Wednesday, February 17, 2016

In Bloom in February

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After a chilly January, the garden has finally decided it is springtime here in the desert!  I have been looking back over last February's Bloom Day post and decided that perhaps things are not as late as they seem this year: perhaps it is only an impatient gardener!

I think that our late cold snap did slow down the bulbs.  There are buds on the freesias...
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, freesia buds
...but, of the narcissus, only N. x odorata is showing buds so far, and they are not very far along.  But other than that the spring flowering has indeed begun.

The definitive of spring in this garden is probably the long-awaited opening of flowers on Eremophila maculata "Valentine".
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"Valentine" holds its buds for a month or more, so there is plenty of time (and suspense) as they begin to open.  The bush is just now coming into full bloom.
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Nearby is another much-anticipated joy of spring: Penstemon parryi.  P. parryi is a desert-native species that thrives here, happy with minimal water and the intense heat of summer.  It is at its most magnificent in spring however, when its deep pink flowers open over the purple/silver/green foliage.  Almost... not quite... but it will be in full bloom before the month is out.
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, penstemon parryi
A newcomer, also with only buds thus far, is Ozothamnus diosmifolius.  The buds are used by florists, so I hope to begin adding these to Monday Vases once they get just a little further along.
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, ozothamnus diosmifolius
Berlandiera lyrata, the Chocolate Flower, is not blooming at all yet and needs a good trim as it is quite shaggy and healthy.  But yellow daisies are plenty on Argyranthemum frutescens...
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, Argyranthemum frutescens, marguerite, daisy
...and frequent on Tetraneuris acaulis, such a quiet, cheerful, never-failing little plant!
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, tetraneuris acaulis, native southwest plant
There are buds on my newly-planted Aloe "Blue Elf"...
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, aloe, blue elf
...and overhead, Acacia salicina is still carrying a few flowers...
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...while just beneath the acacia on the east side is another shrub which is doing itself proud this year: Senna nemophila.
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One rosemary is blooming profusely in the hedge...
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, rosemary, flowers
 much to the delight of bees.
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Then there are the plants that bloom throughout the cooler months.  Violas are happily smiling in the South Border.
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violas, garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers
Dianthus, purchased as an unnamed six-pack, has been a superb addition; and I am wondering whether I can find a way to carry it through the summer as I would love to retain these little beauties in the garden.
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, dianthus
Lavender "Goodwin's Creek Gray" must stop blooming sometime?
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, lavender, lavendula, goodwins creek gray
Miniature rose "Daniela" has been similarly constant, though it now has only one bloom.
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Inspired by it, I have added a couple more minis, most recently the beautiful pale pink one which I featured in this week's vase.  The plant itself is settling into the South Border.
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, miniature rose
Many of the plants currently in flower are, in fact, nearly year-round bloomers here.  Eremophila hygrophana is now in full stride.
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, eremophila hygrophana
I have only a few buds on what is left of Eremophila "Outback Sunrise", which I have partially removed from the South Border on account of its colour as well as its intention of total conquest.  I have moved some of it into the East Border, but bits remain in its original location and are nearly ready to flower.  I don't want to lose it altogether as it is one of the few good groundcovers that grow here, but sulphur yellow did not belong in what is now a blue/purple/pink bed, and I must find some way to deal with its rampant growth, rooting anywhere moist soil is available.  Now that I know its habits, it should be easier to handle.  It's a lovely plant, so I want to keep space available for it!
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, eremophila, outback sunrise, emu bush
As always, there are the Salvia greggii varieties, such as "Flame"...
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, autumn sage, salvia greggii, flame
...and "Autumn Moon".
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, salvia greggii, autumn sage, autumn moon
These plants produce flowers more or less year-round in this garden, falling off from time to time as they need to, despite the common name "Autumn Sage".

But probably the most constant presence in the garden are the scarlet trumpets of Russelia equisetiformis "Big Red", doing what it does very well, providing a splash of colour for the garden and nectar for hummingbirds!  (For more hummingbird shots from yesterday morning, please see my post at A Journal of a Thousand Things.)
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There is, besides, so much in bloom now in the covered patio, that this month I will add a short section on these plants as well.  They are plants which are in containers under a roof, either for the sake of convenience, or in some cases for protection from the sun.

