Although we've been enjoying some comfortably cool weather (low 70sF), the signs of the approaching summer are evident in the garden. Almost overnight, the
Agapanthus produced a legion of bloom stalks. I've yet to find one full-blown bloom but we're getting close.
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| Almost there! |
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| I have several dozen clumps of Agapanthus like this one so you know I'm not kidding about the imminent arrival of a legion of blooms |
I thought the
Agapanthus were a bit early this year but, looking back at prior posts (like the one
here), I found that, at best, we're about a week ahead of schedule.
Other summer bloomers are on their way as well.
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| Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' (and a snail that I didn't see until I took a close look at this photo - the raccoons are falling down on their one and only non-destructive job!) |
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| The Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) also are full of buds - here's one of the first to bloom |
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| And the Magnolia grandiflora is already producing blooms, to the delight of the bees |
The pink evening primroses (
Oenothera speciosa) have already arrived. I'm not sure how long the flowers will last but they deserve a moment in the spotlight this week as well.
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| Pink evening primrose has a reputation for being invasive in some areas but in my garden it mingles companionably with other plants, which here includes weedy Centranthus ruber and succulent Oscularia deltoides |
I'm offering these coming attractions as my Wednesday Vignette.
Visit Anna at Flutter & Hum to find the images that grabbed her attention and that of other gardeners this week.
All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Agapanthus mean late summer here. Your seasons seem to come all at once.
ReplyDeleteOur plants tend to shut down during the height of summer, when it's often miserably hot and dry. As they live to reproduce, I imagine they've evolved accelerated bloom schedules to ensure that they get their bloom on while they have the opportunity.
DeleteI love the scent of Magnolia flowers. My neighbor has one and I can climb the retaining wall and get a close up whiff of the flowers--sweet!
ReplyDeleteWow have you got Agapanthus--those clumps are huge. They do put on a show.
Hasn't this cool-ish weather been fabulous?
The Magnolia flowers are too high up for me to get a sniff without a ladder but I can hear the bees buzzing overhead. The Agapanthus came with the garden - I've come to appreciate them here as they require little in the way of care to look good. The cool-ish weather is wonderful! I'd heard a prediction that the residual El Nino effects were going to cost us our marine layer in May and June but so far that prediction is no more on the mark than any of the earlier ones concerning El Nino.
DeleteI've been pulling out pink evening primrose daily for several weeks now, but I like how it looks good with the Centranthus which I am trying to encourage. And yes, the agapanthus are about to burst. First pic, very nice.
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing from some gardeners expressing trepidation about my pink evening primrose. Granted, they've spread but they haven't become obnoxious. Centranthus is more of a weed here than the primrose (and Geranium incanum is worse than either!).
DeleteMy Agapanthus are just leaves yet. Mind you, they are on the list to be moved into a sunnier spot - if I can find one. I bet it is a fabulous sight when all your blue legions explode into bloom...
ReplyDeleteYou may see another Wednesday Vignette featuring Agapanthus when they reach peak bloom, Anna.
DeleteThe cool weather there is something to be relished, hope it lasts a bit longer :)
ReplyDeleteThe longer, the better when it comes to summer! The sky usually clears by mid-day anyway but that morning cap on the heat really helps us.
DeleteWell, if we didn't get rain, let us please have our marine layer in May/June!
ReplyDeleteI was depressed for days when I read that article on El Nino (enticingly entitled something like "El Nino Isn't Done With SOCal Yet"), predicting that, after our trivial winter rains, we could also lose our May/June marine layer this year. So far, though, so good!
DeleteI love Agapanthus when the buds have just popped. A few weeks off for us yet.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised we're just a few weeks ahead of you, Jessica. Sometimes it seems we're out of sync an entire season!
DeleteI've never seen so many colours in an Agapanthus bud!
ReplyDeleteI'll look more carefully come Christmas.
I'm afraid I can't even name the cultivars in my garden, Diana. All came with the garden.
DeleteLove the agapanthus buds and I look forward to seeing the legions in full bloom! I planted two for a trial run this spring, only to read a little later that they aren't known for surviving well here. But I'll give them the best chance I can anyway! I'm intrigued by your experience with Oenothera speciosa; just proves it can be the right plant in the right place! And sometimes two vigorous species together is better than one... ;-)
ReplyDeleteIn your zone, perhaps Agapanthus would do best in some shade? About half of mine receive at least partial shade and it doesn't appear to impair flowering. Your're probably right about the Oenothera - the competition from the Centranthus (not to speak of the Erigeron karvinskianus and Myoporum) probably keeps it within bounds.
DeleteI should be able to grow Agapanthus more successfully than I do; I remember being very envious of yours last year! We are still experiencing a cool late spring with showers of rain, I'm only half complaining as I hate the heat of summer but just a little warmer would be lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe longer we each hold summer at bay, Christina, the more tolerable I figure the season will be for us!
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