Flowers Shrubs & Trees Archives – Page 7 of 28

Plant Propagation Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Backyard Delights

By JM PerezMay 9, 20202 min read805 views

I am happy today, especially as one of my succulent plants flowered for the first time.
Sedeveria ‘Hummelii’ (a cross between Sedum and Echeveria), is a tender succulent with reddish leaves during cold months and blue-green with red tips during warmer months. The plant bears small yellow star-shaped flowers. It can be propagated by separating offsets, by leaf cuttings and by seeds.

Most succulents will not survive the frost, but this one survived three cold winters (snow and frost). The first year was just a test, as I grew a succulent leaf next to an Autumn Sage and it survived the hash winter. Last Spring I move the young plant in a container and left it there. It survived two snow storms, frost and has now bloomed for the first time.

*Sedeveria “Hummelii” (Hybrid: Sedum x Echeveria).*

My Lavenders are thriving and spreading. These self-seeding plants have been popping up everywhere in my gardens. I left some seedlings untouched and transplanted others in different locations.

Green Feathery Cassia is yet another low maintenance plant I have come to love.
It is an evergreen drought-tolerant shrub with narrow gray-green foliage. From late Winter through early Summer, tiny showy yellow flowers appear at its branch tips followed by abundant seed pods. It attracts butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

My Wisteria just bloomed for the first time, how exciting. The rewarding work of shaping and training the plant to climb on the pergola has begun.

With the exception of the Japanese Boxwood, every other shrub in my yard is heavily covered with flowers. The flowers on the Common Broom shrubs are so heavy that the lower branches drag on the ground. Caring for this plant can be overwhelming as they are a host to the Genista Caterpillars, the larvae of the Genista Broom Moth, Lepidoptera Pyralidae. Also, the plant is self-sowing. I got rid of over one hundred seedlings with more emerging here and there.

The Red Tip Photinia are clothed in delicate clusters of white and cream flowers. We lost one plant a week ago and we will be replacing it this weekend.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated as the weather becomes hotter.

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By JM Perez

Plant Propagation Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Backyard Blossoms

By JM PerezMay 1, 20202 min read675 views

It’s a beautiful day here in the High Desert. The weather has turned around for the better; and with warmer days ahead, I look forward to stepping out and smelling the roses. Now that the soil has finally warmed up, my gardens are looking really good with colors and blooms. The Dwarf Cup Flowers are thriving and spreading rapidly, most are blanketed with delicate violet blue flowers. I realized years ago that this plant does better in-ground than in containers. They are self-sowing too.

The Rose trees are all blossoming now. I can’t remember the name of the hybrid tea rose below, but I absolutely adore my Blue Moon Rose. I hard pruned it last Fall and it has tripled in size.
I will enjoy a vase of cut roses.

The stash of Walnuts seeds and Peach Pits a squirrel hid around my backyard are emerging from the ground. I got rid of most and saved a couple. One of my next door neighbors has two mature Walnut trees and many Dwarf Peach Trees; he has been sharing his peaches with us and they are so sweet; I figure these seeds might be from his trees, dispersed by squirrels. I hope I can successfully grow the peaches, at least.

The Purple Leaf Cherry Plum trees have some fruits. Depending on the taste, we may eat some when fully ripe and let the birds have the rest.

Happy first day of May and good start to your weekend as you find your happy place in the garden.

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By JM Perez

Ground Squirrel Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Scents of Spring

By JM PerezApril 18, 20203 min read651 views

The Lilacs are blooming and they are exploding with gorgeous clusters of fragrant lavender blossoms.
I got a couple more young plants from my neighbor today. In total I have 10 Lilacs planted in the garden, all of which are Lavender Lady Lilac, as far as I can see from those flowering. I hope to be blessed with a few different varieties from the younger plants.

I love my Periwinkle Creeping Myrtle! They are more creepers than climbers, and I hope I can successfully train them to climb. I am planting a few more on each side of the pergola.

As much as I love my property, I dislike the fact that it attracts squirrels, which I have come to despise. They dig, they chew and they damage everything. Once in a while, like every two years to be precise, a daring squirrel comes along and wreaks havoc in my garden. I don’t mind these little rodents choosing an opened area in the backyard; however, when they decide to burrow right under my drive way, garage, gas line (or anywhere near my home), it becomes an issues. We have spent so much time and money over the years in repellents, patching holes and we might end up redoing our backyard driveway.

There are so many squirrels and rabbits in the neighborhood. Some neighbors thought they were so cute and started feeding them, now they are everywhere. These rodents are fast learners, believe me. They have found ways to go around chicken wires and sometimes will chew through it. Now they stopped eating plants roots. They figured that eating the root would kill the plant, so they dig next to the plants and eat everything, then return when there’s new growth. I was surprised to see walnut seedlings emerging in different locations all over my backyard. Come to find out, this squirrel stashed them all over the place.

