Gardening for nature, walks with my dogs and the books I’m reading.
- Thread starter MarkD
- Start date
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Good luck with your sale!
Just to clarify it isn’t a huge view I’m after, just combinations and views you yourself enjoy in your garden. I’m hoping to have a smaller garden before too long.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
@Kadee a Flickr friend of mine recently posted this one on Facebook which took a prize. One of the finest photographers I've met there.
She wrote this in the caption: "We were trated to some interesting weather in September, when at Balcanoona. This photo was taken shortly after arrival, when the storm clouds were gathering ahead of a rain squall." I believe Balcanoona must mean in Oz, no? Not in Australia but pics I got at the Santa Cruz arboretum where they specialize in your flora this past Saturday:
She wrote this in the caption: "We were trated to some interesting weather in September, when at Balcanoona. This photo was taken shortly after arrival, when the storm clouds were gathering ahead of a rain squall." I believe Balcanoona must mean in Oz, no? Not in Australia but pics I got at the Santa Cruz arboretum where they specialize in your flora this past Saturday:
Beautiful photos of Aussie wild flowers .,banksias that mainly grow well in Western Australia on the road sides
We have allot of photos on my old laptop of western Aust banksias ..other native flora .
We will have to get our fellow Aussie member @Bretrick involved to take photos of the flora in WA .
We have a very similar climate to WA but SA tends to be more windy so we don’t see the same flora on roadsides as they have .
We have a wide variety of Wattle growing here that flowers in winter ..I haven't forgotten about finding photos of Sturt peas in the wild ….lve been flat out dealing with fruit
Don't know what mean about Balcanoona @MarkD
We have allot of photos on my old laptop of western Aust banksias ..other native flora .
We will have to get our fellow Aussie member @Bretrick involved to take photos of the flora in WA .
We have a very similar climate to WA but SA tends to be more windy so we don’t see the same flora on roadsides as they have .
We have a wide variety of Wattle growing here that flowers in winter ..I haven't forgotten about finding photos of Sturt peas in the wild ….lve been flat out dealing with fruit
Don't know what mean about Balcanoona @MarkD
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
She takes a lot of outstanding photos on your continent and all over the globe fairly frequently. I was wondering if Balcanoona was somewhere near you. On Facebook she mentioned it being a very dry area and this being the first storm following a long dry season. She also wrote: "Approaching Storm at Balcanoona, Northern Flinders ranges. it was taken in Oct 2024"
Yep sounds Like what we call the flinders rangers ..it’s huge and we’ve been to parts of it …and done lots of walks but I’ve never seen the flowers she photographed in that area ..it appears it a valley ( lots of scared areas and valleys ) due to the
Indigenous heritage / cave paintings we’ve seen / explored but sadly many are now out of bounds to the public due to vandalism ..due to lack of respect
…of property ….graffiti…
It’s a good days drive from where we live …
Dinosaur bones were found in the F R some years ago
https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/vulkathunha-gammon-ranges-national-park
We’ve been to Arkaroola had to travel on 200km of dirt road to get there DH water to do the hilltop tour ..not me …
https://www.arkaroola.com.au/ridgetop-tour
I get photos out of hiding when I get time
Indigenous heritage / cave paintings we’ve seen / explored but sadly many are now out of bounds to the public due to vandalism ..due to lack of respect
…of property ….graffiti…It’s a good days drive from where we live …
Dinosaur bones were found in the F R some years ago
https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/vulkathunha-gammon-ranges-national-park
We’ve been to Arkaroola had to travel on 200km of dirt road to get there DH water to do the hilltop tour ..not me …
https://www.arkaroola.com.au/ridgetop-tour
I get photos out of hiding when I get time
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MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Yep, places in the same country or even the same region doesn't mean near to hand in either Oz or the US. Even places within my state of California can be quite far apart.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Well when I was at the Santa Cruz Arboretum I put my allowance of one plant purchase toward getting this Tibouchina organensis 'Blue Moon'. There was one other plant of this available with one fully open flower but the one I bought is loaded with buds and today two flowers opened. It is pretty cold for around here and this plant doesn't want to ever get under 40 F, so I've decided to grow it indoors something I've always avoided. Now that I have this nice plant to look at inside it is time to get rid of the ugly old blue metal blinds. Yuck.
But I dragged it's delicate little self outside to get better picks in what light there was on this very cool and dark day. Love the flowers but the foliage is very nice too, although I've seen better on other Tibouchinas.
But I dragged it's delicate little self outside to get better picks in what light there was on this very cool and dark day. Love the flowers but the foliage is very nice too, although I've seen better on other Tibouchinas.
