Saguaro Feliz: febrero 2022

domingo, 27 de febrero de 2022

See a Succulent Collectors’ Garden Renovation Amazing tips

In my latest video, you'll tour a renovated collector's garden north of San Diego that is a living gallery of rare and unusual succulents. I’ve followed this garden since 2008, and it appears in my books. Over time it became overgrown and needed a good going-over. You’ll see before-and-after photos, and how the designer groups rocks and boulders to create interesting vignettes.

Succulent vignette with rocks

The layout was fine, but a lot of plant material needed to be removed to reveal (or to salvage) large, mature specimens that deserved prominence. The owners, who are discerning succulent collectors, hired a designer who specializes in cactus and succulent landscapes: Steve McDearmon of Garden Rhythms. In the video, Steve shows us the garden as it's nearing completion.

Planted area under sumac

At the owners' request, Steve brought in additional rare succulents to add to the collection, including intriguing variegates I'd yet to see.

Sources

There are succulents being trialed (tested) in the garden that are not yet commercially available, but the majority of new plant material came from:

Steve also brought in more than 20 yards of soil, plus his favorite warm-hued rocks, boulders and gravel.

Steve's rocks

Rock for succulent gardens (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Left: rubble rock; center, 3/8-inch gravel; right ornamental boulder.

Steve's tried-and-true combo of three kinds of rock includes boulders that blend hues of blue-gray, lavender and rust. At KRC Rock they're called Honey Quartz; and at other suppliers---such as Southwest Boulder & Stone---Apache Sunset.

Rocks larger than gravel but smaller than fist-sized are Copper Canyon rubble. Gravel topdressing is 3/8-inch Mojave Gold, which Steve likes because it's "not too bright. It's gray and brown with flecks of white."

Step-by-Step: Succulent Garden Renovation

Think of it like clearing out a closet: Take out everything you don't want, put back only what you do, and decide what if anything should be added.

Evaluate areas to be redone. Remove any plants that are tired, ailing, ugly, in the way, or you no longer like.
Remove weeds and debris and trim and cut back anything that's overgrown or needs pruning and lacing.
Flag large plants that'll serve as focal points.
Decide which plants should stay, and which will be moved and where.
As well as design and aesthetics, consider plants' sun-shade requirements and size at maturity.
Evaluate locations, prior to planting, from main vantage points.
Check and improve hardscape, walkways, steps, sitting areas, and other people-oriented amenities.
Fix any infrastructure issues, such as plumbing, irrigation, lighting, drainage, and terracing. Note: The irrigation Steve mentions is Netafim techline. (Affiliate link)
When you have a relatively blank slate, bring in soil and create mounds and swales.
Add boulders so they look natural---not evenly spaced or in straight lines, but rather irregular groupings.
Set plants where they'll go: those you're repositioning or are in nursery pots.
Once everything's planted, adjust irrigation.
Add topdressing. Steve starts with swaths of rubble rock in beds, bordering pathways.
Cover remaining bare soil with approximately two inches of gravel.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide. It's a powder that prevents weeds from germinating.

Gallery of Collectors' Garden plants

Aeonium 'Sunburst'

Agave 'Blue Flame' variegated

Agave 'Blue Glow' variegated

Agave 'Kichijokan' variegated

Agave 'Streaker'

Agave attenuata, variegated

Agave bracteosa, variegated

Agave filifera ssp. schidigera (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Agave filifera ssp. schidigera, variegated

Agave isthmensis

Agave nickelsiae (ferdinandi-regis)

Agave parryi var. truncata

Aloe 'Hercules', variegated, Agave angustifolia 'Variegata'

Aloe 'Hercules', variegated

Aloe 'Hercules'

Aloe 'Wildfire'

Aloe cameronii

Aloe dorotheae

Aloe nobilis, variegated

Aloe plicatilis

Aloe striata, variegated

Cereus peruvianus 'Monstrosus'

Cyphostemma juttae with fruit

Dracaena draco, Agave angustifolia 'Variegata'

Dracaena reflexa (Song of India)

Dudleya brittonii

Echeveria agavoides 'Ebony'

Echeveria horrida (E. polygona) 'Snowflake'

Euphorbia ammak, crested

Ferocactus latispinus with boulders

Ferocactus sp.

