Under current circumstances, with a fire emergency ongoing in Los Angeles County, I might be expected to skip blog posts but frankly I need something to divert my attention from TV newscasts and scrolling fire reports online. My South Bay area has not experienced a fire as so many other areas have but, with conditions tinder dry in a terrain riddled with rocky canyons, the risk of fire is a serious concern. My husband and I updated our disaster plan and restocked our emergency go-bags, including one we have for the cat, this past weekend. We remain vigilant, monitoring the Cal Fire site, wind conditions, and our own horizon. A new fire emerged on Monday in adjacent Ventura County - it's not close but it's a reminder that, with red flag warnings once again in effect, we can't be complacent.
I've thrown the majority of my Bloom Day photos into collages this month. I'll start as usual with the most prolific bloomers this month.
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| Aeonium arboreum flowers en masse at this time of year. Their arrival always makes me think of the 1963 British science fiction/horror film, The Day of the Triffids. |
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| I picked up 2 Aloe hybrids at my local botanic garden years ago when they still held plant sales. Aloe vanbalenii x ferox is on the left and A. striata x vanbalenii is on the right. |
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| Our Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) is covered in flowers despite our high winds but, as the tree has grown taller, its flowers are harder to photograph |
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| Some of the Crassulas are in full flower. Clockwise from the left are: Crassula ovata, C. orbicularis var rosularis, and C. 'Springtime' |
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| The flowers of Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' are tiny but plentiful |
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The small-flowered Grevilleas join the year-round bloomers at this time of year.
Top row: Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', G. 'Poorinda Leane', and G. alpina x rosmarinifolia
Middle: G. lavandulacea 'Penola', G. rosmarinifolia 'Dwarf Form', and G. 'Scarlet Sprite'
Bottom: G. sericea and 2 photos of G. 'Superb'
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| Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' |
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Leucadendrons often substitute colorful bracts for flowers.
Top row: Leucadendron salignum 'Blush' and L. 'Safari Sunset'
Middle: 2 shots of L. s. 'Chief', now over 10 feet tall
Bottom: L. s. 'Summer Red' and L. 'Wilson's Wonder'
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| Metrosideros collina 'Springfire' is starting off its bloom cycle with a bang |
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| The Osteospermums are coming back slowly. Clockwise from the upper left: O. '4D Sunburst', a noID hybrid, O. 4D Silver', O. '4D Pink', and O. '4D White'. |
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| Polygala myrtifolia (aka sweet pea shrub) has self-seeded freely in both my front and back gardens |
A couple of plants are coming to the end of their season.
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| Protea neriifolia 'Claire' and Camellia sasanqua are just about done flowering |
Several other plants are just getting started.
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Top row: Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Grape' and 'Mount Everest'
Middle: The first Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' and Leucospermum 'Sunrise' blooms
Bottom: Echium handiense, Narcissus papyraceus, and N. 'Geranium' |
There's one surprise bloom in progress.
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| This is the best shot of the Mangave 'Silver Fox' bloom stalk I could get |
All the smaller stuff has been groups into categories by color.
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the blues include: Eustoma grandiflorum, Felicia aethiopica, Nemesia 'Bicolor', Pelargonium peltatum 'Lavender Blizzard', noID Viola, and Salvia rosmarinus (aka rosemary) |
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| Clockwise, the white and yellow flowers include: Alstroemeria 'Inca Sundance', Eustoma grandiflorum 'Green', Argyranthemum frutescens 'Mount Everest', Antirrhinum majus, Correa 'Ivory Bells', Fuchsia 'Windchimes White', and noID Cyclamen |
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| Clockwise, pinkish blooms include: succulent groundcover Ruschia 'Nana', noID Kalanchoe, Argyranthemum frutescens 'Aramis Apricot', Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', Hebe 'Wiri Blush', noID Cineraria, and Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay' |
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| Clockwise, flowers with orange and red tones include: noID Anthurium, Bignonia capreolata (I think), Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', noID Echeveria, Pelargonium peltatum 'Dark Coral', P. p. 'Red Ice', Primula vulgaris, and Ribes viburnifolium |
That's it for my bloom survey this month. Although there's little to nothing in our forecast, hopefully we'll get some rain in February to take the edge off this exceptionally dry year in Southern California. It's been over eight months since we've had any real rain.
