Jacaranda June

Jacaranda June

The last few months have been exhausting.  Thing 2 had her appendix removed.  There were lots of school end activities.  I have quite a few posts that need to be caught up on.  This blog has been neglected.

But this month is June and is June is my favorite month in Los Angeles.  It’s the month when the trees turn purple.  Yes, the Jacaranda’s are in full bloom the month of June.   The blooming starts and May and they are pretty much done by the end of July.  When the Jacaranda’s bloom, their entire foliage is purple.  And these are big, big trees.  They make a bigger statement than Liberace.

Growing up in Alaska there were pretty much only two types of trees – birch and  pine.  I don’t remember any flowered trees.  Maybe that’s why I love Jacarandas so much.  But I can’t be the only one.  In Los Angeles, there are entire streets lined with these Jacarandas.  My kids are sick of me pointing out “purple tree” along our drives through the city.  But the contrast of the brilliant purple against the azure skyline is magical!

When I bought the Lake Balboa Bungalow – I spied that the owner had planted a Jacaranda right in the front.  It was a very good sign!  I’ve waited impatiently for it to bloom this year.  It’s just started what will be a long, long life so it’s a very slight and slim tree right now.  But by the beginning of June, I had my first purple foliage burst out.

Enjoy the color of June.  Soon the purple will be gone and the days are going to get hot.

Orange Blossom Perfume

The orange tree in my backyard looked dead.  The neighbor to my right said it was a shame – that it used to grow wonderful navel oranges.  The neighbor that lives directly behind me concurred.

But I saw small signs of growth (hope) despite the mass of dead, dry branches.

The tree was watered and fertilized.

It produced one lone orange which a squirrel or possum stole away with.

Right after the New Year though, I began to wonder and doubt.  The tree wasn’t looking so good.  Would it make it?  If the tree wasn’t able to produce fruit – it might be better to cut it down – I could plant two new trees in its place.

Dr. Malibu was the first to notice the explosion of blossoms.  Tiny flowers have filled the branches that are still alive.  At dusk, the air is so sweetly perfumed by these blossoms that the scent lures you out to the backyard like a sirens song.

Then the bees came – roly, poly, big, fat bumble bees, loaded to the gills with pollen.  Go bees go!  As Dr. Malibu would say – they were down with the struggle!

We may have navel oranges yet!  In the meantime, we’re enjoying the fragrance of hope!

Naval Orange Blossom

The grass is always greener

Daffodils

It’s been a cold winter here in la la land.  I’ve actually scraped frost off my windshield twice just recently but lately it feels like Spring!

All the bulbs are blooming

The Daffodils are in full force.  Every day another 10 or more of these floral rays of sunshine burst open.  The freesia buds are forming and soon they will be following suite.

JD loves to lie in the grass

Look at the backyard!  The weed infested dirt patch has been transformed into a lush, velvety green carpet.  NO one loves it more than JD.

Well, Farmer Malibu does.  He’s the one in charge back there.

Originally I had no plans to grow grass back there.  With a brand new house, the yard was not on my short list.  Dr. Malibu took over – roughing up the soil, amending it with manure and seeding the soil.  After endless rounds of sweeping up tracked in dirt, I finally caved and had my friends over at The Sprinkler Tech come and install sprinklers.  Plus I knew all this work would be for naught if the yard didn’t get regularly watered.   I was also motivated by the addition of a few new roses.

Dr. Malibu did apply a retail brand weed and feed to the lawn but special precautions were made to ensure that JD didn’t get sick. Despite the instructions that say you can allow pets on the lawn a day after it’s applied and watered – JD waited a full week during a rainy period to ensure that everything was dissolved and absorbed into the soil.

Everything and everyone is now thriving.  Going forward – the soil amendments will be organic as I don’t want to add more chemicals and disrupt the healthy eco system in my soil.  The clay rich soil in my back yard has a very good worm population and I want to ensure those little guys are happy!

Happy Little Daffodils!

Speaking of worms – one of my birthday gifts was a worm farm!  I’ve promised Judi Barker my first batch of worm poo –she is thrilled…

Getting my Kix!

I’ve had some pretty amazing birthdays  – one spent in Kauai, one at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  This year was no different!

My birthday started when I walked into the kitchen that morning and saw Thing 2 making my latte – that’s when I remembered it was my birthday!  I was gifted with a Starbucks gift card and a pink Kings shirt by Thing 1 and Thing 2.    Wow!  Presents from the kids!  I feel special!

That evening, Dr. Malibu surprised me by inviting our friends over for our favorite themed dinner – Taco Night!  He made his famous pulled pork tacos along with chicken with all the taco garnishments.  Serious yum!  I’m a professional – I go straight for the pulled pork.  Ms. Carrie Stevens made a homemade cake with coffee and a whipped Jack Daniels frosting – true deliciousness from the Centerfold Chef herself!

Centerfold Chef Carrie Stevens

The following night was spent with Buckcherry at the Viper room.  Yeah – the Viper Room.  That’s what I LOVE about LA -  sometimes you get to see your favorite band close enough to feel their sweat (if you choose to stand up by the stage which I do not)  If you don’t know – the Viper Room is a tiny venue (and it gets really hot in there – the sweat threat is real).

Buckcherry at the Viper Room

Buckcherry was kicking off their new album Confessions with 3 nights at the Viper.   This is a band you need to see live and up close!  You can feel the energy in the room ignite when Josh starts to sing!  He’s up there dancing, prancing and screaming – the crowd adores him!  Buckcherry rolled out a few of the new songs but played their hits – Crazy Bitch, Cocaine and Sorry.

Josh Todd

Night three was the pinnacle with Femme Fatale opening for Kix at the Key Club.   We started with a great dinner at the Rainbow where Dr. Malibu secured the coveted corner booth.

Corner Booth at the Rainbow

Sharise Neil walked in and spotted half of my party wearing Pink Polka Dot dresses (the other half were men… Sharise is going to have to expand her line.)

Pink Polka Dot night at the Rainbow!

Lorraine Lewis at the Key Club

Then we all went over to the Key Club and watched Lorraine Lewis from Femme Fatale kick off the night.  Lorraine rocks!  She’s the female equivalent to young Mick Jaggar! Not only is she an extraordinary woman – one of the key producers on Ex Wives of Rock currently running on Fuse, but she’s also really, really a nice lady.

Lorraine Lewis

Kix at the Key Club

Finally, finally, finally Kix played.  I sang all the words to every song right along with the rest of the audience.   There was a lot of Kix love in the room.

Kix Set List

After the show, I was too exhilarated to be sad that the show was over, that this was the last night of the Key Club and that so much on the strip has changed.  Right outside the Key Club doors – someone handed me a flyer – it brought me back to the days of Gazzarris.  The Key Club is closing – rumors have it that Jay Z bought it and is turning it into a dance club.  There was a lot of commemorating that night about the Sunset Strip and all the changes.  The Key Club used to be Billboard Live which used to be Gazzarris – and that’s the venue I miss the most.   I’m glad I got to be there.  But there’s no turning back time.  With every birthday  – we all get a little older and we treasure our memories and our friendships even more.

This was a night I’ll never forget – I’m thankful I got to spend it with my friends and my favorite band.