Our winter and spring temperatures have been "unseasonably warm" according to weather forecasters, although much the same thing was said last year. I wonder when these conditions cease being termed "unseasonable" and instead become the new normal? Our spring got off to an early start, especially in relation to the parts of the country hit by the miserable "polar vortex" but, when I looked back at last April's post, I find that most of the flowers blooming now were also blooming then.
For a change of pace, in collecting photos for this month's Bloom Day post, I focused more on plant combinations and less on individual flowers.
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| Acanthus mollis "Summer Beauty, backed by Osteospermum ecklonis '3D Silver,' a staple in my garden, and white Argyranthemum |
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| A lone Adenophora potaninii is surrounded by Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid' and self-sown Alyssum - more Adenophora have seeded in the vicinity of this one but none of these seedlings have formed flower spikes |
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| Alstroemeria (no ID) with Osteospermum '3D Silver' make a strong showing in the backyard |
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| Aquilegia 'Spring Magic' with unnamed Violas and Osteospermum '3D Silver' |
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| Arctotis 'Pink Sugar, surrounded by Convolvulus sabatius 'Moroccan Beauty,' is clashing with the early blooms of self-sown Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' |
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| Centranthus ruber, a weed here, blooming on the slope with Oenothera speciosa, another weed, Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid' and self-sown Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) |
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| Cuphea x ignea 'Starfire Pink' is paired with Geranium 'Tiny Monster' here |
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| Erysimum linifolium 'Variegatum' with Osteospermum 'Lemonade' |
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| Another Erysimum, this time accompanied by Osteospermum '3D Silver' and Tulbaghia violacea |
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Sun-tolerant Fuchsia 'Mrs. J.D. Fredricks' with pink Argyranthemum and Cuphea 'Starfire Pink'
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| Eeek! An early-blooming orange Hemerocallis (no ID) clashes with the pink Alstroemeria, which has yet to make its seasonal exit |
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| This unnamed Iris germanica, blooming almost a month earlier this year than last, doesn't mix especially well with the bright pink Alstroemeria nearby |
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| Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' got the only solo shot in this post, although, if you have a discerning eye, you might notice the white Centranthus peaking out from behind |
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| Limonium perezii backed by Lavandula dentata in the dry garden |
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| Unidentified Pelargonium peltatum with pinkish California poppies, photographed in full sun, the only time to catch the poppies with open petals |
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| Unidentified Pelargonium (originally mislabeled as 'Katie') and more Cuphea 'Starfire Pink' |
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| Assorted Pelargoniums blooming on the slope alongside pale pink Oenothera speciosa, bleached out even when photographed on a cloudy morning |
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| A sea of Phlomis fruticosa with yellow Argyranthemum and a few Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' in the background |
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| 'Ebb Tide' rose, producing its first blooms, with annual Linaria |
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| Sisrynchium bellum 'North Coast' and a sunburned Pericallis, which has not enjoyed our excessively warm temperatures |
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| Salvia 'Mystic Spires' with Lobelia and one of the few remaining Anemones |
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| Dainty Wahlenbergia 'Blue Cloud' with Erigeron karvinskianus, another weed-like plant here, and Geranium 'Tiny Monster' |
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| Sweet peas (Lathyrus Odoratus 'Perfume Delight') fill one of the planters in my vegetable garden (with some snapdragons tucked in behind) |
Hemerocallis and
Iris are producing blooms here and there - the heaviest bloom periods for these plants are still to come. They, and the
Arthropodium cirratum and
Agapanthus, both already gearing up for what is usually a late spring appearance, will probably dominate my garden during the next month. For what's currently on display in gardens throughout the US and elsewhere in the world, please visit Carol at
May Dreams Gardens by clicking
here.
