Garden Bloggers Bloomday March 2021
It feels good to write 2021. And it feels good to have had my first Moderna vaccine. By April Bloomday I will be fully vaccinated. What could be better than getting your life back ? This winter has been interesting. The lack of rain results in night after night of frost. This week rain is predicted for the next few days and though we will not catch up to normal (25"vs. 7.48") I am collecting what I can for the containers. What I really need is a rain barrel. And what California needs are enterprises that install rain catchment systems for homeowners.
Leocodendron 'Little Bit'. I love this plant, it was my first success with the genus. Though technically not blooms, the cones are decorative enough to pass .
Thalia. I tend towards the white Daffs, and I think I'll tuck in a few more of this one in fall.
This has been a banner year for the Hellebores . I have many that are mature now and bloom heavily. And over the last two years I've probably acquired a dozen more. Looking at the Hellebores is now a daily exercise . This one is H. 'Maid of Honor' from the wedding party series.
This was my first planting of Hellebore at least 10 years ago, probably closer to 15. That was back when finding them locally was rare-I probably bought these at the late great SF Garden Show.
H. 'Double Ellen White' . These blooms were pure white but greened up as the flowers matured. I like them at both stages.
Erigeron 'Wayne Roderick'
Euphorbia 'Silver Swan' the best performer and longest lived of the white Euphorbias I've grown.
Leucodendron 'More Silver' .
And lets not forget the Freesias .
So awesome to see your Leucadendron 'Little Bit'. I love it but can't keep it alive. What's your secret?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I have a secret Gerhard, it might be dumb luck. It's in a very well draining area in full sun that gets infrequent irrigation. And I don't fertilize them. I don't fertilize much of anything unless it's in a container so it's my usual maintenance.
DeleteOh, you have a freesia blooming! Mine aren't, yet, and some I just bought the bulbs to plant for summer flowers. I am not familiar with leocodendron, but "little bit" is stunning. The cones remind me of some coneflowers that have barely any petals.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, my Freesias always bud up in winter here in zone 9. We plant in fall here, but we can plant in spring too. Leucodendron is native to South Africa. They do well in many parts of California.
DeleteI adore that Leucodendron 'Little Bit'. What a sweet little thing! It looks like it's about 12" tall, but I'm probably wrong. And let's definitely not forget the Freesias - just imagining that scent is heaven!
ReplyDeleteIt's about 3ft tall Jane , and a little wider. Maybe I should have taken a wide view ! I always wish I had planted more Freesias-lots of bang for the buck !
DeleteI somehow killed 'Little Bit' years ago. Seeing your makes me want to hunt down another and try again, especially as my luck with Leucadendrons has been good overall. I love your hellebore collection. I just received three plants in the Wedding Party series by mail and got them in the ground yesterday ahead of the rainstorm that blew in (and out) today. We're also seriously low on rain. Even after the bit we received today our total stands at 3.95 inches vs our "normal" seasonal of 15 inches.
ReplyDeleteI keep buying more Hellebores ! I have a couple other of the wedding party series too. The 'Frost Kiss' series is nice too-great foliage on those. If I can grow 'Little Bit' surely you can too! I'm pretty sure I got mine at Seaside Gardens. We are at just under 8 inches , with normal of 25-ish depending on where you are in the valley.
DeleteI wish I could grow those beautiful Leucodendrone flowers in our region. It would be my pleasure if you share your post related to gardening here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2021/03/garden-affair-spring-flower-snapdragon.html
ReplyDeleteI was afraid to grow the Leucos for a long time, thinking our winter frost would damage them , I'm glad I took the chance !
DeleteI've been pausing over 'Little Bit' at the nurseries -- sounds like the right size! And hellebores! I might have room for them and the right light under Grevillea 'Moonlight' -- which no doubt will die as soon as the hellebores start to take hold...I've been sneaking lilies under its canopy for this summer. So glad you've locked up the vax. Marty and Mitch have both had theirs, and Joe promises I'll get mine by May 1!
ReplyDeleteHighly recommend 'Little Bit' Denise-perfect for the small garden. Getting the vax is liberating ! My first really brave thing will be to go to the grocery store outside of geezer hour. Other than that I'm following the protocols.
DeleteThat first plant is amazing. I'm betting that I can't grow it here. :) Great photos!
ReplyDeleteZone 9 I'm afraid Phillip. And some varieties are marginal here-I committed botanicide on 3 before I finally had success.
DeleteLeocodendron 'Little Bit' is lovely, as are all of your leucodendrons, I am jealous.
ReplyDeleteMine aren't as good as Kris's or Hoovs. But I'm happy to have some. I'm jealous of your Tetrapanax , among other things ! There's always enough plant jealousy to go around .
DeleteI enjoy the colors on Lil Bit. And double hellebores are something I don't see much of. Oh, to be in Zone 9 - envy.
ReplyDelete-Ray
Zone 9 in Northern California does have it's downsides--no rain from May to October , and y'know, the fires. No humidity or hurricanes though !
Delete'Safari Goldstrike' maybe, for the unknown? It does get big and burly. I've killed 'Little Bit' twice, 'Ebony' three times, and 'More Silver' once (so far--trying again). Treated them exactly the same as the successes--sometimes it is not our fault. Or so I tell myself, hah!
DeleteSuch delicious photos, and such beautiful Hellebores. They are still rare here in local nurseries. I have some on mail order.
I've been getting most of my Hellebores from the UC Davis Arboretum plant sales they sell them in gallons and they have lot's of varieties. And 'Safari Goldstrike' that has to be it !!
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