Happy April Fools!

Well today marks the one year anniversary of the purchase my home, 1 year down, 29 to go. So how do I celebrate? I'm out pulling weeds and prettying up my front hillside. I'm out spraying round up on the weeds down the hill in the back. I'm fumigating the ground squirrel tunnels as well as the gophers near my Paradiso fig tree. In other words, being a home owner. ;-) It got a bit HOT outside so I came in for a break. I'll go back out to get more done later this afternoon.

The perennials I put in a few months ago are growing well. The only setback are the daylilies. How was I supposed to know rabbits love them? Oh well. I need to get more agapanthas to take their place.

A few of the hundreds of iris I planted are throwing blooms. Can't wait for them to bloom! Most are from a garden club sale I went to last year. There were 3 flats of iris, one of white iris, one of purple, and one unknown. I bought all three. Had to be over 100 rhizomes. My sister gave me all of her iris, most of which are from Grandma's ranch. These are old world, unhybridized iris and highly sought after. Grandma's irises are the ones starting to bloom now.

My Anna apple is in bloom! This is a excellent sweet apple and I can't wait for my first bite. I was surprised to see how many blooms were on the tree. I didn't even know it had bloomed until I went out to weed.

My lemon has 20-30 small fruit set but something is eating the leaves, the orange too. I think it's snails but haven't caught the rascal yet.

The stargazer lily bulbs I planted are poking up thru the soil and the Society Garlic is blooming. The Panache fig has put on a good couple inches of growth. Love this fig! Excellent, excellent taste but needs a hot summer to ripen fruit well. My Pride of Madeira that I started from a cutting last year has doubled in size. It's a beautiful brilliant blue, stunning. I doubt it will bloom this year but next year for sure. I want to get a dark purple and a red-violet plant too.

One of my 3 lilacs had a tiny bloom but it was nice to see what the color was. It’s a pretty dark lavender color. Next year they should be beautiful.

I met my soon-to-be new neighbors today. As I was weeding they were driving by, stopped to say hello. They are building a weekend Tuscan retreat 2 properties over...they are from La Jolla. They have already put up an owl box, people after my own heart. They even have a mating pair nesting. I think I do too but it's hard to tell as there is no light on the box as I don't want to frighten them off. I do hear the male out there nightly on the box. I hear him all hours of the morning before daybreak too so I think I do have something going on. ;-)

The neighborhood is going to do a pig roast when their home is finished to celebrate. That should be good! A neighborhood Luau! I have great neighbors! I'm so lucky to be here.

Here is last night’s sunset. A bit of clouds in the sky always makes a special show.