subtle, curling contours of the leaves as well as the color.

The cats attended my photo shoot, so with no (sensible) hummingbirds around, they will have to do! Zen enjoys lurking in the grasses; she thinks she can't be seen.

And Haku enjoys snoozing in the grasses; he doesn't care much whether he's seen or not!