GardenBook

 The 15th of June this year is not only Bloomday , but the day that California rolls back many of the restrictions we have been living with since round about March Bloomday of 2020. I surely never imagined what a long road this pandemic has turned out to be.  The downside is that my days of working from home are numbered -I  am pretty sure we will be full up again at the office in a few weeks. But lets get on with the flower action-a small selection of what is blooming in my garden this month . All Lavenders are in full bloom. I only have 4 this year-so many varietals and so inexpensive and readily available I change them out every 3 years or so before they get too woody.   This Asclepias speciosa from Annies has a long history-bought it in a 4" pot and the original plant died rather quickly, but not completely. I have had it coming up here and there for several years -most are pulled and a couple are kept to see if they might actually either attract some monarc...

  My four day holiday weekend extension provided a free morning to go on an outing to Walnut Creek . I had a full roster of chores and projects which even included actual indoor housework -something I always manage to avoid in spring. 'Spring Cleaning' around here means sweeping the patio.    It was quite windy , which has been very common this spring and I tried to get photos between gusts. Fortunately succulents do not blow around much , but everything else was.  Just inside the entry this Agave (horrida?) was engulfed by Mimulus auracantia .  Lots of Agaves in bloom . Kind of sad -this Agave ovatifolia is the anchor pant of this intersection of paths.  Had to get this one from more than one angle. These Agave franzosinii have been in the garden a very long time indeed.                                                     ...

  May is always a bit of a pinnacle for bloominess in my garden, and as an added historical element the CDC decided that my fully vaccinated self can de-mask outside and inside. However, I won't feel the return to normalcy until I can grocery shop mask-free. In spite of everything though , GB Bloomday has continued on-no masking needed.    This is Asteriscus maritimus 'Golden Dollar'. I planted two of these last spring in my Agave meadow, and it is a winner for sure.  Climbing rose 'Sally Holmes '. Sally has benefited this year from a very large branch that was removed from a neighbors tree , and a very hard pruning this winter.  Clematis 'Niobe'. Usually the first Clem to bloom , this year the variegated Wiegela just gained a bit to much size and set it back a bit. I'll be doing some control pruning on the Wiegela this weekend.   The scented Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses'. It's a beast. Not quite there yet but I'm so jazzed that my Yucca ...