MLK Jr day

Golden Barrel Cactus
(Echinocactus grusonii)

Today I popped out to find the garden so dusty and dry, I couldn't stand it. We've had practically no rain, and though we're due for some this week I worried that it won't soak in. So, I wheeled out the hose and set a sprinkler to cover the lower part of the left bed, cactus wall, middle front bed and lower part of the front border for an hour. When it rains this week, it'll soak in deeper

As that was sprinkling, I set up a caution tape barrier against dogs getting in the left bed by the cardoon - one seems to do in there almost daily and dig up the daffodil bulbs planted there. Is it the same dog doing a poop in there too? And the same dog who crushed the lovely Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum too? No dogs in the borders, please.

I also trimmed back a lot of the Artemisia "Powis Castle" that's squishing the purple fountain grass in that border, and weeded out a lot of nasturtiums.

Next up was the planting of a beauteous Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii), kindly donated to the garden by John just yesterday.  I moved a couple other things to make way for it - it really deserves to be showcased.  Thnks John!

Agastache "Apricot Sprite:"
before, during, after

Lastly, after filling the dog poop bags up at the info booth dispenser, I cut back two Agastaches - "Apricot Sprite" and Agastache rupestris (Mexican heather) - you can see how I did it in the photos. Just cut all the long stems back, and leave the nice mound of new foliage. Done!