Last year we had the lowest rain level I can remember, with only 3.88 inches registered in our location between October 1, 2017 and September 2018. (California's "rain year" is always calibrated from the first of October through the end of September of the following calendar year.) This winter started on the dry side despite NOAA's forecast of weak to moderate
El Niño conditions, which can bring heavier rain to Southern California. Although NOAA has reported that the predicted
El Niño has been stalled by other climate factors, notably the Madden-Julien Oscillation or MJO*, we've had a lot of rain in the past week and considerably more is expected before the end of this week. Our current total for the rain year to date is 7.04 inches, or 181% of last year's total. Not spectacular relative to our historical average perhaps but definitely an improvement. The only difficulty is that it's coming down all at once, leaving us sodden and threatening mudslides in the recent burn areas. Fortunately, I took most of my Bloom Day photos in advance of the latest spate of storms. I don't know how those of you in parts of the world with heavier precipitation manage!
The stars of my January garden are fairly consistent with those cited in prior years with the notable exception of
Camellia 'Taylor's Perfection', which is usually in full bloom by the middle of January but thus far this year has only tightly furled buds. The
Grevilleas and
Leucadendrons win the top slots this month.
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| The large-flowered Grevilleas bloom consistently year-round here but the volume is greater right now in all cases. Even so, Grevillea 'Superb' (shown here) is a stand-out. |
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| Grevilleas 'Ned Kelly' and 'Peaches & Cream' aren't looking too shabby either |
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| Blooms on the small-flowered Grevilleas, G. lavandulacea 'Penola' (left) and G. 'Scarlet Sprite' (right), are seasonal but generally profuse |
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| Technically, Leucadendron"flowers" are actually bracts surrounding cones but they count in my book. I've got 2 L. 'Wilson's Wonder', both shown here. |
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| Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', shown here, sprawls a bit but it makes a great flower substitute in arrangements |
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| More Leucadendrons, L. 'Safari Sunset' with what I think is L. 'Blush' on the left and L. 'Summer Red' on the right |
There are other plants that are providing a strong showing this month too.
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| Bauhinia x blakeana (aka Hong Kong orchid tree) was the head-liner in last month's Bloom Day post but it was still looking great this month, even after some rain; however, I can't say it's looking as good after yesterday's downpours |
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| It may not be entirely evident from this photo but the tiny flowers of Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' area pale pink. The plant's common name is "Breath of Heaven" for the beautiful scent of its foliage. |
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| Like the large-flowered Grevilleas, the tiny flowers of Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' keep coming all year |
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| Mahonia x media 'Charity' finally bloomed in early January |
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| These paperwhite Narcissus, planted long ago by some prior owner of our property, have sprung into bloom throughout the garden in response to the earlier rain. The current rainstorms are pounding them flat. |
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| The white Pyrethropsis hosmariense (aka Moroccan daisy) have also responded positively to the rain |
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| All my rosemary is in bloom but this Rosmarinus 'Gold Dust' delivers something extra with its variegated foliage |
A few other plants also deserve special mention.
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| Succulent blooms are popping up all over. From left to right here are a tiny noID Aloe, Bryophyllum gastonis-bonnieri (still in bud), Crassula ovata, and Crassula 'Springtime'. |
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| No, these aren't flowers but the Heteromeles arbutifolia (aka Toyon or Christmas berry) and the navel orange are as colorful and the first feeds the birds and the second feeds us (and the greedy raccoons) |
As usual, I'll end this post with the best of the rest arranged by color in collages.
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Top row: Ageratum houstonianum 'Blue Horizon', noID lavender, and Limonium perezii
Middle row: Ocimum hybrid 'African Blue Basil', and Osteopermums '4D Silver' and 'Violet Ice'
Bottom row: Polygala fruticosa 'Petite Butterfly', Scabiosa 'Fama Blue', and Trichostemma 'Midnight Magic' |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' (off to a slow start), noID Camellia sasanqua (wilting in the rain), miscellaneous Cyclamen, Hemizygia 'Candy Kisses', and Pentas lanceolata 'Nova' |
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| Left to right: Dermatobotrys saundersii, Hippeastrum 'Giant Amadeus', and Rosa 'Joseph's Coat' |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Achillea 'Moonshine', Lomandra 'Breeze' Tagetes lemmonii, Aeonium arboreum, and Senna artemisioides |
For more blooms,
visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, our esteemed Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day host.
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Once again, descriptions of weather conditions in Southern California are sounding like the mythic battle between Godzilla and Mothra.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
