More roses blooming in this suddenly cooler weather.

Another rose. This is my favorite bush. I love the delicate color.

I'm practicing my close-ups on roses. Mine bloom from April to December.

The lavender is slowing down, but still blooming. I never water it and after four months of no rain, it's looking dry.

Rosemary in bloom. Never watered, totally neglected and still beautiful.

Coastal bay laurel leaf. These shoots are sprouting all over my yard.

Bougainvillea along the back fence. Tiny white flowers amidst the dark pink petals.

Looking into my bay tree, still green and lush. There seem to be an equal number of leaves on the ground. They crackle when Phoebe runs on them.

I'm leaving the hydrangea blossoms on the bush in the front yard as long as possible. Once cut, they will dry to a light purplish blue.

The butterfly bush in my front yard just keeps growing and blooming. The dead flowers turn a blue purple.

Looking from the great room to the stairs.

Still trying to finish the hardscape. Enjoying the suddenly cooler weather.

In the back yard. I'm hoping for rain and just trying to keep everything green until then.

A few berries remain on this dying vine.

Looking up at the white oak. Soon they'll be turning brown and losing their leaves.

This time of year it's a tarweed world. Fields of mustardy yellow with an acrid scent.

Here's the second floor bathroom almost finished.

Hansel Kern constructing the stone trim for the house.

This is taken right after the controlled burn a few years ago. All of the white oak (pictured) survived. The grass comes back the next year. The live oak regenerates, so our biggest loss was manzanita.

Looking up the hill to the house.

Will standing on the granite outcroppings.

An aerial shot of the ranch while it was still green. The rock outcroppings are more prominent from the air.