Dearborn Bouquet and Bounty

We are currently reaping the wonderful bounty from our community garden plot.   This bouquet includes the unusual April Dahlia, Ranunuculus asiaticus 'White', white velarian and parsley.

I like to pack it in.  I don't want to see the soil.   I've combined the French intensive technique with my passive aggressive algorithm of editing annual seeds and perennial plants.   It's a tournament of the flowers;  May the best plant win.  But of course I stick my nose into the process, limiting those that are too vigorous and making sure there's an even succession of flowers.  It's all about the process.  I'm in control for a couple hours every Sunday.   Then Nature has her way for a week.

Rosa 'Queen of Sweden'

This lovely, so lovely pink rose with matte glaucus leaves is just starting it's first flush of 2018.  Along with Wisteria, Santa Barbara Daisy, Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina' and a blue Forget-Me-Not.   

Hollywood Juniper Hedge

Along with Pittosporum 'Golf Ball', Sesleria autumnalis, Achillea millefolium 'Paprika' and the Calla Lily.

Breaking the Lantern and Fixing It.

Yes, at the end of my visit, I break my client's lantern.  I hit it with my leg as I was removing the orchard ladder from the flower bed.   It fell over and broke into nine pieces.  Ugh!

Fortunately it broke cleanly.  I gather the pieces and glued them back together.  

Valencia Street Rain Catchment

Over the last 10 years, the city of San Francisco has been installing rain catchments to slow the rainfall that hits the treatment plants during storms.  This one is looking good with Salvias, Irises, Grasses, reeds, or are the rushes, and yarrow.

Roses in Glen Park

This week the roses busted out!  Wow!   Five rose bushes in the perennial garden are starting or are well into their first flush of the year. 

Dearborn Community Garden Spring Meeting and Fashion Show.

Our community garden's Spring meeting and my plot is looking fantastic.  We rebuilt our bed in November adding six inches of soil and completely redecorated the bed.

Today we see the end of the spring showing of the white dahlias.  Dinner Plate?  I'm not sure, they're big and lovely in a freaky February showing.   The purple poppies are starting to bloom and the foxglove is producing well.  Everything is staked well and should be well supported.

Spring in the Marina District of San Francisco

Dearborn After Atmosphere River Delivered Over 2 Inches of Rain

Most notable new entry blossum is the Ranunuculus asiaticus 'White'.   I started from bulbs from Flowercraft, a local retail nursery.  One of the four I planted turned out to be pink. 

New Plants from Annies Spring Fete

Here's a hint what's coming this summer in my gardens:

Early April Glen Park Rose

First week of April we have a rose blossom.   I planted this Rosa 'Mme Alfred Carriere' in February 2016.  This is the first of dozens of blooms on 7 vigorous canes, some up to 17 feet long.   This rose from David Austin in Texas, established itself in 18 months.  

Original Joe's Westlake Restaurant

Althought not in the city limits of San Francisco, this iconic mid century destination is well worth a trip to Westlake neighborhood in Daly City.

Original Joe's Westlake

Eureka Valley Roof Deck

Refreshing a pot on a roof deck I installed a few years ago.

Glen Park Spring Explosion

This Winter has been warm. It started off dry but more rain has arrived toward the end. Spring has been warm, sunny with moisture in the soil. Lots are plants are blooming. I'll call out the ones I know below:



White Flowers: Michelia crassipes (I hear its back in Magnolia), Erigeron karvinskianus, Omphalodes linifolia 'Venus's Navelwort', Heliotropium arborescens 'Album', and Loropetalum.