Well, it's been a challenging year for this gardener but after major alterations needed in the late summer, the garden is slowly rounding into form. Of course January is a sleepy month so today's return to sharing photos of the garden rightly focuses on foliage, not flowers. That said, here is a sampling of my winter garden.
My Geranium harveyi continues to spread and look great doing so. It is one happy plant!
The same can be said for my seasonal Oxalis 'White Pillow'. Easy, easy, easy.
Eriogonum grande rubescens. This red CA buckwheat is also happy as a clam and even has its first flowers forming.
Rhodocoma capensis. This restio continues to look good and soften the stucco walls and cement steps.
My Leucospermum 'Veldfire' is budding up and looks ready to put on a fabulous late February show.
This walkway bed is full of spring blooming bulbs, most notably Freesias, Sparaxis, Ipheions and Dutch Iris.
My two Ericas, the E. speciosa shown above and the floriferous E. caniculata 'Rosea' below, are getting a jump on spring.
Can't recall the variety name of this white Aloe but it has two small bloom spikes filling up with flower buds.
A relatively new addition, this Grevillea Poorinda 'Blondie' is already loading up with budded panicles.
The shrub version of a bottlebrush tree, this Callistemon viminalis is in bloom this month.
It took awhile but my Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' has finally filled out and is looking good.
Hmm, I guess there IS more in bloom than I thought. This Loropetalum 'Purple Majesty' is either late or early in the blooming dept.
I've lost my tag for this purple-stemmed succulent but it is prospering, even under a fir tree.
Right next to it is a small collection of bromeliads. Their deep colors are due in part to the nice southern sun they're picking up.
A new addition to my extensive conifer garden, this Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Surprise' has lovely and soft foliage.
Two more conifers. On the left is a Pinus coulteri and on the right, a Cupressus macrocarpa 'Goldcrest.'
My bronze fennel is rebounding nicely, while in front, the clumps of the bulb Babiana are forming nicely.
Though still small, my Hardenbergia violacea is in bloom. So pretty!
And last but certainly not least, one of the earliest of my camellias, C. Francie L. variegated, has produced its first rich rose bud.
