We don't have the drenching rains of the Midwest, and Texas (usually). We get misty, rainy weather that makes some people suicidal, and others just ignore it and get out into the wet...with proper Gortex clothing of course. We have finally broke the pattern and yesterday's temperatures reached over 75F. for the first time in almost 9 months. This year the cooler temps have made me less inclined to go outside. The weeds are way ahead of me, and it has been good fern growing weather. My yard is looking green, but not very colorful. Here are a few of the blooms that have survived my neglect. Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla Lily) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Calla lily bed is full of blooms for cutting this year. The leaves and flower stalks are always rangey and huge. This was a wild seeded plant that muliplied. Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla Lily) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla Lily) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Herb bed along the south side of the house is full of blooms. I only lost the curry plant. The rosemary, and oregano are getting huge; the Egyptian walking onions need to be harvested; thyme, and wildflowers are blooming. I just need to pull some self sown ferns and weeds. ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) I love this little lily. It was a shared bulb that has multiplied and given me much joy since it needs no care and is not bothered by slugs. Eventually it will be in all of my beds. Lilium unknown ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) The "Blaze" rose is covering the trellis nicely. Unfortunately the clematis has a disease and doesn't look like it will make it. The purple and red was a nice combination that I miss. blaze rose in front yard ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) The wild lupine is a bit darker in color in the front yard than the plant in the backyard. The slugs ate my "Russel" lupine down to the ground. Guess I will go with the native lupine. Lupinus polyphyllus ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Lupinus polyphyllus ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) My favorites though are the campanula's. I got them in trade last year and they have multiplied nicely. next year it should be a great showing. Campanula persicifolia ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Campanula persicifolia ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Campanula persicifolia ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Campanula persicifolia ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Lost all varieties of tickweed with the cold snap in December, but have several other "new to me" traded plants taking off. Until then I will enjoy the sunny wild flowers that are really more weeds (a plant growing where you don't want it). The native flowers are just so dependable. Front patio and wild California poppies ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Sunshine in a flower, CA poppies ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )
Everything looks great! I love the rose. My flowers are way behind schedule this year because of the bizarre weather. I think you are right on about "Native Plants". I should do more investigating and put some in my yard.
Not very colourful!!??? I think you have lots a beautiful bright flowers in your garden. I especially love your lilium, callas and that wonderful red rose. I hope the temperatures now stablise and give you some lovely warm sunshine to enjoy.
Well Jewell, you have to admit--the flower show was well worth the wait of all the cold and rainy wearther that you have had. I sure do enjoy your display of lovely flowers that you have selected to grow there. I really like those campanula's too! They look very healthy. Your natural-looking patio looks just great.
Stratsmom and Netty - I wish I knew more about the "native" wildflowers. The lupine photoed is the ancestor to the hybridized garden varieties. I find it fascinating. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Pojar and Mackinnon is great source of native and not native plants for the western parts of Oregon, Washington state, British Columbia and the Alaska pennisula. This book has encouraged me to try more of our local flora in my yard. The foxglove has been my fav, year after year. Eileen - I do enjoy the lilium and calla lilies too. My hubby pins up the rose every year. It has such a bright red it is hard to photo. Sjoerd - I love the wild poppies. There were in all the fields in California when I was a kid. They are so dependable, I have to weed them from parts of the patio to have a path to the front door. I have great hopes for the campanula. I hope it is as invasive as I was told. It needs to be to survive my rototilling dog, and my neglect. The flowers are surprisingly large for such a tiny tall stem. Happy gardening all.
I think your garden is lovely, Jewell. That lily is either the "Sorbet" or the "Lollipop" I believe. I can't get over your being able to grow callas outside. Wish I could.
Thanks Droopy for IDing the lily. Definitately a lollipop :-D . I keep trying the smaller calla lilies, but seems another one bit the dust. Only these huge ones survive in my yard. :-?
