RUSSEL'S GARDENING HANDBOOK

I've been seeing lots of blogs about fall colors in certain areas of the country, and I just wanted people to know that, in addition to having four seasons here (rainy season, mudslide season, drought season, and fire season) we have fall colors here in San Diego. So there!

The picture above is a Stapelia at my house. It is easy to identify because of its star-shaped, fuzzy flowers, of which those of Stapelia grandiflora can reach 14 inches in diameter. The one above is about six inches in diameter.

I won't go into detail about any of the plants at this time because I intend on writing about them in greater detail in the future. Pictures were taken within the past two weeks unless noted.

I have put figure numbers by them, so if you see a specific plant about which you'd like more information, let me know and I'll put that one at the top of my list. First come, first serve.

Here's some music choices to listen to while you enjoy San Diego's fall colors:

Safe In My Garden, The Mamas and the Papas, 1968

Octopus's Garden, The Beatles, 1969

Rose Garden, Lynn Anderson, 1970

Garden Party, Rick Nelson, 1972

My Secret Garden, Depeche Mode, 1982

Gardening At Night, REM, 1982

Secret Garden, Bruce Springsteen, 1995

Figure 1. Cycad at the San Diego Zoo

Figure 2. African tulip tree, the largest one I've ever seen.
One of my favorite trees. From an inspection a few years ago.

Figure 3. African tulip tree in Balboa Park with the California Tower
in the background and two young lovers in the foreground.

Figure 4. African tulip tree in Balboa Park.

Figure 5. African tulip tree in Balboa Park.

Figure 6. Angel wing begonia at my house.
These bloom year-round in San Diego's climate.

Figure 7. No idea whatsoever, but it sure is pretty.
A branch of little pumpkins for October. In Balboa Park.

Figure 8. Hawthorn, from a recent inspection.

Figure 9. One of eight bougainvilleas on my front hillside.
They look like this all year.

Figure 10. Bougainvillea from a recent inspection.

Figure 11. Bougainvillea from a recent inspection.

Figure 12. Bougainvillea from a recent inspection.

Figure 13. Ginger flowers, Balboa Park.

Figure 14. Ginger flowers from a different variety, Balboa Park.

Figure 15. Goldenrain tree, from a recent inspection.
Another of my favorite trees.

Figure 16. Goldenrain tree in Figure 15. These are the seed pods.

Figure 17. Hibiscus from a recent inspection.
Hibiscus bloom year round in our climate.

Figure 18. Hibiscus from one of my properties.

Figure 19. Morning glories from one of my properties.
They bloom year-round and make great fence coverings.

Figure 20. Natal plum from a recent inspection.

Figure 21. Natal plum; same bush as in Figure 20

Figure 22. Orchids from the San Diego Zoo.
Many orchid species will grow outside in
San Diego's climate. They just need filtered sunlight,
water, good drainage, and lots of organic material.

Figure 23. Orchid tree from Parkway Plaza Mall.
Another of my favorite trees.

Figure 24. Orchid tree blossoms from tree in Figure 23.

Figure 25. Fan palm at San Diego Zoo.

Figure 26. Washington palm from a recent inspection.

Figure 27. Ponytail palm from San Diego Zoo.

Figure 28. Prickly pear from a recent inspection.

Figure 29. Unknown palm from San Diego Zoo.

Figure 30. Cactus at my house; it only blooms at night.

Figure 31. Cassia from one of my properties.

Figure 32. Cassia blossoms on tree in Figure 31.

Figure 33. Purple clover from my house.

Figure 34. Copper plant from one of my properties.

Figure 35. Crown of thorns and two of the eight bougainvilleas on my front hillside.

Figure 36. Fuchsia from my house.
I'm probably the only one in East County (hot and dry)
who can get fuchsias to grow and bloom year round.
Probably the only one who even tries.
They like it cool and moist.

Figure 37. Angel wing begonia from my house.

Figure 38. Angel's trumpet from my house.

