Tibouchina Princess flower...

That is pretty

Hayward is a perfect climate for Tibourchina urvilleana. I remember seeing them in Cherry Land 20 ft. tall.

Wow that is tall Cherry Land is a lovely name for an area.

Hayward, Penny, used to be orchards...Cherry's.Apples,Plums..all the stone fruits. We even had a cannery.
ALL gone. Just homes now.

Just like here then trying to build on all our green belt they picked on the wrong city of people here though ? so now neighbouring towns are taking our allot of houses. They tried cutting disabled childrens transport for school here a justice of the peace councilors idea so a group of men found where he was in the city and beat him up telling him he will know what its like to be disabled it was in the papers as well the justice of the peace councilor was my sons head master at school in the 80s.

I often wonder if people knew how our food was made would they be so eager to want these homes and farm land built on if they knew in the near future how the meat will be made I know they would nt touch it all this building is greed not need.

I know Penny,that I did plant some subtropical fruit tree's like the Mango and some Guava's. But they all grow slow and bare in moderate amounts. The only ones that are faster and give pretty good are my White Sapote and Meyers Lemon. They are much hardier subtropicals. Not all are created equal!
SO its a nice balance to have plants that do things like flower or give you something to eat.

I remember Del Monte, Hunts canneries in Hayward, I used to live close to them. Unfortunately, they're all gone now. :>((

Thats good you have your Sapote and Meyers Lemons shame the Mango and Guava s grew so slow. Yes I use to have an allotment to grow my food so I agree flowers or food.

Andy- only the cannery's Water tower-now a decoration- is still there. Its all condo's. Brand new and who knows how much. Across the street from that,its small brand new faux Craftsmen home..and get this- no yards. Just enough room between homes on three sides for a person to walk. Front yards area bout 2' wide. All sold out.

Penny,its just all for fun. Like crossword puzzles. If I get few small buckets of Guava.or a single bunch of Banana's..that pretty good. I don't have a yard that's even close to averaged size. The curse of loving to garden on a very small scale.

I suppose it is all a bit of fun Stan would you of liked a bigger garden I miss my big garden I had but I know I could nt cope with that size now I would start in the morning at 8 o clock in the morning and not finish until 7.30 at night cutting the grass then edging it then raking it diging all in between the flower beds .the only brake was just taking my kids to school at 8.45 in the morning and picking them up from school at 4 o' clock In the afternoon and a couple of cups of tea in between their school hours .

Its crossed my mind too Penny..making it too intensive as a I get older. Right now all my water is by hand and hose. One day,I might have to put in some irrigation system. The yards are small...but divided by my home and two rental cottages..so that's a lot of rubber hose to unwind,and go around everything. Also,I have such a variety of plants..many need extra care- no mistakes ever- and can I do that too when I slow down even more then I am now with bad back?
I dont want to think what would happen if I ended up in a hospital. I cant ask my wife- a novice- to know what to do. She could never spot the tucked in rare plant here and there to water.
Plus,she's from where the rains do all the watering. Im sure she wouldnt know to soak plant.
Oh well...fun now,worry later..wink.

That would be a very wise move putting an irrigation system in Stan either that or start teaching your wife what to do or hire a gardener if it came you needed to.

Stan,

That's too bad. I guess it looks better than it used to years ago. I lived on Park St. from 1972 to 1978. It wasn't the best neighborhood.

I think Penny- that next year I will get serious about the irrigation. I always thought I might move one day..so take my plants with me. No more!

Fremont was in the top five city's for best place to live in the USA. In the paper a couple of days ago.
Its not a starter home place anymore like it used to be...and go into the hills and its like Beverly Hills in prices seems to me.
The drought has taken a toll though. The bay area lags behind soucal in lush front yards. Plus all the Ficus down south as you know- make a shiny lush green look. Still plenty of temperate tree's here that are dull.

Is nt there other areas that are decent with in your price range over there with a bit bigger garden so your plants could be put into the ground.
Such a shame the plants are suffering there with the drought and turning dull.

Yes you must start with an irrigation system if your not going to move.

I think Fremont has been in the top 5 or 10 best cities to live in California or U.S. for many years. The Mission San Jose School District is one of the best, I think this is one of the reasons.