Garden Buddy

This guy is so calm, he let me work on planting a few second round bean seeds just a few feet away from him!  He's sunning.  Like his extra long back toes!  Yikes

Red Pear Tomato

Happy to see tomatoes starting to appear on my various tomato plants.  

Featured today is a pear tomato which will eventually produce red tomatoes small in size like the cherry tomato. This particular plant is indeterminate which means its vine will continue to grow and produce more and more tomatoes throughout the season. 

Bee Meets Artichoke

As I was doing garden inspection today, I saw a bee stumbling through the bloom of my artichoke plant.  He was so covered in pollen, he could barely move.  I eventually stopped filming and gave the bloom a shake to hurry this little guy on his way.  Every few seconds, he was moving less and less.  I think he was on a pollen "high."

Flowers Go Wild When You Go Waterwise

When you go waterwise or California Friendly in your garden, you get a benefit beyond saving water.  I was at the nursery yesterday and found these two beautiful plantings.  This photo was taken at Roger's Gardens and they have planted most of their grounds in waterwise plants.  I'm feeling inspired.

Bluebird Volunteer

This winter's rain did an amazing job finding seeds from plants in the garden and washing them to a new location to "volunteer" to grow.  This plant is a volunteer from a bed which is about eight feet away.  As a matter of fact, I have so many of these delightful surprise plants, I am nourishing them with plans to transplant when they are bigger.  This little plant is growing among my irises right now. 

Wall of Succulents

Who wouldn't love this wall of succulents greeting you in your entry way?

Stunning Succulent in Terra Cotta Container

Replace your flowering plants with succulents this summer.  This stunning container is composed of Aeonium (dark purple black rosette), Elephant Bush/Elephant Food Plant (tall, small leaf folliage on reddish stems), senecio/"fish hook" (trailing), Echeveria Lipstick (rosettes w/green leaves with reddish pink edges).  One plant unidentified.

 

Portulacaria

Read more at Gardening Know How: Growing Elephant Bush Indoors: How To Care For Elephant Bush Houseplants http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/portulacaria/growing-elephant-bush.htm

Portulacaria

Read more at Gardening Know How: Growing Elephant Bush Indoors: How To Care For Elephant Bush Houseplants http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/portulacaria/growing-elephant-bush.htm

Portulacaria

Read more at Gardening Know How: Growing Elephant Bush Indoors: How To Care For Elephant Bush Houseplants http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/portulacaria/growing-elephant-bush.htm

Cosmos

I've planted cosmos before in the garden.  But then I forgot about it.  I saw some starters at the garden center and decided to add them to the garden again. I planted them at the end of the garden at the base of sunflowers. 

Berry Berry Good

After the first large strawberry was nabbed in the middle of the night, I've put the plants under cage.  Now these few first berries can vine ripen safely.  Based on what I saw today, tomorrow might be a very berry day.

The Artichoke You Didn't Eat

I love when the artichoke finally blooms.  It's flower looks as good as it tastes!

On the Rocks!

It's not unusual to find stacked rocks at the beach, on public paths or in the garden.  I'm a fan!

Gardenias: The Scent is Divine

The spring brings the gardenia back to the nook around my front door.  Currently, around ten blooms...but you can see the buds aching to pop open.

Whenever I smell the scent of the gardenia, I am reminded of a good friend in high school who wore a perfume called Jungle Gardenia.  

Roses That Are In the Pink

I saw these roses growing in the neighborhood.  I love how the bud is so dark but the petals are pink when they open.

Roaring in Orange--Attacting Birds, Bees and Butterflies

What a spectacular specimen of Lion's Tail.  This is a winner for a garden with low water usage (but can tolerate regular irrigation).  It also is known to attract butterflies, birds and bees. 

Bowl of Artichokes

I've had an artichoke plant near my vegetable garden for several years now.  All winter it grows. As the weather warms, it starts producing artichokes.  I picked a few of the smaller ones and thought they would create a nice display. 

Clouds

Spring Green Is Popping Out All Over