Holding Pattern

 

'Queen of Elegance'

Our long stretch of May-Gray has become a long stretch of June-Gloom.  Flowers have been lasting triple the time they usually do, and no need to frantically spot-water vulnerable plants during a hot spell--because no hot spells.   

Not much in flower out front.  Nothing much to do.

A 'Tango' flower or two to end its long season of bloom...

And Hesperaloe parviflora:

Having gotten a late start, 'Yellow Bird' is still holding its flowers in the cool weather:

The first Leucospermum planted in the garden, 'Yellow Bird' is stretched outwards, more open growing now.  A loose yellow halo for the Agaves.  The oak tree is approaching.

Along the driveway, on the back side of the Oak:

The Agaves, the black Aeoniums against the pale stucco wall, the yellow flowering Calylophus, the silver Centaurea--all good.  The intense yellow of the Calylophus works, but saturated blue-purple Tritelia flowers only emphasize blue Agaves are a completely different kind of blue.  Will relocate the Tritelia.

Still out front, the other side of the driveway.  I redid this area in 2020 or 2021 with plants that could handle extreme heat and dry soil.  Winter rain finally got the lavenders going and several volunteer Lotus hirstutus have filled in the area.  For such a harsh spot, the plants are doing well. 

Seedling of the original 'Yellow Bird' adjacent has had a great spring bloom:

Planted the seed that grew this seven years ago.  

Back across the driveway, next to the house.  Looks okay from the driveway:

From another angle, not thrilled with it at the moment.

Individually, plants are healthy and growing well, excepting three roses getting eaten despite being fenced.  The area needs...simplifying?  Too one-of-everything?  Chaotic?   While I like it better than last year when it had too many Hemerocallis clumps, it's still not there.  No idea what to change--yet. 

Urn area--sweet peas near collapse:

 Past that, pretty good--the impulse-buy marigolds lure visitors and the gardener beyond the gate.

 Good impulse:

The Leucanthemums were late this year.  At this moment, at their best:

 This is the newest one purchased on sale.  'Macaroon':

The veggie/cutting garden is a collapsing sweet-pea mess.  Got some of the onions harvested and most of the tomatoes planted.  Have been diligent about pinching off the suckers, after such poor results last year.  I do not feel like chopping down the sweet peas just yet.  The flower's fragrance is still sweet and strong. 

State of the sweet peas:

 

Touches of interest here and there.  The flowering Agave pablocarrilloi surprised with flowers of a beautiful orange.  

 The Hakea has flower buds:

Still terrified of planting it, fearing that will kill it. 

 Flower stems damaged on the Gasteria acinicifolia, but the plant looks great:

A cross of this with an Aloe might be interesting.  The only Aloe in flower right now is A. pseudorubroviolacea.  I'm thinking more A. aculeata? Dots and bumps?  

36" wide at widest point: 

The Sprekelia bulbs shamed me.  I replanted a few of them, some in the raised bed along the driveway, some in their original spot in the garden by the front gate. 

With all the rain, the rest of the bulbs spent winter sitting in a tub of dirty rainwater where I assumed they would rot.  Just could not get around to them--too much else to do, not sure where to plant them.  

The Sprekelia would not rot.   So about a month back,  I shoved them into spare pots with old used potting mix, expecting them to rot there instead.  What bulb can spend months immersed in dirty water and bloom after a few weeks in old used potting soil?*

*Not recommended.  YMMV!    

Bulbs having flowered in the raised bed, are sending up another flower. 

Also potted, but not abused all winter, Leucadendron galpinii flowered later than the other Leucadendrons in the garden:

Parrot pot:  what to put in it?  Chartreuse sweet potato vine?   Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', temporarily?  Chartreuse and sterile Ligustrum 'Sunshine', temporarily?  

Still in a holding pattern on that, too.  

Do you get stuck in holding patterns in your garden?  How do you unstick?