Raining, Raining, Raining!

We're getting some much needed rain and feeling much better about precipitation (and life in general) now that it seems I've fixed, if only temporarily, the roof leak(s). It's weird. Living here, you kind of forget what rain is like and how to deal with it. Had to laugh at last night's breaking local news story. They had someone "live on location" in a parking lot to report on the "puddling" occurring across Los Angeles. Puddling!

(I don't mean to be insensitive to our neighbors to the north and northeast, for whom this really is a serious weather situation. Mud slide related evacuations have forced hundreds from their homes.)



It warmed my heart to see that Violet found a way to cope with the frigid temperatures (in the sixties) and seemingly freakish moisture-from-the-sky. Love that little whiskered face!

Blooming Today — An Inventory

At mom's request. . .


Above, the big guys: Pink Abutilon, Sunflower (under the birdfeeder), and Camelia Yuletide (performing well since right before the holidays).



The daisy-like fellers: African Daisies (purple, next to pond and out front), Euryops (upper-right), and Gazania.



Some succulent action. I've forgotten the exact types: Aloe relative (upper right), String of pearls (lower left), Warty-leafed paddle-type guy (lower right).



Four kinds of Geranium.



Teeny cluster flowering guys (clockwise from upper left): Sea Lavender, Jade, Lantana, and Sweet Alyssum.



Edibles: Rosemary, Lime tree, Beets, and Cilantro.



Pink: Dianthus, Kalanchoe, Ice plant, and Sage.



Leaning to the right: Bird of Paradise, Mexican Sage, and Paddle Plant.



And leaning to the left: Bacopa Snowflake, Cape Honeysuckle, and — ugh, groan — Clover.

Camelia Yuletide

This'll be my first ever attempt at growing a Camelia, and I went with Yuletide for the red blooms with big yellow centers during December and January. It needs to be protected from dry winds, so our Santa Anas are a concern. I'm going to try blanketing the plant for protection as needed. We'll see. . .

What's Cookin'

It's awesome to be able to plant stuff in late fall when everything's going dead or dormant in many zones. The newest culinary additions to my garden are cilantro and beets (a mix including golden ones). Pictured are the little baby sproutlings of each — beets first, then cilantro.

Pink — Gotta Be Pink — Mums

When mom and dad were here, I think I drove them both a little nuts shopping for pink mums for this terra-cotta colored pot. They had to be this color pink, and nobody seemed to have a healthy plant this color, so we kept on looking. Eventual success was tendered by Do It Center in Tujunga. I've been quite pleased, especially during breakfasts on the patio, and I insist that it was worth the effort to find flowers of the correct color. Here's the plant one and two weeks later.

Kalanchoe

Constant blooms, extremely low maintenance.

I Heard a Fly Buzz. . .