March Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

[queerbychoice]

I finally have enough flowers in the yard again for it to be worth writing a Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day post. The back yard is currently mostly underwater, but the flowers in the back yard are mostly on the shrubs, so they're still visible above the water line. Here is the golden currant (Ribes aureum) in full glory. It bloomed earlier than usual this year - it's been going strong for nearly a full month now - so I think it's going to begin winding down very soon.




The golden currant bloom was definitely the first sign of spring's arrival this year.





The redbud (Cercis occidentalis) was the second sign. Not nearly as spectacular as the first, but this is only the second year that the redbud has bloomed at all. I'm hoping that it will make its very first seedpods this year.












The redbud will also probably start winding down noticeably any day now. But spring is only just beginning to show itself among the lower-growing things. First it got into the wood strawberry (Fragaria vesca).




Soon I noticed it in the Sonoma sage (Salvia sonomensis).




And now it's starting to pop up in the lupines. This is arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus) in the front yard, but I also noticed a smaller, less photogenic flower spike in the miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor) in the back yard.




We also have less photogenic buds on the goldfields (Lasthenia californica) and the Munroe's globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana).

And here, on a plant that's been blooming all winter, we have actual seedpods already. This is ribbed fringepod (Thysanocarpus radians), which is generally marketed more for the ornamental value of its seedpods (the large pink and green discs) than for that of its nearly microscopic flowers (the clump of off-white spheres).




That's about it for flower photos from me for this month, but I'll share some not-so-flowery photos before I end this. Here's the last gasp of last fall, the remains of the seedpods from the Hooker's evening-primrose (Oenothera hookeri). These drew quite a bit of attention from the local goldfinches during the latter half of February. Every day for a couple of weeks, there were about 15 goldfinches sitting on the skeletal remains of last summer's evening-primroses, tearing the seedpods apart to get at the seeds. Left to their own devices, the seedpods only open a bit at the very top. The goldfinches changed the appearance of them rather dramatically, peeling each and every seedpod like a banana.




Here are some past and future flowers. First, sand-dune wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) in the front yard. Purchased a few months ago in a 4-inch pot.




Then meadowfoam (Limnanthes douglasii) in the back yard. Reseeded itself from last year's crop.




Then coyote mint (Monardella villosa) in the front yard. Purchased quite some time ago in a 4-inch pot.




Then broadleaf stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) in the back yard. Purchased very recently in a 4-inch pot.




Then Indian rancheria clover (Trifolium albopurpureum) in the back yard. Reseeded itself from last year's crop.




Then Didier's tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) in the front yard). Resprouting from last year's crop.




Then Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus). Purchased in November in a gallon-sized pot.




Here's a closeup of the ninebark. No flowers so far.




In summary, here's the back yard in mid-January.




And here's the back yard today. Spring is coming! Spring is coming!




Boston says you should come back here next month to see more.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Wow, lots of really interesting things I have never seen before. Love the golden currant bush, but especially that last photo with Boston.

[(Anonymous)]

Wow lots of interesting and lovely things growing. Your golden currant is just stunning! Your dog looks very proud indeed. Western redbud is blooming in our neighborhood too- mine is doing better this year. I have a ton of lupinus arboreus, seedlings, the lavender ones, which tend to do well or die right off after I plant them. Undpredictable. We have tiny lupines here too - not sure what they are, thought they were lupinus bicolor but now am not sure. Congrats on all the things growing. I'm wondering if you could grow coltsfoot and other wetland plants out back? Or would they just take over? Sedges and rushes and such. Could be very interesting maybe? -- Country Mouse (can't seem to get the posting right for my country mouse ID.)

[(Anonymous)]

aloha,

spring looks noellike its just around the corner, love that unusual didiers tulip, i've never seen that.

[queerbychoice.livejournal.com]

I had a ton of clustered field sedge that died back to its roots over the winter. It's resprouting now, so hopefully it will fill back in soon. I also have a volunteer annual toad rush that I've allowed to spread. I had planted some common rush and Santa Barbara sedge but didn't like the way they had started to take over, so I transplanted them to the side yard, where they're now severely reduced in size and number. The clustered field sedge is definitely my favorite, and I've encouraged that one to take over, but I was disappointed by all its dieback this winter. It didn't die back like that the previous winter.

Coltsfoot doesn't tend to grow this far inland, but I do have other wetland plants - monkeyflowers, lobelias, buttonbush, dogwood, and of course the meadowfoam.

[queerbychoice.livejournal.com]

Didier's tulip is just the standard garden tulip. Mine are hot pink, or will be when they get around to blooming.

[(Anonymous)]

How can a person not be impressed by the ribes? Wow! Your garden does have a passing resemblance to a vernal pool this time of year. It looks like you're finding plants that work for your specialized conditions. Happy Bloomday!
James

[(Anonymous)]

That ribes is just amazing. I planted one last year, and it is now 6 feet tall but only has 2 spindly stems. No flowers, either. But what can you do on 3 1/2 inches of rain?

Happy bloom day!
Town Mouse

[queerbychoice.livejournal.com]

Last year I actually planted a second golden currant in our side yard, which is much drier. That one still has just two spindly stems about four feet tall, and not a single flower on it. Microclimates are amazingly powerful. Or in this case, really just "direction of water flow."

[alcibiades.livejournal.com]

Qué hermosos se está poniendo vuestro jardín. El rincón con camino de piedras de la primera foto es pecialmente hermoso.

How beautiful is getting your garden. The corner stone path in the first photo is especially beautiful.

[(Anonymous)]

I think I am going to enjoy returning here after the rest of your treasures bloom later!
-Ray

[queerbychoice.livejournal.com]

¡Gracias! Espero que el jardín sea aún más hermoso cuando no es bajo el agua.

[susanlizr.livejournal.com]

Notice that the picture of the dog enhances the overall garden pictures? Pictures of our dogs should be in ALL your posts! (Then again, I think dogs make everything better.)

[(Anonymous)]

me too! everything looks better with a dog and your dog has such a wonderful smiley face.
i am so happy to see how much you have done with your very difficult back yard- you certainly have become way more than a beginner in such a short time. i am learning from your info and photos. thanks! min