Tuesday, May 3, 2016

On the Streets of Ventura...

Here we go, flashing back to December and our time in Ventura, California...

These were planted up along a street leading to the freeway on-ramp. And yes – that's my shadow. I have no idea why my head is that shape.

Truth be told I thought these were all Aloe plicatilis (now known as Kumara plicatilis) before I pulled over to photograph them.

Now I'm not sure what they are...besides some sort of Yucca... I've been educated! Dracaena draco. (which is actually even more impressive). Thanks for the correction Max.

Pretty fabulous though, right?

Especially when there are this many!

Back in Ventura proper I was mesmerized by the plantings in front of the library.

The sun, shadows, and a solid background all work to make the plant shapes shine.

Oh and the climate. One must not forget the climate, this was December 23rd after all, imagine...

Just up the street, in front of a fancy pants restaurant, was this...

Southern California...you KILL me!!!

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

20 comments:

  1. Loree! For shame! Those are Dracaena draco!!
    Max P.

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    1. Sometimes my Oregonian-ness shows through, what can I say!

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  2. Oh the plants, sigh. When we win the lottery- summers in the PNw, winters in SoCal!

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    1. I don't know, as ks points out as long as we stay along the coast summer in SoCal could be quite lovely too. And since we'll be rich Santa Barbara will be just the ticket!

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  3. Seriously, this makes me want to move to coastal Central/Southern California. Sigh.

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    1. Maybe Peter and I will be kind enough to let you stay in our guest house (see above).

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  4. Love the road side planting.

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    1. Beats the roadside plantings you see here that's for sure.

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  5. As a recovered Southern Californian,recommend Santa Barbara and north to Santa Cruz, coastal only.Otherwise too hot, too dry, too smoggy.

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    1. Well yes of course! I mean if I'm dreaming I might as well dream big.

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  6. I love Dracaena draco. They are from the Canary Islands, Spain, and they can become pretty big and really old! and they are beautiful :).

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    1. Can you even imagine how fabulous they'll be when full grown?

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  7. I'm enjoying these posts about your trip! Yes, the climate can't be beat in winter. I love S. Cal., but I wouldn't want to live there year-round. The plants do amaze me, though, when I visit! Great shots!

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    1. So basically you're on the same "win the lottery" schedule as Peter? (above)

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  8. Your guest house will be a busy place! The best part of all this? The shadows!

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  9. I like the giant rocks around those plants, I assume to protect bthem from so cal drivers...

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  10. Ventura is very nice, cool summers. My Grandmother and Grandfather lived there for 20-some years. I have a Dracena draco in a pot, where it must stay--they get big!

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  11. displaced new england woodland gardener turned pacnwesterner with a sudden obsession for southern hemishere plants...and happy to have found your blog. hiya! can you tell me what plant is in the image 7th up from bottom? thanks loree

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    1. Hi ya back at cha...that's a purple leaved Coryline. I had one live through many winters but finally knocked out by back to back cold ones in 2008/09 and 2009/10. I am starting to see them around town again since we've had a couple of back to back warmish winters.

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    2. That's what I thought it was. Mine hasn't as much trunk yet...but maybe the milder winters will allow for one in time. Thank you!

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