Walking with Ming II

As I covered in an earlier post, I've been taking regular walks with Ming, the elder of my 2 cats.  He's come to expect these daily jaunts and cries (as only a cat bred from Siamese stock can) when I'm tardy about getting to it.  Most times, he just circles the house once to twice, then heads back to his screened porch, apparently hoping that another dish of food will have miraculously appeared.  However, yesterday, he took some time to check out elements in the garden.

The fountain was of major interest.

While he was taking a drink, I noticed that my Erysimum linifolium is starting to bloom.

Ming checked out the Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre' currently in full bloom in the dry garden.

While I noticed that a more recently planted Correa appears to be suddenly dying off.

Climbing up on the fountain wasn't Ming's only feat on this walk.  He also jumped up on the birdbath in the vegetable garden, currently full of glass pebbles.

And then he hopped over into one of the vegetable beds, where I'm currently growing poppies, snapdragons and sweet peas.

He was oblivious to the house finches staring down at him from atop the Yucca elephantipes.

But he got quite excited when a small flock of birds flew out of the bushes in the vegetable garden upon his approach.  I didn't get a picture but, while he didn't actually run, he moved faster than I've seen him do in many months.

As he headed toward the driveway at the front of the house, I noticed that my Camellia japonica 'Taylor's Perfection' is starting to bloom.

And that the ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana) is showing a bit of colorful foliage.

When we got back to the side yard, Ming investigated a bucket.

Then he finally headed back to the screened porch where, after taking a closer look at a Agave 'Blue Glow', he checked his bowl.

Food did magically appear about 5 minutes later.  I think the walks are doing him some good.

Bloom Day!

I started this blog at the end of December so today marks my very first Bloom Day contribution.  For my friends who don't read garden blogs (i.e. 99.8% of you), Bloom Day is a monthly event hosted by blogger Carol of May Dream Gardens on the 15th of each month.  Participating bloggers from all over the U.S., as well as other countries, post pictures of what's in bloom in their gardens.

So, without further ado (or any commentary to speak of), here's some of what's currently blooming in my zone 10b garden:

Arbutus 'Marina"

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Bright Carmine'

Camellia japonica 'Taylor's Perfection'

Camellia sasanqua (variety unknown)

Cuphea ignea 'Kristen's Delight'

Cuphea aff. Aequipetela

Grevillea lavandulcea 'Penola'

Hebe speciosa 'Variegata'

Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl'

Nemesia 'Sunsatia Lemon'

Bauhinia x blakeana (aka Orchid Tree)

Osteospermum ecklonis '3D Silver'

Osteospermum 'Zion Red Copper'

Tibouchina urvilleana

Viola (no record of variety)

These are samples of what's in bloom.  I have a more varieties of Argyrantemum, Grevillea, Hebe and Osteospermum than I've shown here, all in bloom or coming into bloom.  My fondness for Violas is founded in childhood and I'm afraid I've got gobs of varieties of those but I've pictured just the little blue form shown above because I'm so taken by its sweetness.  For more views of what's blooming go to May Dreams Gardens for links to other gardening blogs.