In my opinion, coastal gardens peak this time of year. On nice days the light is spectacular. However today was not a nice day. It was about 55 deg F with a cold, blowing wind under heavy fog. Nonetheless, the company was good and the garden was beautiful. Shall we?
Strybing gardeners don't typically make flower beds a priority, but when they go for it the results are usually impressive. Papaver commutatum 'Ladybird' makes that easy. I planted a few of these in the Mad Englishwoman's garden with outstanding results.
In California, Clarkia rubicunda and Eriogonum latifolium:
Clarkia with E. grande.
Summer-dry Nassella pulchra and Grindelia stricta.
Strybing has a few old flannel bushes, covered with lichen. Absolutely fabulous.
Some cool blues
and milky greens.
The small, compact agaves make enormous flower spikes just like the big boys.
The blue Iochroma is widely available; I wish the purple one was too.
Is this Salvia mexicana 'Limelight'?
The genus Salvia adores San Francisco.
We go from blue to blue's opposite, with Passiflora parritae.
This is one of the rarest passionflowers in the world. It may even be extinct in the wild. Read all about it here.
Passiflora parritae bloomed abundantly in Golden Gate Park today.
Do you flower haters want some foliage? Here are three leaves.
And a bed of restios, pelargoniums and phyllicas.
And I have to throw a tree fern in here somewhere
Really there's a world of leaves out there.
6 comments:
Picture #2 is amazing. I think everyone should just permanently stop photographing Aeoniums now, because no one is ever going to top that composition.
The Nassella/Grindelia combination looks just like what we have in the wild around here in every field and cow pasture. It's Grindelia camporum in our fields, and I'm not sure what the grass is, but the effect is the same. In fact, I have a photo.
I cannot wait to get there one day!!! Beautiful tour! Sounds like you found the best time to go for sure, each year!!!
I am jealous on so many levels here! Thinking of a garden all to yourselves, that it is a tradition, getting to go with a friend who appreciates it all just as much, 55 degrees!, and the surroundings, just to name a few. Flower haters! HA
Frances
I just love the botanical garden, and each time I go, I discover something I've never seen before. Thanks for the great pictures!
That's gotta be 'Limelight' but mine is way behind, just setting buds. Happy is the plant that grows at Strybing, judging by your photos. The fremontodendron and lichen, beautiful.
Thanks for the memories. What a beautiful place!
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