Mr. Squirrel Came for a Visit

This morning during breakfast, I happened to look outside to see that Mr. Squirrel had come to visit. Mr. Squirrel is the patriarch of our neighborhood squirrels, at home in the trees, or scaling the 3-story apartment building atop which he raises his family, all the while, dedicated to making fools of the local cats.  

 I don't know how many generations of cats he has antagonized & humiliated, but he is clearly not intimidated by any of them, being faster, more agile & with the ability to go straight-up or down a sheer stucco building at will. Mr. Squirrel & I have had a relationship up until now, with him showing no fear & willing to approach me within 2-3 feet. When I talk to him, he makes eye contact with me & shows no fear.

chew marks - bark stripped

So I was more than a little upset & disappointed when I saw him happily chewing on the sole remaining branch & the new, green shoots that I have been counting on to keep the Hibiscus alive until he recovers from being severely cut-back. 

While my breakfast got cold, I went to rescue my plant. As I came out onto the patio, Mr. Squirrel greeted me & acted surprised that I would interrupt him..more handclapping, Mr. Squirrel retreated & hasn't returned today, but as you can see from the photo, he did strip some bark in an attempt to get at the green wood underneath & he ate about half of the new green shoots on the branch.

I don't think the minor damage done will kill the plant. 

Photo/History for Channel Island Barberry Published

 The Channel Island Barberry now has a Photo/History page accessible via this link:

Channel Island Barberry (Berberis pinnata ssp. insularis )

Spring is Sprung..I Think..

It's raining (again) but no wind..in fact, it feels more like a spring rain than the winter storm that's been forecast for the last several days..but, we'll have to wait & see how it develops. Meanwhile, all of my trees are huddled-up, under cover & cozy, for the moment.

This morning I was pleasantly surprised to see the Island Barberry & a brand new leaf(first of the season) that formed overnight. I am more than pleasantly surprised, as I had sort-of written this dude off..last fall, he had succumbed to the same virus that de-foliated the Japanese Maple & caused the leaves of the Fremont Cottonwood to blacken & die. (you can read more about this in either photo/history page)

And looking at the Japanese Maple, I was pleased to see that it has also produced the first new leaf of the season, in addition to dozens of buds.

Checking further, I was gobsmacked to see back-budding has begun on the Creeping Fig although it is only 36 hrs. or so since being hard pruned. Additionally, the Pacific Crabapple has finally awakened from his winter "snooze" & threw a bud, this morning So, in spite of what may become the worst storm of the season, it feels like Spring on the Patio.

Another tool in the toolkit - Lightbox

 Originally, this blog was a photo album..or a photo gallery..I had started snapping shots with my cell-phone camera to share with friends I no longer see on a daily basis, since I retired & relocated some 40 miles away. 

In short order, my cell was running out of storage space & I discovered Google Photos..free (1 GB) storage, instant access..& did I mention, FREE? Google Photos is great & does support the ability for a simple narrative, but not much control over layout or presentation.

As my collection grew, I also realized that what I needed was some sort of database, that could store information about different cultivars, and to document the stages that different trees displayed, as time went on & a way to display the chronology of their growth, over time.

A simple blog was the easy & obvious solution  & has served my purpose well. But, sometimes you don't want to wade through a narrative, loaded down with detail & simply see the visual  

screenshot

Try this now..click on any photo on any page; you should see something like this screenshot. In the center is the photo you clicked-on

Across the bottom of the screen are thumbnails of all of the photos on that page, in chronological order so you can easily see a visual record of changes over time. Click-on any photo to see full size.

So now, if you simply want to "cut to the chase" when viewing a page or article, or want to directly compare photos taken at different times & stages of development without reading the entire article, you know how to do so.

I particularly like this feature & use it almost every day.

Another Reclamation Project: Hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) 'Brilliant'

Unpruned - as purchased

There's nothing I like better than the "50% off table"  at the nursery..that & the challenge of taking-on a reclamation project for a specimen that has been overlooked, ignored or  badly served.

I was, sort-of, considering an Azealea to replace the Azealea that I managed to kill, last year. I didn't know how finicky they can be, but then happened to see this "Franken-plant" with the orange splotch on it's pot.(signifies 50% Off).

Rosa sinensis is also called Tropical Hibiscus, Chinese Hibiscus or Chinese Rose; this particular cultivar "Brilliant" has bright red blooms(supposedly). 

