Begonias, MSD

African Iris, Garden, Roscoe

Such balance

Azaleas, home

We had a very early flowering of the azaleas all over our lot this year, lucky, because we had a near frost last night.

Early bloomers

Our azaleas usually bloom in early March. Here we are on July 31st and they are emerging. Yikes

My nominee for the flower that makes the most scent from the least real estate.

This is the flower of a tea olive. As you can see, it is tiny. When it is in bloom, you can smell it thirty feet away. It is a lovely heady scent. Sniffing one will make you believe in aroma therapy, you always feel better for it.

My garden, April 29th, 2016

 Daturas (Angel's trumpets)

 Hibiscus

My layered area. We have had a great Spring and my garden is flourishing.

Hibiscus, garden, Roscoe

Like most of the continental U.S., we have had an easy winter. I have many hibiscus (hibiscus?) around my garden and they usually get knocked back almost to the ground if we even hint at a frost. This year we have only had minor leaf damage and they are blooming a full 6 weeks earlier than they normally do. Thank you El Nino, curse you global warming, or climate change, or, for the ignorami, a normal cycle of temperature that has nothing to do with man's carbon footprint and means we can still burn coal and buy big 'ol damn trucks.

Orange rose, MSD

Back in the garden

We are back, after eight weeks in Provence, heaven. While we were gone our wonderful neighbors watched our cat and took care of the garden. All I had to do when we returned was mow, blow and do some weeding. They also got rid of a weed evergreen that shaded a lot of the backyard. The picture above is of a cast iron plant that is a tenacious shade plant. Very interesting leaves but almost impossible to pull up as it roots densely and deep. What it doesn't like is full sun, which it now has. I hope to get rid of it and replace it with sun loving plants.

The flower is a datura, or Angel's Trumpet. The added light has made them take off. Beautiful flowers and, at night, a lovely scent.

Hibiscus flower, garden, Roscoe

 I bought some exotic Hibiscus from a wonderful nursery, Logee's Greenhouse, a few years ago. They have wonderful odd plants and variations on conventional ones. This was a reluctant bloomer until this Spring. Great colors.

Azaleas, Roscoe

 Our white azaleas. Spring took about four days to take us from dormant to plants on steroids. So, on the first day of Spring here is how it looks down here in Palm Valley. And no bugs!........yet.

Clyde and Corinne's multi-colored ones.

Agapanthus, Millbrae, CA

Hose and rose, Millbrae, CA

Spider lily, Jax Beach

Johnny's flowers, Millbrae

Camellias, Roscoe

Spring colors

 Live oak, Roscoe

Redbuds and bee, Roscoe. Spring is inching it's way in even if today was 49f (9.4C).

Rose, Millbrae, California

We are just back from a week in San Francisco seeing my sister-in-law and her husband. This is on a walk near their house in Millbrae, a lovely town.

Datura flower, garden, Roscoe

This was so perfect that I had to photograph it.

Gardenias, Roscoe

Thios has been a great year for gardenias ans confederate jasmine.