sweet broom

A recent addition to my container garden was a broom plant (its botanical name is cytisus x spachianus). This very pretty yellow flowering shrub has turned out to be a great find as it has withstood several torrential downpours followed by hot sun, and it still looks good. I have since read that it is a very hardy shrub and therefore would be great for the beginner. It has small sweet-pea shaped fragrant flowers and can tolerate wind, seashore conditions, and rocky infertile soil. Not bad!


Sweet Broom Facts

Bloom time: Spring, early summer.
Exposure: Full sun.
Soil: Tolerates poor soil.
Average Size: Can reach a height of up to 7 feet, and a width of 5 feet.
Growth rate: Fast.
Water: Very low once established.
Uses: Specimen, rock garden, color accent.
Pruning: Pinch out the tips as needed. Prune after flowering to maintain size and form.

I think I may have had one of these plants before, and it eventually became very dry in the summer and died, but this one is looking good and doesn't appear to have suffered from any of the coastal weather so far which has been hot, cold, sunny and then very wet. I am pretty sure we are on to the last of the rain storms, and by April we'll be heading for the long, dry season. So I guess I'll see what happens then.

pink jasmine

One of the latest additions to my container garden has been a pink jasmine (Jasminum Polyanthum). This is a vast climbing vine which can grow to about 20 feet. It is the most popular and one of the easiest jasmines to grow and has dense clusters of fragrant pink flowers, white on the inside, and rose colored outside. It is an evergreen vine which originated in China. The plant I have is in a hanging basket, but this plant works equally well climbing around doorways, or as ground cover.

Pink Jasmine Facts

Bloom time: Late winter and spring, with sporadic rebloom throughout the year.
Exposure: Full sun to light shade.
Soil: Fertile, moist yet well drained soil.
Average Size: Can reach a height of up to 20 feet, or trail down from a hanging basket.
Growth rate: Fast.
Water: Moderate to regular water.
Fertilizer: Fertilize lightly during the growing season.
Pruning: Pinch out the tips as needed. Prune after flowering to control rampant growth.

Jasmines grow more rapidly in good soil and love sunny sites, but they are good all round plants that can adapt to many less than ideal conditions successfully, and are therefore a great plant for beginners.

a beautiful day

Today was one of those beautiful days. It was sunny and warm, and everything looked perfect as I made my way down the coast. I have never noticed these poppies before, but today they shone brightly in the sun.




As I walked along I saw people on the beach, and I started wondering if it was one of those holiday days, like Martin Luther King day or something, and I'd forgotten.



When I got to the end of the road, I saw people float past in bright green kayaks, like something on a postcard.

Today really was a beautiful day.

interesting vases

It has rained for two weekends in a row, which is unusual, so I've not been able to spend much time in the garden, and instead decided to make the flowers inside the house a bit more interesting by putting them in unusual vases. The vases in this picture are three interlocking vases that hold one or two flowers at the most, as the necks are so thin. The nice thing about this arrangement is that it looks impressive without spending a lot on flowers.


This vase is in fact not a vase, it is some sort of African clay pot, but it looks great holding an inexpensive bunch of flowers from the supermarket. I have placed the flowers in a small glass vase, then placed this inside the pot holder, as you can't fill the pot with water. The use of the clay pot changes the appearance of the flowers from ordinary to something that could be used as a centerpiece.

These last two vases are interesting mainly because of the great shapes, and colors. The tall blue vase is kind of Asian looking with a darker blue pattern on the front and makes even the most boring flowers look elegant. The beige and brown vase is really cool, as it has a kind of animal print on it and spreads the flowers out for a wide display. So even if it's dull and cold outside, I did manage to get some color inside the house.

begonias

Bought some new plants for the yard the other day, and three small begonia plants to stand on top of a plant stand I have outside. They were not very expensive and have the most amazing, full flowers on them - one pink, one flame colored, and one peach. I am not sure how robust these plants are - I have had a large one in a pot in my yard for over a year, but these look more delicate.

I placed them outside at about three o'clock in the afternoon, and by five the temperature had dropped and the storm that has been threatening looked as though it might be coming earlier than the weekend. Next day, the sun was shining and it still felt cold, but the plants looked OK despite being repotted. Anyway, thought I'd better look up the begonia rules in the plant book.

Hmm, average temperature not less than 55 degrees, not more than 70. I think they've already survived both of those. A bright spot away from direct sunlight, a few hours of winter sun is OK. Well, they've had a few hours of winter sun. Water freely when plant is in flower, but do not keep compost constantly soggy. OK, I better move them to a spot under the shade of the patio, as the "big storm" is coming tonight and it is supposed to rain for the whole weekend. I'm not sure I believe that, but I don't want to kill them off when I've only just bought them. So, after the storm I'll monitor the weather and them, and if it's not going well, I guess I've got three new indoor plants.

one crazy guy

I think I have read all of Nicci French's novels, and I love them. They are usually set in England, in and around London, and are always psychological thrillers involving a young woman who somehow gets romantically involved with a nutcase! A Secret Smile is no exception. In this story Miranda, the main character, meets this charming guy and has a couple of dates with him, then decides it's not the romance of a lifetime, and breaks off the relationship. So far, nothing unusual about that, except that this ex, Brendan, turns out to be far from normal, and continues to weave his way into every facet of Miranda's life, long after the relationship ends. He also insists on telling everyone that he ended the relationship, and that poor Miranda could not deal with the rejection, and pain of losing him. As Miranda gets more and more infuriated with Brendan and his continual lies about him, her, and their relationship in general, he manages to turn everyone against her, including her family, her best friend and her new boyfriend who all sympathize with the scheming Brendan.

At one point, the police even want to issue a restraining order against her. Eventually, you start to feel just as frustrated as Miranda, and wonder how this thing is ever going to end. I also had to laugh because being from England it reminded me of so many things I had forgotten, such as, when faced with the most dire situations what should you do? Make a cup of hot tea to help you think, of course! Anyway, if you are looking for pure entertainment with a great ending, read this book.