GBBD - Longer Days At Last (Town Mouse)


Yes! Finally, it's really obvious that the days are getting longer. I'm thrilled to ride my bike home with plenty of light, and I can see the garden for a little time each day. Of course, today was special: I took some time to make pictures for Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, brought to us each month by Carol at May Dreams Garden. So, what's happening?


The Camelias, planted by Mr. Previous Owner, are yet again blooming beautifully and I'm happy to have flower offerings for my Buddha statue.


Hellebores nod from up on top of the retaining walls. These drought tolerant Mediterranean natives stole my heart when I first moved in, and I had to get a few more green-blooming plants. OK, I admit Euphorbia woolfenii was a bit of a mistake -- I'm still pulling seedlings -- but this little 2-foot high dainty little princess from Digging Dog nursery is just delightful with its late winter blossoms.


And also from the Mediterranean we have some yarrow and rosemary.



And from Israel, cyclamen. I have cyclamen in many spots in my garden. They all lived in the house for a winter, and were then stuck in the ground in a convenient dry spot to go summer dormant. With the rains, most of them wake back up and bloom, often bringing along a few kids. I feel so lucky to live in a climate where that is possible.



Many of the natives are still dormant. That makes sense, right now, not many pollinators are out and about. Interestingly, those natives that do bloom have long, long bloom times. Here we have Salvia spatacaea (hummingbird sage) putting out a few shy blossoms for the hummingbirds.


Aristolochia Californica (California dutchman's pipe) is putting out its first blossoms in the back garden. This plant is pollinated by tiny flies and, I'm told, smells a little funny. But it's hard to get close enough for the smell, and there are very few native vines, so I'm just thrilled to have several Aristolochia in my garden.


But I'm saving the best for last: Yes, the first manzanita blossom have appeared in the Town Mouse garden. Here we have Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet', a low-growing manzanita with white blossoms.



Arctostaphylos pajaroensis blooms in February, but the buds look so promising already.


And actually, a new A. pajaroensis plant I just bought this winter is blooming already.


And now I hope you'll all head over to May Dreams Gardens to see what our hostess Carol has to say, and what's blooming in everyone else's garden.

Comments

Anonymous said…
You have a wonderful selection of blooms from all around the world. It is such a pleasure to see all this color for GBBD. We are a white wonderland, on many very dreary days. I was happy to see your pretty blooms.
lotusleaf said…
Nice collection of flowers from all over the world. The Buddha statue is beautiful.
That native Aristolochia is fascinating! I had no idea you had a native pipe!
Camelias??? You're killing me!! :)) I'm 5 months out from flowers in the garden but at least I can live vicariously through you.
I am especially glad to see cyclamens! I have several of them in my holiday planter and hope that they'll survive if I move them to the garden in spring.
Anonymous said…
I love the shot of the camellia on the statue. And your hummingbird sage is interesting - the flowers look a slightly different color (a slightly paler, more orangey-pink) than is typical.
Dear TM, It is not so obvious here that the days are getting longer, but your lovely posting gives me hope! The Aristolochia Californica is just stunning! And I love your header picture. Happy GBBD. P x
No blooms outside with deep snow cover, and none inside either, but I really enjoyed seeing your contribution to GBBD. I can't believe that Helleborus argutifolius is blooming for you. It is one of the last hellebores to bloom in my garden, and often gets damaged by cold temperatures. The cyclamen is also to die for.
Kylee Baumle said…
So many wonderful things you've got! My favorite photo is the one of the cyclamen. How lucky you are to be able to grow them in the ground!
Woohoo, like you I'm starting to enjoy the lengthening days. The camellias and pipevine are cool, and the cyclamen seem to glow with their own internal light sources. Talk about bright! Next month your native should be really hitting their stride. It's gonna be fun to see them waking up.
Denise said…
Wonderful plants for January. Especially love the dutchman's pipes, cyclamens -- oh, just all of it!
Christine said…
Let out a contented sigh- the Manzanitas are blooming! Then come the Bumble Bees, then comes the flood of Springtime!