an elusive Blossom ... caught ya!

been trying to photograph this 'Dragon Fruit' as Dad called it, for weeks and always seem to miss the opening of the blossom...then a few nights ago i was out watching the sun set in the way back by the back pond and noticed that 2 of the blossoms were starting to open...as i watched i took pics, as it did indeed fully open to this beautiful super large cream and yellow flower blossom..as large as a volley ball! and, as i suspected buy the next morning it had faded and fully closed....there must be some night moth that fertilizes it don't ya think?! extraordinary! i sure hope that i can catch the one to the west of the courtyard that is climbing in the Locust tree and has a small trunk as its base...so far i have missed them all looking in the early am...there are 2 more buds developing thank goodness!...maybe i will watch for it at dusk as well.....hummm??!!!! good thinking! here are the spent blossoms...

Nectarine's are ready & abundant!

Although thePakistani (long) Mullberrys were great while they lasted, they are now gone... but, the young Nectarine Trees are now abundant with fruit for the first time this year ... Dad would be so excited and pleased by their flavor and quanity! many are double fruit like kissing cousins,very sweet and yummy!!! always an exciting time when a new fruit tree has it's first good crop!  of course, you know what that means?!!!....more to come in the years to come!!! ypee!

Gotta love those Trumpet Vines

i really feel like i'm in Hawaii...not Fontana....those of you who have been to the property know that it is a magical place...the only thing that it shares with Fontana is the sidewalk...once you cross it you are in another world...how cool is that?!!!!!!!!!!

can laundry be fun? you bet! On the Farm it can.....

Shiso, Perrilla frutescens, Eastern Asia (Lamiaceae) colliding with Laundry ..... how sweet!

Garden Room Courtyard with Artist Cottage in the background ...

A Kindred Spirit!

Not all fun is had on the Farm....Memorial weekend, my dear friend Odette from Santa Rosa in Northern Calif came to the Farm for a visit..... while strolling through the lovely neighborhoods of Clairmont on our way to have lunch in the Village, we stumbled across a Kindred Spirit....Ms. Barbara Beretich who emerged from her magical home and garden and much too our delight, invited us in to have look around....a gardener's dream!! Low and behold, she is an accomplished Artist too boot! I Felt funny to snap too many pics but let me just say that is was charming! she has been there since the early 70's and Art abounds in every corner and detail as does the amazing flowers in her front and back gardens. When entering Barbara's home I could not help notice that it shared many design style likenesses to Sam Malof's home. Well, as it turns out they were great friends, his picture included in the very large collection on the fridge!!! what a small world...The resident curators are 2 very sweet and attentive cats! wow! what a real and special treat! hey, think Barbara would like to see the Farm?  Humm... have to ask her. You go Barbara!!! Thanks for the tour! Barbara's front yard the side of Barbara's garden wall

Odette in Clairmont ...i cut off the head of the giant topiary Elephant...oops!back at the Farm, the Trumpet flowers are exploding!!!

In Full Bloom! WOW!

commonly called the 'Angels Trumpet'... it's a full chorus going strong!

Hey, it's been a while! i'm back!

  here are a few new pictures of the Farm just recently shot ... would love to chat, but me and some weeds got a date!!!  Ha!!  Enjoy!

i think you've seen this guy before .. Babalu .. is from dad's trip to Mexico chasing the Monarch Butterflys
in the late 50's ....