California Coastal Gardening

My plan since last summer is to redo the two large trellis boxes out in the front yard. My husband thinks we can do this fairly easily, I'm not as convinced since there are two pink jasmine vines and two passionflower vines in the boxes. For whatever reason none of them are growing well so my plan consists of pulling out the current non-producing vines, hopefully saving them to plant elsewhere, and planting some new vines in their place. You'd think as crazy huge as the passionflower vines on...Read Full Story

Winter is in full swing on the north coast and the cold weather finally managed to wilt back the kiwi leaves on their vines in December. It was a little strange watching the kiwi leaves and drooping cherry leaves stay on for most of the month of December. We have had less rain than usual here, November is the latest the rains hit and there were only a few sessions of rain in November and December. Typically here on the coast we start getting non-stop rain by the beginning of November if not...Read Full Story

When it was starting to warm up here in the summer months, we did have some rain (and not just a shower) back.in July. In July it stayed at 60 to mid 60's mostly so far but there is more sun out there in summer than the rest of the year. That weekend we were in the garden mowing, watering, weeding, and trimming up the roses. Later that afternoon we looked out the window and it was raining! It's never rained here in July before, so we were surprised. It still looked like it could rain in the...Read Full Story

The hebe shrub I transplanted from its spot next to the rhododendron last year has established itself well next to the climbing roses and is growing bigger. I'm really pleased with how readily the hebe took to being transplanted and the growth it has shown itself to be a hardy plant. The shrub has grown much bigger since being transplanted, growing faster in this full sun position. The hebe has not only grown bigger but is starting to produce a few purple blooms on the tips of the branches. I...Read Full Story

My garden colors tend to go in the pink, purple, yellow and blue ranges when it comes to flower colors. I really prefer the cooler color palette for my garden and always have. I tend to mix in whites and evergreens with the other colors but I do have some dark yellows and oranges in my heathers that line the front walkway and the orange poppies that grow wild in our yards.This year the deep fuchsia colored rhododendron is finally flowering with many dark pink buds over the shrub. I'm pleased...Read Full Story