Greetings from Spring Valley

[Fouquieria]

I don't garden much anymore. As I've gotten older I developed diabetes, lost a leg, had open heart quintuple bypass, & went on dialysis. Now I'm waiting for cataract procedure!
After I retired, I gardened with a passion. I was down the hill every day. The lot is steep in the extreme and also extremely ROCKY.
So, I can't go down there much any more and so the yard has been neglected. I've lost many things, the weeds and leaf debris have taken over.
Things have fallen over. It's a mess.
Anyway, here are some old pics of the yard in its heyday. Basically I use to try and grow everything that was somewhat xeric.
Most of these old pics are of the yard below the house. I also own the two lots next door and they were planted out too.
Over the years as I've gone through computers, I've lost tons of old photos, so I don't have any of the two lots.
Because I use to have two Bullmastiff sisters, the yard was entirely fenced in, including the side lots.
I'll try and post once in awhile. Love the photos on here.

-Ron-

[Paul S]

That is some portfolio of medical issues, Ron!

Your garden set the bar for me. Were I ever to live somewhere with that same climate, your garden is what I would aspire to. You must look back on the pictures with a mixture of sadness, but also pride because you achieved something quite special. Whatever it is like now, no-one can take away what it was. Breathtaking combinations.

[Fouquieria]

Paul,

As an idea of how things have changed...in that photo with the hammock. Right below it is a little Yucca rostrata. Now it's about seven feet tall!

-Ron-

[Stan]

I was thinking Ron you might ask a local master gardeners course or local C&S club to come in and learn what it takes to get you back your world known garden. Free cuttings!

[Fouquieria]

Lots of Euphorbias throughout the yard.

[Fouquieria]

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[Fouquieria]

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[Fouquieria]

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[Paul S]

Puya_venusta5.jpg

What a flower! Can't grow that one here, sadly.

[Tom in Tucson]

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Hi Ron. if you'll please forgive me for not sending you a personal message instead, I'd like to add several comments, and many questions as well, to your introductory post:

First off, when I was the multi-annual sales director for the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society, from the mid '90s to the early 2000s I believe I may have briefly spoken with you at those sales events. At that time, did you use a walking stick (cane) as an ambulatory device?

I spend possibly an excessive amount of time commenting on the Palmtalk forum. There used to be a member there who posted 1000s of times, that now only occasionally posts any comments (found a more interesting forum?). His user name is MattyB (Matt Bradford), and he has one of the largest personal palm gardens in the world. He too is a resident of Spring Valley. Do you know him?

Spring Valley has one of the most conducive climates in the US for growing a huge variety pf plants. I lived near you several times (San Carlos region of San Diego, the area near 70th and El Cajon Blvd., and La Mesa near Lake Murray Blvd. (by the dam)), so I think I know what a delightful climate you must have to enjoy a potentially (if not already) fabulous garden in.

On other forums you belong to, I've always wondered the following about your avatar, and it's relationship to your chosen user name; do you have any special affinity to the Fouquieria genus? Why did you choose to use a small grove of fat Madagascar Baobabs as your avatar, rather than instead using a member of the ocotillo family?

As a personal aside, A once somewhat famous (eccentric?) character known as Whitman (Whit) Evans, (a former Phoenix resident) who was honored by the use of his name for the genus Neoevansia by William Taylor Marshall (see IPNI for details). If I remember correctly Evansia was a genus of the mollusk order. He once was a good friend of mine, who I'll always remember. I could expound to near excess as to just how he effected my life, but I'll save that for another time.

Anyway, for several reasons besides my friendship with Whit, I still prefer to use that genus name for what is now the genus "du jour"name of Peniocereus for several other members of this valid genus name. Is the name of the image you posted Neoevansia diguetii, or of another species, or possibly a Selenicereus? Whatever it is, it is stunning!

[tangiguy985]

Hello Ron, I am so sorry for your various (much) ailments and how it has very much impacted your true passion for growing your landscape. The pictures you submitted of your landscape are just beautiful and stunning. Being an amateur landscaper, I can very much appreciate all the time, hard work, and labor of love you expended achieving such a stunning yard. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

tangiguy985