Sidewalk "Hell-Strip" Planting

I love all plants but succulents in general don't make it into my gardens.  Succulents have a many great fans and I do appreciate their easy, low maintenance qualities.   Design wise, most plantings look like someone up-chucked a kaleidoscope.   Most people fail by choosing too many varieties of color, texture and stature.   I came accross this street side planting and instantly appreciated the simple, refined palette choice.   Like most planting schemes, limited number of plant but repeated is the way to go.  

What makes this planting successful is just three plants repeated.   Aeonium, Cotyledon orbiculata and Senecio.

Street of San Francisco - Jacaranda

Jacaranda mimosifolia in full bloom along 14th Street in San Francisco.

Plant Profile: Plectranthus neochilus

This lovely aromatic Plectranthus is an easy, non-stop flowering perennial here in San Francisco.   It is not at all cold tolerate and will turn to black mush anywhere near 32 degrees F.  Most places it must be considered an annual. What makes this plant so spectacular here is it's ability to root anywhere, any time of the year.   I toss my clippings where ever I want it to root and establish and it does!   I got mine at Plectranthus neochilus at Annie's Annuals.

Here it is with Verbena and Nigella.

Streets of San Francisco - E line

On my way home, I pull up behind the Melbourne Car #496 going home from a day of work on the new E-line.   The E-line connects Fisherman's Wharf with Caltrain running the entire way along the Embarcardo.  Next to gardens, trains are a dear passion of mine.

Streets of San Francisco - Bernal Heights

An unseasonably blue sky today in San Francisco.  This neighborhood has uniquely small lots, small cottages, small gardens and some steep streets.  Click on MUG Bernal Gardens to see my work.   I currently have one garden in Bernal Heights but have worked over 9 sites on all sides of the hill.