Viewing comments posted by wcgypsy

I was thrilled to see that the Coconut Geranium sailed through our winter with 25-28 degree nights, actually thriving, growing larger and more lush. I'm now thinking that I will actually use it as more of a ground cover more extensively.

The plants in my photos are seed-grown Melaleuca squarrosa. They're easily grown from seed and do well in our zone, which is Sunset Zone 17, rather a Banana Belt in the far northwestern corner of California. I have some that were sown from seed by myself, and some seedlings that were given to me by a friend who grows them 45 miles north of me, in Pistol River, Oregon. That area is also Sunset Zone 17, and the Aussies do well here and there. They were given to me by a 90-year-old friend who grows a lot of unusual things, and at 90 years old is still seeding his property with Aussies to naturalize. My young seedlings spent the perhaps 20-degree frosty nights this past winter beneath an outside table, draped with Visqueen.

I inherited a huge mound of this plant on a property once. I, myself, would never willingly plant this as it roots everwhere it touches the ground....and in finally getting the monster torn out, found an old grove mower that had long been covered by the galloping shrub.

This plant roots incredibly easily and quickly from tip cuttings in water. One year I rooted 300 2" length tips in baby food jars of water. Yeah, I got carried away because they root so readily.

I find the stems with the seed heads to be quite decorative and sturdy, suitable for gathering as a "woody" bouquet, or as a vertical element in arrangements.

In Caliifornia, Armstrong Nurseries and Home Depot have recently (2015) stopped carrying Nassella tenuissima due to its invasiveness.

"Hebe Blue Mist.....Deep green foliage with an upright growth habit. Early summer blooms in multiple pointed panicles of bright blue. Tends to be free flowering. Plant in full sun. Hardy to zone 7. Noted as one of the hardier Hebes."

I have sown 5 seeds of this telopea in paper towel / zip bag method and two seeds have now sprouted in 5-6 days. Seeds are best sown fresh.

Extremely Fragrant!

I had one plant of this growing in Southern California when we decided to move much farther North and I brought seeds from it with me. After moving up here, Crescent City, California....far northwest California, just below the Oregon border, usually 60 or so inches of rain annually, but only 30 or so the last two winters, I sowed seed and set out young plants, maybe 15, last fall, not knowing whether they would survive the winter or be killed by frost or wet soil and rotting. I planted them in 3 locations, from high mound with excellent drainage to a low-lying bed that would get the most water and in rather hard clay soil out in front by the road, all open to frost...and they all sailed right through winter. I would mention that this has been the warmest winter on record here, though.

I generally consider most salvias to be deer resistant.....but, deer have recently munched one of my two young forsskaolei down to the ground.

I have aristea major and have had it for about 3-4 years. It has not flowered yet and I've read that it can take 5 years to flower from seed, so be aware that if you get it as a very small size that it may take years to flower.

This plant can be invasive...

The flower colors on seedlings will range from a deep blue to purple to 'purplish' pink to light blue.

Artemisia annua / Sweet Annie is wonderful dried and used as a swag or added to a floral / herbal dried wreath.
There are medicinal uses for the plant also.

The rabbits here on my property will go to any lengths to reach geranium maderense to gobble it! Even when elevated on a stand amongst other potted plants, they manage to climb/ jump to reach it. If you have rabbits in your area and wish to grow this plant, you will most likely have to protect it in some way.

This is a charming little plant that reveals its full potential and beauty when allowed to fill in as a groundcover. In my zone, in Southern California, it reseeds prolifically and is tough and trouble-free. It's been growing on my property for 30 years now and just keeps going.

The California Avocado Commission describes the Fuerte Avocado as being:

Pear-shaped
Medium sized seed
Medium large fruit, 5-14 ounces
Easily peeled
Smooth green skinned
Creamy, pale green fleshed
Harvested late Fall-Spring

This cultivar is smaller than the species.

Everybody should have Apple Scented Geranium. It's an absolutely delightful plant. Nice growth habit, well suited to pot culture. It does reseed. With one pot of this is in my nursery area, it self-sows into the other pots, which is a gift since it is such a wonderful plant.The scent is amazing.