This is regarding Julia Child as a standard patio tree in a 20 inch container. I bought it a year ago.

What does it mean when in the last few days the leaves that are closest inside to the trunk are all turning bright yellow and falling off?

There are buds ready to bloom. It was pruned and fed Jan/Feb. Has looked extremely healthy this entire season. I am in the Bay Area so if you follow that you know we have had a rainy first part of the year. In fact it wasn't until the sun came out and the buds started to pop that this leaf thing has begun. However that is when I began to water with the hose around the containers in general. Too much? I have violas underplanted and they keep drying out. Too little water for violas, too much for Julia?

Thanks, Julie