Figure 39. Angel's trumpet from my house.

Figure 40. Roses bloom here year-round, too, except, it seems,
in Balboa Park where the professionals take care of them.
Hmmmmmmmmm.

Figure 41. Pumpkin pie on my kitchen table.
It grows in the same spot each night during
October, November, and December, blooming about 6:30 p.m.,
give or take about 30 minutes,
so I really have to keep an eye out for it.
Once it blooms, it only lasts for about five minutes.

Gotta go. Pie's waitin'. I'm outta here!

Be sure to scroll down below for easy access to other some of my other blog entries.

Readers who are interested in classical music should feel free to join
my new Classical Music group here at Active Rain.

Readers who find inspiration in nature should feel free to join
my Inspired by Nature group here at Active Rain.

Some of Russel's blog entries

1. Restaurant Review: Friday and Sunday evenings at On The Border
2. The Music Chronicles of Russel Ray: Who, what, why, when, and where
3. The Music Chronicles of Russel Ray: A little behind, maybe, but still ahead of projected completion date
4. What do you do with a request for fraud?
5. The Chronicles of Little Johnny: i'm Little Johnny, and this is the first year i get to choose my Halloween costume
6. The Chronicles of Little Johnny: i'm Little Johnny, and i'm a plumber's son
7. The Chronicles of Little Johnny: i'm Little Johnny, and i broke my arm
8. The Music Chronicles of Russel Ray: Elmore James got nothing on this, baby
9. Russel's Gardening Handbook: A great and interesting plant for those with brown thumbs
10. How a Seller can cancel the purchase contract during the home inspection
11. What do you do when the listing agent is, uh, blind maybe?
12. Help! I need somebody! Help! Not just anybody! Help! You know I need someone! Help!
13. What do you do when deceit is obvious? (chapter two)
14. The garage is not a playground.
15. The Chronicles of Little Johnny: Little Johnny, go outside and play.
16. No curb appeal? Let your Client decide.
17. Need to vent? Feel free to vent (your attic) here.
18. Down in the boondocks: A classic homeowner improvement.
19. The Music Chronicles of Russel Ray: I've been MeMe'd by Pam Jank, so let's add some music to your day.
20. I admit it. I'm a sucker. Yep. A sucker. 
21. That just ain't the way we do it out here, Sonny Boy
22. 12 reasons why I won't comment on your blogs
23. Not responsible for advice not taken
24. There's that police guy! Hide!
25. Sometimes it's just a question of semantics and definitions
26. The Chronicles of Little Johnny: Little Johnny! You stink!
27. Don't worry. Thanksgiving is still a couple of months away
28. The Chronicles of Little Johnny: Mommy! Mommy! Come Here! Come Here!
29. Winterizing homes in San Diego in September
30. Russel's Gardening Handbook: How to tell if your landscape watering is too much
31. My first "Active Rain Success Day"
32. What the heck are they cooking?
33. You mean that little jar will hold all that water?
34. A true real estate nightmare affecting hundreds of people
35. Russel's Gardening Handbook: Look! It's a field of... Grain? Cotton? Corn?
36. You mean our fine, feathered friends do that?
37. If the shower head isn't working, just turn up the water pressure
38. I purposefully burned a bridge yesterday
39. What part of that don't you understand? (Reading 101, English 101, & Spanish 101)
40. If I trip just one more time, I'll have a baker's dozen
41. Out of sight, out of mind, skip the work, charge for it
42. "How much will it cost?" "$399 plus a $100 aggravation surcharge."
43. I'm so tall that some times I have problems seeing the ground
44. The Music Chronicles of Russel Ray: Inspired by Heroes (A Tale of 9/11)
45. In a home inspection, if the thing works, the thing works
46. What do you do when deceit is obvious?
47. Sometimes it really is that simple (electric again)
48. Sometimes it really is that simple (attic)
49. Did you put that on the disclosure form? "Oh, we forgot."
50. The Music Chronicles of Russel Ray: The Great Band in the Sky