A spectacular spring for my drought tolerant yard
I’m nearing the finish line for my on-demand course…I think. I keep waiting for a shoe to drop. I’d like to give a date but it’s a bit up in the air, hopefully within the next 2 weeks. As a result, my days are filled with videos, editing, writing…. On Tuesday I made, edited and uploaded 10 videos and edited another 6. Today I think I will have written maybe 1500 words for this or that. I’ve been working so much on this that I can crank out a video on one take (sometimes), edit and load right away. Whooooah!
I remember “normal” times, there was so much to write and post about – latest trip, guild, show, travel adventure, hike, museum. Remember those days? Well here’s what I’ve got for you – yard photos! It has been a mild spring and that makes for pretty yards. Don’t be fooled, 110 degrees is around the corner and it will batter all the plants. My grasses love it and will thrive.
This is a drought tolerant landscape no matter how green it looks now. Everything is on drip, well maintained. I reduced my turf by 70% a few years ago, a lucky thing given what has happened to California water. So here we go, front yard first:
No, that is NOT my water running down the street. The guy above us dumps water onto our property. We catch it and it funnels out to the street.
This is only my second year with this hosta and he’s already about 3’ across.
My Japanese Forest Grass face west but are sheltered by the dense foliage of the olive tree, a really sweet combination.
The Yarrow looks great now but will sprawl soon and I’m too lazy to stake him.
Love these sweet Rabbit Ears – the bees love them.
And then there are Kangaroo Ears too, choice of the Hummingbirds.
Love the color combo here.
The Olive Trees has more flowers than we’ve seen in previous years so I expect a bumper crop in the fall. We don’t harvest them, but rats and squirrels do – ewwww.
Our Pepper Tree produces legit pink peppercorns, as in $19 for 4 ounces! A pink peppercorn is actually not a true “pepper” but they taste similar. I snack on them when they’re fresh and they have a tiny bit of sweetness. We had a LOT of wind over the last week and it “harvested” all the peppercorns. I need to get out there and pick them up.
Of all the places to build a nest, why right over one of my lights???
Backyard:
Dang I love me my grasses! They are such show-offs. And that Smoke Tree to the left is no slouch either.
I like this little nook with a good view and well-aged wood furniture. It probably doesn’t have a lot longer to live.
That’s one of my Stipa Giganteas there, all that fluff on the left. It’s my fav grass. You should see it backlit in the morning…
Sweet little planter on the dining table.
Echevaria – fabulous color. I have a whole huge planter filled with these and they have the most lovely and striking red-orange flowers.
Can’t go wrong with Coleus for color – these will get 4’ tall if I let them.
Non-bee loving plants next to the pool. The Hummingbirds like them though!
Astilbe – love their ethereal blooms.
Mini Carnations – they look great for about 4 weeks and that’s it.
View going up the steps.
Grocery store flowers for Mother’s Day from me!
I hope you enjoyed the tour. It’s prettier in the fall when the grasses are in full bloom!
I’ll be linking up:
Jenny,
Your landscaping is spectacular!!!! Your creativity clearly spills over from your studio to your garden!
Sandy
Thank you Sandy! We enjoy it daily.
You have a really lovely yard, Jenny! And such different plants except for a few favorites like that dependable coleus! I’ve become fascinated with succulents, so that Echeveria caught my eye. Can’t imagine 110-degree temps when we think we’re dying in our South Mississippi 99 and 100.
Oh yeah but 99 degrees with your humidity is awful hot! I love all the photos I see coming from the South or East of spring – it’s just so showy! And you have a beautiful, lush yard too!
Spectacular yard! I love the thoughtfulness you have clearly put into the plants and placements so you have an enjoyable yard during most of the year.
Thank you Betty Jo! It is an evolving process and I have a service that maintains my lawn.
LOVED your post!! So many great ideas for the landscape… only one question – with all that gardening, when do you have time to QUILT?!
Hope to see you at Houston this year!
Yes, you will see me at Houston this year Peggy!!! Can’t wait. I don’t maintain this lawn – I have fabulous people that do. I have the vision but not the shovel, lol.
If you used a landscape architect, would you share contact information?
Hi Katherine; Both the person who helped me with the design and the company that installed the original design are both retired. I have taken over the design since then, mainly replacing plants that died or did not thrive. This year I probably put in (that means my gardener actually put in!) about 20 plants in bare spots. You learn your own landscape over the years, and it’s weird, what works right next door will die in mine and visa versa. I’ve been here for 21 years and the first 4 my landscape was horrific. We had to spend a good bit to get it to this point. I am so happy that I chose a drought tolerant landscape long before that was the “thing”. Back then water seemed to be plentiful and people were installing lots and lots of turf. I reduced mine by 70%.
Your gardens are so beautiful, I’m amazed that you’re ever able to tear yourself away from them to go inside and sew! It sounds like you’re really getting the hang of the video teaching thing. Good for you!
Thank you Rebecca Grace! I have gardeners that do the hard stuff, I dream up pretty ideas, grin! Yes, video teaching is going well. I notevthat for all of us, there are surprises!