As most of you know by now, I usually have my nose in a book! Going to the doctor or dentist, going to Sacramento, or just being at home, I have at least one book with me at all times. Heck, I even take a book with me to the Farmers' Market in Vallejo, just in case I get there before the other “panel” members and have some extra time for a paragraph or two.
There are two books though I would thoroughly recommend to anyone looking for a particular plant or is interested in the history of roses in California. The 1st is the newest edition of “WHERE ON EARTH', subtitled “A Guide to Specialty Nurseries and Gardens in California” and well written by Nancy Conner, Demi Bowles Lathrop, and Barbara Stevens.
If you are looking for particular plants, then this is the book for you: addresses, email #s, listing of types of plants, etc; all listed by geographical regions that are easy to locate. Most of all, this book makes sense of the search process for those of us who NEED and DEMAND that one plant, whether a rose, succulent, or tree. Available at a lot of book stores or on-line. I now have all 5 editions and confess to using it quite a bit!
The other book, I am highlighting is by one of our Master Gardeners (you know who you are Darrell) and a rosarian of no little local fame! Titled “RAINBOW!” and subtitled “A History of the Rose in California”, Darrell g.h. Schramm leads us not only into rose history, but also the beginnings of ornamental plant nurseries here in California as well as the timeline of these nurseries which started the great horticultural power house that is California. With oodles of pictures and illustrations of roses at their absolute best, Darrell has written an enjoyable book which is easily read and the roses savored! ** Bravo, Darrell!!
The project of the summer at Casa Buxton (or the weed patch) is finished, finite, done, over!! The 8 ft X 4 foot X 24 inch planter box is built, put into place, and finally filled by 5 clematis plants interplanted with 5 or 6 kinds of bulbs. Only 1 year from the purchase of the lumber to completion! Next will be the replanting – correctly – this time of the back side yard with the camellias on order, the ferns, and hostas; then YEA!! , that part of the yard will be done. Next year's project is the area bordered by the clematis box, the 2 large planted beds which run the length of the “dirt pile” and the gazebo. I just have to find plants that like to grow in the full Suisun City summer sun and the “oops, we're under water” during a rainy winter. Trout eggs have been suggested, but I really would prefer plants there instead!
Now for the mystery: does anyone out there have an idea as to the invertebrate I found this morning when installing a box to raise a hydrangea up in an area under the pergola. This “thing” I thought was a very large earthworm is long (about 14”) is light brown-grey with thing dark lines running its length. The head is triangular with what appeared to be undulating sides as it went from the sidewalk where I apparently put it with some weeds I pulled. It moved across the sidewalk like an earthworm but much fast and appeared to have a somewhat slimy coating on its skin. I tried to look it up on the internet but found only something called a “ribbon worm”. Any suggestions or answers will be appreciated. I didn't get a picture of it as I was so fascinated by its “turbo” speed and its length!
So there you have all the news: 2 books to read, the latest on my project, and most of all – a mystery to solve!
** As in “eye candy”