This plant is an evergreen & blooms year round (if kept outdoors). It is not hardy. He can be kept as either a shrub or tree, according to how it is pruned.

As you can see from the photos, the lower half of the plant was obscured by a "helter-skelter" of unpruned foliage & was testament to how long this plant has been untended to the extent that there was no choice but to "clean house" & be ruthless with the shears.

1st Pruning - Feb. 4, 2026

Once I cleared away some of the overgrowth & opened up the trunk & pruned dead, near-dead & cross-branches, we can start to see what this tree looks like..

Now that I can see what I've got to work with, I need some time to evaluate & research what I might do with this specimen, & that's going to take some time..in the meantime...

Potted 3 cuttings from the Hibiscus & there will be more, as time goes on. 

(Photo/History: Hibiscus (rosa sinensis) 'Brilliant' live now; click-here or use Tree Inventory Menu to access)

Another California-Native Tree: Manzanita

Howard McMinn Manzanita

 I visited the nursery at the CBG(California Botanic            Garden) yesterday & brought home a new candidate for my    collection..a very young Manzanita..about 4"- 6" tall, a healthy, seemingly happy plant.

CBG is the largest botanic garden dedicated to California    native plants, promoting botany, conservation and                  horticulture to inspire, inform and educate the public and    scientific community about California's native flora. 

And the garden maintains a nursery, open to the public, making many of those same native plants available to the public.

This will be the 4th specimen in my collection acquired from CBG. 

Click-here to access the photo/history page or use the Tree Inventory list on the right-hand side of the page.

Having 2nd Thoughts..

Jan 2026

  I am having 2nd thoughts about the Kaleidoscope       (Abelia Grandiflora).After 8 months of feeding,        watering, pruning, re-potting & daily observation & attention paid to this specimen, I had an epiphany..in his current configuration, this plant is not a good candidate..I think I was "blinded" by the foliage, to a large degree & way too timid in my approach to styling this little tree.

BUT, the Kaleidoscope has proven himself to be a healthy, willing plant that handled root pruning/reduction & re-potting, as well as adjusting to his environment & mini-climate of the patio. So I took my trusty pruning shears in hand in an  attempt to reveal the tree that I know is hidden.

Like most commercially available plants, he is too"leggy"; I make that generalization based on my experience with specimens purchased from retail garden centers & nurseries. The growers are simply trying to produce sellable plants of a given size instead of taking the time to let nature take it's course.

Next step will be to eliminate cross-branching, redundant(over-lapping or encroaching) branches & any branches growing down or from the underside of main branches.

This is enough for now..I left a set of leaves or a bud on each remaining branch & one long "sacrificial" limb (on the right) with an adult set of leaves to help feed the plant until he regrows foliage on the pruned, shortened branches. The "sacrificial" branch, left in place for now, will help to increase the girth of the trunk & base & can be pruned or removed at a later date.

I really think I've improved this plant, if he lives & I feel fairly confident that he will..I didn't do anything that would put his life in danger.."hard" pruning? yes, but this guy has been pruned before & I've reduced the load on the roots by getting rid of so much foliage.

To see the complete history of this tree, click here or use the Tree Inventory list

Blue Star Juniper - Jan. Updates

Jan 18

I applied the 3% Hydrogen Peroxide diluted in water on 1/15/26, after letting the Blue Star dry out for several days. Still don't know if this treatment will reverse the damage done, but, as of this morning, it isn't getting any worse! I will take that, for now & continue "watchful waiting" to see if it has any long-term effect.

Jan 24

Now, over a week since I used the 3% Peroxide, it seems like the browning has not progressed or, at least, not getting any worse. It is hard to see (apologize for the crappy pic), but it looks like there are some bright green needles, indicating new growth, starting to appear on a few inner branches.                                                                                                                                        This might be wishful-thinking on my part, but only time will tell.  I don't expect the plant to fully recover..the tip browning is irrevocable..those needles are dead, but if I can see new growth, it may signal that the roots are again starting to deliver nutrition to the plant. 

Jan 26

This photo was taken this early-morning & with the plant backlit, it is possible to see the extent of the browning & what I think is the re-greening, after drying out & the use of Hydrogen Peroxide to aid the process.                                                                                                                                           You can't see from this picture, but there is new, young growth just starting from the crotch of more than one branch.                                                                                                                                     Unless I'm fooling myself, I am becoming optimistic that the Blue Star is going to 'live long & thrive.'