Graptosedum 'Vera Higgins'

Kalanchoe fedschenkoi, variegated

Kalanchoe luciae cultivar

Mangave 'Spotty Dotty'

Mangave sp.

Mangave sp.2

Oreocereus celsianus (Old Man of the Andes)

Portulacaria afra 'Minima' variegated

Ruschia pulvinaris

Related Info on this Site

Why You Really Need Rocks

Smart designers cover bare soil with rocks in succulent gardens that are as sophisticated and good-looking as they are practical.

Carolyn Schaer garden (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Carolyn’s Dragon Tree Garden, Before-and-After

See a colorful, professionally done garden of low-water, regionally appropriate succulents, some unusual, many large, and all thriving today, seven years after installation. Includes designer tips, specs and gallery of 40+ plants.

Succulent Landscapes

Succulent Landscapes Design ideas and must-dos for your yard’s transformation Want to transform your yard into a low-maintenance, low-water succulent garden? This page guides you to helpful info on this site and on my YouTube channel. Before you purchase plants or pick up a shovel, do obtain my book Designing with Succulents (2nd ed). It’s mainly about…

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jueves, 24 de febrero de 2022

Oh, No, My Succulents Froze! Amazing tips

Not good. This morning the birdbath was solid ice and lemons had frozen on the tree. Even those succulents I'd covered have patchy areas indicating damaged tissue. Those not covered (above) look worse.

Last night's forecast was 30 degrees, but parts of my garden likely went lower as cold air flowed and settled. Frost cloth and bedsheets added a few degrees, but it was the duration of the cold that made the difference.

Covering succulents for frost (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

It was windy while I was covering plants, so I secured sheets with clothespins.

Not all of this region---inland Southern CA---gets frost. Avocado and citrus orchards sit atop slopes so frost drains away. Hilltops often are fine at the same time valleys freeze.

Winter had been mild up to now. I was optimistic; I didn't think a late frost would be bad. Hopefully you saw frost advisories on the news and/or designer Laura Eubanks' social media post showing she'd covered her own garden.

So...how are your succulents? If you didn't cover them, is it too late? If there's damage, what's to be done?

You won't be able to tell the extent of the damage for a few days. That's time to rethink what-goes-where, and consider summer concerns as well.

Here on the cusp of frost, it often comes down to microclimates.

Case in point: After getting tired of covering them in winter, I grow crassulas only along my home's east-facing wall, beneath eaves. There they get morning sun, are protected from cold, heat, harsh sun and hail, and benefit from the wall's radiant warmth.

Dead and badly damaged plants will need to be removed.

If jades, kalanchoes and others turn brown and collapse, you probably don't want them.

Frostburned succulent before pruning (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

This Portulacaria afra will look good again, once frost-burned branches are removed.

Wait until the weather warms---late March---then prune survivors back to healthy tissue. (Leave dead top growth for now; it helps insulate.) Spring works wonders, and plants will grow fast after late-winter rains.

Pruning is fine for shrub succulents like jades but not most aeoniums. Once a rosette freezes, leaves fall off, leaving naked stems. The good news is that succulent roots are shallow, and removal is quick: Yank-and-toss.

Trees are important inland

Speaking of Laura Eubanks...San Diego's best- known designer prefers not to plant under trees because leaf drop spoils a succulent garden's tidy aesthetic. That's smart along the coast, where temps range from the low 40s to the high 80s. But inland, trees serve to protect tender succulents from harsh weather.

The top of this jade is toast, but the plant's OK. Notice healthy growth at its base.

I have few deciduous trees because I want year-round canopies that moderate excessive sun, heat and cold. I've noticed that after succulents get a foot tall or fill in, leaves filter down through them. Under my oaks, hardscape is messier than planted areas. During hot weather, I blast with a hose those succulents with leaves in their crowns, like agaves and aloes. Year-round, I sweep (or blow) leaves from steps, patios and walkways.

Btw, I'm keeping my plants covered for a couple more nights, until lows are safely above the mid-30s. If you haven't covered yours, well, the worst is over, and (sad to say) once the damage is done, there's probably no point in doing so.

So, how did your garden fare during the frost?

