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)
Our club president recently had the chance to see the Butchart Gardens and loved it. British Columbia may be a very different climate to San Diego but seeing a garden vision come to life is motivating for all gardeners.
Set on and in 55 acres of an abandoned quarry it is restorative living art.
The Butchart Gardens – Over 100 Years in Bloom – Victoria, Canada
The hot summer days are starting to stress hydrangeas that get near full sun but they are still a wonderful eye full. If you desire fewer, but larger, blooms the secret is to remove all but one or two buds from each stem in the springtime. The available energy for blooms will be concentrated on these fewer outgrowths.
An old Bourbon rose propagated in France and named for Queen Victoria. Original Bourbon roses derive from planned and spontaneous hybridization of roses on Reunion Island, known then as, Isle de Bourbon.
Photo from R. Gale