Yardwork and Rain

Our front landscape was beginning to look a little sad. Basically it has sat untouched since we planted it, well almost. We have done a little work but basically it has had the freedom to do what it wants. Apparently it wanted to die more than anything. We have lost quite a few plants, namely the fan flowers and the flax. I contribute this primarily on poor irrigation and drainage.  In the case of the flax it was too much water. When I removed it, the root was completely rotted. I think it was not enough water with the fan flowers.

When we had the irrigation installed it was a one size fit all with drips for everyone. The problem was that we had a great variety of plants/succulent so this did not work well and the casualties were high. So now we have the hardy/just right bunch still around.

Our blue chalk sticks are doing OK but some parts shriveling up and dying. I think once again it is poor irrigation/drainage.  I pruned back the Mexican Sage and cleaned up the blue chalk sticks throwing away the dead parts and propagating the healthy parts.

I really need to address the Lions Tail but will wait till this fall to do some dead heading, I learned this from YouTube.  No it doesn't mean I will sit around smoking weed and listening to the Grateful Dead. Dead heading plants is to cut back any dead parts/flowers so that it will stimulate growth. I learned how to do it with the Lions Tail and will also figure out the best way for our Pride of Madeira and Licorice Plant. Both of those are out of control.

One thing I MUST  do in the next few weeks is to re-work my irrigation. There are a few other plants that are hanging on but for how much longer I am not sure.

We actually received some rain today, IN AUGUST!!! OK, for most everyone else it was a light sprinkle, but for us it is RAIN. We actually got more than what is in the picture, that was the beginning. Water actually came off the roof, we take what we can get.