Garden as healer

Whether you're sheltering at home, retired or just keeping up with the Joneses, gardens are a wonderful refuge from the world. Amazing how after only being out there for ten minutes, the cares of the world can fall away.
Today it's all photos, as there's an abundance of flowers to share. Enjoy!

Lily Arbatax. Such a rosy pink.

Salpiglossis burgundy + Echium Blue Bedder behind.

This photo and the one below are two of the Summer Garden Asiatic lily mix. They are the advance guard of many more lilies to come.

Red Chief CA poppy + Baby Blue Eyes. Always a great combo.

Papaver Flemish Antique. One of the most spectacular breadseed poppies out there.

I recently added 3 dwarf conifers to my Japanese bed and then finished off with bark mulch. Bella!

Although it grows like a weed, Alstromeria is an easy way to add color to a part sun bed.

This golden-leaved ornamental grape is a recent find from Sonoma Horticultural nursery. Love it!

Iris douglasiana sport. This sport is more lavender than the purple found in the straight species.

Painted Tongue is a curious common name but it somehow suits Salpiglossis. They come in a variety of bold colors so you get to choose (or buy a 6 pack and get 'em all).

Laburnum. Golden Chain tree on the other hand is a perfect common name for a tree that produces clusters (chains) of lemon yellow flowers.

Lily Black Eye. Or maybe 'Burgundy Shiner'?

Amorphophallus henryi. Okay, not much to look at unless you're an aroid fan. Give it a week or so for the spathe to open and then you'll see what all the shouting is about.

Gladiolus Halley. As many of you know, I'm a fan of species tulips and species gladiolas. Here's one of the latter. 

Veronica penduncularis. Great for spilling over a rock wall.

Here's a second - and better as the flower is now fully open - shot of my Lily Apricot Fudge. 

As far as common names go, the one for this Centaurea seems appropriate (Amethyst-in-Snow).

There aren't  many CA native bulbs but here's one - Brodiaea. This is a hybrid mix called Blue Ocean Blend.

It took awhile but my Evolvulus is finally back to blooming. Love that blue!

I collect Begonias and here's a new one - B. Autumn Embers.' Though I buy Begonias for the foliage, this one has sweet little pink flowers.

Main walkway, looking back to front. This gives one an idea of how narrow the right side bed is and equally how narrow the ledge is on the left that holds the pots.

Allium Red Mohican. Just starting to open its tiny 'drumstick' flowers.

Mimulus Jelly Bean Gold. Oh, yeah!

Echium Blue Bedder. One of the all time great bee magnets.

Eriogonum latifolium. Love the silvery foliage.

Mimulus aurantiacus Orange.

Allium unifolium. Great color for an ornamental onion.

Lonicera x americana. Who doesn't love honeysuckles?

Calylophus. One of my favorite ground covers. So cheerful!

Daphne Lawrence Crocker. A pint-sized Daphne but still packs a wonderful fragrance!