Why yes, there is more. Tons more. And we didn’t even make through all the gardens. It reminds of when my Art History teacher recounted living in Paris. It got to a point, he said, where he’d think, Ho Hum, another wondrous cathedral, and then waltz past with a baguette slung across his shoulder. “It was like trying to eat a whole cheesecake.”
Yep. Huntington’s Desert Garden is wondrous–but I wouldn’t want to try and eat it in one sitting.
You want to know something funny? Or at least I think it’s funny. I’m just as overwhelmed looking at my photos as I was when visiting Huntington Gardens. Is that normal?
Have a look see–and tell me what you think.
I don’t know how one tells a story about Huntington Gardens. I’m overwhelmed every time I try to sort photos into some logical order. I could make a career of studying the plants here–and which are likely to grow together naturally. Visiting this garden raised so many questions.
Thusly, I’ll give you pictures. For now, they can tell their own dang story.
The sights are dizzying. I should know more about the Banksia protea? up top, but generally only see them in florist shops.
More weather complaining. But come on. This is crazy. Noah’s Arc is floating out front. And the irony front, my shade planter bed doesn’t get a lick of water tucked there under the eave. I’m standing outside like a crazy person watering in the rain. Ridiculous. I’ll get back to the puppies. (more…)
Do you count losses from pesky winter weather as opportunity? That’s the path I’m taking. This small tree/large shrub for instance. Do you think it’s a sign that I can never remember its name? Oleander? No, that’s not right. It has Rosemary-like foliage. It’s from New Zealand, and I bought it at Xera Nursery. I transplanted it from my Alameda garden. But I have a devil of a time remembering the genus. (more…)
It’s well established that the weather gods are crazy, all over the country. Apparently California’s HUGE storm will alleviate drought, with flash floods, mud slides, and other general pestilence.
Around these parts, it’s been raining nonstop. We’ve had more rain in a half of February than is usual for the entire month. And that’s saying something for the Pacific Northwest. We’re hunkered down waiting for the deluge to stop. I don’t think I’m alone in yearning for gardening weather. I like to think I embrace the abundance of rain for the green it produces. But come on, this is ridiculous. (more…)
I’m sometimes tempted to write off holidays that seem primarily Hallmark driven. But that’s the curmudgeon in me. When I was a kid, Valentine’s Day ranked right up there with Halloween. I can feel the cramp developing in my right hand just thinking about all those cards for school the next day.
Seriously. There’s not Camellia one in my garden. I thought I didn’t like them. But I suspect it’s a prejudice born of those ubiquitous mis-pruned Camellias of my youth. When I was a kid, every yard had at least one, and usually more. Apparently, though, they ain’t supposed to be primarily giant light-blocking lollipops–good for concealing pint-sized, water-pistols packing assailants. (more…)
It seems a terrible oversight that Hamamelis aka Witch Hazel is not represented in my garden. And there are so many fab plants to choose from. Thusly, I seek to remedy this omission. I’d love to hear about your favorites. (more…)