Spring 2011 in Juanita Blumberg's garden, Winter Springs, Florida.
planted primarily for
winter and spring color
My Florida garden is as
I'm in Blue Hill all
summer. It is especially
pretty in February and
March when the azaleas
and camellias are in full
bloom.
winter and spring color
My Florida garden is as
I'm in Blue Hill all
summer. It is especially
pretty in February and
March when the azaleas
and camellias are in full
bloom.
| A portion of the fountain garden in front of the house. |
The yellow-flowered tree is a tabebuia; the
burgundy foliage is lorapetalum, which
does very well in our area.
burgundy foliage is lorapetalum, which
does very well in our area.
Photo on left shows Formosa azalea,
top left; hybrid camellia on right, and
indica azalea 'Duchess of Cypress'
lower left. Duchess blooms for 4
months.
top left; hybrid camellia on right, and
indica azalea 'Duchess of Cypress'
lower left. Duchess blooms for 4
months.
Azaleas and camellias in the front garden.
Azalea 'George L. Taber' on left; azalea,
'Lavender Formosa' on right in front garden.
'Lavender Formosa' on right in front garden.
Right, a closeup of staghorn fern and
resurrection fern growing on a big
live oak branch. Photo below right
shows the full plant.
resurrection fern growing on a big
live oak branch. Photo below right
shows the full plant.
The back garden is less
formal, and much
shadier than the front.
Lots of ferns, hollies,
gardenias, jasmine,
liriope, hydrangea, and
spring bulbs join the
azaleas and camellias.
formal, and much
shadier than the front.
Lots of ferns, hollies,
gardenias, jasmine,
liriope, hydrangea, and
spring bulbs join the
azaleas and camellias.
Views from the back
patio. On left, my studio
with bearing loquat tree.
Right, Lew's Memorial
Garden. The azaleas on
the right are my favorite,
Duchess of Cypress.
patio. On left, my studio
with bearing loquat tree.
Right, Lew's Memorial
Garden. The azaleas on
the right are my favorite,
Duchess of Cypress.
Views across the back lawn.
Left a mixed border of spring
color. Right, more Lavender
Formosa azaleas. Foreground
in both photos is Evergreen
Giant liriope.
Left a mixed border of spring
color. Right, more Lavender
Formosa azaleas. Foreground
in both photos is Evergreen
Giant liriope.
View toward the house from Lew's memorial garden.
Club members "from
away" are encouraged
to share photos of their
home gardens. Just
e-mail your photos and
comments to me at
juanitablu@yahoo.com.
away" are encouraged
to share photos of their
home gardens. Just
e-mail your photos and
comments to me at
juanitablu@yahoo.com.
Marcia comments: Rolling Hills is one of the few really rural
areas in LA County. We have only 1 1/2 acres, but about half the
houses in this community have five or ten acres. We are Zone
24, and considered to be on the coast. However, it is a 10 minute
drive to the water so it is not like being on the coast of Maine.
We are about 1,000 feet above sea level, and enjoy what is
considered to be a Mediterranean climate. We average 13 " of
rain a year which usually comes between November and the end
of March. Our average winter temperature is 60 and in the
summer it is around 70. Of course, there are always exceptions.
One of our columnists used to say, "The weather in California can
usually be described as unusual."
We moved here in 1975, but I have been a serious gardener only
since about 1990. Our soil is heavy clay, and it is alkaline. I do
not use any chemicals in the garden at all. A friend down the
street has 5 horses (one is for dressage) which she feeds very
special food. I use the manure from these horses as my fertilizer .
The only fertilizer I buy is cottonseed meal. I try to have mostly
Mediterranean plants or California natives, neither of which really
like anything more than what I give them. I have a whole hillside
(not in bloom and not pretty now) of Lavendula Intermedia
'Provence' and 'Grosso'. Lavender takes no fertilizer of any kind,
and could not be easier. Leucodendron is new to me as of last
year. It looks exactly as it does right now all year round. The
light pink Cistus is very easy too. Ecium grows like a weed. My
roses are just beginning to open, so no pictures.
The pictures of the knot garden which I had put in 12 years ago,
do not do it justice. It is all Buxus Japonica with a kumkuat tree in
each corner. Also, the large boxwood balls need to be trimmed,
and I do not let anyone but Mike do that. He has been too busy.
Marcia
areas in LA County. We have only 1 1/2 acres, but about half the
houses in this community have five or ten acres. We are Zone
24, and considered to be on the coast. However, it is a 10 minute
drive to the water so it is not like being on the coast of Maine.
We are about 1,000 feet above sea level, and enjoy what is
considered to be a Mediterranean climate. We average 13 " of
rain a year which usually comes between November and the end
of March. Our average winter temperature is 60 and in the
summer it is around 70. Of course, there are always exceptions.
One of our columnists used to say, "The weather in California can
usually be described as unusual."
