the best thing about wind - the view!

the best thing about wind - the view!

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the best thing about wind - the view!

the best thing about wind - the view!

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Mmmmmm, vegetables

We replanted a vegetable garden in bel aire yesterday. Beautiful property with a view of the Getty Museum and right next to a vineyard. From the vegetable garden you can look up the ridge and see rows and rows of grapevines, all starting to turn a brownish yellow for the fall. My helper and I carried up very heavy bags of amend and steer manure and one bag of worm poop. After cleaning out the summer stuff, and the weeds! (oops), we dumped all of the good compost over the beds and dug it in. Then we were able to plant, some starters and some seeds. Dinosaur Kale, which can get to be 4 feet tall, Lettuces, onions, leeks, broccoli and asparagus. I am going back tomorrow to plant lots of parsley and some cilantro and dill which should round everything out. I also planted spinach and celery. We shall see how this goes. I am afraid that this yard is quite cold and may get hit with some frosts over the winter.

Today I worked in a garden that is full of native plants. I really trimmed things back from the walkways and cut out the dead stuff. Native plants are getting ready to bloom right now so if I cut them back, I will lose all of the flowers. I planted a few penstemons here and they are huge and gorgeous! I cant wait to see everything in full bloom.

Ok, back to work. I have two designs and two bids to write up!

hanging mums - how crazy is that!

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Ugh

It was 95 degrees today and it was hot! And I was mad! I don't like it when it is that hot, especially when it is November. And of course I had to go to the valley which is always hotter than my side of the hill (Hollywood). Hopefully it will cool down as I have a lot of work to do. Now is the time of year to cut things back for the winter - yes, we do have winter. Things that bloom in the summer should be cut back now, whilst things that bloom in the spring should be cut in the summer. That gives the plant 6 months to grow before it blooms again. Grasses should be cut around now. Though, as I have mentioned before, I like to spread out the cutting of ornamentals so the home owner doesn't come home to a nude yard! We have winter but no frost so it still needs to look good all year round. It is a balance of science and aesthetics.
It is also the time for the cool-season vegetables. Spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, lettuce. There has to be more variety than just the greens. I will look it up!

Salvia leucantha

Another Day, another spider!