Green Scene Booty 2010 and redux

Green Scene is my favorite event of the entire year.
And each year the Green Scene seems to reflect the mood of the gardening public. I can remember years where the MUST HAVE plant was clematis. And roses, particularly the David Austins and Romanticas. Then the perennials took over. And cottage garden plants.

In the last few years the succulent/cactus growers have far outnumbered the rest of the offerings. There have been an increasing number of vendors with native plants also. A very good trend, and one nurtured by the offerings in the Potting Shed at the Arboretum all year round.
However...
I'm christening this year, the YEAR of the TOMATO. Tomatoes were everywhere. Every size, shape, and color. Heirlooms to beefsteaks. Get out the salt shakers!


So, in my previous post from today, you may note a few items from last year's stash. (See Green Scene Booty, April 2009) The bulbine I purchased last year is visible behind the nasturtiums. It's spread out nicely and produced some lovely flower stalks.

The scented geranium, also pictured in the What's Blooming on Earth Day post, is doing well in a pot just inside the driveway gate. The fuzzy plectrantus also survived.



The flat as a pancake aeonium has just about outgrown this pot. Time to transplant into a larger bowl shaped container. Maybe it will flower?


This succulent thingie I got last year, can't remember the name, loves the shade, but got mealy bug last summer. Gone now. Tripled in size. Might transplant it into the ground in a nice shady spot out back. I like the flat fern-like growth.













Here's this year's purchases, (minus the tomatoes and catnip we planted over at Biker Boy's house) parked in my very special second (or third) hand Radio Flyer, painted green. I love the way it goes thunkity thunk.



What is it about catmint? Can't resist it. Must be that perfect combination of lavender and greyish green. Got some catnip, too. The cats have already smashed it down. Why do cats need to lie on the stuff? There's some dill in there... goes good with salmon. And some nice yellow sedum. And a shade tolerant mimulus.

Must get them planted.

What's Blooming on Earth Day?

What's Blooming in April?

Madame Alfred Carriere, of course. This French beauty is the light of my life in April when its first bloom blows me away with it's gentle scent and delicate pink flowers. I can't bear to cut them. There must be over 200 roses on the 12 ft. tall climber right now. It reminds me so much of French Haute Couture. There is a skirt at Paula, (my favorite place for guilty shopping in Tustin), that is covered with flowers just like this. Wearing that skirt would make me think of the Madame all year round.

It's just impossible for me to get a photograph that shows the density of the roses on this... what do I call it?... It's practically a tree! I can see it through the picture window next to my computer desk as I work. Such a satisfying thing, to have this wonder of nature repeat this show for me each spring.

Hooray! The lilac bloomed again. This time the flowers are well formed. But there are still so few. I think the shade from the Euphorbia Cotinifolia is too dense. I would consider moving it, but it took five years to get a bloom! Pruning the Euphorbia in the winter might be a better option.

Bluebird Alert! I think I have a nesting pair. Hoping to get photos this weekend.

Don't forget the Green Scene at the Fullerton Arboretum this weekend. It's my most favorite and anticipated event of the year. Is that just too nerdy?