Last year we had the lowest rain level I can remember, with only 3.88 inches registered in our location between October 1, 2017 and September 2018. (California's "rain year" is always calibrated from the first of October through the end of September of the following calendar year.) This winter started on the dry side despite NOAA's forecast of weak to moderate
El Niño conditions, which can bring heavier rain to Southern California. Although NOAA has reported that the predicted
El Niño has been stalled by other climate factors, notably the Madden-Julien Oscillation or MJO*, we've had a lot of rain in the past week and considerably more is expected before the end of this week. Our current total for the rain year to date is 7.04 inches, or 181% of last year's total. Not spectacular relative to our historical average perhaps but definitely an improvement. The only difficulty is that it's coming down all at once, leaving us sodden and threatening mudslides in the recent burn areas. Fortunately, I took most of my Bloom Day photos in advance of the latest spate of storms. I don't know how those of you in parts of the world with heavier precipitation manage!
The stars of my January garden are fairly consistent with those cited in prior years with the notable exception of
Camellia 'Taylor's Perfection', which is usually in full bloom by the middle of January but thus far this year has only tightly furled buds. The
Grevilleas and
Leucadendrons win the top slots this month.
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| The large-flowered Grevilleas bloom consistently year-round here but the volume is greater right now in all cases. Even so, Grevillea 'Superb' (shown here) is a stand-out. |
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| Grevilleas 'Ned Kelly' and 'Peaches & Cream' aren't looking too shabby either |
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| Blooms on the small-flowered Grevilleas, G. lavandulacea 'Penola' (left) and G. 'Scarlet Sprite' (right), are seasonal but generally profuse |
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| Technically, Leucadendron "flowers" are actually bracts surrounding cones but they count in my book. I've got 2 L. 'Wilson's Wonder', both shown here. |
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| Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', shown here, sprawls a bit but it makes a great flower substitute in arrangements |
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| More Leucadendrons, L. 'Safari Sunset' with what I think is L. 'Blush' on the left and L. 'Summer Red' on the right |
There are other plants that are providing a strong showing this month too.
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| Bauhinia x blakeana (aka Hong Kong orchid tree) was the head-liner in last month's Bloom Day post but it was still looking great this month, even after some rain; however, I can't say it's looking as good after yesterday's downpours |
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| It may not be entirely evident from this photo but the tiny flowers of Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' are a pale pink. The plant's common name is "Breath of Heaven" for the beautiful scent of its foliage. |
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| Like the large-flowered Grevilleas, the tiny flowers of Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' keep coming all year |
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| Mahonia x media 'Charity' finally bloomed in early January |
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| These paperwhite Narcissus, planted long ago by some prior owner of our property, have sprung into bloom throughout the garden in response to the earlier rain. The current rainstorms are pounding them flat. |
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| The white Pyrethropsis hosmariense (aka Moroccan daisy) have also responded positively to the rain |
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| All my rosemary is in bloom but this Rosmarinus 'Gold Dust' delivers something extra with its variegated foliage |
A few other plants also deserve special mention.
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| Succulent blooms are popping up all over. From left to right here are a tiny noID Aloe, Bryophyllum gastonis-bonnieri (still in bud), Crassula ovata, and Crassula 'Springtime'. |
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| No, these aren't flowers but the Heteromeles arbutifolia (aka Toyon or Christmas berry) and the navel orange are as colorful and the first feeds the birds and the second feeds us (and the greedy raccoons) |
As usual, I'll end this post with the best of the rest arranged by color in collages.
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Top row: Ageratum houstonianum 'Blue Horizon', noID lavender, and Limonium perezii
Middle row: Ocimum hybrid 'African Blue Basil', and Osteopermums '4D Silver' and 'Violet Ice'
Bottom row: Polygala fruticosa 'Petite Butterfly', Scabiosa 'Fama Blue', and Trichostemma 'Midnight Magic' |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' (off to a slow start), noID Camellia sasanqua (wilting in the rain), miscellaneous Cyclamen, Hemizygia 'Candy Kisses', and Pentas lanceolata 'Nova' |
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| Left to right: Dermatobotrys saundersii, Hippeastrum 'Giant Amadeus', and Rosa 'Joseph's Coat' |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Achillea 'Moonshine', Lomandra 'Breeze' Tagetes lemmonii, Aeonium arboreum, and Senna artemisioides |
For more blooms,
visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, our esteemed Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day host.
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Once again, descriptions of weather conditions in Southern California are sounding like the mythic battle between Godzilla and Mothra.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Wonderful blooms! I like that "Itsy Bitsy" gomphrena a lot. I can't grow African daisies here, but that "Pink Sugar" is amazing.
