Before and After: Replacing a weedy patch with a new garden

It's getting hot out there now and with work in the garden slowing down it's time for an update on recent projects.  The first is in the back yard near the circle garden.  Last year this sloped area next to the fence sported a patch of weedy groundcover surrounded by wildflowers.  Not the best, but we had other fish to fry back then.

Foliage follow-up March 2013

Foliage Follow-up is sponsored by Pam Penick at Digging the day after Garden Blogger's Bloom Day each month to show off the foliage in our gardens. 

This week we are very busy in the garden preparing it for summer.  Even though the calendar will turn to spring soon we are due to hit 90F/32C by Monday and that means summer weather.  Our spring is typically short because our winter weather is spring-like compared to many parts of the country.

Spring foliage is special for the fresh green color of newly emerging foliage like this fig tree.  The fig is a breva fig formed on old wood which usually falls off as the new crop forms on new stems.

Visiting The Natural Gardener

When I learned that Pam Penick's first Lawn Gone! book presentation would be at The Natural Gardener I was thrilled.  Not only could I attend, but it was an opportunity for plant shopping at a great nursery which has been on my "must-see" list for several years.  After the main event I headed out to explore the grounds of a legend in the world of organic gardening.

First to the agave, yucca, and succulent display area.  This beautiful array of spikiness made me catch my breath.