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A Tale of Two Hummers
Allen's (or Rufous) Hummingbird - photo by my dadI sat out in the garden the other morning with my coffee, just at sunrise, and observed two small kingdoms, separated by a young oak tree. The...
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Two Hummers - What's in a Name
I stumbled upon the source of the names of Anna's and Allen's hummingbirds, and the people who honored those namees, in an old edition of the Condor magazine - Vol XXX Number 6 (PDF):Charles Andrew...
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Tassajara in the Summer
I visit beautiful Tassajara Hot Springs most years and had very much gotten used to see the stunning wildflowers of the Los Padres National Forest. This year, though, we had booked for the July 4th...
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Local Herps Around the Garden, with a Furry Tail...
I happen to have encountered a number of critters lately - so here is a post that is mainly photos of them. Only one was road kill, not too damaged!Fence lizard drama! Sceloporus occidentalis. He's...
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California Summer Color
California applies its muted earth tones make-up in summer. Greys and browns, wheat and taupe, and the odd greyish green in between. But wait, there's more! Above, beautiful Ribes aureum that I saw in...
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Tree and Brush Work Time
Into every woodland and chaparral property, some tree and brush work must fall. And late July is a good time - the plants are dry, so cutting won't open them up to infection, and the birds have...
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Now what? A blank slate in the north valley garden area
Blank? well not really.Looking east from the propane tank at the top of the valley. You can see two Garrya elliptica shrubs languishing there in wire baskets, about six years old. Think I'll prune them...
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A lot of cutting propagation tips from a pro
Let it just be said that the chief propagator of a well respected nursery that supports our CNPS propagation group recently gave up his Sunday morning to train the group in the art of taking cuttings....
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August High Sierra Trip
Mr. Mouse and I were fortunate to win the High Sierra Camp lottery this year. The camps, which are open only for 3 months or so each year make it possible to hike the high sierras with a small pack...
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Local Wildflowers for the August Garden: Madia Elegans
Yellow bloom of Madia elegans, elegant or common madiaSome regular readers may know I have been experimenting for about three years with a few of our local native wildflowers, assessing their...
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Who's been naughty? Who's been nice?
Fall is in the air. Yes, we're enjoying the usual Labor Day mini heat wave, but the days are getting shorter. Time to take stock of what's been going on in the garden this year.Who's been naughty?...
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Local Wildflowers Blooming in an August Garden: Naked Buckwheat
This is part two of a short series reporting on the gardenworthiness of some local natives I'm growing from wild, graduates of my propagation program. First was Madia - now let's see how naked...
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Natives and Friends
Come fall, even the most amazing California natives garden starts to become a bit of a sorry sight. Mind you, all my neighbors' gardens here in the suburbs don't look much better. Tired knock-out...
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Is this a California Native garden?
The Santa Clara Valley Going Native Garden Tour is again accepting applications for next year's tour, which will be in April 2014. You can submit your garden on the tour website. In October - December,...
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Point Reyes Birthday Weekend - On the Edge Writers' Retreat
The geology of Point Reyes is amazing, revealed in the cliffs by coastal erosion and earthquakes. As it says in the linked site:Why should the rocks of this craggy coast match those of the Tehachapi...
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Fall Planting #1: Planning
Fall is the best time for changes in the California Native garden. Yes, in spring we see the fresh green and the new blossoms, and it's awfully tempting to run out, buy, and plant. But the long dry...
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Attracting Wildlife -- Too Much
This morning, when Mr. Mouse stepped outside to get the paper, he was greeted by an sight of mayhem and destruction. The vandals had already left the site of the crime, but we knew it was one of the...
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Building stone stairs in the North Valley
I was sorry to see that Ms Town Mouse had a wildlife mishap that broke her fountain! I, by way of contrast, have been having too much fun with stone - though my back is telling me another story.We have...
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Fall Planting #2: Buying
With plans in place from your Fall Planting#1: Planning, you're probably raring to go to get those plans that are already blooming abundantly, attracting butterflies, lifting your spirits on a dark...
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My Fall Plant Sale Purchases
Last Saturday I worked the plant sale as I usually do - I like being on the crew whose job is unloading the truck, sorting the plants out, and putting in the signs on sticks. I also like to take yummy...
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