We moved here in 1975, but I have been a serious gardener only
since about 1990. Our soil is heavy clay, and it is alkaline. I do
not use any chemicals in the garden at all. A friend down the
street has 5 horses (one is for dressage) which she feeds very
special food. I use the manure from these horses as my fertilizer .
The only fertilizer I buy is cottonseed meal. I try to have mostly
Mediterranean plants or California natives, neither of which really
like anything more than what I give them. I have a whole hillside
(not in bloom and not pretty now) of Lavendula Intermedia
'Provence' and 'Grosso'. Lavender takes no fertilizer of any kind,
and could not be easier. Leucodendron is new to me as of last
year. It looks exactly as it does right now all year round. The
light pink Cistus is very easy too. Ecium grows like a weed. My
roses are just beginning to open, so no pictures.
The pictures of the knot garden which I had put in 12 years ago,
do not do it justice. It is all Buxus Japonica with a kumkuat tree in
each corner. Also, the large boxwood balls need to be trimmed,
and I do not let anyone but Mike do that. He has been too busy.
Marcia
This is the only section of lawn left
since we put in decomposed granite
to cut down water use. In the
foreground are leaves on
Rhaphiolepis bushes which border
the lawn on one side. The large tree
on the right is a 75 year old olive. The
smaller tree near the roof is an
evergreen pear.
since we put in decomposed granite
to cut down water use. In the
foreground are leaves on
Rhaphiolepis bushes which border
the lawn on one side. The large tree
on the right is a 75 year old olive. The
smaller tree near the roof is an
evergreen pear.
In the foreground is a ground cover called Senecia (It can
look very blue). There is a juniper hedge on the right and
Agapanthus (not in bloom on the left) In the distance to
the left is Leucadendron surrounded by Senecio. On the
trellis is a climbing rose which has not started to bloom
yet and beyond the trellis is a huge grapefruit tree.
look very blue). There is a juniper hedge on the right and
Agapanthus (not in bloom on the left) In the distance to
the left is Leucadendron surrounded by Senecio. On the
trellis is a climbing rose which has not started to bloom
yet and beyond the trellis is a huge grapefruit tree.
This is that same trellis with 2 Rhaphiolepis behind it
and the same grapefruit tree to the left. There is a light
pink cistus in the foreground and a Leucadendron on
either side with more Senecio.
and the same grapefruit tree to the left. There is a light
pink cistus in the foreground and a Leucadendron on
either side with more Senecio.
Spring 2011 in Marcia Schoettle's garden, Rolling Hills, California.
| The knot garden |
| Looking out of the knot garden to the boxwood hedged garden of rosa Souvenir de la Mal Maison and 2 lemon trees you can't see. The large pink thing on the right is a maderensee geranium. They seed around anywhere and I should not have left that one there. On a clear day the LA Harbor is visible through this opening. |
This is the back patio with pots of
Buxus Japonica and a Juniper hedge
in the background. On a clear day
there is a wonderful view of LA
Harbor.
Buxus Japonica and a Juniper hedge
in the background. On a clear day
there is a wonderful view of LA
Harbor.
Leucadendron and Senecio. on the right and the
Agapanthus on the left. The decomposed granite
is where there used to be lawn.
Agapanthus on the left. The decomposed granite
is where there used to be lawn.
Path down to the corral with a wild geranium on
either side and Ecium candicans in the background.
The rose on the trellis is not in bloom yet
either side and Ecium candicans in the background.
The rose on the trellis is not in bloom yet
Ecium candicans - This shows the range of colors that I
have. There are some very dark blues that have already
gone by. It is a VERY easy plant to grow here.
have. There are some very dark blues that have already
gone by. It is a VERY easy plant to grow here.
A path leading to a Spirit House with
carissa grandiflora (Natal Plum) bushes in
front and a large Jade plant on the left.
carissa grandiflora (Natal Plum) bushes in
front and a large Jade plant on the left.
This is a Maderensee geranium
which is just starting to bloom. They
can get 5 to 6 feet high. They seed
around freely and bloom every other
year.
which is just starting to bloom. They
can get 5 to 6 feet high. They seed
around freely and bloom every other
year.
A whole bunch of Maderensee geraniums with
some echeveria.
some echeveria.
On the edge of the path is Stipa tenuissima. To theft of
the path is Festuca 'blue note'. To the right is more
Euphorbia with two very new bright orange Protea.
the path is Festuca 'blue note'. To the right is more
Euphorbia with two very new bright orange Protea.
In the foreground is Festuca 'blue note'. In the
background to the right of the fence is Ecium
candicans (Pride of Madeira). It is 5feet tall.
background to the right of the fence is Ecium
candicans (Pride of Madeira). It is 5feet tall.
| Euphorbia and Ecium |
| The Old Corral |
beautiful garden where there was once a
horse corral. I love the Euphorbia!
horse corral. I love the Euphorbia!
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