Here we are, back at Linda Callahan's place, admiring her fantastic garden (Part 1 here). Shortly after my visit in early November, she lifted this monster Agave americana 'Variegata' and moved it under cover for the winter. I think there was a little blood.
Since we spent yesterday in the front garden, now we've stepped through a gate and into the side garden, where this beautiful Arctostaphylos 'St. Helena' specimen is cozied up to the fence.
Hesperoyucca whipplei (aka Yucca whipplei), in the front, directly behind is a Yucca rostrata.
This hunk of agave hotness is an Agave gentryi 'Jaws' that Linda purchased back in 2017. I could stare at this beauty for hours.
Stepping back to look at the entire planting area (we're officially in the back garden now). It's hard to see in this photo but that beautiful Eucalyptus is leaning towards the fence.
You can see the lean better here. Sadly it got worse and the entire plant is history now, replaced by a new Eucalyptus gunnii.
And it was not your imagination, the short tree in the foreground of the above photo is a Magnolia macrophylla. Linda has had bad luck with previous attempts to get this tree established, so hopefully this one will be THE ONE.
We've moved back over now and are looking at the far corner of this side of the back garden. You can see the base of the eucalyptus on the far left for orientation.
Since I last visited this area has been transformed from lawn into a vegetable garden, and what a great space it is! Oh and yes, those are chickens on the far right. I tried—several times—to get a good shot of the gang, but this one really is the best I managed.
Did those corrugated metal planters catch your eye? Linda ordered them from Birdies Garden Products.
The chickens were out roaming when I visited, but they've got a nice home when they're ready to head inside.
I was lucky to see her latest agave acquisition before it was tucked under cover for winter, yes she really did source an Agave vilmoriniana, the octopus agave.
Echium pininana, hardy to the 20's. It's up against the house in a protected location. Fingers crossed it survives this La Niña winter.
And the same for this Echium candicans.
Here's the latest exciting addition to the garden! A greenhouse from Palram. It's the 6 x 8'Mythos, and I can officially declare it as fabulous.
It's currently keeping a bumper crop of agave pups warm. Linda's garden produces! Some people harvest kale, she harvests agaves.
It's nearly impossible to see in this photo, but these are conjoined twins, pups from the NOID agave we saw yesterday next to the driveway.
Between the greenhouse and the neighbor's fence is this gargantuan abutilon. It's all about the blooms with abutilon, but seriously, check out the size of those leaves!
And the flowers...
Metapanax delavayi
Another Tetrapanax papyrifer.
And walking back around the side garden where we entered...
The doomed eucalyptus was looking marvelous against the cool blue sky.
And the chickens have worked their way to a new area, look closely.
Thank you for sharing your gorgeous garden Linda, and for your patience with my many questions for plant ID and other info for these posts. I feel so lucky to be able to watch your garden progress, you've created a wonderland!
If you want more of Linda's garden be sure to follow her on Instagram, here. Oh and btw, I didn't leave empty handed. Agave pups!
Weather Diary, Dec 10: Hi 45, Low 38/ Precip .09
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