Arboretum Beats Out Gym

Japenese Anemone
Looking towards Lake Spafford
Plant labels and informational signs are easy to find!


Tonight step class at the gym lost out to a walk to and through the UCDavis Arboretum. With a high today in the 80's it was the perfect evening to visit a section of the arboretum, established in 1936, that includes almost 100 acres running along Putah Creek. The arboretum is the main source of horticultural information for inland California and is arranged in a series of gardens including the Mediterranean Collection, the Redwood Memorial Grove, the Desert Collection, the Early California Garden, the Carolee Shields White Flower Garden (a special place to visit under a full moon!) and several other gardens. Ducks, bunnies and joggers shared the space with students, strollers and dogs. We walked and talked and pondered choices for my friend's proposed garden renovation. One of many bridges over Putah Creek.

We ended our arboretum visit at the Arboretum Terrace, a wonderful demonstration garden near downtown Davis. The walk back to my friend's house (and my car) took us past many older homes with interesting gardens...at least I think they were because by then it was too dark to enjoy them. Next time we'll have to walk faster! The last photo taken before dark is a mystery plant in a yard near the demonstration garden...anyone care to venture a guess on what this is? We had several guesses but remain...in the dark!

Tag, You're It!

Thanks (I think!) to Cindy from My Corner Of Katy for tagging me with the “six random things about yourself” meme. The rules are as follows:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

With no further ado here are six things about me that are pretty random…

1. I have a book addiction. I learned to read young and often read two or three books a week. I’m reading more nonfiction as I get older. The pace has slowed down since I started reading so many blogs!
2. I love cheesy, happily-ever-after movies. I love them even more if they are musicals with big dance numbers. (That’s how you know, that’s how you know, that’s how you know he’s your love…)
3. I have an overwhelming urge to move the brick edging of my garden beds just a few inches into the lawn. That’s how the front lawn disappeared.
4. I work out at a gym because I have no self discipline to do it on my own. I do step and/or spin classes 3-4 times a week to try to keep in shape and to ward off depression.
5. I hope to someday visit the little Italian village where my grandparents were born.
6. I hate shopping, pretty much all shopping, but especially at malls. (well, except for nurseries!)

Now I need to tag six bloggers…and since it’s summer and lots of people seem busy in the garden…if you’re reading this and you are at all interested please help me out and consider yourself tagged!

GBBD July 2008

The best thing in my garden... The Sweet Granddaughter (and shastas)
Eggplant

Origanum laevigatum "Herrenhausen"
Lemon Verbena

Four O'Clocks


Despite the heat of last week there are still blooms to be found in Davis. Many herbs and vegetables are happy and didn't mind the heat at all...they thrive on it resulting in much of the farm land here being planted in tomatoes and other heat lovers. Trying to keep up with the gardening at the peak growing season, begin the year's canning by putting up jam, as well as visiting with family coming into town and continuing to care for the day care children has resulted in a last minute GBBD post...hopefully to be completed before my son shows up to straighten out an internet hook-up glitch!
So here's what's blooming today in Davis~

Solanum jasminoides
Solanum rantonnetii
White agapanthus
Lemon verbena
Alstroemeria regina
Glossy Abelia
Pelargoniums
Lavendula pinnata bucchii
Lavandula Wings of Night
Geranium Rozanne
Dietes
Plumbago capensis
Anisodontea Elegant Lady
A. Hibiscus Bits
A.Very Cranberry
Pink Pandorea
Star Jasmine
Wisteria
Erodium
Lobelia
Vinca
Allysum
Wax begonias
Shastas
Carnation Evermore
Scabiosa
Blue marguerite
Comet Pink marguerite
Nepeta Walker's Low
Dianthus
Rosa Flower Girl
Abutilon
Society Garlic
Lilium Sorbonne
Lilium auratum virginale
Hollyhock Chaters Double
Gaura
Salvia May Night
Salvia Freisland Pink
Salvia Mulberry Jam
Salvia Dancing Dolls
Salvia Caradonna
Salvia Victoria Blue
Salvia Clary
Salvia greggii Moonlight
Autumn Sage
Vinca
Penstemon Apple Blossom
Hemerocallis Teahouse Tapestry
Hymenocallis narcissiflora
Chamomile
Cardoon
Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplant
Fennel
Borage
Anise
Anise hyssop
Chives
Oregano
Green beans
Zucchini
Cucumbers

Blooms in the Smoke

Lilium Sorbonne


Hemerocallis Teahouse Tapestry


Cardoon...no I haven't cooked any yet!


Hymenocallis narcissiflora


Some of the first Padrone peppers of the year...pick, rinse, saute quickly in a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt and eat! Use the stem for a handle...yum!

Here are a few photos of recent blooms in Davis. It's difficult to enjoy them as the air has been really awful due to the wildfires burning all around northern California...none of them near enough to worry about burning here but the smoke is pretty much disgusting. This isn't the first time we've had fire smoke here but it isn't very common either. Add to the smoke multiple triple digit heat days (106.5 today!) and the garden isn't a good place to be right now. Reading garden blogs will reveal that pretty much all gardeners suffer/endure gifts of nature of one type or another...we may not enjoy our own particular gifts but we do seem to acclimate to what we're given. The Austin bloggers talk about closing up shop to a certain degree in the heat of summer, midwesterners have their humidity, thunderstorms and tornadoes, there are ice storms many places around the country and that doesn't even get into the insect problems or things like poison ivy. But being the compulsive/dedicated gardeners that we seem to be we just carry on...knowing that this too will pass. For myself, I know (please, please, please) that the smoke will clear and I know that the heat will not keep up...we should be back into the 90's (hey...it's a dry heat!) by Sunday.