Bloom Day - March 2020

It's been raining on and off all week.  While we haven't received as much rain as some areas of Los Angeles County, we've accumulated well over an inch in that period and I've made a major dent in refilling my rain barrels.  With our season-to-date total nearing 8 inches, we're nowhere near "normal" for the season in my location but as chances of rain remain in the forecast through the next 10 days there's a reasonable possibility of more.  Meanwhile, the impact of the novel coronavirus has put a damper of an entirely different sort on things but I'm glad to have work in the garden to fall back on as other activities are postponed or cancelled.

I hope your own garden is contributing to your morale.  Here are the highlights from mine in mid-March.

The Dutch Irises made their first appearance on Monday and more blooms open each day.  I planted more bulbs this year but the first to bloom are those that have been in the garden the longest.

Planted adjacent to the Iris, Felicia aethiopica is off to a great start

As is Scilla peruviana

Aristea inaequalis is a South African relative of the Iris.  Situated behind the fading Echium, it nearly always catches me by surprise when it blooms.

The tree-sized Ceanothus at the bottom of my back slope is mostly done blooming but the noID Ceanothus hedge in my back garden border is just getting started

All kinds of lavenders are blooming.  From left to right are: Lavandula 'Goodwin Creek', L. multifida, and L. stoechas.

Gazania, Narcissus and Freesias are blooming throughout the garden.  This photo captures them rubbing elbows.

Most of the Narcissus currently in bloom are a noID variety I planted years ago from bags picked up at my local garden center (left) but others like 'White Lion' (right) are popping up here and there

Freesias in a variety of colors are blooming all over.  They tend to flop and the persistent rain has worsened that problem.

Osteospermums, one of several plant genera referred to as African daisies, are also in bloom throughout the garden

The pink-flowered Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' have been blooming for months in the front garden but all those shrubs are blanketed in flowers now.  The white form just started its bloom cycle.

This month, the pale pink flowers of Pyrethropsis hosmariense 'Marrakech' (left) have joined the ongoing display created by the white-flowered variety (right)

Although we're a few days short of the Spring equinox, it feels like Spring here.  New blooms are surprising me almost daily.

Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia' followed cousin 'Lady Jane' (featured in a late February post) this month.  It remains to be seen whether the bulbs will survive to bloom another year in my climate.

The biggest surprise this month was these tiny pale yellow flowers on Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt'.  Grown principally as a foliage plant, these are the first flowers I've ever seen on the plants, which have been growing in my garden since 2012.

Another genus of African daisies, Arctotis, is blooming in earnest this month.  The top 2 photos show Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' and the bottom 2 show Arctotis 'Opera Pink'.

The Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) got a late start this year.  I inherited 2 of these trees with the garden.  They sucker terribly and, buffeted by winds on my moderate front slope, they don't stand up straight but they're pretty for a brief period when in bloom.

This rockroses are starting to bloom.  This one is Cistus 'Grayswood Pink'.

The pink powder puff bushes  (Calliandra haematocephala) were also slow to flower this year.  I couldn't choose between these 2 photos so I included both.

The first flowers of Leucospermum 'Goldie' are opening oh so slowly 

I've gradually removed many of the Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa) I inherited with the garden as they grew woody and unshapely but this one is still putting on a nice show

Salvia africana-lutea is one of the more unusual specimens I've added to my garden over the years

The calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethopica) disappear when the weather turns warm but return to bloom anew each Spring, prompted by rain

I stuffed the remainder of the photos I took in preparation for Bloom Day into a series of color-themed collages for my own record.

Top row: Anemone 'Mistral Azzurro', Brachyscome 'Brasco Violet' (with Eriophyllum lanatum), Geranium 'Tiny Monster' and Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy'
Middle row: Ipheion uniflorum, Limonium perezii, Pericallis 'Senetti Blue' and P. 'Magic Salmon'
Bottom row: Polygala myrtifolia, Salvia 'Mystic Spires', and Viola

Top row: Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', Aeonium arboreum, noID Crassula, and noID Echeveria
Second row: Euphorbia rigida, self-seeded Gazania, Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia, and G. 'Peaches & Cream'
Third row: Grevillea 'Superb', Hemerocallis 'For Pete's Sake', Justicia rizzinii, and Lantana 'Lucky Yellow'
Bottom row: Oncostele 'Wildcat', Russelia 'Flamingo Park', and Sparaxis tricolor

Top row: Anemone 'Mistral Rarity', 2 noID Alstroemerias, and Bauhinia x blakeana
Second row: Boronia crenulata, Crassula multicava, Daphne odora, and Gazania 'White Flame'
Third row: Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', G. lavandulacea 'Penola', G. 'Scarlet Sprite', and Helleborus 'Phoebe'
Bottom row: Nemesia '7th Heaven Mix', Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard', and noID Pericallis

Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthemum frutescens 'Everest', Cymbidium 'Sussex Court No Peace', Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian White', Auranticarpa rhombifolium, Jasminium polyanthum, and Leucojum aestivum

I'll close with this symbol of resilience under tough conditions.  Best wishes with any challenges you face in the coming week!

Viola self-planted between paving cracks

For a look at what other gardeners have blooming in their gardens, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, our Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day host.


All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party