Bloom Day - February 2024 (Late Edition)

In my coastal Southern California climate, we generally see the early signs of spring by mid-February.  This year is no exception, although colder-than-usual temperatures and a late start to our rainy season has the floral stampede lagging behind last year's display.  Nonetheless, I expect I'm still giving gardeners in much of the Northern Hemisphere a run for their blooms.

I've assigned starring roles to half a dozen plants.  Keep in mind that this award is governed by a jury of one.

My blue Anemone coronaria make me happy whenever I pass them in my cutting garden.  They've been producing flowers continuously for more than a month now.  I've been cutting them for vases every week, even when I don't share them as part of the "In a Vase on Monday" meme.

The 4 Arbutus 'Marina' trees lost all their blooms when they were pruned in late October.  The flowers reappeared en masse with the recent rainstorms. 

I love the foliage of Aeonium arboreum but I'm not entirely fond of the succulent's dunce-cap shaped, florescent yellow flowers; however, they're prolific and the bees love them

The sulfur yellow flowers of Euphorbia rigida stand out beautifully against the bluish succulents in my garden

Similarly, Euryops chrysanthemoides 'Sonnenschein' adds a sunny element to the shady area outside the lath house

Felicia aethiopica is still going strong.  I'd always assumed that these would make poor cut flowers but I learned they do quite well in a vase, which makes me love the small shrubs even more.

New blooms are showing up almost daily.  Here are some of the newest arrivals:

The flowers of Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt' are mostly congregated at the top of the tree-sized plant, which made it awkward to photograph.  The bees don't care.

I'm amazed every year when Daphne odora blooms as I never thought it'd survive in my garden.  My only concern is that something always nibbles at the leaves.

Clockwise from the upper left, other new arrivals include: Arctotis 'Pink Sugar', Calliandra haematocephala (aka red powder puff), the first Freesia, Centranthus ruber, Ipheon uniflorum (aka spring star), Pyrethropsis hosmariense (aka Moroccan daisy), and the second Freesia to bloom

Even I was surprised by a few particularly early arrivals.

The first sweet pea blooms (possibly part of Lathyrus odoratus 'Mermaid's Dream' seed mix), first Leucospermum 'Sunrise' flower, and first Sparaxis tricolor bloom

As usual, the backbones of my garden have shown up.

The flowers of Grevillea sericea are small and pale in color but they're currently abundant

Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite' produces more flowers every day

Clockwise from the upper left, other Grevilleas currently in bloom include: Grevillea alpina x rosmarinus, G. 'Peaches & Cream', G. 'Superb', G. rosmarinus (dwarf form), and G. lavandulacea 'Penola'

I'm still not quite ready to cut back the massive Leucadendron salignum 'Chief'

Leucadendrons 'Summer' Red' and 'Safari Sunset' also look too good to cut back yet

I've begun to cut back Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' already and will probably finish the job before the month is over

The Osteospermums are still taking their time to flesh out.  I expect some of the small shrubs could use replacing but there isn't a good selection of the double-petaled varieties I like best yet.

Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection' dropped a lot of flowers during the earlier rainstorms but it hasn't thrown in the towel yet

What's missing from this post by comparison to last February's bloom report are the Hippeastrums.  I've cut half a dozen stems since January. I've got plenty of buds left but only one plant currently has a bloom.  I'll be moving all of those in pots under cover before the next storm arrives on Sunday.

Hippeastrum 'Evergreen', a Cybister type originally hybridized in South America

As always, I've assembled photos of flowers with lower profiles as part of collages organized by color.

Clockwise from the upper left: Aloe striata x maculata, Antirrhinum majus, Cuphea 'Honeybells', noID orange Gazania, Lobelia laxiflora, and Metrosideros collina 'Springfire'

Clockwise from upper left: Argyranthemum 'Angelic Maize', noID Narcissus, Gaillardia 'Spintop Copper Sun', Gazania 'Gold Flame', noID yellow Gazania, and Senna artemisioides (aka feathery cassia)

Antirrhinum majus, Fuchsia 'Windchimes White', and Nemesia 'Nessie Plus White'

Top row: Antirrhinum majus, Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmunds', and Arctotis 'Opera Pink'
Middle: Bauhinia x blackeana (aka Hong Kong orchid tree), Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay', and Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold'
Bottom: Cuphea 'Starfire Pink', Hebe 'Wiri Blush', and noID Kalanchoe (maybe K. fedtschenkoi)

Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthemum 'Grandaisy Red', Helleborus 'Anna's Red', magenta Pericallis hybrid, and Ribes viburnifolium (aka Catalina currant)

Top row: Delphinium grandiflorum, Echium handiense, and Geranium 'Tiny Monster'
Middle: Lavandula multifida, Limonium perezii, and Pericallis hybrid
Bottom: Polygala myrtifolia, Salvia rosmarinus (aka rosemary), and Viola cornuta 'Penny Peach'

That's it from me for this month's bloom day coverage.  Two more atmospheric rivers are due to arrive back-to-back this weekend.  Those may leave me with soggy flowers once again, or spur other plants to burst into bloom.  We shall see.  Best wishes for a pleasant weekend and, if you haven't already done so, check in with Carol at May Dreams Gardens for more Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts.