I have tried different methods to keep them away from my property and none worked. I pruned branches, protected my containers and garden beds with wire mesh, dug a few inches into the ground to prevent them from gaining access and they just chew through the wood. I have secured the roots of plants using wire mesh, applied a thick layer of mulch, sprinkled coffee ground, cayenne pepper/hot chili pepper.
The Live Animal Trap was useless; they would go in, eat the nuts and exit without triggering it. We set a squirrel trap just to find out that the squirrel dug an exit hole at a different location. This time we used a Macabee Gopher Trap and my husband found an agonizing squirrel the next morning and took care of it. As you can see in the picture above, the squirrel’s left hand got caught in the trap.

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has many articles about managing Pests in gardens and landscapes. You can find the article on ground squirrels here.

I’ve had the Rio Samba Hybrid Tea Tree Rose for over eight years. It was in such a bad state a couple of years ago that I was ready to replace it; and then last Spring it bounced back, stronger and healthier with green leaves and abundant blossoms.

A few days ago, I built a simple fire pit in our backyard. It was always a matter of location for us, and I found just the right spot for it. Most of the retaining wall blocks were a gifts from a neighbor and the rest were purchased from our local Lowe’s store. We stacked them three tiers high, using the existing gravel as the fire pit’s floor. We love the outdoors and I know we will have fun nights, sitting around a fire.

Wishing you all a joyful weekend.

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By JM Perez

Garden Decor Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Keeping Busy In The Garden

By JM PerezApril 6, 20202 min read666 views

It’s been a while since my last post. I hope everyone is healthy, safe and I am praying for those who are facing hard times. To reduce exposure to Covid-19, all schools were closed starting March 16th and Distance Learning began today, April 6th. Finding balance between work, keeping the kids entertained at home and remaining sane has been challenging. My kids are adjusting well and have found ways to stay active. They wake up at 7:00 am and are asleep by 7:45 pm.

We had a very cloudy and wet week here in the High Desert. I love rain, but I am not a fan of too much rain, however, I know we need these Spring rains to ready the garden for our hot Summer days. Now it’s a good time to plant. For the past couple of weeks, I have been enjoying my Tulips and Grape Hyacinth.

I love the display of color changes and patterns of these Tulips.

Grape Hyacinth are popping up here and there.

I received a few Spruce Cone Cactuses as gifts recently. I love the uniqueness of this cactus and I am looking forward to watching them grow, while learning a thing or two.

The Yellow White Lady Banks flowers have began bursting with life and colors. I planted one on both sides of the second arch by the gate leading to our backyard. I also planted one on both sides on a separate arch in the backyard. Some of these roses are just a few months old and others less than two years.

If I have to stay home, I figure, I should garden. Last week I planted Red Autumn Sage, Silvery Cassia, Euphorbia Rigida (Gopher plants), Periwinkle Creeping Myrtle, Dwarf Cup Flower and Amethyst Falls American Wisteria.

Fortunately for us, we have been blessed yet again, with a weed-free yard. Now we can focus on other outdoor projects.

What can you do at home?

Plant (divide, transplant … etc)
Feed your plants and apply mulch
Clean your gardening tools
Prune your shrubs/cut back dead plants
Clean outdoor furniture
Clean bird feeders
Clear out weeds

Happy gardening and be safe out there.

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By JM Perez

Reptiles Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Happy New Month

By JM PerezMarch 1, 20202 min read848 views

It’s a new month and the weather has been at its best since the beginning of the year. It rained a little today, more like sprinkles to be precise.

What has everyone been up to? Well, I have enjoyed the company of my Mother who I don’t see often and her delicious cooking. I have been weeding, lending a helping hand to my neighbors and just recently, began tending to the gardens. I have significantly reduced the amount of Gaura Lindheimeri in the front garden and replaced them with Salvia Greggii Red. I planted some African Iris (Dietes Vegeta) and I am currently looking for a few companion plants.

The majority of the bulbs are emerging from the ground, a few trees are starting to leaf out. What’s blooming in the garden? So far only two plants; the Purple Leaf Cherry Plum trees and the Gopher plants (Euphorbia Rigida).

Euphorbia Rigida, which were a gift from a neighbor, are currently blooming. The first time I saw the plant, I thought it was either an overgrown weed or a rare cactus species. Also known as Upright Myrtle Spurge, Silver Spurge and Gopher Plant, these hardy yellow flowering plants are drought tolerant and self-seeding (remove spent flowers to prevent self-seeding). The plants attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds; and susceptible to aphids, nematodes, spider mites, bacterial and fungal diseases. It is however, deer and rabbit resistant.

Euphorbia Rigida are a wonderful addition to desert landscaping. The attractive succulent-like plant features erect stems with narrow leaves and evergreen foliage that are flushed with red in Spring and blue-green in other seasons. The flowers are bright yellow-green in Spring with orange nectar gland (the color can vary). The plant can be propagated either by seeds, cuttings or division. Be advised that this plant is a deadly beauty, as all parts are highly toxic if ingested and the milky sap may cause irritation to the eyes and cause skin rashes. Wear gloves at all times when handling the plant.

*Gopher plants (Euphorbia Rigida) in Bloom.*

Somewhere in my backyard, I found two pairs of Lizards in an empty terracotta planter. I am not sure if they are all resting in there or perhaps if they are stuck. I will check on them tomorrow to make sure they got out.