Growing Dendrobiums in California

Hydrangeas in full bloom in Southern California

Flower Bed Borders

Planting variegated english ivy as borders.

Hydrangea Paniculata

Growing Limelight and Pinky Winky

Pinky Winky - planted in the fall of 2017. It bloomed the following summer of 2018 and never fail to bloom again in 2019. 

Pretty amazing how the old blooms started to turn pinkish with the new blooms come out as white.

Limelight - also planted the same time with the Pinky Winky.  It bloomed the following summer of 2018 and again in 2019. 

Found the perfect site for the Limelight hydrangeas - right in front of the yard - under full sun. 

These are the "summer hydrangeas" (both Pinky Winky and Limelight).  They took over right after the "spring hydrangeas" (pink, blue and purple) are nearing the end of their blooming season (in the backyard - under partial shade).

SUMMER COLORS, HYDRANGEAS, & ETC.

This year's summer kicked off with a week of heat wave and followed by days of above normal temperature.   The Hydrangeas need protection from the extreme hot sun and dryness.  Supplemental watering throughout the day will help prevent the petals and leaves from wilting and drying up. These Hydrangeas cuttings (below) were given to me by a neighbor and a friend from West Covina three years ago.  I planted them both together and so far, they have been doing very well.  I put up a shade above them to provide some relief from the hot sun.

























 Mixing different colors together make them more attractive.  We got this blue one (Horben) from Home Depot and the bright pink (unknown) from Costco. Adding aluminum sulfate help maintain its blue color while adding garden lime on the other one help perk up its pink color.

 

Also, mixing different varieties, Lacecap and Mophead, of Hydrangeas (below) provide an interesting effect in the garden.  Seems like the Lacecap is more heat tolerant than the (lighter pink) mophead beside it (showing a bit of burned petals on some blooms). 

 



 

 

 

The easy-growing Geraniums (foreground, left) provide ground cover colors from spring till fall.  These low maintenance plants will withstand the hot sun.  During winter, they are pruned or discarded, using their tips (clippings) as new ones for the following year.

 

The two-tone evergreen English Ivy outlines the edge of the red brick ribbon by the concrete walkways.  These need to be trimmed at least once a month to maintain its spread and height. Watch out, this Ivy is very invasive and can overtake its surrounding area if not properly controlled.



Warmer weather and lower humidity tends to keep these hydrangeas growing shorter than those in cooler regions. Regardless, these blue Hydrangeas by the garage door never failed to bloom every spring till summer (also from cuttings, now on it's fourth year). 



 

 

When you see these white Agapanthus (Lilies of the Nile) blooming everywhere, then summer is definitely here.  This is heat tolerant and the bulbs will multiply rapidly in a few years.  Need to reduce and divide some of these fast-growing bulbs during winter to prevent overcrowding. 



Another summer favorite is the Gardenia.  Its sweet fragrant will fill the air as you walk by.  This plant needs only a few hours of morning sun and full shade in the afternoon.  They love constant moisture in well-drained soil to keep them hydrated during hot spells.  Strong winds, hot sun, and low humidity will cause some leaf edges to turn yellow and brown.  After several failures with Gardenia in the past, we finally found a perfect spot for this one (under the protection of the upright fuchsias spreading above it).

 

 

 

2014 - START OF NEW SEASONS

Happy New Year!  The unseasonably warm weather this winter in Southern California has affected most of the plants.  They're so confused whether it's time to hibernate or start budding.  Nevertheless, the Purple Statice (Sea Lavender) and the golden yellow freesias perk up the front yard with their bright and contrasting colors.  Also, the sweet fragrant of the freesias fill the morning air as you passed by.

At the back, the double kalanchoe (cuttings from last year) kicked off the new year with their bright orange blooms along the brick planter/sitting wall - something to cheer me up when I take my daily morning stroll.

We also planted some of the cuttings on pots and put them outside right by the kitchen window so we can enjoy them from the inside.  Kalanchoe is so easy to grow.  We just planted them around the whole yard whenever there is a bare spot available.

Usually around this time of the year, the freesias are freely blooming everywhere.  But due to lack of rainfall and chill this season, some of them tends to grow slower and smaller compared to last winter (2013).   These freesias are so fragrant and they make good floral arrangements that will last about a week.

Even though most of our flowering plants are not yet in season, we just couldn't help but notice this dwarf Washington navel orange tree (about 5 ft. tall) that we planted a few years ago.   After a long wait and almost mishap to this tree which was nursed back to life, this is the first time that it has fruits and these huge oranges seems ready to be picked anytime.   Hmmm... they just look deliciously sweet and they truly are!!!

Adding two urn planters at the entrance of the walkways create a new look to the garden for the new year.  The Birds of the Paradise also started early this year and more buds are on their way for a long blooming season.

