Category: Uncategorized

Christmas in New Zealand is summer and everywhere around the coast you will see Metrosideros excelsa, the pohutakawa, in bloom.  It’s relative, M. polymorpha, is native to Hawaii and can also be seen planted around Mission Bay in San Diego.

It appears to be a favorable winter for the fruiting of red Toyon berries as patches of red have appeared on our chaparral hills. The berries while technically edible are very unpleasant if eaten raw.   Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon, or California Holly is native to coastal ranges of California and southern Oregon.   Although it grows on the hills around Hollywood that is apparently not the reason for the name.

California Holly: How Hollywood Didn’t Get its Name | Natural History Museum (nhm.org)

The Shilin Gardens surround the official residence of past President Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling (Madame Chiang) in Taipei, Taiwan. The gardens contain ponds, rose gardens, fruit trees, orchid houses and native forest. The home itself is now a museum.

An Australian genus of 300+ species well suited to dry conditions and poor soils like here in San Diego.  Local nurseries are selling more and more varieties so try one out. They come in many sizes and flower colors to fit any space in your garden. In Australia they are a favorite of honeyeater birds so I presume that our hummingbirds will go crazy for these.  Photo credit; C. Bell (Geelong, Australia)

This is a Flowerpot Parasol mushroom, a member of Leucocoprinus genus. It appeared 2 days after the rare summer rain we got from tropical storm Hilary.