091231 - Cactus

Here are three photographs of the cactus that finally kept the raccoons from trudging through this level of the terraced gardens to bathe in the fountain running along the staircase.

This cactus easily weighed thirty pounds last year when we bought it from a nursery. It has grown several young plants up its center, and I look forward to seeing how large it becomes in 2010.

091231 - Clarkia and Cala Lilies

There are two cement retaining walls separating the terraced gardens from the lower gardens against the house. When Phil and I moved into this house, there was a row of cala lilies along the lip of the upper most retaining wall.

You can see in this photograph cala lilies coming up to bloom, with clarkia and candytufts sprouting between them.

091231 - California Primrose

California primrose was introduced into our gardens by a mixed-seed pack promising several shorter plants with spectacular flowers.

They weren't kidding about the primrose, which blooms for several months at the end of summer through the fall.

Phil and I usually cut the plants down to the ground in winter, but this year I transplanted several into higher gardens. This one is in the highest bed and only days away from blooming.

091231 - Candytuft

Candytuft is a summer plant, but this photograph I took today shows one in bloom in "Big," which is the very big garden just to the bottom, right of the staircase.

These beautiful flowers are the size of quarters.

091231 - Canterbury Bell

This photograph was taken in the new garden just to the top, left of the staircase.

Here you can see a canterbury bell I started from seed in March, 2009. It is surrounded by love-in-the-mist and a mullien promised by the nursery where we bought it to grow to five feet and be covered in yellow flowers.

091231 - Columbines

Last spring and summer, the sweet peas and candytufts were spectacular in the fride (FRont sIDE) garden, but clearly stifled the other flowers there.

Only weeks after I pulled out of this garden the last of the sweet peas and candytufts, the columbines went into bloom. Over the last three years, I have repeatedly reseeded this garden with columbines, and the results are even better than you can see here against the pink background of the house.

091231 - Cosmos

Here is a photograph of the one cosmos still in bloom in the gardens. About two feet tall, it is in the front yard, which gets lots of sun most of the day, even in winter.

091231 - Hollyhocks

The photograph of the hollyhock in bloom was taken at the top, left of the staircase. It and four or five other plants continue to grow and bloom as we head into 2010.

The second photograph shows seedlings just now germinating in the side garden in the backyard. A month or so ago, I threw several dozen seeds down against the garden's back wall, hoping to create a living wall of hollyhocks there next summer.

091231 - Nicotiana

In the side garden in the backyard, nicotiana was one of the first flowers we seeded. They now come up every year, changing color from white to pink to dark red as each plant matures.

This plant is scrawny right now but, as spring approaches, will grow so bushy that it will try to take over the small lawn we installed between the side garden and the lemon tree garden.

091231 - Succulents and Carnations

This is one of two gardens I officially handed over to Phil, who wanted to grow things besides flowers.

This garden is to the left of the staircase and at the very far end of our gardens. It is amazing how well these succulents have done over the last year or so. Most were very small when we transplanted them from other gardens.

The pink carnation was one of the first plants we installed in the gardens. It is great to see it so healthy and already in bloom.