So we start this little photo collection late in the vacation, as I was on my way to The Taft Garden in Ojai. Zooming along at a good clip I suddenly saw agaves! This scene was remarkable because everything else along Highway 33 was basically brown fields and trees. Suddenly there was a random garden...
What caught my eye were the plants on the outside of the gate, but of course once I was standing in front of the gate I had to try and see what was on the other side. Camera lifted up, up...(wow!).
That sign, at the bend in the road, says "Private Drive, No Trespassing, SAS Alarm Service," thankfully the alarm service was not called because of my photo taking.
Outside the gate, on the left side. Agave parryi pups to the left of the rock...
Pups to the right of the rock...
Mom and more pups!
I didn't really appreciate the detail where the rock (is that rock?) and cement meet until looking at this photo. In person I was staring at the plants.
Looking to the right of the gate now.
I do love it when an expired agave bloom is allowed to stand tall, even after the leaves have faded (I assume that's why they'd been removed).
See what I mean about agaves being the reason I stopped to photograph?
There were so many!
Back down in LA now, somewhere in the Los Feliz neighborhood. I didn't grab my camera when I saw this amazing opuntia, instead just using my phone. The orange flowers and sheer size of this plant are what made me stop. I don't remember the pads being this shiny in real life.
See what I mean about the size?
It's a tree!
When I posted this electrical-taped vase with marigolds on Instagram, someone wondered if it was left over from Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
Perhaps, but since I took these images on November 16th, and Día de los Muertos was November 1-2 that means they've been there awhile.
This! We all know tree roots raise sidewalks, but how often do we get a cutaway view?
Finally a house either under remodel or construction, I couldn't tell which. But it has grasses on the roof!
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I enjoyed this photographic journey. You see more of SoCal on your periodic trips than I do! The Ojai property was very impressive.
ReplyDeleteThere were a couple more photos I would have liked to have taken and added to this post, unfortunately the car doesn't make such quick stops/turn arounds when my other half is at the wheel.
DeleteVery nice street side design on that first house. The private garden may be even better!
ReplyDeleteDomestic tourism--looking at everyday places, is a lot of fun. The story on the front-door flower vase--that would be interesting to know.
I should do some aerial googling on that first house to see what I can see from the sky...
DeleteThose Agave look pristine!
ReplyDeleteFront gardens were I live are so boring.
How old do you think that tree is whose roots have lifted the pavement? quite a few of my slabs had become quite wobbly over the last few yars, so I lifted them, cut away the offending roots and relaid them again. Thankfully they weren't as thick as those bad boys LMAO!
It's a great climate for them, but they're obviously well loved. As for the tree, I'm have no clue...
DeleteGorgeous garden. Too bad someone wasn't in the garden when you stopped to offer you a tour. Wicked opuntia.
ReplyDeleteAn impromptu tour would have been amazing!
DeleteExcellent camera-lift maneuver ! The marigolds are still in bouquets for sale here at Whole Foods. Their profile has definitely lifted in the last few years.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of ever seeing them available as cut stems here, perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places.
DeleteI can just picture you with the camera lifted to snap photos over the fence... a regular garden-ninja you are! Agave parryi has such a fine and elegant presents. It's one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteAgave parryi is a gorgeous agave and these especially so.
DeleteYes, great maneuvers! The plants are nifty, for sure, as are the landscaping materials and designs. I really like the stones, rocks, cement, and flagstones...how they work together and support the plants.
ReplyDeleteIt was all so well done, I wish I could have learned more about it.
DeleteOh! My goodness me ! Wow ! :)
ReplyDeleteHa, glad you enjoyed.
DeleteYou have to love the SoCal climate, and it looks like this owner has embraced xerophytic gardening with aplomb... very pleasing, stellar. That Opuntia must be ancient!
ReplyDeleteA very impressive specimen for sure!
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