A blank canvas to landscape in Southern California.

[OverGrown 516]

25g Dypsis ambositrae went into the ground yesterday under the cover of a young archontopheonix alexandrae and pisang ceylon bananas.  It is currently one of the shadiest spots in my back yard.  I have been acclimating this palm on the north side of my house for about six months.. it has opened one frond, the one most exposed to sun and is currently pushing another spear.  It has been planted in the same position/exposure as it was when on the north side of my house...it will receive at least another hour or two of sun in this new area.   

tucked in behind some cordylines...

[OverGrown 516]

I've also replanted this dypsis decipiens to replace another that had rotted out...this one was the one originally from the front of the house next to the carport.  I've mound planted it about 12 inches above grade.   I have since removed about 9 green waste bins worth of the blue chalk stick ground cover...they are thriving but I'm perpetually editing so I am looking to make room for more plantings and/or negative space.

This is the first time my cycas pectinata has flushed for me...

Lots of work been going on lately and still a lot to go...stay tuned!

[OverGrown 516]

Other work on the house has included remodeling one of three bathrooms.  I had a shower valve fail and I could not find a replacement due to the age of the fixture.  In an attempt to do swap out, I discovered that my combo tub and shower enclosure had been mudded in and everything would have to be ripped out. I figured it was time to update it anyway so I demo'd everything down to the studs.  This is the end result after three weeks. 

Glass mosaic feature wall w/ niche.

1'x4' non-slip flooring

1'x2' porcelain tile on all walls, larger medicine cabinets for storage, shallow vanity/sink

 

[OverGrown 516]

I take back everything I said about my garden being less maintenance than a pool.  There is considerable maintenance in terms of fertilization, pruning, transplanting and other edits...I've been getting excellent growth this past season and have stepped up the watering big time. 

[Palm Tree Jim 1,051]

20 hours ago, OverGrown said:

I take back everything I said about my garden being less maintenance than a pool.  There is considerable maintenance in terms of fertilization, pruning, transplanting and other edits...I've been getting excellent growth this past season and have stepped up the watering big time. 

HA!

It's a labor of love.....

[OverGrown 516]

On 9/8/2017, 6:25:48, Palm Tree Jim said:

HA!

It's a labor of love.....

lol...killing me slowly!...and with a recent back injury I'm starting to dread the work.

[Tracy S 203]

Bump. Please update with pictures. You are building a lovely garden and we would like to see the end product. 

[PalmTreeDude 1,719]

I think of gardens like hair, you can let it (them) grow out and cut it (maintain it) all at once every once and a while or you can cut it (maintain it) every few weeks or whenever. When it is cut all at once after a long time it is harder to do but you do it less often. But when it is cut often it is less work but you have to do it more.  

Edited January 16, 2018 by PalmTreeDude

[OverGrown 516]

On 1/14/2018, 7:20:16, Tracy S said:

Bump. Please update with pictures. You are building a lovely garden and we would like to see the end product. 

Hi Tracy.  It's been awhile since I've checked in on Palmtalk.  I will have lots of updates to show.  Stay tuned.

[OverGrown 516]

On 1/15/2018, 6:09:46, PalmTreeDude said:

I think of gardens like hair, you can let it (them) grow out and cut it (maintain it) all at once every once and a while or you can cut it (maintain it) every few weeks or whenever. When it is cut all at once after a long time it is harder to do but you do it less often. But when it is cut often it is less work but you have to do it more.  

Growth on this garden has been overwhelming to say the least.  I have to employ both strategies to keep it nice and tight.  These days I'm motivated by kids parties and get togethers to really tackle the maintenance. 

[OverGrown 516]

Bottom picture was from last week.

Edited July 2, 2018 by OverGrown

[OverGrown 516]

Recent flushes

[OverGrown 516]

Finally got around to finishing the two other bathrooms

[OverGrown 516]

Last bathroom

[OverGrown 516]

Odds and ends in the garden

[OverGrown 516]

Came across some Thermory wood (heat treated North American Ash) and finished my wall topper not too long ago 

[OverGrown 516]

 Now for a quick walk into the back yard

[OverGrown 516]

Pisano klotek / Ceylon bananas have grown in providing much needed shade and palms are filling in  slowly but steadily. 

[OverGrown 516]

Things are looking nice.

[OverGrown 516]

You can see I removed the bambusa vittata that once occupied this corner (2nd pic).  It took 4 days to dig it out by hand.  It wasn't necessary anymore for privacy and covering up eyesores as the other plants closer to the house were starting to do the same job as they grow in.  

[OverGrown 516]

Three different forms of encephalartos horridus (classic, wide leaf and razor wire)are featured in the hottest, driest part of the yard.  

Second pic is looking south back at the house

[OverGrown 516]

Looking  slightly south east in the first pic and west in the second

 

[OverGrown 516]

Looking southwest in the first pic 

Looking east in the second

[OverGrown 516]

Palms are starting to trunk and cycads flushing 

[OverGrown 516]

Botanical privacy wall

[OverGrown 516]

Ladies and gentlemen... we have trunks

[OverGrown 516]

Waited a long time for this.  It only gets better from here on out, I hope. 

[OverGrown 516]

More earthly delights

[OverGrown 516]

Cyphopheonix elegans still moving along albeit painfully slow. 

 

[OverGrown 516]

Lehmanii and plicatillis

 

Second pic is of the decaryi I got from Matt a few years ago

[OverGrown 516]

Little overview of the back

[OverGrown 516]

Looking out the sliding doors of my living room

[OverGrown 516]

The flexibility in the garden's original design continues to prove itself. 

[Josue Diaz 2,701]

Great progress. Looks amazing. And how in the world can you manage to keep your plants safe from the pack of powerful doggies? I have a pack of wolves (4 huskies) that love to run. I have to protect prized plants to keep the dogs from breaking them or running into them.

[Tracy S 203]

Gorgeous. You have a great collection of cycads and palms.thanks for sharing.

[OverGrown 516]

3 hours ago, Josue Diaz said:

Great progress. Looks amazing. And how in the world can you manage to keep your plants safe from the pack of powerful doggies? I have a pack of wolves (4 huskies) that love to run. I have to protect prized plants to keep the dogs from breaking them or running into them.

Thanks Josue,  they pretty much destroy the grass so I stay on top of reseeding, fertilizing, etc. to keep it looking it's best.  From time to time I restrict the dogs to a dog run to allow it to recover.   My dogs get to free roam the yard during the day and sleep in their kennels at night.  They have learned to avoid the spiked plants but they still kick mulch all over the track from running.  I let that slide because part of my daily routine is to hand water and I hose the track off anyway. 

[OverGrown 516]

3 hours ago, Tracy S said:

Gorgeous. You have a great collection of cycads and palms.thanks for sharing.

Thanks Tracy.  It's been fun and relaxing acquiring these plants.

[Matt in OC 1,042]

Looking good Peter!

[Hilo Jason 3,196]

Wow, thanks for the update!  Your place looks great!  

[Palm Tree Jim 1,051]

Great update!

Your garden has really developed well.