In the spirit of procrastination here are some pictures!
YESTERDAY:
This is the Acacia melanoxylon in my parents garden (well technically it's in the neighbor's yard but it's cozy enough to everyone). It's a weedy tree that usually doesn't get this huge. It seeds itself about freely but not enough to be a big problem. The roots are everywhere in the garden, though at least they have nitrogen fixing nodules. (Of course i would rather do without them). It has been limbed up so it's not too overbearing while still adding grandeur to the yards. When I was but a very wee lad, us kids would draw on the bark of the main trunk with crayons so it was always very festive. Even though it's intrusive to the garden in a lot of ways i would be crushed to see it go (it is a pretty short lived tree unfortunately).
Ta-da! Deutzia 'Magicien' finally bloomed! This 5' deciduous shrub that was a freebie from back when i worked at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery has been sitting around in its 5gal can, not doing anything for a couple of years. I was expecting it to be really gaudy but it's just plain old gorgeous! Now it just needs a spot to go in the ground....
DAY BEFORE:
This was the last day of the semester for my "Design evaluation of bay area landscapes" class. A great note to end on! This was an awesome home in Sunol with an insane green roof (the main focus of the day), a small vegi garden with fruit trees, a pond, swimming pool and an awesome view overlooking their private vineyard (I know i hate them too).
6 DAYS AGO:
I only just heard about the Oakland Rose Garden the other week. I've passed by here many times without realizing such a gem lay hidden right around the corner.
This is the the Rose 'Circus' introduced in 1956. In this particular picture you can't fully appreciate how variable the colors of this rose are. Pinks yellows oranges whites peaches and everything in between. No commas! I'm serious!
On the way back to the car were some great little front yards. Well, OK- this was on a side porch, not a front yard.
But THIS on the other hand... Full frontal.
This is one of my favorite combinations in the garden. This wonderful Alstroemeria with Salvia 'Waverly'. The Mimulus also adds a lot as well as the white Floribunda Rose to the left that's out of shot.
Ok, I just couldn't help posting another picture of this guy. The Deutzia 'Magicien' is blowing me away!
A breathe of fresh air right up the street!
RIGHT!?
