Zirana City Blog

By Mary Crowell

Recently I found this Chinese saying in a magazine and it spoke to me: 

Pleasure for an hour, a bottle of wine; pleasure for years, a marriage; 

pleasure for a lifetime, a garden.

Speaking of pleasure, my epiphytic cacti 

gave me such joy this season with about 75% of my large hanging plants blooming 

with no duplicates. For those unfamiliar with epis, as they are called, do a 

Google search with image for epiphyllum hybrids and you will see why they make 

me smile.

     Hope everyone was able to make it to the San Mateo County Fair this year, 

unfortunately I was in Alaska at a cousin’s reunion so missed all the fun of 

entering designs and specimens. I heard though, that there were beautiful cut 

flowers and potted plants along with some innovative balcony gardens. The 

amateur and professional gardens outside Redwood Hall were especially gorgeous 

along with the artful and creative floral designs. There were some huge 

challenges this year as floral arts had a new venue.

    September is also the month many garden clubs resume their meetings after a 

summer hiatus. There are many advantages to joining a garden club. You learn 

about horticulture and floral design and you widen your circle of friends and 

your plant population. I think gardeners, on the whole, are very generous and 

very friendly. All the bay area garden clubs and societies welcome new members 

with open arms, cuttings, plants, bulbs, divisions, diverse programs, tours and 

great eating treats at the meetings. Check with the San Mateo Garden Center or 

with me for a society or club that might interest you.