Comments, questions, tips and suggestions welcome...but don't forget to mention your city or region. It matters!

Related Info on this site

Cold Hardy Succulents: Details, Photos and Varieties

Cold-Hardy Succulents: Details, Photos & Varieties Looking for succulents that go below freezing? You’re in the right place! About cold-hardy succulents The common cold-hardy succulents shown here can handle northern winters, snow, rainstorms (if given excellent drainage) and summer dry spells. Sedum (stonecrop) Trailing varieties are lovely as ground covers and in rock gardens, terraces and hanging…

Frost and Succulents: What You Need to Know

See the video Depending on how long temps stay below freezing (32 degrees F), “frost tender” succulents may show varying degrees of damage. When moisture in the cells of a vulnerable plant freezes, it expands, bursts cell walls, and turns leaves to mush. In a “light frost,” leaf tips alone may show damage (“frost burn”). In a “hard…

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viernes, 18 de febrero de 2022

See Baby Birds (Fledglings) at Feeders Amazing tips

Fledglings are toddlers of the bird world: cute, endearing and fun to watch. They're awkward, curious, beg loudly, and don't let their parents out of their sight.

In my new video, you’ll see nine different types of western birds shortly after they've left the nest. In spring and summer, look for these flying jewels in your own backyard.

You'll also see something unexpected: a fledgling cowbird (more about this below).

Make birdwatching fun and fascinating

Here I explain how to make feeding birds easy, convenient and rewarding. You'll learn how I attract wild birds, make decorative feeders from repurposed items, and where I place them---plus tips if you're new to birdwatching and feeding.

Goldfinch, House Finch feeder (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Lesser goldfinches and house finches flock to a bird cage feeder

Attract wild birds

I get kibble and jelly at the market and suet, raw peanuts and seeds online (shelled for less mess). I don't bother with expensive food like nyger, which is highly perishable and requires a fine-mesh feeder.

Here's what I give the main feathered guests to my garden. All of these birds are common throughout the West.

American Crow: I provide kibble made for small dogs or cats, and give the birds water to soften it. Crows also appreciate peanuts and protein-rich leftovers.
California Quail and Mourning Doves forage for seeds that fall from feeders, especially millet.
California Scrub-Jay: Not fussy but like suet, kibble, and split whole peanuts (raw).
Finches (House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch): Raw, unsalted, hulled sunflower seeds.

Fledgling grosbeak

Grosbeak (Black-headed): Suet, grape jelly.
Oak Titmouse: Raw, unsalted, split peanuts.
Oriole (Bullock's and Hooded): Grape jelly.
Occasional and seasonal visitors include chickadees, warblers, wrens, sparrows and nuthatches. All like suet and sunflower seeds.

This Baby's a Parasite?!

Fledgling cowbirds squeak loudly and incessantly. They sound like a dog toy

It’s called “brood parasitism:” Cowbirds lay eggs in the nests of other birds, which then raise them. No doubt you'll be surprised, as I was, which sleek birds are the large, fluffy cowbird's foster parents. (From the video.)

Simple decorative feeders

To enhance the beauty and personalities of backyard birds, I repurpose thrift store items as feeders. They're visually intriguing, and besides, commercial feeders are unnecessary. Birds don't care, so long as they can access the food.

A tea-party grouping makes birds easy to see

I look for wrought iron candleholders, which provide perches and have glass votive cups to hold seed. I also use ornamental bird cages. These allow small birds to get to peanuts while keeping larger birds (like jays) out. Not to mention that watching wild birds exit and re-enter cages makes humans do a double-take.

Where to put feeders

When placing a feeder, keep in mind whatever is below it will be showered with bird droppings and seed fragments.
To hang feeders from your eaves, you'll need S-hooks and chains, a hammer, and nails.

Feeders should be:

Seen easily from indoors
Near where birds can dart into leafy cover
High enough to deter cats and rodents
Quick and easy for you to access
Close enough to windows so birds can't get enough momentum to slam into them.

If you're new to feeding birds...

The sound of your voice may not startle birds, but sudden movements will.
Obtain a Sibley's birding guide specific to your region, or a bird ID app for your phone.
Get a good pair of binoculars. Mine are Polaris Optics.
Add a birdbath or fountain. Birds need to drink and bathe, and water attracts those that don't go to feeders.

