Animals,  Gardening adventures,  Hugelkultur,  Natives,  Other Insects,  Permaculture and Edible Forest Gardening Adventures,  Ponds

Then and Now

This photo was taken just as work was begun on transforming the property into a garden, in February, 2011.

Lots of mowing and palm frond removal.

This photo was taken last Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, from the same location.

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This view may look weedy, especially in the early morning light on this brilliant  Halloween  morning.  What you are seeing is the first bog, which is the green spot in the foreground.  The dirt area is the overflow, if torrential rains ever come again.  To the left, the tall bushes constitute the withy hide, and to the left is the big pond, although you have to take my word for it.  Tall bamboo arches over the stumps of the palm trees in the above photo, which are trellises for roses and other vines.  A nectarine branch is in the right foreground.  The tall flowering plants are a native called fleabane.  They reseed readily, and I allow them to because of several reasons.  They grow five to six feet tall and help shade smaller trees and plants against the harsh summer sun, protecting them from sun scald.  They also die off in the winter, making good hugelkultur material.  The purple flowers, which are in the above photo now turning into fuzzy seed clumps, are attractive.  The most important thing though is that they are excellent hosts for native insects of all kinds.  Ladybugs, lacewings, spiders, and hundreds of tiny wasps and flies, many of which are parasitic, all love these flowers.  All summer  long they are alive with  life.  Inviting in the native pollinators, and growing a polyculture garden, is the first line of defense in growing naturally.

Allowing nature to define parts of your garden leads to happy surprises and lots of help from unexpected friends, such as bugs, birds and lizards.  This kind of garden is endlessly interesting, with new things to study every day.

The following photos were all taken the same brilliant morning, Oct. 31, 2013.  Here in San Diego county we were having what is called a Santa Ana, where warm, dry winds from the desert blow westward, as opposed to the more humid eastward flow of air from the ocean that we normally have.  Santa Anas can  bring heavy winds and make tinder-dry weedy hills a fire hazard, but this year we’ve been lucky and no major fires have happened.  We even had almost 3/4 ” of rain, last week, which is practically unheard of for October.  The warm Autumn sunshine was intense and lovely, and I had to take photos even though the light was too strong for good ones.

 

 

 

 

We went up on the roof to view these three greater egrets perched in our trees over the pond.
We went up on the roof to view these three greater egrets perched in our trees over the pond.

 

Being on the roof is an education.  Here is lots of racoon poo between the tiles.  Why?!
Being on the roof is an education. Here is lots of racoon poo between the tiles. Why?!

 

We don't have dramatic Fall colors here, but the subtle Autumn hues of leaves is lovely.
We don’t have dramatic Fall colors here, but the subtle Autumn hues of leaves is lovely.

 

We still have Monarch butterflies.
We still have Monarch butterflies.

 

The big pond in early morning light.
The big pond in early morning light.

 

A zuchianno rampicante reclining on a stump.  (Its a squash!).
A zuchianno rampicante reclining on a stump. (Its a squash!).

 

Morning sun through a Fall-leaved sycamore.  Beautiful.
Morning sun through a Fall-leaved sycamore. Beautiful.

 

Mexican bush sage hanging up to dry.
Mexican bush sage hanging up to dry.

 

Our little pecan tree put on about six this year!  Next year, tons!
Our little pecan tree put on about six this year! Next year, tons!

 

Beehive warming up.
Beehive warming up.

 

Ceder waxwings (my favorite bird) in the big palm.
Ceder waxwings (my favorite bird) in the big palm.

 

The Bee Garden.
The Bee Garden.

 

The liquidambers, also known as sweet gums, are just beginning to turn color.  Lots of deciduous trees means lots of leaf mulch, and more warmth reaching the ground during the winter.
The liquidambers, also known as sweet gums, are just beginning to turn color. Lots of deciduous trees means lots of leaf mulch, and more warmth reaching the ground during the winter.

 

The entrance to the withy hide, with the pond in the distance.
The entrance to the withy hide, with the pond in the distance.

 

Over the huglebed.
The Mission fig,with artichoke, anise and sage..

 

The canopy is growing.
The canopy is growing.

 

Greater egret enjoying the sun.
Greater egret enjoying the sun.

 

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