Organic Gardening in November

Here I am doing a little gardening. It's November and the weather in SoCal is wonderful! I am trying a tip I got from another gardener, to add organic material to my garden soil. I am using kitchen scraps that have been pureed in the blender, instead of waiting for them to break down in the compost bin. I dug several holes & filled with the organic mix. This blend contains: avocado, eggshells & coffee grinds. We'll see what happens!

My Old Pine Tree Friends

I recently lost my pine tree friends. All the time I lived at this place in Topanga, these 2 were always with me. Together. Partners. Their branches touching. Stopping spot for birds flying across the Canyon. Resting spot for me, my back to the tree trunk, respite on a hot Summer day, looking out from there to the hillsides beyond.

Now they are no more, thanks to Mr. Pine Beetle. I tried to save them.. Had a tree man come out & shoot 'em up. To no avail. Watched them lose all their pine needles. Still, the birds came & enjoyed them.

Now, I have taken them down, after one broke in half & crashed to the ground quite loudly! Pine trees are not native to the Santa Monica Mtns. The 100ft pines were planted in the '50s back when the fire dept was giving them away for free to encourage planting. Now, the hillside will have a more native look. More open. Goodbye my friends, and now we move on.