Happy Arbor Day 2016

From the smallest to the largest...happy arbor day 2016...

Bonsai

Great California Redwoods

Bark of the Great Redwood

"I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree..."

 ...A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the sweet earth's flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day. And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree who may in summer wear a nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately loves with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree." ~ Joyce Kilmer

Oh Kids...You're Gonna Love These Orchids

Shopping is taken to a whole new level when management is kind enough to line the mall with flower arrangements such as these.

Caution: Iceberg Blooming

The blooms continue to explode on plants in zone 23 this spring.  Amazing number of blooms on this iceberg rose bush.

Purple, Gray, Green--Waterwise and Wonderful

Another lovely border in the neighborhood sports the silvery gray foliage of the dusty miller plant (drought tolerant), sea lavender (limonium perezii) which only needs water occasionally once established.  This marries well with the iceberg roses and the boxwood

Changing Landscapes in Zone 23

The plantings in the neighborhood are changing as we all do our part in conserving water.  These jumbo succulents are magnificent to see.  They are set in front of a backdrop of iceberg roses (which when established are waterwise) and California Pepper Trees!

All Flowers Have Benefitted from This Wet Winter

Everywhere I go this spring, the flowers are bursting forth in a way we haven't seen for the past few years.  I saw this specimen when I was on my way to the bank today.  Inspired.

Slowing, Spreading, Sinking Rain Water

I noticed two neat little rain gardens surrounding a newer outbuilding in a shopping center near my home.  I am impressed the building owners were so thoughtful about being good stewards of our scarcer rainwater in SoCal.

You can see the area planted with the tufts of grass plant material is sunken.  There is a drain set about 4-6 inches above the ground in the event of a downpour.  This elevated drain would carry off water before it gets too deep but allows smaller amounts of water to be captured and sink into the ground.

Awesome!

We are seeing more and more landscape features meant to slow, spread and sink rainwater rather than rushing is to the gutters and off to the ocean.