Today is Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, and Carol at May Dreams Garden is hosting another show-and-tell party. More importantly, it's only ten days to go until the Going Native Garden Tour will take place - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather remains on the cool side so my beautiful blooms don't all disappear before the visitors.
The coral bells above are blooming for the first time, and I'm just thrilled. But I also have some other surprises to celebrate.
Last year's tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), which I mail ordered from Annie's Annuals, reseeded splendidly and have put on quite a show. I hope a few will be left in 10 days.
Douglas iris, a shade loving California native, is at its best right now - I'm hoping for a few late bloomers but end of April is a little late for them even in a normal year.
Because they are so easy to divide, I have them in many places in the garden. The bloom season is fairly short, but the reliably green foilage is a bonus in my garden, where several plants go summer dormant.
The desert bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) were another suprise - next year, I'll try to grow a few more from seed.
My semi-native Fritillaria, grown from purchased bulbs, has surprised me this year with many blossoms. It's a small plant and especially attractive in pots.
Saliva brandegii 'Pacific Blue', a native sage that I espaliered against a wall, has been blooming since early March, and I'm hoping it can hang on for a few more days.
And nothing says "spring in California" like my monkey flowers, surprisingly abundant after the dry winter.
Happy bloom day - and if you live in the area, don't miss the garden tour!
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