Mid-March potpourri
March continues to be very busy at work so gardening has taken a bit of a backseat. Hopefully things will calm down soon and I will have mustered enough energy to tackle our tax return—yet another unpleasant task I keep postponing.
This post is a potpourri of photos I’ve taken in the last week: some in the rain, some during breaks between storms. For now the rain seems to be over. We need more, of course, but our succulents are just as happy to have a sunny spell.
×Mangave ‘Macho Mocha’ and Arctotis ‘Wine’. Planted 11 months ago from a 4-inch pot, this arctotis has quadrupled in size. It’s been in bloom almost the entire time, no doubt because of my wife’s diligent deadheading.
Arctotis ‘Pink Sugar’, added just last month
The last two lemons left on this juvenile Meyer lemon tree in the front yard. If you look closely, you can see a bunch of new flower buds. They should open within the next few weeks.
NOID Aeonium on the front yard fence
Agave bovicornuta…
…and its smaller cousin, Agave cupreata
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) across the street
This jade plant (Crassula ovata) next to the driveway has been in bloom since December
Lilac in the backyard. This is a low-chill variety, ‘Blue Skies’, developed specially for mild-winter climates.
View from the kitchen window across the Dymondia margaretae “lawn”
Agave ‘Blue Flame’ and Geum coccineum ‘Totally Tangerine’. The branch on the left is from a ‘Black Lace’ elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’)
Enjoy seeing all you have in bloom! I have violet blooming in the lawn and the cedars are doing their thing! Also some bulbs are starting to cautiously poke their leaves up. Supposed to have snow soonly, but the weather doesn't cooperate with the forecasters!
ReplyDeleteAh, the cedars! Yellow pollen everywhere...
DeleteHow old is the lilac? Does it have a good scent?
ReplyDeleteI planted the lilac in 1999 or 2000 from a 5-gallon can. The smell is heavenly. But like all lilacs, it doesn't bloom for very long.
DeleteBeautiful, but this doesn't seem like your garden at all. A different look, nice change! (and not just because plants are wet for once) :)
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of work to do in the backyard. I completely neglected it in favor of the front yard. The biggest problem is finding plants that thrive in dry shade.
DeleteSpring looks lush and lovely in your garden! I think it loved the rains. It is fun to see flowers mixed with succulents : ) Let's not speak of preparing tax returns!
ReplyDeleteEverything is so clean, that's the biggest difference. In years past, we didn't have enough rain to get all the dust and dirt off.
DeleteThe Mangave and the Arctotis look great together! Your Agaves all look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteKris, I'm so pleased with that Mangave and Arctotis combination. Total coincidence :-).
DeleteYour garden looks wonderful, fresh with rain. 'Blue Flame' is always so photogenic.
ReplyDelete'Blue Flame' has to be in my top 5 list of favorite agaves. So easy, yet so beautiful.
DeleteI can't believe you got that geum to bloom! I've been checking mine for buds daily, and none so far. I've read it takes a while to establish to bloom well, and I have moved mine around a bit. Any idea how long ago yours were planted?
ReplyDeleteDenise, I bought that Geum 'Totally Tangerine' at the 2012 Annie's Annuals Spring Party: http://www.succulentsandmore.com/2012/04/annies-annuals-2012-spring-party.html. So four years in the ground. It has flowered reliably since year 2 but this year it's bigger than ever.
DeleteHowever, this is the only geum in my garden that has done well. All the others have disappeared.
Thanks for the info. I've tried other geums before that disappeared too. At least my TT has good basal growth, so there's still hope.
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