In the former category is rose "Tiffany" the magnificent...
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But in the second is Cyclamen persicum, white and pink varieties, which I am told can come through summer indoors if necessary...
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garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, cyclamen, persicum, florists
 Pelargonium "Precision", an ivy-leaf, had to be moved to the patio because the half-day's sun in the Central Bed was bleaching it badly.  It is perfectly happy now and blooming away.
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, pelargonium, precision
Hippeastrum "Naranja" was potted up as usual for indoor Christmas bloom, but I decided to leave it outside, where it has grown quite well.  It is on its second bloom stalk with another full head of five enormous flowers.
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, hippeastrum, naranja, amaryllis
And Anigozanthos flavidus, the Kangaroo Paws of Australia, is at last in bloom.  It is on the patio edge, almost in full sun, but is growing in a pot to ensure good drainage, apparently very important with these plants.  I wanted badly to divide it and try some out in the garden, but division is recommended for autumn, not spring.  Last autumn it wasn't quite big enough, but it certainly is now.  Seven bloom stalks are visible at the moment!
anigozanthos flavidus, kangaroo paws, garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers
Convolvulus cneorum is simply waiting to go into the new White/Silver part of the garden.  (Yes, I am expanding things a bit even before completing the first section!)  ed. Duly planted today even before I completed this post!
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, convolvulus cneorum, bush morning glory
And the darling tiny blossoms on Sedeveria "Harry Butterfield" are a delightful accompaniment to the blue foliage.  This is another plant growing in shade for its protection.
garden bloggers bloom day, gbbd, desert garden, february, small sunny garden, amy myers, sedeveria, harry butterfield
A good showing for springtime in the garden's second year, I think!  Even here where the winters are so mild, there is a fantastic sense of waiting and wondering what spring will produce.

Linking quite late to the Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day meme at May Dreams Gardens, but better late than never, I hope!

And one final plant in bloom: the apricot tree, right on schedule...
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Weather Diary: Sunny; High: 86 F (30 C)/Low: 50 F (10 C)

10 comments:

  1. Phew! A fabulous array of blooms.

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    1. Thanks so much, Jessica! Looking back over last February's GBBD was encouraging; there is still so much bare space in the borders! But at least there are flowers... :)

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  2. There's a lot going on in your early spring Garden! I REALLY want to plant an Eremophila hygrophana but they're only available in expensive 3-gallon containers here - still, my resolve to hold off until I can find it in a smaller size is eroding. The hummingbird photo is wonderful - it looks like a painting!

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    1. It's been great to see how much more there really is this year, Kris! You know how it is: sometimes you can't see much progress until you go back and check last year... Sorry about the additional temptation ;-) Eremophila hygrophana is such a gorgeous plant. I hope you can find it in a 1-gallon size, which is what mine was. It settled into the border very quickly that way!

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  3. Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Anca! It's such a special time of year here.
      Welcome to the blog :)

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  4. Hello from Bakersfield, California's west-of-the-Sierra desert. Your blossoms are gorgeous, Amy, and I've added half a dozen of your plants to my list of heat-and-drought-tolerant shrubs to check out. Like you, I'm in the second year of creating an English inspired cottage garden in the hot desert sun, and I am currently looking for shrubs to mix with roses to anchor the back of a border. I'm looking forward to revisiting your blog very soon, and getting a long look around. Enjoy the fabulous springtime weather while it lasts! Victoria @ GardenCookTravel.com

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    1. Nice to find you, Victoria! It's quite an adventure gardening in the hot and dry spots, isn't it?! Like you, I'm still working hard to add some height to the borders; in fact, I'm biting my nails waiting to see whether the miniscule Desert Willow (Chilopsis) planted late last year is still alive. Somehow the deciduous plants have me psyched out this spring! I left a comment on your GBBD post, but it does not show up. Judging by past experience, it may be in your spam bin...! Thanks for coming by!

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  5. So many totally gorgeous blooms Amy - your garden is a delight! I love the Eremophila Valentine bush and how wonderful that it flowers for such a long time - always a plus! I also loved the Salvia Autumn Moon. Quite a few salvias do surprisingly well here so I will definitely look into this one. As always, gorgeous photos and stunning plants.
    - Kate

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    1. Thank you very much, Kate :) I like that Salvia so much that I am trying to start some cuttings from it to make sure I don't lose it! Highly recommended if it will grow for you -- especially as the hummingbirds adore it too!

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