Another storm is headed our way..time to prepare the gardens

We are expecting another April storm tomorrow, to last 2 days, so I am busy getting my gardens ready.
We in Southern California, have had a very mild winter and our rainy season has been more disappointing than usual, we don't get rain much..some months we never see any as has been the case of this past winter.
Today it is going to be a mild 70f
So when a down pour is forecast it is the time for home gardeners, to water their plants and add fertilizers the day before, this way the rain will actually soak further into the ground and allow for deep watering ( something we cannot do with a hose pipe)..as the rain hits the fertilizer it breaks down more evenly than again with a hose, and actually penetrates further into the soil, rather than being washed off when rain hits dry land.

I always use organic fertilizer and sometimes fish fertilizer( especially the fish at the end of winter)

Olive oil works well on palm trees..add 2 tbsp to a gallon of water and allow it to soak into the soil, but do not pour directly onto the stem of the palm.


Add used, cold, coffee grounds or a can of regular cola ( the sugar is important for the plant) & equal part of cold water on Azaleas..add again before the storm as they like acid soil.

Roses like potassium, so placing old banana skins around the bases helps ..my roses are big & fabulous with this milder winter..the summer heat of 100f+ burns them, but they survive


It is important to grow flowers alongside vegetables as they attract the insects that are needed for tomatoes, beans, peas, citrus etc...Like the old English Cottage garden, which always thrived, also in this hot climate they also help to cover the ground and keep the moisture in.

This morning I was visited by 2 green hummingbirds and 1 of my 5 fat squirrels..enjoy the photographs ..before the storm

Air Plants blooming..they need no soil and don't attach to any plant

French Lavender

(2) Palace Peach Roses

Beautifully fragrant Sterling Silver Roses

Snapdragon

First time I have ever had salad tomatoes ( grown from seed) ripening in April!

Spanish Lavender

Italian Heirloom "Blue" broccoli

(L)English Thyme Flowering (R) Culinary Sage flowering both are loved by the hummingbirds

The "Calla Lilies are in bloom"

Satsuma Kumquat

I don't know the name of this tropical it was 4 inches high when I bought it..I love the way the shiny leaves open in clumps, growing alongside white ginger

Peach Palace Rose, no fragrance but long last blooms