'Twas a muggy weekend until last night when a cool weather system blew in off the Pacific Ocean. The muggy system wasn't happy with being bullied eastward and fought back with a vengeance. The ensuing flashes and rumbles woke us but the sound of gentle rainfall lullabyed us back to sleep. Like California, we need rain so despite today's dreariness, no one seems to be complaining. My hubby calls it "free water" for obvious reasons.
The bloomers are a bloomin'....
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Pelargonium (Geranium) 'Apple Blossom' is my favorite. Not easy to find,
I wintered it over to ensure I'd have it again. |
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| The California poppies really enjoy the sunshine. |
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| Oxalis crassipes is a happy camper! |
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Here it skirts (swallows) the terrestrial orchids Bletilla striata.
I think some amending might be in order. |
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| Nierembergia blossoms from plants that successfully overwintered! |
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| The first flowers from last year's purchase: Geranium 'Ann Thompson.' |
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| Geranium 'Night Rider' |
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Geranium 'Jolly Bee' in the upper left hand corner
color-echoing the creeping Campanula. |
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| Rosa 'Carefree Spirit' |
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Rosa 'Floral Carpet'
The whiskey barrel this plant was living in finally rotted.
It's new home, this vintage wheelbarrow, is placed in a more sunny location
and the results make me happy. |
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| Rosa 'William Baffin' |
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| Rosa 'Cinco de Mayo' with 'Tiger Eyes' Sumac (Rhus typhina) |
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| Rosa 'Jacques Cartier' soooo fragrant! |
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| Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' |
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| Clematis viticella 'Palette' |
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| I love these little bells. |
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| Clematis 'Niobe' |
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| This Clematis leaf was almost a flower! |
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| I'm so happy with Anemone 'Wild Swan' |
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| Three Monkeys... Monkey Flowers, that is. (Mimulus) |
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Rodgersia 'Bronze Peacock' I thought it was dead because it was so s-l-o-w to leaf out.
But look at it now! |
A few wide shots of the garden...
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| My youngest daughter is working on a pebble mosaic, hence the pans of rocks. |
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Phuopsis stylosa in full regalia.
When not in bloom, this plant smells like skunk.
I think it's time for it to go. |
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Rosa 'William Baffin' with white blooms of Hydrangea serrata 'Preziosa' on the right.
The Hydrangea blooms will darken to pink, then red, then burgundy.
The Rose blossoms will wilt and fall off. :) |
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| The shady area |
The Fauna
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This Red-Legged Frog lives in our outer pond.
Yesterday she decided to nap in this Hebe while wisps of Stipa gigantea flowers
rained down on her. |
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I was happy to see and even happier to photograph this baby Lady Beetle
having her aphid lunch. |
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This big guy was following me around the garden.
Funny, I don't look like a bug, do I? |
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| I think maybe he just wanted to get on the Internet. |
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Finally, while working on this blog post, a pretty Red-Breasted Sapsucker
landed on my courtyard fountain, apparently a little thirsty.
Not the best photo but considering I took it through (dirty) glass, it's not too bad. |
I hope you're enjoying many peaceful hours in the garden.
I love that mimulus! The garden is looking great and so are all the resident critters.
ReplyDeleteThat Pelargonium at the top of your post is fab! I've never seen such a fancy flower. You got some great fauna shots too.
ReplyDeleteI love all your photos, of course, but that geranium is somethin' else.
ReplyDeleteAs always your garden is so lovely!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your pink California poppies. I have those on my wish list. After seeing all your roses and the roses at a friend's house last week I am determined to go ahead and get some. I've been afraid of them; afraid of all the work to keep them healthy. Maybe they're not as difficult as I think.
Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful Red-Breasted Sapsucker; I don't think I've ever seen one before.
Oh my gosh, there is so much beauty to see in your gardens. I'm never disappointed when I visit here, but inspired to get out and work in my own gardens. I love your gardens and garden style.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week ~ FlowerLady
The climatis Palette is gorgeous! I have never seen that one. Your gardens are really growing! Beautiful! The sapsucker is so pretty. Isn't it funny how all of a sudden everything comes alive! At least up here it does. Hopefully now that June has arrived the threat of frost will go away.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE to find that Apple Blossom geranium. It is just the type of geranium that I go crazy for on the deck. You've got some great shots here. The Red-Breasted Sapsucker is also incredible!Growing up in the high desert of Calif., I am familiar with Monkey Flowers as a red wild flower with approximately the same look: three petals on top, two at bottom. Yours is very interesting. Garden On!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting some rain. Your garden is looking oh so happy (and pink, of course)! It may be a funny plant to focus on but I love that Oxalis - I don't think I've ever seen one so floriferous. The critter shots are wonderful. I wish we had frogs - I've got lots and lots of lizards but I haven't seen a frog in decades here or in my former garden.
ReplyDeleteThat was a fun and enjoyable walk through your garden, Grace! We had a niobe clematis in a pot for a long time, need to get another, I love that color. Your garden looks like a joy! We're also very happy to be seeing ladybugs.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it when you trot out your writing skills to introduce a blossom-filled post.
ReplyDeleteYou know Grace, I was thinking my garden seemed to be coming along. I'm going to put it all to bed and come visit you this very minute - so gorgeous. You even have a brilliant specimen of Cinco de Mayo - when I fawned over it at the nursery, the gentleman said, Yes, all the menopausal women love it. I kid you not!! And if he's dead, I just want you to know I didn't do it......
ReplyDeleteI grew Cinco de Mayo for a few years, but found that weird coloring less interesting than I thought, not to mention getting red of any non-fragrant roses. I do love my roses, but hydrangeas have a much longer interest period!
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