4/11/08

Have a nice weekend!

I'm heading up to Point Reyes for another one of my weekend ecology classes. It's sunny and warm and it should be lovely on the coast.

Sorry if I haven't responded to your comments in the last couple days; I've been busy. There won't be any new blogging here until Sunday night or Monday morning.

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Dozens of flowers opening. It could be covered when I get home.

Echium wildpretii

Phacelia campanularia

Ranunculus californicus

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Phacelia tanacetifolia

My English neighbor came over yesterday. She said, "You have a border!" Later, on the way out, she said, "You're very English."

Verbena, Nemophila, Mimulus

That means she likes it.

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Even though I garden with a lot California plants. Lupinus albifrons.

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I knew what she meant.

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Heracleum lanatum

The center umbel is already going to seed.

Heracleum lanatum

I'm going to ID the clematis as 'General Sikorski' because mine does have the golden yellow anthers.

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This flower did something weird.

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I grow it in the bamboo--which is not looking so hot. I don't think it's because of the clematis (as if!). I transplanted this clump last year and it's still mad at me.

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Eschscholzia caespitosa
, native to Southern California. (More evidence that Southern California has the best California native plants.)

Eschscholzia caespitosa

This is supposed to be a carrot and onion patch, but it's mostly poppies and iris right now.

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Snap peas are lagging.

snap pea

These anemones are still going on, and now Tiarella have joined in.

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The 'Ray Hartman' Ceanothus are done, but the 'Frosty Blue' is still going. Or, rather, just starting.

Ceanothus 'Frosty Blue' + Salvia spathacea

Next year I'm going to plant Nemophila menziesii in the pot with Dudleya pulverulenta. Right now they're just growing next to each other. You can mark that down as a nice container combination of coastal natives.

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The freesia are pooped; see you next year.

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The Cobaea scandens vine is really starting to spread. The vines are thick and strong, like honeysuckle.

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I had the rabbit's foot grass a few years ago. It didn't come back last year, but it's here again this year, but tiny and short. (What was I thinking?--I wasn't.)

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I think the tiny jonquils are my favorite daffs.

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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was just having a "conversation" with Pam at Tales from the Microbial Lab about daffs. I've reached the same conclusion as you (pretty much). I think from now on I'm just going to grow Jonquils and Cyclamineous Narcissus... not that there is anything wrong with the others of course just there is only so much time, space, energy, money, etc.

The Jonquils have delighted me this year.

Anonymous said...

Love love LOVE the freesias and the Aeoniums! Another inspired combo, Chuck! The garden looks beautiful...

I remember having a mixture of joy, awe, and saddness when my Echium wildpretii bloomed - I love them when they are a whirl of leaves on the ground. But wow- the glory of that big spire! Fab!

lisa said...

Lots of beautiful whoreticultural activity going on at your place! Have a fun time...see ya soon! :)

Brent said...

Nice photos. I'm taking notes as usual.

Anonymous said...

Hi. I've just stumbled onto this and your older blog, you must spend forever it's huge!
I was wondering, I wasnt sure how to contact you direct... i'm just setting up a small plant nursery in the uk and i'm desperate for images (we only moved into a place with a garden in october so couldn't get many of my own). Could I possibly ask permission to use some of your plant images on my site, I will of course reference you?
Yours beggingly... Lou

Annie in Austin said...

Should we call you Charles? Chuck seems too informal if you're going to be very English ;-]
Did you see the photos that Pam/Digging posted of our visit to Jenny's Garden? Jenny is from England and has made an English-feeling garden using lots of Texas plants. She also adds lots of larkspur but doubt there are any fabulous phacelias around here.

Is this your blooming day post?

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

chuck b. said...

Annie, this was not my Bloom Day post, but thank you for asking. I didn't realize tomorrow is the 15th.

Lou, sure.

Brent, ha!

Lisa, are you coming to California?

Germi, Well I've already bought another Echium wildpretii in case I feel like having it again after these two die. We'll see. I'm not making any commitments.

Hank, many people I know think it's a bad idea to bother trying to naturalize daffodils in small gardens like mine. "Oh, the ugly foliage..." they say. But the foliage isn't a problem at all with the fragrant Thalias or jonquils. I definitely want to plant more of both this fall.

Anonymous said...

Chuck you're a star i'm so greatful, you have pics of loads of the plants i'm growing. Keep up the blog and I will of course reference you. Thanks a zillion!

Lou

Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener) said...

Point Reyes is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I look forward to seeing it again sometime.

I really like the wide-angle closeup shot of the container with the cactus, succulents, and others I don't recognize. A lot of depth in it.

lisa said...

Oh, not soon...I meant see you when YOU get back...heh...sorry. :)