2019 Western Redbuds were outstanding

2019 was the year that Western Redbuds along my driveway really were impressive.  They were planted in early 2012.   In previous years I was happy with them, but this year the colors - even after their bloom - were outstanding.  Redbuds bloom in the early months of the year, but quickly way to pods.  The flower bloom is beautiful but ephemeral.  Something happened this year that was unexpected: Normally, I dislike these pods which follow the flowers that the tree is known for, but this year they were such a deep red / mahogany color that I felt they just continued the beauty show.  Here they are in May:

More below the break

Bloom time: Triteleia laxa (Ithuriel's spear)

First bulb bloom of the year!  Photo taken on 1/11/17

Bloom time!

Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird Sage).  I think it's just the species.  As I noted in a previous post, gardeners will identify subspecies or selections willy-nilly.  "Powerline" is one such named selection.

Stachys ajudgoides (Hedge Nettle).  No minty smell.  No nettlely stingers.  Just a low growing green filler.

 Ribes aureum gracillimum (Golden Currant).  I eat the currants if the birds don't get them first.

 Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud).  One of three in my yard.  It's the only one that has the characteristic red buds right now.  I kinda think the others won't get any this year.  My previous experience says that it takes a few years to get these blooms and the older the tree the more of them there are.  This is the first year for this tree.

Eschscholzia californica maritima

The maritima subspecies of California poppy is not even really recognized by many official publications. Apparently it's had its ins and outs with the botanists. The argument goes that at some point you have to make a choice to be inclusive at higher levels of nomenclature and not open yourself up finer and finer levels of distinction within subspecies that one could spend several lifetimes untangling.

Gardeners on the other hand, can afford to have those levels of distinction.

Triteleia laxa, Ithuriel's spear, or grassnut

Triteleia laxa, Ithuriel's spear, or grassnut

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Skagway native plant garden

Let's see what's in the Alaska native plant garden, shall we?

Currant news, etc

Yes, currant. As in Ribes. The one that I planted this year is the one with the most fruits. The darker fruits are more tangy than sweet. Hopefully, I'll have another taste before the birds get them all.

The jacaranda trees along the street are past their peak, but only somewhat and they are still glorious.

This buckwheat came from Annie's Annuals.  I was betting that she'd have a more florific selection than I had planted previously.

Me: Look at this.
Juli: That's beautiful. What is it?
Me: Buckwheat.
Juli: [silence]

She's not a fan of buckwheat, but this might turn her around.

Bloom time: Calochortus superbus (Superb Mariposa, Yellow Mariposa)

 This popped up Sunday, April 28th - Calochortus superbus.  It's the largest of the lilies that I have and the latest blooming.  I'm fortunate that it looks like there's several more coming this season.  Normal bloom time for this bulb is May, June, and July, so it was only a few days early.

Meanwhile, the Bloomeria crocea (Golden Stars) are doing great.

Bloom time: Tritelia laxa (Ithuriel's Spear)

A patio pot winner for the second year in a row at the San Pedro Annex, Tritelia laxa (Ithuriel's Spear).




This web page has a nice write up which reads in part:

Triteleia laxa is the latin name for Ithuriel's Spear (formerly Brodaeia laxa). It is a bulb, actually a corm closely related to lilies and onions which blooms in June then goes dormant, requiring a summer dry rest, although it is less picky about that than our other native grassland bulbs. They can be grown in full sun or fairly deep shade. The corms are no more than an inch across and are very delicious to eat raw or cooked, they taste much like a potato. Ithuriel's Spear is an easy plant to grow but is relatively unknown in the nursery trade. Triteleia laxa is beautiful, useful, adaptable and worthy of wider use.

- Posted at great expense from my iPhone

Bloom time: Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum)

In the foreground is one of several flowers of Dichelostemma capitatum on the porch in the San Pedro Annex. They've been blooming for a week or more. The porch is south facing and it's been a good location for potted bulbs.

Bloom time: Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa)

I have exactly one of these in the yard this year. Last year I had a pot of them and it looks like one of the seeds made it into a crack at the edge of the driveway.
This little guy has been holding fast for a couple weeks.



- Posted at great expense from my iPhone

Bloom time: Iris 'Canyon Snow' and Mimulus 'Jeff's Tangerine'

I did two plantings of Iris 'Canyon Snow'.  The first planting (plants purchased from the Payne Foundation) was near the base of a slope, early in the winter or perhaps late fall, wasn't successful - I think I lost two of three plants.  The second planting, midwinter, has been very successful.  The second planting (plants purchased from the SB Botanical garden) was a bit up on the same slope, so perhaps the iris weren't so water logged or perhaps they had a tab bit more sun or maybe I didn't disturb the roots as much.  Whatever the reason, all three of the second planting have been successful and have flowered their very first year.

 Remember that Mimulus that had one bloom open last week?  Well, here comes the Mimulus.  I've intermixed the Mimulus 'Jeff's Tangerine' with Escholzia Californica maritima.  I suppose if I were a better designer, I'd have not used two orange blooms.

Bloom time: Mimulus (Monkey Flower)

This showed up around the 9th of April. There's large amounts of unopened blossoms, so I'm anticipating a good show. If I remember to look it up, I'll add any more information I have about this particular Mimulus.



Edit: I believe this is Mimulus "Jeff's Tangerine". 

Note: The photos uploaded from my iPhone directly don't reproduce so well in the blog, but when clicked look like I expect.  I wonder why the thumbnails in the blog are not as good from the iPhone as they are from the desktop.
- Posted at great expense from my iPhone

Bloom time: Catching up with the Lupines and such

Most of these photos are from April 9 or the week before.

Western Wallflower continues to hold on to its color. 

My Lupines are doing well.  This is the peak bloom.  Days after this, high winds blew away all the flowers.  The seeds glow nicely in this light due to the hairs covering them.

Bloom time: Bloomeria crocea (Golden Stars)

The first of the exotics in my garden may have faded, but the California natives are coming along strong.

Although the saffron crocus seems not to have have enough energy to bloom this year, my Bloomeria crocea (Golden Stars) are just hitting their stride.  You can see how I handled and identified my bulbs in the post aptly titles, "Bulbs!".  Short version: these are in pots after a late season spate of purchases.

On April 2 I could tell they were coming.

On April 4th, it was closer

On April 5th, I got my first bloom.

Bloom time: Calochortus catalinea (Mariposa Lily)

On April 2 I could see this.  Note the aphids on the stem.

On April 4th, this

Bloom time: Exotics

The unknown exotic that I've been so pleased with and featured before has reached and passed its peak.

Elsewhere in the garden, these little guys seem to have thrived on neglect and low water in the past year. I recognize the type, but I don't know what they are.