This week, my selective vision had me focusing on the "blooms" of Leucadendron 'Blush' in my front garden.
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| This Leucadendron's colorful bracts always make me think of rose buds |
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| Can you see it? |
While inspecting the Leucadendron, I noticed the Phormium tucked into a corner next to it. It was one of the very first plants I installed in my new garden after moving in more than 8.5 years ago. It's in bloom! None of my Phormiums have ever bloomed so I count this as a special event.
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| I planted it sometime during the first quarter of 2011. I wasn't keeping records of my plants then but I think this is Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum'. |
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| The flowers appear in clusters at intervals along the tall bloom spikes |
But what's the blue thing just visible in the first photo of the Phormium above? Here's the larger picture:
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| A port-a-potty set up for the use of construction workers sits directly next to the Phormium at one edge of our driveway |
It's unfortunate that the Phormium doesn't have an opportunity to shine as part of the landscape on this occasion as it should. On the other hand, who knows? Maybe the port-a-potty provided the favorable conditions it needed to bloom.
Before I close this post, it seems appropriate to include an unrelated postscript here. I've featured the mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin) in our backyard garden in at least two prior Wednesday Vignettes. The tree's future has been in question since we removed half its limbs last year following an infestation by shot-hole borers. It was late to leaf out and late to bloom but here it is at last in all its glory:
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| There are still a few dead branches that could be pruned out but, all in all, the tree looks like it has some life left in it yet |
For more Wednesday Vignettes, visit Anna at Flutter & Hum.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I like the combo of the phorium and the leucadendron. The rose pink of the flowers is very pretty. But it's the lovely azure blue of the porta potty that really caught my eye. It perfectly matches the sky. ;o) I'm surprised mimosa trees grow in dry soCal. They grow like weeds in the south/southeast. Yours has a much more sculptural appearance than ours do. I agree about the branches but it's still pretty.
ReplyDeleteYou might've been even more impressed, Tammy, had I pulled out the shot further - the door of the storage pod next to the port-a-body is almost an identical shade of blue. Mimosa trees are common here, probably because they self-seed everywhere if you're not vigilant. It's a messy tree but as it'd be difficult to replace at the top of the slope and as any replacement could be a target under the blankety-blank view conservation ordinance, I'd like to hold onto it as long as I can.
DeleteI can see the resemblance of the Leucadendron to a rose. Congrats on getting the Phormium to flower. I've seen some really large ones flowering on Vashon Island, in a spot close to the water, so maybe it's the lingering marine layer that helped it along and not the porta-potty. Glad to see your Mimosa flowering too, I hope this means it's still healthy.
ReplyDeleteI've seen no sign of the shot hole borers on the remaining section of the tree, Alison, so that's positive. The healthy rain we received this winter probably reduced the drought-related stress on the tree, making it more resistant to insect activity.
DeleteIt never occurred to me that Phormiums bloom, but of course they do; this is the first time I've even seen a reference to it, much less an image of the plant in flower.
ReplyDeleteThat 'Blush' is a particularly pretty Leucadendron; they're all pretty fabulous.
I was surprised the first time I saw a Phormium in bloom too, Nell. My observation is that it's only the larger, more well-established plants that do. My local botanic garden had specimens with huge bloom spikes this spring.
DeleteVery cool-looking blooms on the Phormium. I hope your Mimosa is making a comeback - a lovely tree that would be a shame to lose.
ReplyDeleteThe mimosa trees are said to be relatively short-lived here, Eliza, but I'm not sure what "short" means in this context. One site simply said "less than 50 years."
DeleteHa! I doubt the builders have ever had a better location for their restroom visits. Ours just have to take a walk in the woods..
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough, this is the first year I've EVER had a phormium in bloom and there are two of them doing it. Climate change or the presence of builders? Not sure I want either of them in my future..
Let's just chalk the Phormium blooms up to the maturity of the plants, Jessica. I don't want depend on either worsening climate change or on-site construction workers for future blooms either!
