Tuesday, 15 April 2014
What a difference it makes to have no wind! The temperature at midmorning was about the same 50F as yesterday but without wind, making for pleasant work weather. Monday’s wind had worn me out so much that I was still deeply asleep at 10:15 AM.
We had plants still loaded from yesterday so did not have to linger in the driveway loading the van. I still was struck by the beauty of two of my narcissi:
I have so many different narcissi that I lose track of the names. Two kinds you will rarely or never see in any of my gardens: double (rarely) or split cup (NEVER!) narcissi. I find the split cup ones just repulsive.
I never even used to plant the large trumpet types until my client Lorna of Andersen’s RV Park ordered a selection of them and I fell in love with the big showy apricot and peachy trumpets that she had picked.
It is considered in very poor taste to plant large trumpets anywhere naturalistic so I still avoid that garden faux pas. Here’s a great article on the topic. I’m afraid I’ve been losing my claim to good taste by planting more of those large trumpets.
I was having a terrible time waking up. A stop at Olde Towne Café for a double mocha helped a great deal.
And then, back to Fifth Street Park in Long Beach for some more weeding by the restroom building. The very last Phormium that we had cut back earlier this year, only because it was too big to pull out, had not sprouted any new leaves. To my delight, it was loose and a bit rotted and an experimental swing with the pick showed that it would come out with little trouble despite its size.
That was a ridiculous spot for a plant with big poky leaves, right by where people lean over the drinking fountain. I am happy to say it was the landscape architect, not I, who placed it there.
I also removed, with the pick, a nasty pampas grass that made it hard for the meter reader to get back to read the electrical meter. The same landscape architect once upon a time decided that pampas grass would be a great idea for all around the narrow side and back of the restroom building. Several years ago I completely rebelled against weeding back there because A) we had taken on the LB planters and did not have extra time and B) those huge grasses are just too silly and should be removed by someone far stronger than me.
I took a quick lopsided snapshot of the spitting clam across the street as folks were gathered by it and someone with a big microphone was doing an interview.
Our mission in Long Beach is to ready the three most pertinent parks for the Razor Clam Festival this weekend. At 2 PM on Saturday, there will be a dedication ceremony for the now functional clam. You know what this means; I must post, yet again, the letter Montana Mary wrote some years ago:
You can bet we make every effort to be there for the dedication, even though it is also beach clean up day.
Speaking of phormiums, there are three more in town in the entry garden to Veterans Field. They also show no signs of reviving. However, they are SEP (someone else’s problem) because even though this looks like a city garden, it is a business’s property. We hear a building expansion is happening here, and if it does, I will be so happy to see these phormiums go away.
I have to admit I planted that horrible stripey grass as it was given to me, by a nursery owner, as a Good Thing. And I also have to admit that Mike and I planted those damnable phormium back in the day when we thought they were so structural and grand, not knowing they each would get to the size of a small hut. When the business took over the property, I no longer had the authority to hoik them out!
Allan and I weeded and deadheaded the two blocks of planters that we had not gotten to late last week.
I experienced deep irritation at Fish Alley where I found TWO tulips in one whiskey barrel, and THREE in the other, where there should have been five each.
I’m determined to only mildly fume about the inevitable finger blight this year. It helps to let off steam in the blog.
With the planters and trees well cared for, we drove north of downtown to plant some perennials in Erin’s garden.
After Erin, we drove just a bit further north to The Anchorage Cottages to plant three Nicotiana langsdorfii, two Viola ‘Etain’, two Viola ‘Bowles Black’, and a few other treasures. Allan planted, I deadheaded and weeded. Slowly, our van was being emptied of plants.
The scilla (bluebells) in the courtyard garden are the bane of the Anchorage job; however, right now I bet the guests think correctly that they look just lovely.
It does not hurt to pull the foliage out as soon as the blue flower is gone. You cannot make this bulb go away.
Finally, we went to Coulter Park to weed by the Long Beach Depot building. By then, wind had returned and rain began, and I was sore and tired and wanted to be home with a nice cuppa tea. Coulter had to be done as there is a very special clam festival event there this Saturday and the weather might worsen later in the week.
We got the park ready for the Queen’s event and ended up back at Fifth Street Park just to apply a few more buckets of mulch that we’d picked up at the city works yard. The local Super 8 often has an inspirational sign. Today’s reminded me why we are out there in the rain gardening.
Loved all those narcissi.
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My favorite flower.
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A feast of flowers today.
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Great photos of the narcissus. One that I grow that is a close cousin to N. ‘Merlin” is N. ‘Goose Green’ very nice and tall and comes back each year. Agree on the split corolla – not in my yard.
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‘Goose Green’ is one that I want to grow; I always have a tendency to procrastinate on my order and then it is sold out. I love the photos I have seen of it.
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