DailyArtsyCrafter
Crafter Writer Artist
- Location
- Southeastern US
They're such a pretty pink! The foliage is nice. I don't like those stamens though. They remind me of spiders legs.Well when I was at the Santa Cruz Arboretum I put my allowance of one plant purchase toward getting this Tibouchina organensis 'Blue Moon'. There was one other plant of this available with one fully open flower but the one I bought is loaded with buds and today two flowers opened. It is pretty cold for around here and this plant doesn't want to ever get under 40 F, so I've decided to grow it indoors something I've always avoided. Now that I have this nice plant to look at inside it is time to get rid of the ugly old blue metal blinds. Yuck.
But I dragged it's delicate little self outside to get better picks in what light there was on this very cool and dark day. Love the flowers but the foliage is very nice too, although I've seen better on other Tibouchinas.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
They're such a pretty pink! The foliage is nice. I don't like those stamens though. They remind me of spiders legs.
In write ups online they describe it as lilac in color but it reminds me of the flower color of the morning glory Heavenly Blue, which on dark days also looks pink.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
One of my favorite places on earth, Corlieu Falls near Oakhurst in California, northeast of Fresno near Oakhurst.
Very special place and only a mile off the highway brings you here. Had my dogs with me, Heidi Rose ..
.. and Smokey as a young pup.
Lia was a lot more mobil then.
Pretty amazing place. Wish it was closer. Actually this these photos were taken in 2016, two years before the video. Pretty easy path down and back. Headed back up to the car.
Very special place and only a mile off the highway brings you here. Had my dogs with me, Heidi Rose ..
.. and Smokey as a young pup.
Lia was a lot more mobil then.
Pretty amazing place. Wish it was closer. Actually this these photos were taken in 2016, two years before the video. Pretty easy path down and back. Headed back up to the car.
dobielvr
Well-known Member
- Location
- California
This is close to home, but I've never heard of it.One of my favorite places on earth, Corlieu Falls near Oakhurst in California, northeast of Fresno near Oakhurst.
Very special place and only a mile off the highway brings you here. Had my dogs with me, Heidi Rose ..
.. and Smokey as a young pup.
Lia was a lot more mobil then.
Pretty amazing place. Wish it was closer. Actually this these photos were taken in 2016, two years before the video. Pretty easy path down and back. Headed back up to the car.
Is it easy to find?
I just looked it up.....looks like you have to hike back a little ways to get there.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
I think about a mile but it has been a while. If it’s close you can wait for perfect conditions.
There is elevation change dropping down to that and then an equal climb coming back.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Just came across this video montage of a walk I took with Ember and Smokey before he passed. You get a good idea of what it is like to walk either or both. Mostly you just see the trail ahead and the dogs are just being. Taken two years ago.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
The back garden is beginning to put up new growth and some flowers. I've always loved the Giant Groundsel (Tlanthaphora grandiflora) and it is very much in bloom now. They can get bigger but with the big winds we had this winter knocked down some growth and I've trimmed back mine to 12 - 15 feet to try to preserve what is still in tact. Needed a ladder to get the second photo.
The Giant Groundsel is a Cloud Forest plant from Mexico and Central America where species which are usually much smaller often get larger. Of course that happens on Islands too. The plants flanking the birches in the next photo are Sonchus palmensis, a dandelion relative from the Canary Islands. It grows to the size of a small aspen here. The flowers are very dandelion like but foliage reminds me of Mahonia or even small palms.
Pincushion flowers are blooming now.
As are the much smaller blooms of Lachenalia.
Even the Monstera vine has a bloom open now though it is there leaves which are the major show..
The Giant Groundsel is a Cloud Forest plant from Mexico and Central America where species which are usually much smaller often get larger. Of course that happens on Islands too. The plants flanking the birches in the next photo are Sonchus palmensis, a dandelion relative from the Canary Islands. It grows to the size of a small aspen here. The flowers are very dandelion like but foliage reminds me of Mahonia or even small palms.
Pincushion flowers are blooming now.
As are the much smaller blooms of Lachenalia.
Even the Monstera vine has a bloom open now though it is there leaves which are the major show..
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
Gosh Mark, it looks like Paradise!The back garden is beginning to put up new growth and some flowers. I've always loved the Giant Groundsel (Tlanthaphora grandiflora) and it is very much in bloom now. They can get bigger but with the big winds we had this winter knocked down some growth and I've trimmed back mine to 12 - 15 feet to try to preserve what is still in tact. Needed a ladder to get the second photo.
The Giant Groundsel is a Cloud Forest plant from Mexico and Central America where species which are usually much smaller often get larger. Of course that happens on Islands too. The plants flanking the birches in the next photo are Sonchus palmensis, a dandelion relative from the Canary Islands. It grows to the size of a small aspen here. The flowers are very dandelion like but foliage reminds me of Mahonia or even small palms.
