Yesterday I had to run some Acacia cultriformis up to a client who lives just south of Mullholland Drive and east of Laurel Canyon. I actually have several clients on her street. This is what happens when you chat with the neighbors. Anyway, she, as well as many others, have fallen in love with the A. cultriformis, a very drought tolerant tall shrub with small, ovalish leaves and the most fabulous flowers (flower type: globular inflorescence).
I will plant the new ones tomorrow, down below her house. She lives on the top of a ridge so the back yard drops down dramatically. It is actually quite treacherous as the steps are old and mostly covered by the Red Apple Ice Plant which is slippery. However, she has a fantastic orange tree down there, plus a Mandarin, so I am rewarded for my efforts. Nothing like standing on the side of a canyon enjoying freshly picked fruit while looking out towards the mountains across the valley. Perfect
After leaving off the plants I went to work at a new client's house who is down at the base of the Hollywood hills, just north of Hollywood and Highland - tourist city! This new house is situated in the bottom of a canyon between two ridges. When you look up from their back deck, way way way at the top you can see a bit of a white house, but the rest of it is mostly native CA chaparral. The owner had extensive landscaping done to hold up the hill and deal with rainwater (when it comes down, it comes down hard and fast).
My new clients are the renters and they hired me to clean up the space. They have been there for six months and the husband has been doing the gardening, which he enjoys, but he got too busy, plus the winter rains brought out all of the cool season grasses and weeds. It is super green here right now but as soon as the rains stop and the heat comes, the green hills turn brown (or gold if you are sentimental). I thoroughly enjoyed climbing around the terraces seeing what hidden gems were there and cleaning everything out. I also enjoyed the conversation with my new client as he really does enjoy gardening. It is always fun to talk shop (plus we talked Hollywood shop which he knows and i don't, that is fun as well)
Today I worked at three houses. The first is around the corner from the previous house (they are the owners which is how I met the new clients). This house is on the side of a hill, with the house facing the road. To walk from the garage, past the front door and into the side gate, you have to traipse up the very steep roadway. I met them originally when I was working on their neighbor's house which is directly above them. From the upper house, you can stand on the back deck and look down into the lower house's back yard. I had managed to get to the bottom of the upper house (my original client) and found myself standing atop the retaining wall for the lower house - and they hired me. How cool is that.
The second house I went to to is really fun to work in for they love plants and love their yard. They have the most fantastic amaryllus growing all over. Each bulb is about the size of a pumpkin (a small pumpkim) Right now it is leafing out, with each stalk about 3 feet high. The stalks will fall over in a few months and these beautiful white flowers come up with the most beautiful scent. Pictures will come. Here is what they look like now:
I dont know which one it is. I will have to educate myself on this. I do know the Amaryllus belladona (naked pink lady) whose leaves look a lot like Agapanthus, but they die back in the beginning of summer. Then, when there is nothing left but the dusty remains of the bulb tops, the incredible shoots come up topped with lovely, delicate pink blooms. They are found out in the woods too. Very fun. But the photo above is another type and I will do some research. Such a fascinating plant!
Lastly I went to the valley (the traffic!) to see a client whom I met last year through a mutual friend. She has a great yard in the burbs and is an interesting lady. She has been battling cancer for the last few months so I am always glad to go over there and cheer her up with some pretty flowers and to discuss how great her yard is. She is very invested in the local wildlife and today we discussed how the hummingbirds have forsaken her yard. Granted she does feed several wild cats, but still! My task is to add some more flowers that will attract the little birds. That will be next week....
Here are a few shots of the containers I have done for her:
You can see the peanuts for the squirrels in the front of this photo. She loves to feed everyone!
This is a section of the planter boxes I did along her front window. They are so beautiful!
And one more image to leave you with:
The Japanese Maple just leafing out and blooming. So beautiful! Really, I have the best job.....
Hummingbirds love red and can see it and zero in on it from as high as they are capable of flying. Don't think those Kitties stand a chance of catching a nectar hungry Hummingbird. God bless your client.
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