Visit the host of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, Carol at May Dreams Gardens, to find other florific posts.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
One wouldn't know of So. California's dry winter if all they had to go by is your garden. It looks lush, blooming generously and on time.
ReplyDeleteThe group of Crassula made me realized how different their leaf patterns can be. Crassula 'Springtime' has the most recognizable (to me), geometric look, while the other two in the photo are a complete surprise.
Grevillea lavandulacea 'Penola' and Metrosideros collina 'Springfire' are two of my favorite shrubs in your garden.
Chavli
I'm seeing more impact of our particularly dry conditions as I examine plants at ground level, Chavli. The problem with irrigation systems is that they never provide uniform moisture. I'm finding dead and dying plants. Some aren't a surprise, like a Daphne odora, but others come as a shock, like lavenders and a Leucadendron. The Metrosideros seems to be doing really well but Grevillea 'Penola' is not entirely happy; however, its placement was a poor decision on my part.
DeleteWhat a beautiful spread you have this winter! The Mangave 'Silver Fox' must be especially exciting in person. Hopefully it will grow some babies around the base of it to replace this one? I have never seen an Aeonium with so many flowers before - stunning.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry Kris for the distress of these days, but so very glad that you have such a beautiful garden to distract you. Send much love and many well wishes from Pennsylvania. <3 Julie
Thanks Julie. Mangave 'Silver Fox' blooms more quickly than any of my other Mangaves but it usually leaves at least a couple of pups behind, although the mother plant itself doesn't usually survive the experience. The Aeoniums are so prolific at this time of year that they're easy to dismiss but the tiny flowers on those tall stalks are impressive.
DeleteOh no, I'm seeing another wind warning. I hope this ends soon, such an extended period of stress. We've had "red days" of smoke here in the past and it's awful. Your plethora of blooms is fantastic, I love 'moonglow' I don't know why I don't have one. I'm glad you keep posting, it's good for all of us to know you're safe!
ReplyDeleteThe succession of one after another "particularly dangerous situation" with the Santa Ana winds is getting exhausting, Tracy. It sounds as though this one has already damped down but another is predicted early next week.
DeleteAloe 'Moonglow' is worth hunting down. Denise/AGO gave me 3 divisions a few years ago and 2 of them are finally getting their bloom on. I need to rescue the third from my exceptionally dry back slope so it can thrive.
What a beautiful collection of blooms, just perfect for my New York State winter color deprived eyes. I am not even familiar with most of them. I am thousands of miles from you but I watch the evening news in horror. I can't imagine living day to day under the kind of stress you and others in California are being subjected to, or coping with the loss of everything like many are doing. I am thinking of you all.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alana. Sadly, we've become used to wildfires in Southern California but I have to say this is the worst fire "event" ever in terms of its breadth, intensity and destruction. My in-laws lost their home in a massive fire in Malibu 30 years ago and I've never forgotten the impact it had on the entire family. These fires have impacted the entire County of Los Angeles and outlying areas like Ventura County.
DeleteSo interesting about your 'Silver Fox'! I had a doc appt in Torrance yesterday and stopped by the Armstrong nursery after -- their 'Silver Foxes' were in bloom too! So relieved that your area has remained safe so far -- in addition to people and property, I always worry about the "big animals" in fire-risk areas, so many horses in PV! Hopefully after Wed the risk declines markedly and the anxiety lessens a bit. Sheesh, what a January!
ReplyDeleteBetween the fires and politics, I can't imagine a worse start to the new year, Denise. And you're right - who knows where all those horses would go if our area alighted, much less how it's affect all the wild animals.
DeleteIn my experience, 'Silver Fox' is the quickest Mangave to bloom. It's odd that Armstrong is selling them with bloom stalks as the parent plants don't look good once they've flowered, even if they offer pups. I hope they're offering discounts on the plants.