Bougainvillea Updated (pics)

 This is a "mid-winter" update for the Bougainvillea found on the last-chance table at a local Garden Center. Our "bougie" continues to add foliage & restore broken branches, while adjusting to life in a training pot & apparently, loving it.

Click here to see the complete photo/history & the newest update for this little tree.

Project: Explore/Experiment "living top dressing" Part I

Euphorbia

 I use gravel..plain old everyday gravel as "top dressing" for my plants..in addition to being visually amenable, it also provides the benefits of 'mulch", in that it helps to mitigate temperature (cools in summer; warms in winter) & helps to retain moisture loss due to evaporation. 

It also keeps fresh potting soil from floating when watered & splashing-up on your plants.

Wood chips can also be used as a mulch or top dressing..pine bark, in particular, is often used in northern climes to provide some level of insulation against colder weather & protection from snow; bark or chips that are high in tannin content are sometimes used for plants that prefer ericaceous or acid-loving soil mix.

I have also used decorative rock as top dressing, mostly for miniatures/succulents (as pictured), white, black & mixed which is fine for small plants, but is too expensive for everyday use in growing pots.

So, what is wrong with rock or gravel? It seems entirely appropriate in a semi-arid environment such as so. California, where we are. 

And, the answer is "nothing" is wrong with rock/gravel, but there are plants & presentations that can benefit from a "softer look", to say nothing of color..most types of moss are green & green is an excellent background for certain plants & specimens, such as in terrariums, forest settings & some individual plants.

So, what kind of moss should I use, where/how do I find it & what does it cost? Those 3 questions are what this article is all about.

What kind? The commonest recommendation that I found was for sphagnum moss, readily available as a dried product that must be reconstituted, which I found to be a pain-in-the-ass. Soaking, squeezing, too wet, not soaked long enough & when I put it on the plant, it looks like a bunch of straw someone might use to protect their veg patch against a late spring frost.

The latest sphagnum iteration I've run across is "preserved sphagnum", which to me looks like "Astroturf" (if anybody out there is old enough to know the reference)..much like using artificial turf on your front yard.

Someone told me, "just scrape some off of a tree".. I live in USDA 10..our trees don't have moss..this is a semi-arid environment. So, it might make sense to see what the local nursery's sell and the closest to what I'm looking for was Irish Moss. 

(to be continued)

"Stoner" Gets Potted

Jan 19, 2026

I've been itching to use that headline all day... this morning, I re-potted the Italian Stone Pine, in a training pot, after finishing de-needling of the trunk & partial de-needling of the major branches, stopping well back of the growing tips, which (I think) will become candles as the tree grows.     Click Here to see Update                                                                                                                                                    

Updates

 Jan 18, 2026

Creeping Fig: Update

Blue Star Juniper:Update

Fremont Cottonwood:Update 

Cape Honeysuckle:Update

Welcome Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii)

Leyland Cypress, often referred to simply as leylandii, is a fast-growing coniferous evergreen tree, that can grow 3 - 5 ft./yr.  It is a cross between the Monterey Cypress & Nootka Cypress; usually sterile, it is most often reproduced from cuttings, according to the literature.

Leylandii are one of those trees sold around the holidays as "living Christmas trees" and as such have a bad reputation. However, they are commonly marked-down 50% or more, making them attractive to hobbyists, such as myself, which is exactly why I acquired this little tree.

Acquired: Jan 2026; major Home & Garden center; Cost:$6.50

Unpruned

 

These trees will tolerate full-sun to partial shade, given well-drained   soil & proper watering. They like damp conditions, but not "wet   feet", which can lead to problems with root rot.

 I had not intended to prune the leylandii this hard, but as the trunk &   branches appeared out from under the shubbery, it was hard to stop.   So, I went ahead & potted him in a training pot; I did some minor   pruning to the roots (this cultivar known for shallow roots) &   removed the tap-root.

  (As with all of our trees, you can follow his growth & development     over time by accessing his dedicated page from menu on RH side     of the page.)

