An interrupted spring

Well, first the month of March it rained nearly every day and that was followed by being down for the count health wise for the month of April. Springus interruptus indeed! The garden has continued on without me, as gardens will and now it's a pleasure to go out and stroll through all the changes. The following photos were taken today and while they won't rate as the most exciting, they will give an idea of some of the spring color. That said, I'm anxious to add some new spring annuals/perennials, to fill in a few empty spots.

Allium roseum. This sweet little 'fireworks' allium offers up umbels of delicate pink flowers. 

Not sure which Allium this is but it's similar in form to the roseum only white. Ornamental onions, at least these smaller types, are easy to grow and return each year.

Mimulus variety. Not sure which one this is, Jelly Bean Bronze perhaps, but no matter it's a beauty. 

I have quite a few Dutch iris in my garden and this pure yellow is one of them. 

Chantilly Purple snapdragon. The Chantilly series is very hardy. This is the start of year 3 for this beauty.

Papaver Drama Queen. Bicolored AND fringed? Sign me up!

If only this Narcissus 'Tahiti' would take me home ...

Tritonia variety. A vigorous genus, Tritonias multiply with ease in one's garden.

Though in too much shade to show off their magnificent colors, this Dutch Iris Bronze mix has put forth a show of ginger colors.

It looks like an azalea, it blooms like an azalea but it's actually an ... Azalea! An Exbury hybrid azalea that is, the deciduous type that offers up a stunning color range of reds, oranges and golds.

Leucospermum Veldfire. Still my favorite pincushion bush, with loads of gold 'down'  right before the flower opens.

You may not know it but you're looking at one of the rarest dogwoods in these parts. It's Cornus florida ssp Urbiniana. Its claim to fame is its pure white, dramatically recurved flowers. 

Iris douglasiana. Everybody's favorite CA native species iris. Easy, prolific once established, tough and adaptable, it's great for colonizing a part shady bed.

Nepeta tuberosa. This larger-sized catmint is just now adding its first flowers. Of course, bees, hummers and cats are all beating a path to its door.