Beachcombing

I spent the Fourth of July with my family at Big Lagoon and Trinidad. There are lots of cool things on the beach for the garden: rocks, driftwood, bleachglass, and what have you. (When I was a kid my mom paid me five bucks to haul a "stepping-stone" down the sand spit of Big Lagoon.) But on the 4th I made a real find.

A Dudleya farinosa (!) about the size of my hand, washed up or delivered by dog. (The rosette's a few inches across.) Surely this is guilt-free wild plant collection. For you non-Californians, Dudleyas are echevaria-like succulents that grow on our coast (and inland, and in Mexico). Wikipedia has a nice photo of a healthy specimen. The plant I found, while lacking roots, is still firm and should be as easy to propagate as a sedum.

One may recall that big silver Dudleyas were on my fountain planting wishlist, but on second thought, I think it would get too much water there.

And in related news, the Triteleia bulbs have surprised me by putting out rapid growth: flower buds and one bloom. It's a little late for the 4th of July, but the color combination turned out to be red, silver (or white, if you will), and blue, instead of red, purple and silver. Some changes may be necessary for next year. Still, I can't complain.

Fountain Update

Everything's growing well in the fountain and the Lotus 'Amazon Sunset' has begun blooming.

In the back, the Triteleia 'Queen Fabiola' bulbs have sent up their long slender leaves. And the Epilobium is still behaving itself.

Algae grows below, but not at lethal levels.

There were tons of frog egg masses...

...but now they're mostly tadpoles. There also are a few dragonfly nymphs, so they had better watch their backs.

The banana slugs have returned for the growing season. I've noticed significant damage on some of the lily seedlings, especially the Lilium rubescens for some reason. I've moved most of the liy pots onto overturned pots in the fountain. Since I live in Eureka, I can't check on them as much as I'd like.

It's not pretty, but what could be better than a moat?

Container Planted

You know, this may be the first container planting I've designed (well except for some mostly-failed attempts at bonsai landscapes), and I like it. It's green and silvery and hosts an unusual mix of plants: cultivars, natives, herbs. (Sorry, it's difficult to see, it's getting late.)

The Astelia 'Silver Spear' is in the middle while silver veriegated lemon thyme and Lotus 'Amazon Sunset' covers the front. I remembered the miscellaneous succulents that needed a new home, so I stuck them in ( they compliment the "terra cotta" nicely). There's a little green culinary sage stuck in the side too.

Here's a view of the back from the living room. It's a bit sparser, because I needed room for the dozen (?) Triteleia 'Queen Fabiola' bulbs and room for the Epilobium canum to spread.

We'll see how it goes this season.