SUMMER ENDLESS COLOR$

Summer in Splashing Colors

Despite the discomfort of summer heat, the colorful hydrangeas against the block wall provides a cool  refreshing effect throughout the walkways.  Like a kid in a candy store, there so many colors to choose from... don't know which one to pick first because they are all so delightful and cheerful to the senses.  Can't wait to plant more.

The fuchsias and the hydrangeas on  the left side of the third garage continues to attract and impress passerby with its continuing prolific blooms from $pring through $ummer.











The hibiscus trees can grow more than 7 feet tall unless they are properly pruned each year to control its vigorous growth during summer.  The large double blooms (see below) hang on long sturdy branches which not only provide the much needed protection from the hot afternoon sun for the fuchsias and hydrangeas below them but also create a nice canopy for a pleasant afternoon stroll along its pathway.  This is part of our "multi-tier" gardening - with different floral display simultaneously - hibiscus above the head, fuchsias at eye level, and the hydrangeas below the waistline.

These huge pink blooms of the hibiscus tree complement the bicolor fuchsia (pink sepals with purple petals) and provide striking contrast to the blue and white hydrangeas below them. Although the blooms lasted only for a day or two, but their continuous and abundant blooming throughout summer give the garden a "tropical" feel - almost like being in an exotic island in the Pacific.

DELIGHTFUL DAHLIA$

The delightful dahlias are among the last of the summer bulbs to bloom but the long wait is worth it.

The bicolor spider dahlia (bright pink with yellow center) is a knockout of all the bulbs.

The yellow dinner plate size dahlia has the largest bloom among the summer bulbs -  it provides a focal point in the middle of the garden against the white and blue lilies of the nile floating in the background.
How can one miss this one without expressing a huge compliment to this gigantic attraction?  Get your smartphone ready and click away! It's a $uper$tar!

   HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

LIMELIGHT  is one the late blooming hydrangeas that provides a vibrant and unique color from mid-summer through early autumn.  While all other hydrangea blooms (in the background) starting to fade,  this one produces a bright chartreuse color that complete the colorful spectrum of the rainbow in the garden.  Look almost like cotton candy from afar, it draws you closer and makes you want to touch and feel its delicate and dainty petals. 

Heavenly Hydrangeas in Summer

$ummer is almost here and the long wait is over.  Considered as the "highlights" of our little garden, these hydrangeas make its dramatic entry in late spring as the daylight stretches longer and the weather gets warmer.

Blue, blue, my world is blue ...

Sounds like an old silly sad song, but not when you're looking at these gigantic balls of blue florets. In fact, they're here to chase our "blues" away.  Just like watching the fireworks of 4th of July, they burst and explode with colorful blooms throughout the garden and walkways.

 

These hydrangeas were planted on both sides of our front yard (by the driveway) to create a joyful welcome to everyone.  Adding aluminum sulfate (such as True Blue, sold at Green Thumbs) will helps lower the soil pH and produce blue flowers.  Who knew that from a single parent plant (right), we were able to propagate as many as 20 plants all around the garden.  This one will tolerate some heat during the hot summer months by watering them twice a day - early morning and before noon. The intense direct sunlight in the afternoon  and relatively low humidity will cause these blooms and leaves to wilt.  But by sundown, they will fully recover if there is adequate moisture in the soil.  Otherwise, the leaves and its delicate blooms will burn and become crispy from loss of too much water due to the heat.

Alkaline soil (with higher pH) helps hydrangea to maintain its bright pink color, without any hint of blue or purple on its edges.  To increase its pH level, simply add Garden Lime (available at any nursery) around the soil and water well.

 

To enjoy their colorful display both inside the house and outside, simply plant them near the window.  Also, planting different varieties (different shades/colors) in group makes it more interesting when they start blooming at the same time.  All they need is water, a little fertilizers in early spring and of course, morning sun and afternoon shade.  Pruning them in late fall (once the blooming season is over) or in winter will help control the height you  wanted for next season. 

  

Double Hydrangea (You-Me series, below) exhibits large prolific blooms, some rounded and some star-shaped.  Their colors will also change (pink, blue, or purple) by controlling the soil ph.  

Hydrangea in any other colors (pink, red, purple, or white) is just as appealing and beautiful as their blue counterpart.  Planting them together in smaller groups create a symphony of colorful display that harmonize with their surrounding shrubs in the garden.  And regardless of its colors, we love them all!

Throughout summer, the fuchsias will continue to bloom and provide afternoon shade to the hydrangeas below.  Last year, we hired someone to cut the concrete floor and extended the flower bed against this dull wall so we can plant more hydrangeas, fuchsias, and hibiscus.  Now, we can simply enjoy this view directly from our windows or go outside and stroll along the walkway.  Planning and a little hard work is the key to a $ucce$$ful and colorful garden.     




Coming soon! The multi-tier $howcase featuring the tall double pink hibiscus (shown right, with preview of a single bloom) above the fuchsias, and the hydrangeas beneath it.  Together, they will exhibit a colorful display from June to October.  Other attractions from the other side include the dahlias, gladiolas, jasmines, and gardenias.