Spring Awakening

Gardening Gone Wild, quite possibly my most favorite website, has invited us all to another photo contest, and the theme this time is spring awakening. 

To capture that special moment, I went out into the garden early last Saturday, after a day of rain on Friday. First, the Japanese maple, above, with the fresh green leaves and reddish buds said "Awakening" to me.

But so did the ceanothus, still in bud.

(This is Ceanothus 'Tilden Park', a fairly shade tolerant ceanothus that has survived the dry times of last summer and is ready to bloom.)

Then I saw the clivia, just ready to open.

(Clivia miniata is a South African plant that loves our summer dry climate and has expanded to twice its size in the last 4 years. )

And in the front garden, I looked down and saw the California native chalk dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta) so stunning after the winter rains. 

Then, under the redwoods, I came upon the California native leopard lily (Lilium pardalinum), waking up after a long sleep. After this lily blooms in June, it goes completely dormant for the rest of the year, only to come back in the late winter months. 

There was more that said Awakening to me. The fresh smell of the salvias, the robin's first songs. Such a special time, and so short.

Now, which one is the picture I'm submitting, you ask? Yes, I had trouble answering that myself. But with input from Country Mouse and her expert photographer dad, we've settled on the Chalk Dudleya. Here it is again. 

Happy spring everyone!