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Waterwise Gardening - a book review

Waterwise Gardening: Everything You Need To Know About Efficient Watering to Grow a Healthy Yard by Richard Restuccia Published by Rizzoli, 2025 I would guess that watering is the major issue that most gardeners grapple with, especially novice gardeners. I know from working at the nursery that the majority of questions and issues we get stem from either watering too much or not watering enough.  Many people in our area have sprinkler systems and I'm sure that can be a good thing if used properly but I feel that they primarily keep the lawns green but fall short for landscape plants. Especially when it comes to trees and larger plants, the timing and amounts are not satisfactory for many plants. I often hear people say that their sprinklers are set to come on every day - yikes! And there are those who did not water because it "rained" when it actually drizzled.  The best thing to do in this situation is to have a xeric garden but that would mean sacrificing favorite plant...
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A 2020 Calendar

Do we really need a retrospective of 2020? In most cases, no, but a look back at the garden is always a good thing.

JANUARY - A spur of the moment project last winter was a twig fence that I made along the back border of the garden. It has held up well and I'm still adding twigs when I can get them. There is a small area on the west side that could use more. I would like to go back and refine it but for now, it serves the purpose of screening the houses behind us and the birds love it.


FEBRUARY - I did not have many photos to choose from for February. I decided to include this because it shows the area that I am working on at the moment. I'm putting in a low retaining wall along the border to the right. And the grass path is being narrowed.

 

MARCH - On March 14th, we got a few inches of snow.

 

APRIL - What a difference one month makes! This was taken on Earth Day, April 22. It is looking across the front garden from the front door.

 

MAY brings the lupines.

 

JUNE - The border along the street in front.

 

JULY - The wall that divides the courtyard from the Pan Garden (just completed in June).

 

AUGUST - Looking out the window at the courtyard

 

SEPTEMBER - Mid-September was scary with a wind storm followed by smoke from nearby wildfires.


OCTOBER - The most pleasant surprise this year was the Spanish Flag vine (Ipomoea lobata). I grew it from seed and I'm notoriously bad at that. The blooms on this vine were just incredible.


 

NOVEMBER - The fall color didn't kick in until November. This is Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki'.
 

 

DECEMBER - Osmanthus 'Goshiki' shows the promise of a new and better year.

 

 Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. sweetbayDecember 30, 2020 at 5:10 AM

    I enjoyed the overview of the year in your garden. When I saw the twig fence my first thought was that the birds must love that. I am so jealous of your fuchsia and lupines!

    The view of the courtyard is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverDecember 30, 2020 at 10:11 PM

      Thank you! It is fun to be able to grow fuchsias and lupines. We both know they don't like the southern climate.

      Delete
  2. Barbara H.December 30, 2020 at 8:53 AM

    It's all beautiful, Phillip. Such a change from when you moved in. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  3. chavlinessDecember 30, 2020 at 9:40 AM

    I do love an annual retrospective. I adore the twig fence as much now as I did in January. Although snow makes for a beautiful photo opportunities, I'm perfectly happy without it. The snow photo
    made me think it could be fun to take a photo from the exact same spot in the garden once a month, to show its transformation through the seasons.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lisa at GreenbowDecember 30, 2020 at 9:49 AM

    Gorgeous photos of your garden Phillip. You will enjoy the extra space your short wall will provide. I hope your shoulder is holding up painlessly. I love that blue wall. It is so striking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverDecember 30, 2020 at 10:12 PM

      Thanks Lisa, hopefully I can get back on that project soon.

      Delete
  5. danger gardenDecember 30, 2020 at 9:56 AM

    The purple wall fronted by lupines is just a gorgeous image Phillip, here's to a good year in the garden!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nikki - Notes of LifeDecember 30, 2020 at 10:46 AM

    Such a beautiful garden! All the best for 2021!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kris PetersonDecember 30, 2020 at 11:30 AM

    Every shot is spectacular, Phillip. Your garden is a paradise and I'm sure it provided both refuge and comfort in 2020. Best wishes for 2021!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Angie (Dash & Bloom)December 30, 2020 at 8:18 PM

    Beautiful garden. That March photo is magical with everything blanketed in snow. And thank you for posting about the Spanish flag vine. I saw this plant on a trip to Wisconsin this fall, but did not know what the name of the plant was. It is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverDecember 30, 2020 at 10:16 PM

      Thank you Angie - the vine was new to me. I will be planting it again next year for sure.

      Delete
  9. RobinLDecember 31, 2020 at 2:09 PM

    How on earth did you manage to stick with one photo to represent each month, when you have so many amazing plants? Loved walking through the year with you!

    ReplyDelete

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