All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

 

Bloom Day - February 2023

Spring comes early in coastal Southern California and I expect that many who read this post will consider it proof of that statement.  While there are a lot of flowers making an appearance, they're generally less profuse than they were last year.  A few have only just arrived.  I think the lag I perceive may be attributable to the persistence of colder than average temperatures. 

I'll start with the plants making the biggest splash.

I check out the back slope less often than I should.  I hadn't been down there in almost 2 weeks and was shocked when I realized that Ceanothus arboreus 'Cliff Schmidt' was in full bloom.  It bloomed in February last year and the noID Ceanothus hedge on the main level of the back garden is also blooming so I shouldn't have been surprised.

While on the back slope, I found that the plant I purchased years ago as Abelia speciosa 'Chiapas' is also blooming.  An updated online search for the plant showed no new sources but it appears the plant has been reclassified as Vesalea floribunda.  The new classification reflects a differentiation between the glossy Abelias of Asian origin and species native to Mexico and Central America.  I tried propagating it last year but got only one cutting to develop roots.  I thought I'd lost it over the summer but a tiny seeding recently appeared in its spot.  Fingers crossed but I'm going to take more cuttings this month.

The Aeonium arboreums are producing masses of tall bloom stalks all over my garden.  They make long-lasting cut flowers if you like florescent yellow.

Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' arrived on schedule this month.  It's well ahead of other varieties in its genus this year.

This Calliandra haematocephala (red powder puff) is another reliable bloomer.  The other 2 shrubs that also came with the garden rarely bloom, presumably due to receiving less sun.

Euphorbia rigida has florescent yellow blooms rather like Aeonium arboreum but I love these flowers, probably because they're sparser and the blue foliage tempers the bright yellow

 

Other plants make a splash because of the sheer numbers of varieties that put on a show at the same time.

Most of my Aloes aren't sufficiently well established to bloom but 3 did this year.  Clockwise from the left: Aloe vanbalenii x ferox, A. cryptopoda, and A. vanbalenii x striata.

Argyranthemums are at their best when temperatures are cool.  Clockwise from upper left:  'Aramis Bi-color', 'Pink Comet', 'Grandaisy Red', and 'White Butterfly'.

The large-flowered Grevilleas bloom year-round here but the smaller-flowered varieties join them in late winter and early spring.  Clockwise from upper left: Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia, G. 'Peaches & Cream', G. 'Poorinda Leane', and the vigorous G. 'Superb'.

Grevilleas with pink and red flowers include, clockwise from upper left: Grevillea sericea (shown in a wide shot and a closeup), G. lavandulacea 'Penola', and G. 'Scarlet Sprite' (also shown in a wide shot and a closeup)

Several of my potted Hippeastrums, all grown outdoors, are blooming.  Clockwise from upper left: 'La Paz', 'Rozetta', 'Neon', noID sold as 'Blushing Bride' (which should be pink), and dwarf 'Saffron'.

The colored bracts of Leucadendrons aren't true flowers but they're flower-like at this time of year.  Clockwise from upper left: 'Blush', 'Winter Red' (which has pale yellow "blooms" earlier in the year), 'Safari Sunset', 'Chief', and 'Wilson's Wonder'.  The last is usually one of the most floriferous at this time of year but untimely pruning cost me most of those "flowers" this year.

Osteospermums are also at their very best during our cooler months.  Clockwise from upper left: '4D Violet Ice' (wide shot and closeup), 'Double Moonglow', '4D Silver', noID pink variety, '4D Pink' (wide shot and closeup), and a mix of self-sown white varieties.

 

I've grouped the plants just beginning their spring launch in a single collage.

Clockwise from upper left: Alstroemeria 'Inca Lucky', Lobelia laxiflora, Metrosideros collina 'Springfire', Freesia, Anemone coronaria, Ipheion uniflorum, Limonium perezii, and Pyrethropsis hosmariense

 

As those plants get started others are quickly making their way to the exit.

I took these photos of Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection' a week ago.  It's still flowering but dropping handfuls of flowers every day.

This photo of Pyrus calleryana was also taken a week ago,  Half those petals are now on the ground.  It's the closest thing to snowflakes we get here.

 

As always, Bloom Day came with a few surprises.

I planted 10 of these tulip bulbs (Tulipa humilis 'Alba Coerulea Oculata') in early November and promptly forgot about them until 8 bloomed.  They're supposed to grow 4-6 inches tall but all have stems that are one inch at best.  Only time will tell if they'll return to bloom another year (as some species tulips do here) and if they'll grow any taller in future years.

This Isopogon anemonifolius, an Australian native, has flowered sporadically.  The flowers are supposed to be yellow but all have have this ivory color.