Pincushion flowers are blooming now.
As are the much smaller blooms of Lachenalia.
Even the Monstera vine has a bloom open now though it is there leaves which are the major show..
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Thanks. Still cold most days, well, enough to wear a sweatshirt anyhow.
Gardenlover
The world needs more love
Beautiful and therapeutic, thank for sharing it with us.
How cold does it get there?
How cold does it get there?
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Nice of you to stop by. We can get to freezing on some nights but only rarely for an extended time. When that happens gardeners s as round here start sharing notes about what did it didn’t survive. Constancy isn’t something to count on but a little daring where plant selection goes adds excitement.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Here are some signs of Spring from an estate garden not too far from us which we visited this past Tuesday, 3/4. They have a full time staff of gardeners and I am jealous given I have a staff of one and I've been slowing down.
Magnolia in a formal part of the garden and Lia.
Queen's Tears Bilbergia over looking the reflecting pool, with my trusty portable focal point, Ember.
A couple of small bulbs: Grape Hyathinth and Snowdrops.
Magnolia in a formal part of the garden and Lia.
Queen's Tears Bilbergia over looking the reflecting pool, with my trusty portable focal point, Ember.
A couple of small bulbs: Grape Hyathinth and Snowdrops.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
We had the roofers out today and so I went up to inspect and naturally while I was up there I took some photos of the garden from up there.
North end of the back garden.
South end of the back garden.
Centered between the last two from an angle to better show the Telanthophora flowers.
Just one of the side garden and only the Eastern most half.
North end of the back garden.
South end of the back garden.
Centered between the last two from an angle to better show the Telanthophora flowers.
Just one of the side garden and only the Eastern most half.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Time for reminiscing about past dogs again. Fletcher is the only one of my life time 8 dogs whose dead bodies I ever buried in my garden. He died of natural causes while laying on the couch next to where I sat. I'd scheduled a vet to come to the house the next day to put him down. He was 14 years & 2 months old and suffering from congestive heart failure.
As I sat there I felt my leg getting damp where his head lay and he didn't seem responsive so I stood up and picked him up. He tensed for a second and then went rag doll, dying in my arms. Still tears me up to think of it. So I took him outside to see if I was right and then decided I would bury him whole in the garden. Ember is sitting on the edge of the raised bed I built over the spot where I buried him.
Fletcher belonged to my wife's aunt and uncle. In their 70's we noticed they no longer had a dog and when asked they said they were afraid they wouldn't survive as long as a dog would. So we encouraged them to get one, promising to take him when they passed. So he came to ua at about age 4. The 'grave marker' was a sign one of their sons gave them one Christmas, one of the things we picked up along with Fletcher. He was the best natured dog you'll ever meet. Good with everybody and a keeper of the peace around rowdy dogs but clueless about commands. Since he never did anything we needed him to stop, it didn't matter.
Here is what it looked like back in September of 2013 when he passed. I planted a pincushion flower in the raised bed but you can't see it in this early picture. And then how that bush looks now. I'd say Fletcher is recycling nicely into nature. I hope I do even half as well.
Of course there were two other dogs since Fletcher but before Ember, first Heidi Rose and then Smokey. Here is Smokey paying his respects.
I have no photo of Heidi near the sign but there are many of them together in that area.
As I sat there I felt my leg getting damp where his head lay and he didn't seem responsive so I stood up and picked him up. He tensed for a second and then went rag doll, dying in my arms. Still tears me up to think of it. So I took him outside to see if I was right and then decided I would bury him whole in the garden. Ember is sitting on the edge of the raised bed I built over the spot where I buried him.
Fletcher belonged to my wife's aunt and uncle. In their 70's we noticed they no longer had a dog and when asked they said they were afraid they wouldn't survive as long as a dog would. So we encouraged them to get one, promising to take him when they passed. So he came to ua at about age 4. The 'grave marker' was a sign one of their sons gave them one Christmas, one of the things we picked up along with Fletcher. He was the best natured dog you'll ever meet. Good with everybody and a keeper of the peace around rowdy dogs but clueless about commands. Since he never did anything we needed him to stop, it didn't matter.
Here is what it looked like back in September of 2013 when he passed. I planted a pincushion flower in the raised bed but you can't see it in this early picture. And then how that bush looks now. I'd say Fletcher is recycling nicely into nature. I hope I do even half as well.
Of course there were two other dogs since Fletcher but before Ember, first Heidi Rose and then Smokey. Here is Smokey paying his respects.
I have no photo of Heidi near the sign but there are many of them together in that area.