ReplyDeleteBoth atre great plants, Lisa. That Gomphrena is an incredible plant. It literally blooms continuously until I hack it back to a foot tall, and even then it springs back quickly. I usually cut it back when it gets upward of 4 feet tall and wide but I've had occasion to wonder just how tall and wide it would grow if left to its own devices. In contrast, the Arctotis has an ugly period after it finishes its long bloom period in late spring but, cut back, it forms a presentable clump of gray foliage until it's time to bloom again the following winter.
DeleteSo cool to see 'Charity' in bloom -- I've wondered if it thrives in SoCal. The leucs and grevilleas are just plain astonishing in their winter show.
ReplyDelete'Charity' is still on probation here, Denise. It's base is leggier than I'd like and it took so long to bloom this year I'd begun to wonder if it was going to humor me at all. I'm going to cut it back hard once it's finished blooming and cross my fingers it responds well.
DeleteAmazing beauty!
ReplyDeleteHappy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Thanks Lea! Best wishes to you too.
DeleteLots of lovely flowers Kris! Of course the Grevillea and Leucadendrons are my favs...
ReplyDeleteThey do love it here, although I'm beginning to wonder just how much rain they can tolerate at one time.
DeleteIt's all dreamy to me as today's high is only hitting the low 30s and it is really gray and cloudy here. That is the prettiest paper white Narcissus I've ever seen. That pale yellow cup is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI can take no credit whatsoever for the selection of the paperwhites, Linda - they came with the garden. I do need to remember to plant more of the bulbs next year, though - anything that blooms reliably on my hideous back slope deserves to be spread about.
DeleteWhat a feast for the eyes all those vibrant colors provide! I'm particularly fascinated by the Grevilleas, which are unlike anything we have growing here. I love the peachy colors. Are those stamens or stigmas that are letting it all hang out? (Either way, it seems as though they are not going to let any chance of pollen exchange get by them!)
ReplyDeleteYour question had me looking into the biology of the Grevillea flowers, Jean. The information is interesting. What we think of as the flower is really an inflorescence consisting of as many as 100 individual flowers. If I understand what I read correctly, the loops that emerge as the inflorescence unfurls are styles and the enlargement at their ends are stigmas. Another source I read referred to the style/stigma as the "pollen presenter."
DeleteLooks like your flowers are as happy about the rain as you are. Well, not so much the pounded flat narcissus but in general. As always, I'm amazed by the plethora of blooms in your winter garden.
ReplyDeleteThose poor paperwhites are being pounded once again today!
DeleteAmazing shots ,Paper white Narcissus blooms carry a sweet fragrance that is lovely.your contrasting collages always took my breath away.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week ahead.
Thanks Arun. I probably should cut the rest of my paperwhites - with the rain still coming down here, they're not going to pick themselves up on their own.
DeleteKris-your garden blooms and collages are beautiful and I so enjoyed walking through your winter garden. While we are now in winter mode with temperatures in the 30's, your post is a feast for the eyes!
ReplyDeleteWinter is a different thing in SoCal, Lee, although I'm glad to report that, this year, we're actually getting some of that fabled rain that used to mark the season here.
DeleteOh, the ABUNDANCE! That Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' makes me drool, and of course the Grevilleas too. Just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThe Leucadendrons and Grevilleas are my winter stars to be sure, Anna. They even hold up to heavy rain!
DeleteSo much exotic plants in your garden.
ReplyDeleteNever seen before, it's like a botanical garden, beautiful !!
Wish you a good year
Mariana
Thanks Mariana! It might amuse you to know that what is common for you (like peonies!) is exotic to my eyes.
DeleteBreath of Heaven.
ReplyDeleteTraditional fishermen coming off the beach wipe their hands on Coleonema, to avoid their wives complaining about the fishy smell.
Now that's something I certainly didn't know about the plant! Thanks for the interesting bit of history, Diana.
DeleteSo many things flowering in your garden!!! I LOVE the grevillias - so unique!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could grow a dozen more Grevillea species, Shelly. Of course, I'd have to find them first.
DeleteOh such riches Kris and it's only January! Mahonia 'Charity' is also in bloom over here and rosemary but the other plants I recognise would all be summer flowers for us :) Interesting to read about your average rainfall statistics. I must make an effort to find out what the figures are for my part of the world.
ReplyDeleteI have NO doubt that you get more rain than we do, Anna! Ours is a true Mediterranean climate and rain is almost exclusively a winter phenomenon.
Delete