1107 - Carnation

Late last fall, Phil and I planted this hybrid carnation at the top, left of the terraces.

It bloomed in late June, its pink and purple swirls quite a surprise.

110708 - Arrangement

After several sunny days in a row, the summer flowers are putting on a show in the gardens.

Yesterday afternoon, I made this arrangement of orange coreopsis, pink and red cosmos, and purple and pink candy tuft, which I have found do best in bouquets on the dining room table or the mantel where their unpleasant, "rotting cheese" odor is less likely to overwhelm visitors.

1106 - Terraced Gardens

June, 2011 turned out to have strange weather: a few drizzly days at the start of the month followed by a week or so of record heat, which was in turn put out by a sudden drop in temperature and a full day and night of steady rain.

I took this photograph a few days before the record heat transformed the gardens. I especially like the foxgloves and bachelor's buttons in bloom.

Last year, we planted the pink-and-white penstemon near the top of the terraces, and it has grown more than ten times in size.

110516 - Vertical Garden

Last week at a class at Succulence on Bernal Heights, I made this vertical garden.

Phil suspended a slate shard under the skylight in one of the bathrooms and mounted the vertical garden to its front.

As the young succulents grow into their structure, they must be thoroughly watered once a week.

110419 - Columbine

This columbine bloomed in the middle of April and, almost a month later, continues to look amazing.

It is the only one of its kind in the gardens, its tightly wrapped flowers a hybrid of the dahlia-like flowers and the others with spurs.

110419 - Roses

I took these images of the roses in the gardens earlier this week.

Phil and I are constantly amazed they do so well, considering we never fuss over them.

The rose with the tiny bud was planted a year or so ago and steadily grows taller every few months. A nursery's catalog promises it will be well over eight feet tall.

110419 - Aeonium in Bloom

Earlier this week, after several cool, misty days in row, the sky cleared, and I took several photographs in the gardens.

This aeonium has gone into bloom for the first time since we planted it as a cutting three years ago. It is now about two feet tall by two feet wide, its flower stock nearly a foot long.

1103 - Poppy

In early March, between downpours that seemed to last for days, I photographed this poppy blooming at the top of the gardens.

It is a hardy perennial that has been in the gardens since we were first able to reach this area after terracing the hillside five or so years ago.

1102 - Camellia

The two camellias at the bottom, left of the gardens are going into bloom. I suspect our warm January and February have encouraged their early flowering.

1102 - Tac

In late February, I was photographing the gardens when Tac insisted I pet her, instead.

Here, she waits impatiently for me to put down the camera and give her attention on "the petting wall," a section of the retaining wall they have learned I come to whenever I want to pet them.

In the early mornings and evenings, I frequently stand here, hearing them crashing through the gardens before I spot them running up to be petted.

Today is Tac and Toe's birthday.