Gosh, half of January is already gone, whew! Beautiful blooms per usual, Kris. I love the grevilleas always, and I'm amazed at how tall the mangave bloom is!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are still relatively safe, but it is good to be vigilant and up to date on your evacuation plan. Complacency is a foolish risk. May you continue to be in a safe area. 🙏🏼 Eliza
Thanks Eliza. We keep adding to our emergency list - we actually have one covering a one-minute scramble and others covering 10-minute and lengthier alert schedules, sad as that is.
DeleteThe 'Silver Fox' Mangaves' bloom stalks always seem to outsize their bases, causing them to tip over.
You have such a wealth of flowers at this time of the year! I love your succulents, aloes and that Mangave is gorgeous. And that you know the names of all your plants--how to you manage to keep the names straight? I'm praying for a good soaking rain for Cali to end the fires.
ReplyDeleteI keep a running record of most of what I've planted in the garden in the 14 years my husband and I've lived here so I can check that if my memory lapses, Elena. But I spend a lot of time in my garden, which keeps me well-acquainted with most of my plants ;)
DeleteWe're way overdue for rain - it's been over 8 months since we've had a rainstorm. Our rainy season, which usually runs from November into early April, hasn't made an appearance yet but I'm holding out hope for February, traditionally our rainiest month.
Looking at your photos, you'd never guess we're in the middle of winter! The aloe hybrids you featured look great--nice, tall flowers.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed you'll remain safe. The loss of life and property is heartbreaking.
I'm stuck on wondering what spring here is going to look like if we don't get any rain. My fingers are crossed that things change - on all fronts - by February if not earlier.
DeleteLovely, all of them. Finally a non-windy day--I hope it helps the firefighters. They must be exhausted.
ReplyDeleteThe progress on containment of the Palisades Fire seems particularly slow but then I suppose that, sitting so close to it, I have unrealistic expectations.
DeleteI had to stop checking the latest on the fires multiple times a day as it was making me crazy sad. I just can’t imagine what all of those poor people are feeling. I’m glad you’re allowing yourself the garden distraction and also preparing just in case. Gawd I hope you get some rain soon.
ReplyDeleteI used to check the weather forecast every morning but now it's the fire status and the air quality reading. Fire containment is proceeding oh so slowly but at least it's headed in the right direction. Air quality not so much. There's a 20% chance of rain overnight but I'm not going to lay odds on it. At least we had a little bit of a marine layer this morning - humidity is currently at 94% here!
DeleteYour garden is looking really lovely despite the dry conditions. I am always impressed by your aeoniums. I started some from seed today so fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteAeoniums are nearly indestructible here, Elaine. They're my go-to fillers. I hope your seeds thrive!
DeleteYour garden is gorgeous as always and I am loving all the blooms, as we have snow on the way! Happy Bloom Day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee. Given our current precipitation-starved conditions, I'd welcome even getting it in the form of snow now ;)
DeleteHi Kris, I've been thinking of you! So glad that you're not affected by the fires. We've been following a bit and are horrified by the mismanagement with empty reservoirs and hydrants. Such a tragedy for all these people to lose their homes. I hope you'll never have to use your emergency go bags. Your flowers are simply awesome and must give you great comfort. I wonder if my Aeoniums will ever flower like that?🤔 I had one outside but it finally succumbed to the persistent cold. Your fabulous leucadendrons and proteas bring back happy memories of ZA. Wishing you all the best, Annette
ReplyDeleteThanks for your concern, Annette. The sheer number and breath of these fires was the real problem. The problem with the hydrants had to do with water pressure - the hydrant system was designed to address small fires (like individual house fires), not a massive expanse of fires that stretching across the county, all being tapped at the same time. A single reservoir, undergoing maintenance at the time the fires struck, was off-line. Unfortunately, the "superscooper" planes needed to take out widespread fires, can't be flown in high winds, which was another issue. And then there was the abject stupidity of people who chose to launch drones to take videos, crashing into or preventing planes from flying!
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