Blast from the Past

Now, I havent missed San Diego since moving to the UK..and I have rarely looked back....but I just saw a few pictures the other day, and decided I would post a few o my garden pics of the past.  These are all from my balcony looking out into the canyon. Notice the Eucalyptus in the canyon....we also had bushes of jade plant there as well.  Lots of humming birds.. (more later!).  I had baskets of ivy pelargoniums from the balcony.  This was my succulent and drought tolerant garden....  Enjoy!

Seed Swap?

Me at the beach in the Early 80's

I am anxious to do a seed swap, but haven’t seen any good ones here, so I contacted a UK site, and may gather up the neighbours for a good swapping this autumn! 

It is a bit of effort, but it is fun! I dont have alot of seed this year from my garden, but can trade stuff I have bought as well…as you usually don’t need the full packet. I do have chives, nigella, salad burnet, and will have a few kinds of oregano, poppies, and nasturtium. The picture above is from my garden at the beach in Johnson's Bayou in Louisiana in the early 80’s…I can almost feel that sun on those zinnias!  I wouldnt try growing them here in the UK as they woul get mildewy and need lots o sun...

If anyone has any ideas about seed swapping or the best seed/cutting swaps please let me know!!!!

Whattdya think?

Ornamental Kale Coral Prince  


 

Is that what I saw on the Seven sisters hike?

A little venture out...Seven Sisters (flowers too!)

I finally went hiking....went out to the Seven Sisters Hike near Eastbourne that I had also done last year....phenomenal weather (minus the wind!) Seven Sisters.  Besides gardening...this is my second biggest passion (well and traveling too!) Enjoy!

Eastbourne Pier

Me!

Wild Kale?  That looks like something ornamental you would plant in the winter for color!

Autumn Berries are coming....

Beautiful, beautiful views....

 

Towards the end of our journey...a river spilling into the sea

Test

I’m trying out windows live writer for the first time to see how it works with the blog….so far it seems better visually than the old web page…I will try with pictures later… If you have any experience with live writer or other blog applications, please give me your thoughts in the comments space below.  Thanks.

In Memory Of Smokey

I was shuffling through my old pictures of San Diego, looking for plectranthus...when I saw my little Smokey sunning himself on top of my helichrysum gone wild in my flower bed...priceless..  He and I loved the garden together....now I have a little figure in memory of him that goes with me to each garden of life :).

Speaking of Helischrysum....the one I have in my garden in the UK is also fantastic and so easy to maintain (curry plant)...

 

Phabulous Plectranthus

Rather than just talking about my garden and my little projects, I thought I would start talking also about plants I love.... Some of them are like a dingy little pot you've had for years and take it with you wherever you move...worth nothing but you are attached to it for some reason, and use it more than all of your fancy stuff...  This is the way I feel about Plectranthus.  Unfortunately, it is not hardy in the UK, but thank goodness I can get a bit of it and can make cuttings overwinter to have it for the next year.  This year, it has not been prolific, but with full sun it does fantastically.  By the way, another very common form in the U.S. is called just plain ole' Swedish Ivy. It is a part of the mint family.  As many have scents, like scented geraniums...they are pest and animal resistant too! (no deer, rabbits, insects, etc to worry about!!)  And drought tolerant!!!

Plectranthus Verticillatus

Plectranthus is a succulent, and comes in many forms....I will share with you just a few I have had, what I have seen in the UK, and perhaps a few more.  I see so many at Wisely (RHS garden)....I only wish they would sell more of it...perhaps the writing of this article will prompt me to ask them....you only need a little cutting :)

This is a good link with places you can buy plectranthus in the UK...(most centres have at least on at their garden center.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3335953/How-to-grow-Plectranthus-argentatus.html

Plectranthus Argentatus

Plectranthus neochilus--This one is great ground cover is warm areas (drought tolerant)...but smells unfortunately like skunk (perhaps it will keep cats away?)...I loved it anyway...

From my garden in San Diego (2005)

How it looks in mass.

Plectranthus madagascariensis 'Variegated Mintleaf' 
This variegated plectrathus did so well in plantings in San Diego throughout my flower beds...now I use it here in pots

Plectranthus barbatus

This plectranthus grows up to 10 feet...mine in San Diego grew up to 6 feet....

PLECTRANTHUS CILIATUS EASY GOLD

Last note....these are great for hanging baskets in summer and can grow indoors on a windowsill.  Cuttings are so easy and will root in water so a great plant for sharing.  I hope you have enjoyed this article....Enjoy searching on this plant...and I hope I have convinced you to try it! Below I have attached a fun little video link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQdyxum_0Sk