In mid-May, it would almost be easier to list the plants that aren't flowering than to identify those that are. And this is despite the fact that, since mid-April, we've been hit by two heatwaves here in Southern California. I'll start with the biggest surprise.
However, the biggest flower show this month is offered by the back garden so let's focus on that area for a moment.
After a late start, the cool season flowers in my cutting garden finally got rolling, just as temperatures here began to soar. The heatwaves stressed those flowers but didn't quite incinerate them.
A few plants from elsewhere in the garden deserve special notice.
I'll close as I usually do with the best of the rest, featured in collages by color.
That's it! Another long post so congratulations for wading through it. For a look at what flowers other gardeners are celebrating this month, visit the host of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
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| This is one of my two pineapple guavas (Feijoa sellowiana). They came with the garden but in nine years they've never produced more than a light scattering of blooms. I was blown away last weekend when I found them covered in flowers. |
However, the biggest flower show this month is offered by the back garden so let's focus on that area for a moment.
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| This is the view from the back patio area looking south |
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| and this is a view of the same general area looking east |
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| The large shrub in the middle of the preceding photo is Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid' and this photo shows a close-up of its blooms |
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| Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset', underplanted with Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', grabs the eye every time I walk through the back garden |
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| Other warm-toned blooms in the back garden include these: Top row - Achillea 'Moonshine', Arctotis 'Pink Sugar', and Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' Middle row - Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' (mingling with E. 'Dean's Hybrid') and self-seeded Gazanias Bottom row - Lotus berthelotii 'Amazon Sunset', Salvia africana-lutea, and Sideritis cypria |
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| Cooler-toned companions include: Top row - Ageratum corymbosum, Allium rosenbachianum, and Alstroemeria 'Claire' Middle row - Buddleja davidii 'Buzz Purple' (shown with Cuphea 'Starfire Pink') and Erigeron glaucus 'Wayne Roderick' Bottom row - Brachyscome 'Brasco Violet'(with Eriophyllum lanatum and Trichostema 'Midnight Magic'), Felicia aethiopica, and Salvia canariensis var candidissima |
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| After 6 years in the ground, one of my three Yucca 'Bright Star' FINALLY produced a bloom spike! It looked more like an agave bloom spike when it first appeared. It's unfolding very slowly. |
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| Hymenolepsis parviflora (aka Coulter bush) marks a transition between the back and south end borders |
After a late start, the cool season flowers in my cutting garden finally got rolling, just as temperatures here began to soar. The heatwaves stressed those flowers but didn't quite incinerate them.
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| View of the cutting garden from the driveway |
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| The sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) were hit the hardest by the heat. The vines are still producing blooms but the stems are much shorter. |
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| In contrast, Orlaya grandiflora (aka Minoan lace) hardly noticed the heat |
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| Other blooms in the cutting garden still holding on include: Top row - Calendula 'Zeolights', Digitalis 'Peach Dalmatian', and Clarkia amoena 'Farewell to Spring' Middle row - Digitalis purpurea, Consolida ajacis 'Earl Grey, and Consolida 'Summer Skies Mix' Bottom row - Blue and white Nigella papillosa 'Starry Night Mix' and Nigella orientalis 'Transformer' |
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| The arbor between the cutting garden and the dry garden on its east side is now festooned with Pandora jasminoides and Trachelospermum jasminoides (aka star jasmine) |
A few plants from elsewhere in the garden deserve special notice.
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| The Renga lilies (Arthropodium cirratum) and blooming in four different areas of the garden. They are my go-to plants for dry shade and I've divided them a few times. |
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| Centranthus ruber is still going strong on my back slope |
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| Dorycnium hirsutum (aka hairy Canary clover) is also blooming, to the delight of the bees |
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| One by one, the daylilies are making an appearance. Clockwise from the upper left: Hemerocallis 'For Pete's Sake', 'Russian Rhapsody', 'Spanish Harlem', 'Blythe Belle', and 'Plum Perfect' |
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| Bunny tail grass (Lagurus ovatus) has infiltrated a new area of the garden this year but it's welcome nonetheless |
I'll close as I usually do with the best of the rest, featured in collages by color.
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Plectranthus neochilus, Pericallis 'Magic Salmon', Psoralea pinnata, Wahlenbergia 'Blue Cloud', the last bloom of Iris hollandica 'Silver Beauty', and Limonium perezii |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Centaurea 'Silver Feather', noID Delosperma, noID Pelargonium peltatum, Polygala fruticosa, and Thymus serphyllum |
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| Top row - Arctotis 'Opera Pink', Cuphea 'Starfire Pink', and Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' Middle row - Helleborus 'Phoebe', Oenothera speciosa, and burgundy Pelargonium peltatum Bottom row - Pelargonium 'Lady Plymouth', P. 'Orange Fizz', and P. peltatum 'Pink Blizzard' |
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| Top row - noID pink Alstroemeria, Callistemon 'Hot Pink', and Gladiolus nana 'Nymph' Middle row - Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', Lobelia laxiflora, and Melianthus major Bottom row - Penstemon mexicali, Rosa 'Pink Meidiland, and noID rose (sprouted from root stalk of a rose I'd removed) |
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| Top row - Aeonium arboreum, Cotula lineariloba, and Phlomis fruticosa Middle row - Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream' and Leucospermum 'Goldie' Bottom row - Euryops chrysanthemoides 'Sonnenschein', E. virgineus 'Tali', and Tagetes lemmonii |
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| Top row - Bignonia capreolata and Cuphea 'Vermillionaire' Middle row - Grevillea 'Superb', Lantana camara 'Irene', and Leucospermum 'Brandi' Bottom row - Leucospermum 'Spider Hybrid', Rosa 'Lady Emma Hamilton', and R. 'Medallion' |
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| Top row - Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher', Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi', and A. 'Kiwi Verde' Middle row - Argyranthemum frutescens 'Everest', Echinopsis oxygona, and Gaura lindheimeri Bottom row - Gazania 'White Flame', noID white Pelargonium peltatum, and Romneya coulteri |
That's it! Another long post so congratulations for wading through it. For a look at what flowers other gardeners are celebrating this month, visit the host of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party