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MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
I was just writing my pen friend about my various garden projects which were holding up my return message so I thought I'd post about those projects here.
I was writing on the computer in this area again, behind the tulips and freesias. This is where I dug up a rose to make more room for a chair.
This is the most wonderfully fragrant freesia I have in the garden and it is always wafting my way when I sit here.
And here is where I moved the rose to and potted up into a nicer new pot to make up for the indignity of being moved away.
This cheeky little guy wasn't at all disturbed by me but Ember soon saw him off up a tree.
The Bamboo Iris pumps out so many flowers this time of year and is quite happy in a bit of shade.
Meanwhile on the other side of the pond ..
.. there is something new going to flower for the first time in the same bed as Fletcher's memorial pincushion flower.
The purple buds will become purple flowers on this very small, sparsely foliaged tree from Australia.
@Stoppelmann
I was writing on the computer in this area again, behind the tulips and freesias. This is where I dug up a rose to make more room for a chair.
This is the most wonderfully fragrant freesia I have in the garden and it is always wafting my way when I sit here.
And here is where I moved the rose to and potted up into a nicer new pot to make up for the indignity of being moved away.
This cheeky little guy wasn't at all disturbed by me but Ember soon saw him off up a tree.
The Bamboo Iris pumps out so many flowers this time of year and is quite happy in a bit of shade.
Meanwhile on the other side of the pond ..
.. there is something new going to flower for the first time in the same bed as Fletcher's memorial pincushion flower.
The purple buds will become purple flowers on this very small, sparsely foliaged tree from Australia.
@Stoppelmann
Stoppelmann
Member
- Location
- Germany
A fantastic diary with fantastic pictures. It truly is a paradise of plants that you have co-created there.
MarkD
Keeper of the Hounds & Garden
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Seems like time for an April update. Definitely changing out there. This one shows the new pot that holds the rose I uprooted to make another sitting area in the garden. This is where I took the squirrel photos I posted recently. And then one from further back.
Speaking of squirrel photos, here is a short video of another cheeky guy chowing down on a passion flower.
This one is shot form about the same place as the last photo but to the right toward our back wall.
Jumping back to March in order to continue down that same path along our back wall. The two raised beds shown are near the pond and contain mostly African bulbs.
This one, taken this morning to show Watsonia vanderspuyiae which is developing a flower bud for the first time. Behind it the yellow flowers belong to Sonchus palmensis, dandelion relative from the Canary Islands.
Looking over the raised bed with the red pincushion flower where Fletcher is buried where the near path joins up with the far path. Ember is standing on the near path side of the pond.
.
Continuing down the far path on the left here you can just see the pot with the rose we started with along with the bottomless pot with the fancy daisies and coming up around those the new Star Gazer lilies I was inspired to plant by a photo posted by @KSav posted in the Flower a Day thread. It will exciting if they bloom this year.
Here from near where the first photos were taken you can see the near path taking off to the right and through the archway a shortcut to the far path.
Behind the spot where this photo was taken is the larger horseshoe raised be within which I created a new area to sit. Me:
And here are some of the plants in that area now that the rose has been moved. It's really only large enough for one chair. In the foreground is another terrestrial bromeliad and in the large brownish pot the the Hypericum inodorum Miracle Night, a St John's-Wort cultivar.
This is all in the back garden and mostly in April.
Speaking of squirrel photos, here is a short video of another cheeky guy chowing down on a passion flower.
This one is shot form about the same place as the last photo but to the right toward our back wall.
Jumping back to March in order to continue down that same path along our back wall. The two raised beds shown are near the pond and contain mostly African bulbs.
This one, taken this morning to show Watsonia vanderspuyiae which is developing a flower bud for the first time. Behind it the yellow flowers belong to Sonchus palmensis, dandelion relative from the Canary Islands.
Looking over the raised bed with the red pincushion flower where Fletcher is buried where the near path joins up with the far path. Ember is standing on the near path side of the pond.
Continuing down the far path on the left here you can just see the pot with the rose we started with along with the bottomless pot with the fancy daisies and coming up around those the new Star Gazer lilies I was inspired to plant by a photo posted by @KSav posted in the Flower a Day thread. It will exciting if they bloom this year.
Here from near where the first photos were taken you can see the near path taking off to the right and through the archway a shortcut to the far path.
Behind the spot where this photo was taken is the larger horseshoe raised be within which I created a new area to sit. Me:
And here are some of the plants in that area now that the rose has been moved. It's really only large enough for one chair. In the foreground is another terrestrial bromeliad and in the large brownish pot the the Hypericum inodorum Miracle Night, a St John's-Wort cultivar.
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This is all in the back garden and mostly in April.
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