Water Catchment

Amazing things can happen in a space 4 feet wide.

Green Alchemy recently had the opportunity to help install a DIY water catchment system. My client found used food processing containers for sale, $200 bucks for a 270 gallon container, that's a good deal!


We had to go over the top of the clients garage to drop the containers into a 4' wide space on the other side.


Ray found a fun way to get down from the roof.

The first container was lowered into place.

Then a second.

And a third.

After looking it over the client is thinking he'll spring for 2 or 3 more. The containers will be hooked up to the gutters and will collect water to be used on the garden during the summer months.

Winter color

Cyclamen in red and pink are a favorite winter color combination.

It's that time of year when summer flowering plants get pulled out and winter flowering plants get planted. In public settings in will typically be cyclamen, a hardy reliable winter bloomer. These plantings remind me the holidays are fast approaching with twinkling lights and festive ornaments soon to follow.




Cyclamen are great plants that will last for years in the garden. Some are very fragrant. Other winter bloomers are pansies, poppies, primrose, stock, and ornamental cabbage. The tip for great winter color is to plant 4" or one gallon sized plants. It's too cold for the little cell pack plants and they won't get very big.

What a difference a boardwalk makes

This was a front entry project for Green Alchemy. Gloria and Michael needed something more formal and integrated than what they had. We decided to soften and warm things up with a boardwalk and wooden retaining walls.



We wanted to do more, like ripping out the concrete steps and agregate landing at the front door, but we kept it simple and cost effective.

We planted more grasses and deer resistant plants to match what is existing. The front entry is now both functional and fun!

Passiflora mollissima

Passiflora mollissima a.k.a. Banana Passion Fruit

There are many types of passion vines. All are tropical and exotic looking. I found this beauty growing along a cafe parkinglot in El Cerrito. What grabbed my attention were the fruits. I've never seen a fruiting passion vine before.

I love the vivid shade of pink and extremely pendulous blooms.

Orchid time!

Can you spot the hiding Green Alchemist? She's wearing a yellow shirt so she camouflages better!

Miniature tulips

Tulipa humilis alba coerulea oculata
Species tulip, 5" tall. Blooms in April.

I love bulbs. Bulbs are cool because I plant them once (in the right place), they push up out of the earth with fresh green leaves, produce fabulous blooms, and then die back and disappear until next year when they pop up and do their thing all over again. I enjoy the seasonal interest.

Tulip Biflora
Species tulip. 5" tall. Blooms in April.

I have had a fascination for miniature tulips that only grow about 5" tall, max. Cute. Very cute. And this year I am on top of it. I purchased my order before the miniature tulips were sold out.

All the pots in my collection are no more than 3" across. I put 1 - 3 bulbs in each pot.


These bulbs are all of 3/4" in length, which in bulbsville is very small.

One of my clients gave me 3 antique terracotta pots. They are hand made and rustic. I am so happy to be planting them with miniature tulips! I have a hanging pot that is only 3" and I have been waiting forever to find the perfect miniature plant for it.

I buy my bulbs from Van Engelen Wholesale bulb company. They have good prices on bulk buys and some very unique bulbs.

Some beautiful porch action

As always, you can click any image to see a larger (and more detailed!) version.




Green Alchemy is conducting more work over at Nola's residence. While they were there my mom snapped some great shots of the plants on one of Nola's porches. Pretty cool looking, huh? I'd love to come home to that.