Bloom Day May 2016

 Between rose flushes this Ides of May.  Just a scattered few at this moment--such as 'Beloved', above.  

Cistanthe grandiflora crazy gaudy against a background of Abelia 'Kaleidescope'.  The bees don't mind. 
Leucospermum 'Yellow Bird', just beginning for March Bloom Day, still looks quite striking two months later.  There is a single 'High Gold' flower on the new plant, which can just be seen at the extreme right of the photo.  Next year the show may be even better. 
 This is an 'Yellow Granex' onion flower!  The onions are ready for harvest.

 Leucadendron linifolium has a new set of silvery cones. 


 The Bougainvillea spectabilis is simply covered; leaves can barely be seen.  I had hoped that the Opuntia microdasys below the Bougie might bloom for the first time this year since it has grown so much, but...not yet.  This is a selection with wavy leaves.
 Salvia 'Waverly', making the hummers happy.
 Sideritis cypria has a delightfully whimsical bloom. I hope I get seedlings.


 White Shasta Daisies look sweet and fresh with Geranium 'Rozanne'.  The red foliage is Coprosma 'Pacific Sunset'
 The sweet peas finally bloomed.  Fragrance heaven!
 To end this post, the "insignificant" flowers of Ballota.  Tiny and hard to see, but beautiful nonetheless.  Close up, the plant's fuzzy stems look like pipe cleaners.  


 I hope your Bloom Day is beautiful!  See more at May Dreams.

While he dreams about nectar.

Comments

  1. Lovely set of blooms and images, and the last one is cute!

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  2. Unos ejemplares muy bonitos, felicidades por las fotos. Un abrazo desde Plantukis

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    1. Gracias Raúl, estoy feliz te gustó las fotos!

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  3. That Leucospermum 'Yellow Bird' is gorgeous! And the hummingbird is cute, surveying his domain.

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    1. He was glaring at me. Those boy hummers can be pretty grouchy.

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  4. May blooms look fabulous in your garden. That Leucospermum 'Yellow Bird' is crazy cool and the Leucadendron linifolium, sigh. So beautiful. Oh and the Opuntia microdasys, and the....(too many!)

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    1. The Opuntia has grown so much the last couple of years. I think it was about a 4" pot-size when I planted it there.

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  5. That onion flower is incredible. Love everything, especially the cones on the conifer, the bougainvillea and the combination of the geranium, shasta daisy. Is the Coprosma similar to a barberry? Very pretty!

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    1. Thanks! Coprosma is native mostly to New Zealand, but also Australia and Pacific islands, and fill the niche here of small or smallish, evergreen shrubs--so the same landscape niche as barberry fills in colder climates--Coprosma are not cold-hardy (USDA 9-11). Flowers so small as to be invisible. Colorful, very glossy foliage in browns, reds, orange, yellow, ivory, besides green. Well behaved and easy care.

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  6. Excellent Hoov..swooning over L. 'Yellow Bird' . Love how you drilled down on the Sidertis, and that Optunia-oo la la !

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  7. The Opuntia looks wonderful in front of the Bougainvillea. As to the Leucospermum, I will remain envious to my core unless and until my newest specimen actually blooms. As it's been in the ground less than 2 months, I'm not expecting anything this year in terms of flowers - I'm just hoping for survival.

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    1. The first year I had mine, it got a solitary flower in late summer, so you might get one. Mine had a sprinkler all to itself, and it's grown like a weed. It's been a thrill. Didn't expect such success.

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  8. Oh my - Yellow Bird is fantastic! Wow! I also got such a kick out of Sideritis cypria and Ballota. Hadn't heard of either before and I love them! So unusual...

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    1. Mediterranean plants for hot, dry climates ain't so bad! :)

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  9. At this time of year it is always amazing the variety of plants of you in bloom. lots to lust over and great photos as always.

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    1. It's an amazing climate. Thanks--glad you liked the photos!

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  10. Just fabulous! I love the Ballota. Too tender for me, right?

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    1. Hardy to about 10F (-12C)...do you get that cold?

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  11. Wonderful closeups of some subtle plant structures. I fear I've planted my leucospermum without enough soil mounding (or any). It seems to love your slope. I hope you get seedlings of that sideritis too. Maybe we can do another plant swap!

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    1. It loves the slope--but there's a BIG Leucospermum 'Sunrise' a couple miles from here in the flat lands, and it's thriving--surrounded by a lawn(!). There's two photos of it four years apart towards the bottom of this post:

      http://pieceofeden.blogspot.com/2016/03/this-is-my-brain-on-spring.html I will try for sideritis seedings and will save you some if you like. A plant trade would be fun!

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  12. your gardens are stunning! I'm in CA too, what zone are you in? Wanting to collect some Austin's but have been warned against, but I'm not convinced.. I'm zone 9 :).

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