DeleteIt is great that your Phormium is blooming even though it has to share a space with the porta potty. I am also happy to see your mimosa looking so perky. Things here dry too. The Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea that is so big and beautiful is beginning to wilt. This makes me sad. I will have to water I guess.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you can probably water without guilt, Lisa. I run our irrigation system twice a week here but even that's not sufficient to keep all my plants looking perky. I've managed to keep my water use within the "budget" specified by my water company but that's only because they lifted the stringent limits they applied in 2015.
DeleteYeay - Phormium flowers! They are so cool... congratulations! I always love your Leucadendron shots. To me, they resemble Princess Tulips more than roses, but either way, they are glorious. I was happy to see the wide, flowering spread of your Mimosa against the horizon. It really has a special presence in your fabulous view. Hope your kitchen renovation is trucking right along as it should. Just think about it - this time next year, all the hassles will be forgotten, as you enjoy your "new" home! :D
ReplyDeleteI guess a remodel is sort of like childbirth then, Anna ;) As projects like this do, its breadth is continuously expanding. While it always included new flooring, a new HVAC system and an earthquake retrofit in addition to the kitchen gut, a new roof's since been added, along with refacing the fireplace now that the indoor BBQ is gone...I hope the entire project's done by this time next year!
DeleteYour mimosa looks good and I'm sure that makes you happy.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about my gardens this time of year. There's no amount of watering that can undo what the extreme heat does to them and it's sad. I would have thought that your gardens were more adaptable to your climate and able to cope. I always compare my gardens to those in England, and I'm finally learning I can't expect mine to perform as theirs with the extreme heat we have here and harsh winters. I guess its all about making the best of what your climate offers.
A good part of my garden takes the heat and dryness well, Cindy, but I can't help feeling a sense of loss when the floral splendor of spring's cooler season is over. And this year, the construction mess is definitely putting extra stress on the garden. However, I've been thinking I should use my "selective vision" and focus on the positives rather than obsessing about the negatives.
DeleteI hope your builders appreciate their loo with a garden view. Glad you have plants to enjoy to take your mind off the disruption.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the construction workers focus much on the garden but they seemed pleased to take home the bags of lemons I offered them last week.
DeleteI'm so glad that the mimosa tree looks to be on the mend - what a great feeling that must be, esp. as it seems that in many cases, when trees are affected by insect or disease, they are not so fortunate and end up succumbing. We just cut down a very large ash tree that was 90% dead due to the emerald ash borer - so sad & a now gaping hole right into our neighbours backyard. I suppose the only good news is that it gives the opportunity to plant up another border.
ReplyDeleteIf I thought I could readily replace the mimosa, I wouldn't be half as keen on keeping it going, Margaret. It's an exceptionally messy tree and a sneaky self-seeder. However, as the tree sits at the top of a steep slope (just behind the hedge), any effort to take out the stump would probably destabilize the slope. Placing a tree elsewhere in the same border, disrupting the harbor view, would potentially antagonize neighbors (if not also my husband) and could lead to complaints based on the city's pesky "view conservation" ordinance. So the mimosa and I have a peace pact, and I remain hopeful that the shot hole borers will leave the tree alone for the next 20-30 years.
DeleteInteresting this is your first Phormium to bloom, I would have thought that would be a regular occurrence in your climate. You captured the flowers so nicely in that close-up photo.
ReplyDeleteI've read that most Phormiums won't flower until they're "fully mature," whatever that means. In this case, it seems to mean "in the ground for 8 years." Most of the plants I see in bloom locally are larger specimens. I'd love to see my 'Maori Queens' in the front garden bloom - I planted those in the fall 2014. Our severe drought may be a factor in the schedule too.
DeleteThe wonderful rainy winter may have convinced the Phormium to flower. Hummers love the flowers, another plus.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the Albizia!
I haven't seen any hummers near the Phormium flowers but maybe they don't like the looming port-a-potty.
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