maintenance meanderings

This morning I am going to clean up the house of a rock star. For some reason, every time I go there I have to listen to Jane's Addiction on my ipod. Seriously, they have nothing to do with each other but I always wonder if I will meet Perry Farrell when I am raking leaves around the patio. Maintenance can be kind of boring so my brain wanders in strange directions.
Last time I was there a guy showed up to meet with my client. He stopped when he saw me and asked who I was. He was so surprised at seeing a woman gardener. "A woman gardener, imagine that". I never know how to respond. I have had people tell me that I can't possibly mow a lawn even when I am standing next to my lawn mower. I just look at them. What else is there to do?

Papaya

I was walking back from the car mechanic this morning and went past this papaya tree in someone's front lawn. They also had guava, cherimoya and banana trees. I have never seen the papaya flower so took this photo. You can see on the bottom there are a couple of more mature fruits, plus a baby fruit on the right side.
Tropical plants are so interesting - oftentimes their flowers are very thick and large. I wonder what pollinates it - perhaps a vampire bat?

seriously good orange cherry tomatoes

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agave americana and aeonium arboreum

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some fun and bright containers!

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The very large Elm

We planted a Chinese Evergreen Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) in a client's yard this week. It was quite a difficult chore seeing as it is so heavy and about 18 ft tall! When the guys were trying to remove it from the truck, the tree fell over and almost out of the dolly because it is so top heavy. I think the base weighed 500 lbs (or more). There were 5 guys getting it off the truck to the front yard. I didn't know what to do as I am strong but not that strong. Sometimes it is best to stay out of the way. Of course, we decided to plant it 12 feet away from were we thought originally so 4 of us had to drag it across the ground to the new hole ( I helped on this one). The poor tree was quite abused but I think it will be fine. I watered it in and added Superthrive fertilizer for transplanting and shock. I am sure that it will help!

julia child rose. Beautiful!

A beautiful rose with a spicy scent. And a great bloomer!

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