1/27/09

Spring? Spring! SpringSpringSpring! SPRING!!!

The first daffodil of 2009!

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It smells good too.

Do you have daffs yet? I have a few different kinds. I'm not as good as Frances at cataloging the bulb inventory--link, link. All my bulb tags are piled in a garage cabinet. When all the flowers are up, I'll go through the pile o' tags and assign names to everyone.

We also have some crocus.

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I remember picking these oddly colored croci out, but cannot recall the name off the top of my head.

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Some of the natives are coming in to season too. Ceanothus arboreus 'Ray Hartman'.

Ceanothus arboreus 'Ray Hartman'

A few inflorescences began to bloom a month or two ago.

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But now the whole thing is starting to bloom. It's a thrill.

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Many plants, like the grape, will remain dormant for several more weeks.

Vitis californica

Pruning time approacheth. I want to build some nice structure into this plant while it's still young.

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The V in the trunk is a fine start.

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But there's a lot of mess on top that needs some careful clipping away.

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In this picture I'm trying to show you larkspur roots growing out the bottom of these 2-inch pots, ready to be planted out.

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I planted out 14 of these today. 2" pots are the perfect size. Anything larger is hard to find room for right now. I keep bigger plants around in pots in case inspiration strikes and I decide that something needs to go. Senecio cristobalensis is one such standby I have ready in the wings.

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Its stems have a purple tomentose.

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The manzanita flowers are about half gone. This Vanessa came for the sunny perch and lingered all day.

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The sun was very nice in the garden today.

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I feel like this year will be the best year yet in the garden.

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The Hardenbergia was buzzing with bees up on the deck.

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9 comments:

Jared said...

So envious of you! We over here on the other coast are looking forward to a whopper of a snowstorm tomorrow, as much as 16 inches of snow. Your plants are gorgeous. I love the blue of your Ceanothus arboreus.

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

Wow so many pretty blooms!!! Nothing here yet. I have daffodils up but not blooming yet! I can't wait!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Chuck, now this is what I call inspirational, spring is actually there. And it looks like you already have bees, are you going to get those hives? Do they know to stay away from the buckeye? Would you sacrifce the plant for the bees? I would. Thanks so much for the links. Those posts reminded my of what a variety of daffs I have, I had totally forgotten. Now this is a case of the blog really helping with the ID. This year I will take photos with landmark plantings so I know where the heck those are planted in the garden and labels on the photos maybe. I always am thrilled by both your cobaea the ceanothus. Your garden does look like it is ready for the best year yet! What a lovely sentiment. :-)
Frances

chuck b. said...

I would not give up the buckeye for bees! There are native bees that like its flowers.

Christopher C. NC said...

I practically felt warm reading this post. Hooray for your spring! You still get more free water for a bit right?

lisa said...

I'm in LOVE with your spring! The bee pics are terrific, do you mind if I use one for my desktop background at work? I could use the botanical cheer.

chuck b. said...

Of course you can. Take whatever you want. I think if you click the picture, you should be able to find a larger file size that you can download. If not, let me know.

lisa said...

Thank you! You're the bomb! :)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Oh, pipe down! Sorry. I'm not usually rude (and that's actually the fourth rephrasing of my original expletive phrase)... but it's so NOT spring here. Which isn't to say I'm not happy for you. Really, I am. It's just that daffodils? They bloom in April. APRIL, man. Thank you.