Succulents and More™

In addition to the projects and happenings that get their own posts (like this update on the new succulent beds in the backyard and the 8 projects I worked on in June ), there are a lot of other things going on that I want to share. That’s what my periodic “This and that” posts are for. This edition includes many little vignettes captured in June. Yucca rostrata in flower The biggest event in the bloom department was the Yucca rostrata in the sidewalk bed flowering for the first time. As you can see, it was anything but inconspicuous. The large head of creamy white flowers was quite a sight, especially contrasted against the chaste tree ( Vitex agnus-castus ), which happened to be in flower at the same time. Yucca rostrata flowering for the first time Stunning against the bluish purple flowers of the chaste tree The sidewalk was littered with fallen petals Chaste tree Speaking of chaste tree: The monster you see today started out as a 4" pot, which I planted so long ago I forgo...

Larger projects get their own time to shine on this blog, but most of the work done in the garden is in the form of smaller projects. And there’s never a shortage of those. Here are eight projects I worked on in June. Project #1: grounding my boojum tree ( Fouquieria columnaris ) After growing to a fairly good size, the ocotillo ( Fouquieria splendens ) in the front yard died for reasons unknown. I’m still puzzled because it had sailed through winters far wetter than the last one. The silvery canes were attractive even dead and I considered leaving them for their sculptural look. But with space at a premium, it just didn’t make sense. Ocotillo right of center The replacement for the ocotillo was growing ten feet away in a terracotta pot: a Boojum tree ( Fouquieria columnaris ), an ocotillo relative native to Baja California where it’s known as cirio. I’d been wanting to put it in the ground for a while but didn’t have a suitable spot. Until now. It will be much happier in its new home....

The news of Annie’s Annuals abruptly closing its doors on October 3, 2024 sent shockwaves through the gardening community here in Northern California and beyond. Even though its eponymous founder had sold the nursery the year before, Annie’s Annuals was still a beloved institution, with thousands of customers far and wide eagerly looking forward to receiving their catalog in the mail four times a year. Those who lived too far to shop in person at Annie’s retail location in Richmond were able to buy plants through the website. The thought of Annie’s simply not being there anymore was, well, unthinkable. The last catalog ever of the OG Annie’s Annuals The future looked bleak, but within a matter of weeks after the bad news had broken, one of Annie’s former managers announced that she and her mother had acquired the Richmond nursery, plants and all, and would resume operation under a new name, Curious Flora. The collective sigh of relief breathed by Annie’s fans and devotees could be hea...