Bloom Day

My garden's spring wildflower show is winding down. Since I've blogged about it extensively, I won't take up much space with it here. Scroll over the pictures for the name of the flower, or click the pictures for larger file sizes.





Actually, here are two that we haven't seen much of, yet:

Collinsia heterophylla--this one is pure white, but they can be purple-white bi-color as well.



and Mentzelia lindleyi--these seem to be later than the rest. They want to be near aloe and agave, don't you think? (I took these pictures late in the afternoon; it was getting relatively dark.)



So far, the wind poppy Stylomecon heterophylla has the most intriguing fruit.



This is the capsule ripening:



Not quite ripe:



Then I found one that was ripe. I don't know yet if the pore you see open at the capsule's apex expands down the valve and releases seed that way (valvular, basipetal), or if the pore stays where it is here and the seeds get shaken out by the wind (censer action):



Either way, I plan to collect as much seed by hand as possible so I can be sure to have at least a few plants where I want them next year. Also, I want to share. Let me know if you want any wildflower seeds from my garden and I will give you some. (E-mail lcbii@yahoo.com and we'll hope you don't get shunted to my spam folder.)

While for the most part, my garden is transitioning into summer (Clarkia amoena, Delphinium cardinale, and Oenotheras pallida and hookeri are all in bud; Madia elegans is growing rapidly now), I still see at least one new-ish Anemone flower every time I look in this corner.



Two plants are very clear about the seasonal progression...

Carpinteria californica--this temperamental native is endangered in the wild but generally available in the nursery trade,



and Mimulus aurantiacus--less commonly available but widely seen this time of year in California's natural areas.



I have two cultivars, the unnamed one above, and 'Trish', below:



Besides natives, I have some garden standards like abutilon and foxglove. I actually removed a foxglove next to this abutilon because I think the former was suppressing the latter's growth. I want that abutilon to get much bigger, soon.



A new abutilon:



And another new Abutilon I haven't planted yet to replace foxglove.



A non-abutilon future foxglove replacement.



(It has the absolute best name ever--it's the Marble Gardens Mystery Rose. Doesn't that make you want to visit Marble Gardens?)

I got this Cotula at Annie's Annuals too.



I love it.



Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba'...



Making new flowers despite unresolved suspected nutrient deficiency (so not K or P, I guess).



Not shown: random heucheras, penstemons, geraniums, snap peas, and sweet peas. Some salvias and a gaura. Sidalcea and Cerinthe. Iris. Tomatoes and squash.

Let's see...am I forgetting anything?



I imagine this will be the busiest Garden Blogger Bloom Day yet. Beat the heat by digging the scene at Carol's Bloom Day extravaganza, here.