We got our second solid rainstorm of the season last week, a so-call "Pineapple Express," which did indeed roar through our area like a freight train, complete with lighting effects in the form of blown electrical transformers visible on the horizon. We were lucky, though, and didn't either lose power or suffer the mudslides that caused significant damage elsewhere. It did leave some flowers in shambles but it was welcome nonetheless, even if we're still far from ending California's drought.
A few plants took the downpour in stride, most notably the Arbutus 'Marina,' still blanketed in blossoms (but no berries).
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| 2 of our 5 Arbutus 'Marina,' all loaded with blossoms |
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| The Arbutus blooms attract bees, hummingbirds and even butterflies |
Other pink-flowered plants that held up well included:
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| Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' |
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| Coleonema 'Sunset Gold' and Cuphea ignea 'Starfire Pink,' which seem impervious to all weather conditions |
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| Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' |
There were troupers among the blue, yellow, orange and white-flowered plants as well.
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| Ageratum houstonium 'Blue Horizon' |
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| Anemone 'Mona Lisa Deep Blue,' a Bloom Day cheat as it and several others were planted shortly before our last rainstorm |
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| Angelonia augustifolia |
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| Aster x frikartii 'Monch' |
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| Polygala fruticosa 'Petite Butterflies' |
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| Solanum xantii, a California native |
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| Argyranthemum frutescens 'Butterfly' |
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| Gaillardia aristata 'Gallo Peach' |
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| Gazania 'New Day Yellow' |
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| Osteospermum 'Blue-eyed Beauty,' another new acquisition |
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| Aging blooms of Gomphrena haageana |
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| Orange-flowered Osteospermum (no ID) |
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| Cyclamen (no ID) |
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| Hibiscus trionum, not blooming as profusely but still producing new flowers daily |
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| Lantana 'Lucky White,' yet another new introduction |
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| Osteospermum ecklonis '3D Silver' |
Some plants were beaten down by the rain but are too pretty to entirely ignore this Bloom Day:
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| Camellia sasanqua (no ID) |
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| Eustoma grandiflorum 'Borealis Blue' |
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| Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' |
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| Schlumbergera truncata |
That's it for this year-end Bloom Day wrap-up. Visit our Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day hostess, Carol, at
May Dreams Gardens to find what's blooming in her Indiana garden and links to other bloggers' posts.
It's also time to post a photo of what I have "In a Vase on Monday," in collaboration with Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden. As multi-tasking is mandatory during the busy holiday season, I'm including blooms picked from my garden in today's Bloom Day post.
Visit Cathy to find what she and other participating gardeners collected for their vases this week.
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| Today's vase contains 'Buttercream' roses, an Anemone, Aster x frikartii, Solanum xantii, and Erysimum linifolium |
All material
© 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Ay-yi-yi .... you've got so much good stuff blooming, I'm jealous. You must have full sun while I have full shade just 25 miles away. The arbutus has so much going for it .... and yours are nicely pruned.
ReplyDeleteI do have lots of sun but it's also remarkable what a difference a few miles can make in terms of what you can grow. Our former house was just 15 miles from here and there's a huge difference in climate - the summer temperatures average 10 degrees higher here for one thing.
DeleteThank goodness for California on Bloom Day in the winter! All so pretty. Glad you got some rain.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia is at its best in winter (at least by comparison). The rain has been wonderful!
DeleteThat Hibiscus trionum is pretty fabulous. So glad your garden didn't get smashed down in the rain.
ReplyDeleteGiven the strength of the wind, I'm surprised we didn't have problems - a tornado hit South LA!
DeleteSo many beautiful blooms still despite the heavy rains, yay!
ReplyDeleteThe new additions are partly responsible for the floral color but it is prime planting season here.
DeleteGlad you got rain. Hibiscus trionum resembles okra, so I looked it up. You have so many pretty blossoms that I do recognize, most of which are killed to roots here in winter, like Lantana.
ReplyDeleteWe have another rainstorm coming in today - a light rain has already started. That Hibiscus has a reputation as a serious weed in some areas. I bought it at the local botanic garden and, when I looked it up, was surprised to find it had such a negative reputation. So far, it seems to be no problem here.
DeletePineapple Express! Gosh, I do so enjoy hearing about the different weather that bloggers experience across the globe. Some of your GBBD blooms are real stunners - that Osteospermum 'Blue-eyed Beauty' more or less hit me in the face. Not sure if I could cope with its brazenness in my garden though ;) I love your blue and yellow vase, such a good colour combination, and the variegated erysimum foliage is the perfect contrast. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYes, in retrospect, that particular Osteospermum may be a little too flashy. It has the largest flowers of any Osteospermum I've ever seen.
DeleteYou've got a lot of gorgeous things blooming in your garden right now that bloom here in the summer. Your Monday vase is, as always, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter! The cool months here can be magical.
DeleteBeautiful blooms!
ReplyDeleteHappy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Lea
Thanks Lea and happy GBBD to you!
DeleteWell, just what I needed, your blooms warmed me up no end Kris.
ReplyDeleteGlad you've had more rain and I'm sure your plants appreciate it, despite the fact some of the flowers say otherwise.
I always admire the Arbutus, what's not to love about them.
The Arbutus is an absolutely perfect tree, Angie (well, except for the one specimen in the side garden that appears to be struggling).
DeleteKris I can't see your photos - slow internet),but am enjoying imagining your flowers and vase today!
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie. Sorry the internet connection is such a problem. I'm having some difficulties with the connection this morning myself.
DeleteKris what a delight to see all your flowers especially the Osteospermum which I can only grow in the heat of our summer. And oh this vase is beautiful especially those roses.
ReplyDeleteThe Osteospermums definitely do better here in the cool months, Donna. They seem to shut down entirely during the hot, dry summer months.
DeleteYou have some gorgeous colors!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog Betty!
DeleteThe flowers on the Osteospermum 'Blue-eyed Beauty' are cartoon-like, they're so perfect and cheerful. You've got so many plants in bloom, looking lovely :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it remains to be seen how well 'Blue-eyed Beauty' will mesh with the rest of the garden. I was very taken with the colors and the size of the flowers when I saw it in the nursery.
DeleteWhat a colourful garden you have right now! Nice to see your Leptospermum, I have just ordered a ‘lucky dip’ of 3 and I am expecting the delivery today, have no idea what I will get and I have never grown them before so it might be a learning curve. I tried growing Arbutus unedo 10 years ago, but it didn’t like my shady garden and never got beyond a tiny plant. Loved your vase, such a delight on a cold December evening :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you have good luck with the Leptospermum, Helene. I've found they can take a bit of shade.
DeleteEverything is looking so good. It is wonderful what a bit of rain will do and I'm glad you got your fair share, minus the slides or power outages. I was just reading about the Slow Flower movement which seems to dovetail very nicely with your garden gathered vase per week exercise. The idea of appreciating what is local (rather than purchasing imported cut exotic stems) appeals to me deeply.
ReplyDeleteHope you will have a happy (multitasking!) holiday!
You should check out the "In a Vase on Monday" meme at Rambling in the Garden, Deb. The participants come from all over and they do their best to put together arrangements from whatever is handy (which isn't much for many right now as winter sets in).
DeleteOoh, I've been trying to grow Solanum xantii and haven't had much success so far. Yours looks great! And your Arbutus is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I didn't grow the Solanum from seed, though. I picked up the plants at Roger's Gardens in Orange County. I wish I'd bought more - it's been blooming non-stop since October.
Delete