Friday, February 8, 2013

R & R and Rain

We are enjoying a few days of R & R on California's beautiful Central Coast where it seems it's forever spring. At least it is by the looks of all of the flowers in bloom.  It has, however, been raining off and on since we arrived, but as they say, "Along with the sunshine there's gotta be a little rain sometimes." (lyrics from Rose Garden)
Rose 'Graham Thomas' yellow climber

Here are some of the flowers in bloom in February in our coastal garden.


a late hydrangea blossom
BrugmansiaAngels Trumpet Charles Grimaldi



I am embarrassed to show the Angels Trumpet/Brugmansia. I've been away too long, and they desperately need to be fed. And the geraniums/pelargoniums desperately need to be deadheaded.

The camellias should be disbudded, but the flowers are pretty anyway.



The abutilon megapotamicum has come back with variegated foliage that had been missing since I divided and repotted it a couple of years ago.
A recently planted abutilon to replace the one that the gophers ate.
calla lily
Calla lilies (aka arum lilies) zantedeschia are everywhere, even in vacant lots. And 'Pride of Madeira'  Echium candicans is looking very healthy.
echium
The ceanothus 'California Lilac' had a severe pruning last year, but it is beginning to recover. I love the blue color.
ceanothus
rosemary
The rosemary herb is stretching its legs.  Nasturtiums have sprouted everywhere and a few are blooming.
nasturtium


euphorbia wulfenil
male pine pollen cone
The Monterey Pines have a few "flowers." Actually they are male pollen cones, and soon everything will be covered with yellow pollen dust.
Santa Barbara Daisy/Erigeron karvinskianus

This evening we enjoyed more R and R at Robin's Restaurant, which is my favorite place to dine on the Central Coast. Delicious, innovative, and healthful food!

16 comments:

  1. Can not believe what all you have blooming right now. Everything looks wonderful but that Rose is special.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Hi Cher, Grahan Thomas is one of my favorites. I also have it planted in the Valley garden. Here it does get just a bit of mildew. It really is a beautiful yellow color. I'm sure spring is just around the corner for you , too!

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  2. Hi Dorothy, it is an amazing variety of plants that are blooming in your coastal garden right now! As a rose addict, of course, I especially love the yellow 'Graham Thomas', but the filled red Camellia blew my mind away! The blooms are of an incredible beauty. Do you know by any chance the name of that variety? I wish you a wonderful time down at the coast!
    Christina

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    1. Hi Christina, The camellias were already planted when we moved in so I don't know their names, but they bloom profusely with little care. I've thought of taking a cutting from the red one to see if I can get it to grow in the valley. But I don't know how fast it would grow from a cutting. Happy gardening!

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  3. Calla lilies blooming in vacant lots? Must be CA! I miss the central coast and have really fond memories of all the wonderful towns, views. Why would you disbud your camellias? They're so beautiful!

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  4. Hi Tammy, The callas grow like weeds here! I usually don't disbud the camellias, but I think it's recommended in order to have larger blooms, but I'm ok with the smaller flowers. I'm not planning to enter them in competitions! I should read about the practice of disbudding. Perhaps its done to develop healthier plants. I should know this stuff!

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  5. I love that blue Ceanothus. We have C. americanus (New Jersey Tea), whose flowers are plain white. I also love how nasturtiums seem to grow like weeds in California.

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    1. Hi Jason, Ceanothus does particularly well here. The ceanothus in our yard were taking over, so we did heavy pruning last year. Yes, and nasturtiums are one of those plants that once you have them, you have them forever. It is another one that will take over.

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  6. Hi Dorothy,
    Your flowers are so very lovely!
    We are still cold here in north Mississippi, but the other day I noticed that my peony is putting up new shoots. It grows fast; usually blooms in mid-April. We have daffodils and pansies blooming now. But we will have some below freezing weather before we can say 'Spring!' (I will cover the peony at night to protect it).
    All the best to you!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  7. Hi Lea, Thank you! You are so fortunate to be able to grow peonies. They are such beautiful flowers but will not grow (at least for me) in the coastal or valley garden. We just don't get enough winter chill. I will look forward to photos of your flowers!

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  8. Impressive. The camellias looked great, and I am a new fan of ceanothus since last year--I never really paid much attention before though I am not sure why. It is lovely. Jeannine

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  9. Hi Jeannine, Thank you. I am amzed at the number of buds on the camellias this year. Everything is looking so shiny and bright. This ceanothis is a native, and I wish we had room for it to be a small tree, but an oak tree already dominates the front yard. Thanks for visiting!

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  10. Nice to be where the winters are mild. My brother lives in Alameda along side the ocean, and he thinks my weather in Nashville is horrible.

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    1. Hi Clipped Wings, I have often fantasized about living in a colder climate, but I guess my body, after all these years, is now acclimated to the milder regions. But I do like to see the seasons change! Thank you for stopping by my blog!

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