I discovered this Agave vilmoriniana, commonly known as octopus agave, while pruning an out-of-control Leucadendron.  This makes 3 agaves in my garden with bloom stalks.  As all are monocarpic, there are going to be some large holes in my garden several months from now!

 

I'll end this post as I usually do with the best of the rest, organized by color.

Clockwise from upper left:  Teucrium fruticans 'Azureum', Trichostemma 'Mignight Magic', Viola 'Penny Peach', Pericallis 'Senetti Violet Bi-color', Salvia rosmarinus 'Gold Dust' (aka rosemary), S. 'Pozo Blue', and Felicia aethiopica

Clockwise from upper left: noID Cyclamen, Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Primula vulgaris, and Ribes viburnifolium (aka Catalina currant)

Top row: Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay', Cistus 'Grayswood Pink', and Coleonema 'Sunset Gold'
Middle row: Camellia sasanqua, Cuphea 'Starfire Pink', and Medinilla myriantha
Bottom row: Dianthis barbatus, Hebe 'Wiri Blush', and Pelargonium peltatum

Clockwise from upper left: Crassula orbicularis var rosularis, Dianthus barbatus, Pelargonium 'White Lady', P. peltatum, and Daphne odora

Clockwise from upper left: Arbutus 'Marina', Erysimum 'Winter Orchid', Euryops chrysanthemoides, noID orange Calendula, Gaillardia 'Spintop Copper Sun', noID Narcissus, Senna artemisioides, and noID yellow Calendula

 

Are you convinced that spring is making an entrance in my little corner of the world?  There are a lot of flowers yet in the wings but, even with almost no rain in February as yet, January's heavier-than-usual rainfall has my dream of a glorious spring looking like it may become a reality.

For more Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts, visit our host, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: My personal challenge

Yesterday I set myself a personal IAVOM challenge to create an arrangement around a flower I couldn't conceive pairing with much of anything.

This is Salvia africana-lutea.  The flower color is a mix of terracotta and reddish-brown.

As it turned out, it wasn't all that difficult.  A spin around my garden and, voila!  I accumulated more plant material than I needed.

Phylica pubescens, aka featherhead, immediately presented itself as a perfect accent plant

and Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' was another natural pairing

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Salvia africana-lutea, Corokia x virgata 'Sunsplash', Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow', Phylica pubescens, Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', and Narcissus tazetta 'Geranium'

There's no shortage of flowers for use in creating vases at the moment.  Spring may not have officially arrived yet but it's well underway in my garden, although over a week of rain on and off has some flowers looking worse for the wear.  One plant that was within days of blooming got completely plastered.

More than 80% of this Agrostemma 'Ocean Pearls' snapped off its base when it collapsed during our heaviest rain last week

Not that I'm complaining about the rain!  What we've received has been wonderful and most of it hasn't come down too hard or too fast.  We're still well below "normal" here and, even with more rain expected this week, it's doubtful that we'll reach that level before our short rainy season comes to an end.

In any case, there were plenty of flowers available to cut.  Among others, the Dutch Irises I was watching last week came on strong and were a natural choice for a vase this week.

I created yet another blue and yellow mix, this one featuring not only the Iris but also a Leucospermum flower and stems of Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', sporting delicate pale yellow flowers for the first time

There are still lots of Freesia blooms even though some have been beaten into the dirt by rain

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt', Anemone 'Mistral Azzurro', yellow Freesia, Iris hollandica 'Sapphire Beauty', Lavandula multifida, Leucospermum 'Goldie', and Scilla peruviana

There's really no color I don't like but I'm not head-over-heels about pink; however, the mauve-pink Anemones in my cutting garden were begging to be picked before they finish their bloom cycle so they kicked off a third vase, which actually may be my personal favorite this week.

Yes, I tucked too much into this one as well

This vase always looks like it holds more than it does

Top view

Clockwise from upper left: noID Alstroemeria, Anemone 'Mistral Rarity', Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian White', Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Persicaria capitata, Prostanthera ovatifolia 'Variegata', and pink Freesia

With events being cancelled right and left, including the school tours I was scheduled to lead as a docent for our local botanic garden, and officials increasingly encouraging members of the public to minimize the risk of exposure to the pandemic coronavirus, my friends and I are already feeling a little stir crazy but I'm well aware that I'm lucky to have the freedom to stay home.  All those people who are unable to work from home because of the nature of their jobs, the health professionals and care givers doing their best to take care of those who are ill or otherwise need support, and all the delivery people working rigorous schedules to bring goods where they're needed are to be applauded.  And then there are people stuck in quarantine or far away from home without the ability to be home with their families.

Two cruise ships are docked at the Port of Los Angeles while cruises are on an indefinite hold.  Many of those in the crew are presumably marooned here while they wait this out.

I hope you're able to accommodate whatever circumstances you're confronting.  Divert yourself by checking other IAVOM creations.  Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

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