  

Pruned & Potted

UPDATED: Blue Star Juniper Not Doing Well

Jan.2026 - Update

Not the greatest pic in the world, but maybe you can see that the Blue Star Juniper is not doing well..or maybe he is & I'm just projecting..                                                                                                           if you look closely, you will see that his "tips" are browning, leading me to think that he is dying back..OR this is normal winter behaviour for this Juniper cultivar. Although I have another juniper, it is a so-called "common" juniper, (which is a fancy way of saying mongrel) unlike the Blue Star, which is a named cultivar.                                                                                                                                     

Here is a closer view of what I'm concerned about.      Consulting with knowledgeable & more-experienced than I, the consensus (as I suspected) is "over-watering", which is not surprising considering the rainfall that we received here in so. Cal over the last 30-40 days.                                                                                                                                             I will make a real effort to get the Blue Star dried-up & then we'll go from there..stay tuned for details.

Jan 12 - Update

It was suggested, by wiser heads than I, that once the Blue Star is dried-out to use a tablespoon of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide in the watering..no fertilizer, no plant food; the theory being "The oxygen and reactiveness of it will help prevent some infections and degrade a couple phenolic plant exudate compounds that delay recovery."

Sure sounds like he knows what he's talking about, so I will try it today & see if it helps mitigate the tip browning.

Jan 18

I applied the 3% Hydrogen Peroxide diluted in water on 1/15/26, after letting the Blue Star dry out for several days. Still don't know if this treatment will reverse the damage done, but, as of this morning, it isn't getting any worse! I will take that, for now & continue "watchful waiting" to see if it has any long-term effect.

Jan 24

Now, over a week since I used the 3% Peroxide, it seems like the browning has not progressed or, at least, not getting any worse. It is hard to see (apologize for the crappy pic), but it looks like there are some bright green needles, indicating new growth, starting to appear on a few inner branches.                                                                                                                                        This might be wishful-thinking on my part, but only time will tell.  I don't expect the plant to fully recover..the tip browning is irrevocable..those needles are dead, but if I can see new growth, it may signal that the roots are again starting to deliver nutrition to the plant. 

(to see the full history of this plant, click-here or access through the Tree Inventory Menu on the right-hand side of the page)

Updates

‘Kaleidoscope’- (new photos)

Cape HoneySuckle II - (Update)

Italian Stone Pine - (photos)

Getting Dried-Out

 Up until yesterday, I had not watered anybody since Dec. 23, last year. The record-setting rain that we got over the Xmas/New Year's holiday was almost 70-some percent of the annual average for so. California. And even though I had moved most of the plants "under-story", everything and everybody was soaked by the time it finally stopped, last week.

I did some watering yesterday & this morning, watered & fed every individual in the collection. Actually, I'm a little surprised that all of the trees, cuttings included, came through the storms OK.

These cuttings(photo) were taken last fall, rooted & potted in 3" plastic pots. One is a Lemon tree, the other a Dwarf Orange, but I've lost track of which is which; as they get older, it should be easier to tell one from the other.

Golden Euonymus (Goldie)

Apr. 2024

April 2024 and my plant odyssey began on the kitchen counter, with a box of peat pots, some plates & scavenged cuttings..cuttings from trees & bushes in the immediate area. 

That included the hedge in front of the apartment building..

These 2 survived, rooted & grew leaves; next step was to pot them, as pictured..

As the larger of the two grew, I decided to try to & mimic a "lollipop" shape to his canopy, a long stem/trunk & rounded shape on top, the shape he retains today

Sept. 2024

After a few more months, I potted the smaller of the two as a "faux-bonsai" & started potting cuttings from other plants. Some lived, some died, but all taught me the basic principles of horticulture & my first experience with miniatures.

The larger of the two was potted in a tray (4"X 6") & allowed to grow-on. This plant will be the focus of the Photo/History, going forward. I called him "Goldie".

Goldie remained in his tray for about 6 months. In December ('24) I potted him in what has become his permanent home.

Dec 2024

After almost a year, the potting medium had compacted & it was time for a re-pot, so in Dec. '25, I repotted "Goldie". 

Some minor root pruning & back in the same pot, with fresh potting soil & top dressing; no foliage pruning, as he has juvenile foliage that is due to open any day now, that will complete the "beach-ball" shape we're trying to develop.

Dec. 2025

(click here to access the ongoing Photo/History page for this plant or use the menu on the RH side of every page)