Wonderful Parking Strips - Sunday Favorites

This is probably the prettiest parking strip I've
ever seen. It is divided into 3 sections each trimmed with stones. The focus of
the first one is a big tropical looking plant.

The 2nd section has a tree and I love how she sunk a large pot into the ground
with flowers spilling out of it. The Delphiniums are to die for. What I'd
really like to do is go behind that fence and see what treasures she
has planted there. Maybe I'll go ask her how she grows such beautiful
Delphiniums and about if that tropical looking plant is just for the summer or
if it's hardy. Ya think she might give me a tour of the rest of the gardens?

A different shot of the first and second sections.
The third section also has a pot with flowers spilling out of it and another
tree.
Here are all three sections from the opposite end.

3 pictures of another very nice strip that is just stuffed with plants, shrubs
and trees.

I took this picture because this is the widest parking strip I've ever seen - but
then I haven't been noticing them for that long. There's a big section of town
that has this size strip but there don't seem to be any planted with flowers. I
only really started noticing these parking strips a few months ago after seeing
Karen at Greenwalks posts on
them. To see lots of great ones click on her blog name and head over
there.

Beautiful Eureka, California

It slowed down on the rain in Redding the morning we were leaving to head over
the mountain to the coastal town of Eureka. So at least we didn't have a rainy
trip that day. But look at the dark threatening sky - still REALLY wanting to
make us feel at home with more rain!
The snow wasn't too far away either. Fortunately that held off and the sky even
started getting a tiny bit brighter.
We always enjoy following the Trinity River over. Since we were earlier this
year I think it was still a little murky colored. Seems like I always comment on
the beautiful clear green water in this river.
A little farther along when it's way below us - look at the different colors of
the trees and the gorgeous Redbuds adding even more variety.
In one of the little mountain towns I saw these flowers. Anyone know what they
are?

It really looks like my Self Heal but it's so much taller.

I didn't realize I was seeing wild Pampas Grass until it was too late and all of
the good pictures were far behind me. Should I ask Bob to turn around? Hmmm I
don't think so since we're almost at the bottom of the hill.

And wild Lupines were everywhere too.

Eureka is situated near extensive preserves of the world's tallest trees - the Coast
Redwoods.

I was reading a little about Eureka after coming home and found that approximately
16% of the city contains important historical structures. 13 distinct districts
have been identified which meet the criteria for the National Register of
Historic Places. In all, some 1,500 buildings have been recognized as qualifying
for the National Register.

I love this mural and the trompe l'oeil is amazing.

Even when they aren't the most ornate they still have wonderful color
combinations.

We made our way down to the waterfront in Old Towne.

Eureka, a major player in the historic west coast lumber trade, is the site of hundreds
of Victorian homes.

A small house but I love the work around the top of the porch.

The "Pink Lady" a Queen Anne style Victorian, completed in 1889.

The magnificent Carson Mansion is perhaps the most spectacular Victorian in the
nation. The home was built between 1884-1886 by renowned 19th Century architects
Newsom and Newsom for lumber baron William M. Carson. This project was designed
to keep mill workers and expert craftsman busy during a slow period in the
industry.

The Carson Mansion is a private club for men now but my Mother In Law who retired
from the Eureka Police Department was able to go through it while working one
time. Be sure and click the picture to see all of the beautiful architectural
work closer.

I love this town with all of the old buildings and am already anxious to make a
trip down again.

More Flowers . . .

I picked up
some Begonias the other day to put in my front porch containers which are pretty
shaded but do get some early morning sun. I haven't used Begonias there before
but had one in the front flowerbed not far from the porch and it got the same
lighting. I have a Begonia I hold over every year but haven't seen any sign of
life on it yet so . . . I bought
this light pink almost white one with darker pink trim around the edges. For a
long time I couldn't find Begonias that fit my color scheme but now I find more
that come close. Those of you who know me have mentioned spotting a trend with
my flowers. Pink, fuchsia, blue, purple, wine, mauve and the 'cool color' list
goes on. But as you've seen from the beautiful tub of yellow daffodils a friend
gave me and farther down in these pictures I'm trying to expand. Now that the
flowers showing on both roads that go front and side of our property are all
matching I can add some different colors in the middle.

And a darker pink one to go close by in the same area.
A small pink Dahlia for a container on my deck in the back - this looks a little
brighter than it really is but you get the idea. Another small pink Dahlia for
the deck. My Hostas are starting to
leap now and getting tall. I noticed they are starting to open up. This Sedum Blue Spruce is
really changing colors and growing like crazy. It almost looks like it's
ready for fall again now. Hope it goes back to blue/green like it's suppose
to. This is Saxifraga London
Pride and I got the pictures switched around. Here you can see the blooms
growing about 4" or more up out of the florettes.

In the picture above (for some reason I can't type above it) you can see the new green growth coming up from the yellower old growth. Huge florettes just popped right out this spring.
See I am getting some yellow incorporated into my gardens and I love this one! Below is
the bloom on the London Pride. Pretty wine color but I believe this one blooms
yellow.
Since not much is blooming at
my place yet I couldn't resist taking a picture of my Mother's Daphne. Too bad
it isn't scratch and sniff because it smells wonderful. So far I've killed 3
Daphnes so I don't know if I'll try another one or not. I probably will . .
.
Because they are so
beautiful.
This Magnolia
tree of my neighbors was just starting to bloom one day . . .
Then just seemed to open right up the next day. This tree
in a bit darker rose color is on my wish list for the back yard.

Fun with Sedums

This is Sedum Cauticolum on each side of what I think is a Sweet Potato Vine
'Blackie' and some Ice Plant in front that hadn't filled in at the time of the
photo. Cauticolum looks so much like October Plant I can hardly tell them apart
when doing starts because of the beautiful blue green foliage trimmed in pink
that they both have. In the background you can see my 'bloomin' stairs' that I
planted in Thyme. I have one on each side of the bank for easier access farther
up in the back of the yard.

My only 2 tall Sedums so far. Autumn Joy on top and Linda Windsor, my newest. I
thought the dark wine colored foliage would be a great contrast with all of the
greens around here. The bloom is almost the same color as the foliage.

The 3 planters above have similar plantings in them of Hens and Chicks, Cape Blanco,
Tri Color, Vera Jamison, I think some Purple Form, Cauticolum, October Plant
Sedums, an Armeria, Viola and Johnny Jump Ups. Another nice green one you can
see on the top right I'm not sure about the name. I haven't decided if I will
stick them here and there in the flower beds or sell them if I decide to do some
markets this summer.

3 old canisters my husband riveted together to put Sedums in. The large one has
Purple Form, on the left is Babys Tears and I don't know what the third one is.
The picture below shows them in bloom. The yellow bloom sure matched the flower
on the canister.