A finch bathes in my garden fountain

Be patient. It may take birds several weeks or even months to find a feeder.
Hang breakable feeders so they won't hit each other if jolted by wings or wind.
At dusk, bring indoors feeders that might attract nocturnal varmints.
Keep feeders clean. Wash with soap and hot water, and rinse well.

Btw, I no longer feed hummingbirds because sugar syrup attracts ants, but if you do put up hummingbird feeders, remember that mildew and fungus can be deadly.

Note: Amazon links are affiliate.

On my YouTube channel check out my playlist: Debra’s Bird Feeders.

Which birds are smartest?

I noticed that finches will feed vertically if need be---beaks straight down and tail feathers skyward. This made me wonder what other antics and acrobatics birds might do. So I made a puzzle feeder (link below) to find out. I discovered how clever different kinds of birds can be.

Bird Puzzle Feeder: A New Way to Enjoy Your Garden

A “puzzle feeder” is a fun, novel way to observe and enjoy backyard birds. When given a challenge to solve, birds show persistence, determination, and how clever they are—or not. In my new video you’ll see nine different wild birds, from darling titmice to badass orioles. Find a list of simple, inexpensive supplies below.

Creative Bird Feeder Materials & How-To

To make lovely bird feeders like those in my YouTube video, Eight Creative Bird Feeders for Your Garden, you’ll find materials, suggestions and how-to here.

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miércoles, 16 de febrero de 2022

Your Spring Succulent Checklist Amazing tips

Do these to avoid problems and maintain plant health

Links below take you to detailed information elsewhere on my site. And hey! Do visit my *Succulent Propagation Page---it's newly updated with basic-but-essential info.

Get rid of weeds, roots and all. They're easy to pull or hoe now while ground is soft from rain. If you wait, they'll use the rain to grow, grow, grow and go to seed.
Top-dress bare soil to enhance the appearance of planted areas, keep weeds at bay, reduce erosion, and hold in soil moisture.
Treat your agaves for snout weevil. This needs to be done every spring and fall. The pests attack agave relatives, so also douse yuccas, beaucarneas, mangaves and furcraeas.
Fertilize your plants as they enter their spring growth spurt.
Obtain nursery plants. Get them in the ground before summer heat hits.
Shop for flowering ice plants. They bloom gangbusters in spring, so this is your annual chance to select the colors you want.
*Start pups and cuttings. There's no better time.
If you've yet to do so, trim woody perennials (roses, mallow, salvias) by about half, and cut ornamental grassesto the ground.
Check your automatic irrigation system and adjust as needed. Don't wait---as I've done---until a prized plant dries-and-dies.

How to Propagate Succulents

How to Propagate Succulents Learn the many ways to make more succulents from existing plants Find growth-producing tissue Most succulents can be propagated vegetatively—via stem cuttings, pulling apart offsets, or rooting leaves. The key is to locate the growth tissue that grows roots. This meristematic tissue is at… bands on stems where leaves once were attached the base…

How to Fertilize Your Succulents

How to Fertilize Succulents FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Feeding succulents at the right time and with the right fertilizer will enhance the plants’ health and vigor. Here are answers to your FAQs. When should I feed my succulents? Expand The best times to fertilize your succulents are in spring when daytime temps stay above 60 degrees…

Why You Really Need Rocks

Smart designers cover bare soil with rocks in succulent gardens that are as sophisticated and good-looking as they are practical.

Agave snout weevil damage (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Agave Snout Weevil Prevention and Treatment

Agave snout-nosed weevil is a half-inch-long black beetle with a downward-curving proboscis that enables it to pierce an agave’s core, where it lays its eggs. Grubs hatch, consume the agave’s heart, then burrow into the soil to pupate.

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See Fledglings at My Bird Feeders Amazing tips

Spring is the time to spot backyard birds, including those that recently left the nest. Fledglings are cute, endearing and clumsy. My latest video shows fledglings exhibiting "baby" behaviors such as begging from, and pursuing, their parents.

A great way to see adult birds and their offspring is at feeders. I hope you find inspiration in the simple, lovely alternatives to commercial feeders shown on my site and in my videos.