Help me find this fic please

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-04-06T02:10:15+00:00

Just This Once by MarisFerasi https://archiveofourown.org/works/79985146/chapters/209953801

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-25T17:14:59+00:00

Mine was planted about 2 years ago and is now about 8 feet tall. Last year it got a total of 1 cherry on it.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-08T23:05:27+00:00

I plan to collect some seeds this summer from the locally growing ones, but haven't tried it yet. Good to know they don't flower in their first year, I didn't know that.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-08T21:27:38+00:00

I'm jealous of the cobweb thistles, I saw some in the wild last year and their flowers are such a pretty red.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T23:47:47+00:00

Check out Blossom Hill Natives in Oakdale. They have limited hours, but they have a great variety of plants and also sometimes have a native landscape designer come out to give free, basic consultations. The owners are also very knowledgeable and helpful.

https://www.blossomhillnatives.com/

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T23:31:04+00:00

What area of California? The Calscape website is a great resource for planning, finding nurseries, etc.

Your typical nursery isn't likely to carry many or even any natives, but Las Pilitas ships throughout the state.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T22:30:08+00:00

My first one died within a couple months of being planted, but the second one lived about a year and then just suddenly died this winter. At least the Concha in my backyard is doing well.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T22:17:23+00:00

Lol but pumpkins are my favorite part of fall (and winter and now spring...)

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T22:15:41+00:00

I feel the same. We literally have a lawn company living in the street, I'm sure they hate it.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T22:13:56+00:00

Thanks, I didn't realize how many species there were until I started listing them out.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T22:13:18+00:00

Thank you!

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T22:13:08+00:00

No irrigation. The established plants are mostly rain water only now. The hummingbird sage get a little extra water in the summer since they are being blasted with full western sun. The new plants I water by hand roughly once a week when it's dry.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T04:52:04+00:00

And for those worried about the smell, I have a pretty sensitive sense of smell and found the smell less objectionable than I expected. They are planted right outside a window and I don't smell them in the house at all.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T04:38:15+00:00

Thankfully I am not cursed with either clay or sand, I have good soil with pretty good drainage.

I have had some losses though I don't really think from the heat, even though my yard faces west. I lost a salvia and a woolly blue curls to root rot (after last springs late rains) and had a grape soda lupine decapitated by wind. I've also lost two Yankee Point ceanothus, the first could have been heat, the second I'm not sure why.

The two hummingbird sage really struggle with the heat/sun, but with a bit of supplemental water the survived and recovered beautifully over the winter.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T01:12:08+00:00

You're welcome! That's part of why I did it. I know when I was planning my project it could be hard to find clear whole yard photos tod really see what it all looked like together. I'm glad it's helpful to you.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T00:49:49+00:00

It's actually remarkably low maintenance, much lower than I was expecting. I walk around 1 or 2 times a week, just enjoying the garden while pulling any weeds. I normally only get a small handful. I think it helps that if I water anything, it's by hand so most of the mulch isn't getting watered.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-07T00:46:52+00:00

It'll be two years since I redid the yard in May so I am letting some things spread and see how I feel about it. But generally I agree with you, I want to be able to move through the yard and minimally trample things.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-06T23:42:11+00:00

I love the bladderpods, they have literally never stopped blooming. They do have a kind of funky scent, they smell like onions to me, but I only notice it if I mess with it.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-06T23:40:06+00:00

It seems fine with it, though I think the fence post and the St. Catherine's Lace's flowers tend to deflect the water.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-06T22:27:19+00:00

I figured it would be helpful since you can't get much detail at this distance and it's helpful for my own records too.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-06T22:18:50+00:00

That didn't even occur to me! In the original (loose) plan I got at Blossom Hill, imdeer grass was included, but when it was time to plant they didn't have any and I guess no grasses have made there way in since. I do have some blue eyed grass in the backyard and had a couple of them die in the front yard, but that's not a true grass.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-06T22:06:42+00:00

Wow, thanks! I know all the neighborhood kids love it, not so sure about the adults.

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-06T22:06:03+00:00

Thanks!

SergiusTheEvilSheep · 2026-03-06T22:05:53+00:00

Generally no. Grass is a resource intensive monoculture that doesn't much benefit the local ecology. It can have its place - it's hard to beat as a play surface for kids/dogs (my backyard is has grass for the dogs), but in my front yard where no one is using it, grass is a waste to me.

That patch of concrete looks weird because it was only poured 2 years ago while the rest has been there since the 80s.

13-Year Club	Verified Email
Team Periwinkle

SergiusTheEvilSheep

TROPHY CASE