buylotrogold

It's taken me a week or two, but I've now figured out what the 'sd' in sdnet signifies. How do you feel about an out of town correspondent? My wife and I spent a few days in San Diego a couple of years ago and a friends did a sabbatical year at the University. Our friends had their first baby while in San Diego after years of trying without success at home. I'm not sure what that says about the San Diego air, but my wife and I liked the place a lot too. We were surprised at the range of Australian plants growing around town. We knew about eucalypts in California, but hadn't thought about other species. I took dozens of photos of those beautiful old melaleucas used as street trees, especially in Coronado. We were much more at home in San Diego than Los angeles. People seemed to us to be 'normal', ie. open and friendly and not in so much of a rush. Must be the air. We would have liked to see more - we didn't even make it to the zoo. All that aside, I'm keen to share info with gardeners in other places. I like to 'listen' to other people's experiences and I know a fair bit about propagating and cultivating Australian species in particular, which I'm happy to share. So let me know what you think about out-of-town participation. Cheers Ian Lester Canberra Land of Oz

It's taken me a week or two, but I've now figured out what the 'sd' in sdnet signifies. How do you feel about an out of town correspondent? My wife and I spent a few days in San Diego a couple of years ago and a friends did a sabbatical year at the University. G'day, I don't speak for everyone but I read and post here occasionally and think it would be fine if you'd like to talk about gardening with us. Lately I've gotten interested in growing aromatic plants for both infusing into jojoba and just plain enjoying in the yard and on the patio. Cheers to you two! 'rena in El Cajon (a 'burb of San Diego)

A real surprise was the Jacaranda trees, that look so much like Wisteria, yet lack the delightful scent that always welcomes one to springtime in Dixie. Wisterias do well up in Alpine, I don't think they flourish without some winter chilling? So we don't see those down here in the flats. I grew a jacaranda from a seed that I picked up in Oceanside decades ago, it's taller than our house now... no they don't have much scent but there is a lovely faint vanilla type aroma to them. Lot's of stuff from the south does do well here, magnolias, honeysuckle pop to mind right off. There is a nursery up in the north county that specializes in Hawaiian tropicals like plumeria but they are pretty expensive, I'm going to put some on my hint list for our coming wedding anniversary :o 'rena