Succulents and More™

I had an open garden yesterday for the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society (SCSS) and my volunteer group at the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery . I’d put in a lot of effort to make things look nice — tidying up, weeding, filling in holes with new plants, adding top dressing, even getting more rocks. I won’t lie, it was a good amount of work, but in the end, it was worth it. My previous open gardens had all been in the morning, but this time I decided to do it from 1 to 5pm because the afternoon light is so beautiful at this time of year. The weather couldn’t have been better: bright and sunny, with a high of 81°F at 4pm. I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect day. The turnout was great. I didn’t keep track of how many people came, but there was a steady stream of visitors. My friends Michele and Kyle, who know my garden well, were on hand to help answer questions. Several people mentioned how seeing my garden had given them ideas for their own. Hearing that made me happy. I...

This is part 2 of my post about two recent visits to the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Click here to read part 1 if you haven’t already. As I mentioned in part 1, the Ruth Bancroft Garden is only 3½ acres, but there are so many things to see that it takes a while to walk through. Last weekend, I was with a group from the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society , and it took even longer because I spent a lot of time yakking. Honestly, sharing an experience like this with fellow enthusiasts raises it to another level. I do appreciate alone time and don’t need to constantly be around people, but I highly recommend you join a group like a local cactus and succulent society or a perennial club. Getting together with like-minded peeps, even if it’s only once a month for a couple of hours, can do wonders for your energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. Plus, chances are you’ll learn from others in the process. Silk-floss tree ( Ceiba speciosa ) One of the most spectacular sights at the RBG at this time...