Welcome to All Things Green!
Hi! Welcome to my new website. I will be adding tips and insights on Monterey Peninsula gardens, water-saving ideas, gardening with California native plants and others, and "green tips."
—Richard Boynton, All Things Green
Sell as is?
With so many forclosures out there, and the general climate of "take it as it is", it's fabulous to get to work on a property where the seller really is committed to improving the place first. This one had Kikuyu grass and weeds, that's all. It's getting new perennial color, matching retaining walls to protect two good Oaks flanking the front walk, special entry path to the "little house", irrigation and the works. Here is an owner who wants to leave it better than he found it, and it won't hurt the bottom line of the sale, either.
Out with the grass
Once again, as we were several times last year, we have been hired to "get rid of the grass". This time it's up on the edge of the Pine forest, a quiet cul-de-sac off Sinex in Pacific Grove. It will include raised beds for veggies in the back yard where they are protected from deer, Douglas Iris, and some other forest natives, even a little Carmel Stone wall.
Weeds, weeds, weeds
It's the middle of January, and after days of rain the sun is out with a vengeance. So the weeds on the Monterey Peninsula are coming on strong, right along with everything else. That usually means it's time to sort the good guys from the bad guys. This is a time for caution as well as action.
A lot of my gardens have wildflowers, new perennials and other sweet stuff mixed in. That means I have to be careful about how I go about controlling the weeds. I've been looking at seedlings for many years and I know a lot of the good guys and bad from very early. If you are not sure, err on the side of caution and find out.
Bulbs, bulbs,bulbs
Far and away the best thing you can do to add bang to your garden is by planting bulbs in the fall. Daffodils, Freesias, Muscari, the colors and variety are amazing..Shop your local garden store now for years of surprises and satisfaction.
I invariably forget some of what I planted in any one year, and I am surprised and delighted by what comes up the next time around.
And, gophers don't like them much, either.