Marvelous Mimulus

Though there are many colorful California native annuals available, especially in spring, there are some who think that when it comes to native perennials, that outside of Salvias and Penstemons, there are few options for providing a splash of color in one's garden. One big exception to that view would have to be Mimulus aurantiacus (Sticky Monkey Flower). Though their color range is mostly limited to whites, yellows, oranges, reds and pinks, it seems that every month there's a new color on the market. They are easy to cross and thus a good source for new colors. The last few years have also brought to market a new series called Jelly Bean, an especially prolific series that also features brighter colors such as Crimson, Fiesta Marigold and a rich gold.
This type of Mimulus, as opposed to the water-loving types, is drought tolerant and durable. The straight species is found growing on rocky hillsides in Northern California, making do with very little water in our Mediterranean climate. This Mimulus is also a good source of nectar for bees and hummingbirds and thus a valuable addition to any garden. As the saying goes "What's not to like?" And as it turns out, gardeners are indeed hip to this charming perennial, it being one of our best selling California native plants.
So hats off to this showy native. Long may it prosper.
And now some photos. The first batch was an experiment with using the macro capabilities of my Nikon Coolpix to achieve close-up photos, while the second set was taken with my digital SLR, my usual camera of choice.

Dianthus Super Trooper Orange. I've gotten over my snobbishness about how 'plain' carnations are, in part because there are so many cool ones.

Salpiglossis 'Red.' There's nothing quite like 'Painted Tongue' for a splash of summer color.

My Anisodontea 'Strybing Sunset' has been a blooming machine.

A customer once asked me if we carried the 'blue' Thunbergia. I told him 'There is no such thing but let me check.' Turns out he was right, though I would definitely say a lot more purple than blue. It's T. battiscombei. Hard to find in the trade.

Nigella Persian Jewels Indigo. This hard to find Love-in-a-Mist has a darker flower than the straight species but is as every bit prolific.

Papaver somniferum 'Lavender Feathers.' Huge peony-style flowers. 

Eriogonum 'Shasta Sulphur.' Finally a decent (if not great) shot of the pure yellow flowers on this CA buckwheat.

Digiplexis Illumination Flame. The original variety and for some still the best. Curiously, the flowers are sterile and for that reason they stay open much longer than those of one of its parents - Foxglove.

The macro lens worked here, getting a close in shot of my Anigozanthos JoJo Yellow. As many of you know the fuzzy yellow parts are the bracts. That small green star in the upper left is the flower.

I haven't always had the best of luck with ornamental onions (Allium) but this A. 'Red Mohican' is producing two flowers this year. Here the flower bud is in the process of shedding its protective skin.

Although I normally wouldn't crop a photo this close, it was another of the macro experiments. This is my Calibrachoa 'Lemon Slice.'

The macro lens also did a better job of focusing on the tiny flowers of my Verticordia plumosa.

Last of the macro shots was one of my newly planted Nemophila 'Penny Black.' A cousin to the wildly popular Baby Blue Eyes, its charms include the white-limned burgundy flowers.

Jack-in-the-Pulpits are always fun to grow and here it's my Arisaema speciosum var. magnificum. It features white lined deep burgundy spathes.

Most people's experience of Ornithogalums are those bright orange-flowered houseplants you take home in early spring. But this is a fairly wide-ranging genus, with over a hundred species and counting. This one is O. arabicum, a charmer with pure white petals and black 'eyes.'

Cryptomeria 'Spiraliter.' This dwarf conifer puts out eye-catching chartreuse new grow in spring.

Here's an earlier shot of my burgundy-flowering Painted Tongue.

And here's a yellow Painted Tongue, with both of this from a mixed colors six pack.

As I've mentioned I'm a nut for lilies of all kinds, with over 50 varieties in my garden. This L. Apricot Fudge is one of the more unusual ones. Although this one isn't fully open, it's close. Thus the semi-double flower doesn't open out to your typical open-face type of lily. Love it!

Here are two of my recently purchased Neoregelias. They are prospering in some late afternoon sun.

The CA native Douglas iris may be simple but it's charming. It's also perfect for colonizing a fully shaded bed.

Here my Viola 'Columbine' is sharing a pot with some Asiatic lilies.

Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun.' The so-called 'Indian Blanket' is a prolific bloomer and can get by with very little summer water.

Aeonium 'Sunburst.' Aeoniums are a difficult succulent to keep looking their best as too much sun can burn them, too cold a winter can harm them and slugs and snails will eat them. So far so good with my specimen.

Aquilegia chrysantha 'Flore Pleno' is the double form of the popular A. chrysantha that is so widespread. For some reason, this flower is hard to find these days.

Cupheas are tough, long blooming perennials but even by that high standard, Cuphea oreophila is amazing. It blooms year round and I've had no disease or insect problems with it.

Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile.' Though not a CA native, it is much more fragrant than our native P. lewisii hybrids. It blooms just as intensely too!

For some reason it took two years for my Rehmannia to bloom but now the usually vigorous perennials is living up to its rep. Called Chinese foxglove due to its flowers closely resembling those of the foxglove, it self-seeds with regularity. Meaning, once planted, you usually have more than you need with short order.