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Farewell to Spring
Elegant Clarkia in Late SpringSpring in the Town Mouse garden has been absolutely amazing - and I'll be sorry to see the garden move toward summer dormancy. But a summer dry climate means a less showy...
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Propagating Trillium ovatum from seed: the experiment begins
Western wake robin (Trillium ovatum) and friends abound along our Santa Cruz trails this year. They bloom from February to June. The flower begins white...And turns pale to deep pink or deep magenta...
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Three brave little plants! Beacons of hope!
I agonize, I cosset, I over-water, I under-fertilize--and worry--and then over-fertilize.And then there are the times I just forget--and usually the moment of remembrance is followed by one of...
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Town Mouse Goes A-Travelling: Stockholm
Hagaslott EnköpingThe next few posts will go a little further afield. Town Mouse and Mr. Mouse had the great pleasure of working and vacationing in Europe this summer, and I want to share some photos....
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A quick post about slow propagation
How are the seeds doing?"How are the seeds doing?" Hedge asked.That's what I've decided to call the person whose gardening efforts at Jikoki Zen Center I've been helping (one day a month) for the past...
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We've Got Seeds!
The Last ElderberriesAfter the great rains last winter, the garden went a little nuts. Or maybe a little seedy - And even now that the end of summer has arrived, there are still flowers, but also seeds...
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Fall Blues? California Fuchsia to the Rescue
Fall is a trying time for gardeners in California. Even those of my neighbors who have a more traditional, well-watered garden don't have the lush landscape they enjoy in spring. And for those of us...
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Kids and I Create a Six-Plant Container for a Tiny Paintbrush Seedling
My younger daughter's family are known here as The Squirrels. The young squirrels joined me to day, to create a container in whicha tiny paintbrush (Castilleja affinis) seedling might...
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Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden in Late Fall
California Fuchsia in ContainerVisiting the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden has long been one of my dreams. A few years ago, Mr. Mouse and I almost made it. We even had a room reserved - and then we...
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Country Mouse Garden in Late Fall. Part the First: Cutting Back
Madrone with berries. Did you know they're edible? Not so tasty though, according to me and my two grandkids!Here we are in late fall! thank Town Mouse for keeping our blog rolling along during my...
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Cutting Back: Part the Second. Being also a gesture towards a book review
And now for something a little bit different: the text outside of captions is verbatim what I just wrote in my journal before sitting to my computer. The partly buried book review is of Leslie Buck's...
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Most Popular Watering Hole For Miles!
Hanging Bird BathDecember has been extremely--actually, completely--dry in the Town Mouse garden and beyond. And while some of the neighbors put out birdseed to feed our feathered friends, nobody seems...
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What Happened With the Hedge? The Saga Continues
Native Plant Hedge in 2018In 2010, we had to take out the hedge between the neighbor's house and our house because the city had to get to the underground power lines. In a post, A New Hedge, I asked...
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California Reptiles and Amphibians - Part 1
Pacific Chorus Frog (Hyliola regilla)When I read about a workshop called "Amphibians and Reptiles of the San Francisco Bay Area" a little while ago, it just sounded so fascinating that I had to sign...
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California Reptiles and Amphibians Part 2
Sunday was the big field trip day! We packed sunscreen, poison oak soap, lunch, water, and a warm jacket and met our fellow students and instructors near the staging area. We were very lucky to have...
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Cultivating ephemeral beauty in the California native plant garden. Like...
Ephemerals blooming in my garden today. Aquilegia formosa, western columbine aboveand probably Heuchera maxima, island alum root below.(I've no idea how it got into my garden! but it is pretty - a...
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Garden Tour - Rain or Shine!
50% Native Trout Lily & FriendsThis year, I'm very happy to be part of the Going Native Garden Tour again! Both Ms. Country Mouse and I are planning a talk, and it's promising to be a very...
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Earth Day Blooms in our (Mostly) Native Gardens!
A mature clump of Iris fernaldii (Country Mouse Garden)A little late I know. But better late than not at all. I recently took photos at our respective gardens. I hope you'll enjoy these garden views...
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Garden Tour 3 Weeks After
Monkey FlowersThe garden tour is now 3 weeks in the past. The stunning ceanothus that was blooming then is done. Now's the peak time for monkey flower and different penstemon.Foothill penstemon (left)...
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(Mostly) Bulbs in the Late Spring Garden
Firecracker Flower (Dichelostema ida-maia)As spring turns into summer, the gardener especially appreciates those plants that just show up every year. No special treatment, no fertilizer, no extra...
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Tassajara Wildflowers - a Special Year!
Firecracker Penstemon `Scarlet Bugler`This year, Mr. Mouse had the good fortune of spending some extra time down in Tassajara. We started with several wonderful wildflower hikes, and spent 3 days at a...
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Happy Summer! And Here's What's Going On...
Jones' Mallow in Late June How fast time goes by! It feels like yesterday that the spring rains made for a lush garden and an exciting garden tour. By now, the garden has settled into its summer...
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Fire and Chaparral - Some Questions
This picture makes it look like our house is up to its decks in chaparral!I chose a dramatic image!Long-time subscribers may note that our blog has taken a break since around early summer. Sorry for...
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Fire and Chaparral - Some Answers
What's wrong with this picture!Muhlenbergia rigens, deer grass, is not the best choice of plantnext to a building in a fire prone area of California. (The fences adjoining the greenhouse are also...
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Fire and Chaparral - Some Actions
The chaparral below our house, after thinning in February (some of the lower bare area was bare before -- it never recovered from thinning we did some years ago)Readers of this blog will know that I've...
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