Photos
Lemon Queen Sunflower (Helianthus)
Lemon Queen sunflower is a pale yellow multi-branched sunflower that grows to 8 feet and produces an abundance of bottom-to-top flowers over a long bloom period
Leonotis leonarus (Lion’s Tail)
Leonotis leonarus (Zones 7-10) is an easy shrub with deep green leaves & showy orange flowers. Native to South Africa, it attracts hummingbirds & butterflies
A Berry Berry Good Garden
After 8 weeks of cold and gray, the sun finally returned! The strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are all showing their appreciation with lots of fruit.
A Baby Prickly Pear (Opuntia)
Came across a baby opuntia (prickly pear cactus) hiding among the red onions in the vegetable garden (thanks scrub jays). It's relocating to the dry garden now.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend 2023
The flag is now up, so it's officially Memorial Day weekend. Go ahead and take the rest of the day off. Also, it's okay to wear white now.
Camellia Japonica (Common Camellia)
The camellia is a member of the Tea family (and can be brewed into tea). A living shade screen most of the year, in spring and summer it puts on a flower show
Lacy Phacelia (Phalcelia tanacetifolia)
Lacy Phacelia (Phacelia tanacentifolia) is a southwestern U.S. native that attracts pollinators & beneficial insects with showy blue flowers in spring & summer
I Think We’re Being Watched
Bad Buff and Buffy the Corn Slayer are always standing outside our sunroom window and staring in. I'm not paranoid. I know they're plotting something.
Salvia Spathacea (Hummingbird Sage)
Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) is a low-growing California native in coastal oak valleys. In the rainy season it grows spiky pink blooms hummingbirds love.
Kalanchoe Daigremontiana
Here's a closeup of the Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) in our sunroom getting ready to drop some new babies. They look like little green oysters