Welcome to DST

 Even though spring isn't officially here until March 22nd, I always feel that the beginning is heralded by the arrival of daylight savings time. That extra hour of daylight plus our usually mild weather around its date makes it seem like a preview of spring to come.

There's still a lot going on in my garden. Here's a look.

Sparaxis (Harlequin flower) is one of the earliest bulbs to bloom. Lots of different colors too.

Here is my Walkway Bed. As you can see, it's densely filled in now, with a variety of spring blooming bulbs and various perennials.

CA natives need not be boring. Here's a lovely, long blooming native Verbena (V. lilacina de la Mina). It's little puffs of purple last a long time and attract bees and butterflies.

Here's an unusual honeysuckle. It's Lonicera tatarica 'Arnold Red.' The flowers are different and there's no fragrance but it's charming nonetheless.

My million bells returned in this decorative pot, along with a fabulous lily called Triumphator.

There's nothing prettier than the native Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii).

Though this shot is a bit dark, I wanted to share a photo of the early blooming species tulip T. saxatilis.

Cerinthe major is one of the easiest plants to grow and it self seeds vigorously. Here are flowers on one that did self seed in my walkway bed.

Here's my multi-colored Erysimum, with a different Sparaxis nearby.

California native Mimulus seem to bloom on their own schedule. Here, my M. Jelly Bean Gold has put out its first flowers of the year.

Another native is the charming Claytonia sibirica. Apart from the sweet flowers, the leaves are edible.

I think there must be a botanical term for those plants that produce flowers from the stems, not at the tips of branches. Here's one - Calothamnus villosus. Though the fan-shaped flowers look delicate, they;re actually stiff and almost rubbery.

Bulbine Yellow. Once I got this bulbous plant in the ground, it really took off. It has tons of flower spikes.

Freesia Red + Ipheions. What is there not to love about Freesias. Easy to grow, colorful and oh so fragrant. And the pale blue, star-shaped flowers are Ipheions. They complement each other nicely.

Phlomis fruticans. This sage relative is a reliable bloomer and very popular with bees.

March is daffodils season and here are a couple that are part of a doubles mix.

Oxalis teneriensis. This 'friendly' oxalis is a winter bloomer.

Though the shot is a bit on the dark side, this is my Grevillea victoriae in bloom.

Readers of this blog know that I'm infatuated with dwarf conifers. Here is a shot of my original dwarf conifer bed. To my delight, I was able to use photos of my dwarf conifer beds in a piece on this topic for the Friends of Regional Parks Botanic Garden eNewsletter in January.

My yellow Banksia rose went crazy on the blooming this spring.

Dutch iris 'Mystic Beauty.' This is one of my favorite Dutch iris varieties.

Daffodil Congress. This is a new daffodil variety this year.

Many plants are undergoing classification changes and this pretty little bulb, formerly known as Homeria collina, is now classified as Moraea collina. No matter the name, its delicate flowers are ever so pretty.

Epiphyllum. My red-flowering Epiphyllum is beginning to open its first flower of the year. This is the third year in a row that it has bloomed. A good sign.

This Sedum species has been in bloom for some time. Sweet!

Erica speciosa. This heather seems to bloom when it feels in the mood. Fortunately for me, that's pretty often.

Back to Winter

 So, one step forward (towards spring) and two steps back (to winter). Such is the Bay Area in February (and sometimes in March too).  That said, here are some photos from my not quite spring garden.

Camellia Silver Waves. An early prolific bloomer, with huge white flowers and a prominent yellow boss of stamens.

Kalanchoe variety. I love its thick, red, scalloped leaves.

Heliophila longifolia sounds more like a medical term, whereas it is in fact a charming annual with pretty pale violet flowers. The wandering stems are fun too.

Magnolia Butterflies. Though the flowers on my specimen have never got to the pure yellow they are advertised as having, my creamy flowers are still a delight.

One plant that is always eagerly awaited is this Viburnum x burkwoodii. Its many flowerheads are heavenly scented. Intoxicating!

One of the Aussie shrubs in my Driveways bed, this Melaleuca incana produces fuzzy flowers that sort of resemble a bottlebrush tree, only a pale yellow and smaller.

Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun.' Blanket flowers as they are known are one of the easiest flowers to grow. Along with Heleniums and Echinaceas, this group of central cone-producing flowers are rich in nectar and thus loved by bees, butterflies and hummers.

Verbena lilacina De la Mina is a CA native perennial that forms a 3'x3' shrub and delicate light purple flowers. Charming.

Though it is just beginning to bloom, my Phlomis fruticans has offered its first golden-yellow flowers.

Many people are familiar with the common hopbush - Dodonea viscosa - but here is a species known as D. sinuolata. It produces hundreds of tiny charming red flowers which soon become seedpods. 

Though a bit hard to find these days, the pretty and durable Ipheion bulb offers star-shaped pale blue flowers in spring.

My large garden is made up of 20 smaller beds - each with a name. This is the aptly named Driveways bed, it being between the two driveways in the front yard. It is filled mostly with Australian native shrubs and dry garden plants such as Agaves, Aloes and Yuccas.

Here's a little corner of my garden, under a west side fir tree, populated with pots of dwarf conifers and bromeliads. 

Though not in bloom yet, my Teucrium betonicum still offers chunky green leaves and a nice dense habit.

Strobilanthes anisophylla. This beauty holds onto its dark burgundy leaf color year round.

Anisodontea Strybing Sunset. Almost in bloom year round and a favorite flower for the bees.

Adenanthos (Wooly bush). The softest leaves ever plus tiny tubular orange flowers adored by hummers.

Leucospermum Veldfire. Buds are forming but no flowers yet. One of the most spectacular of all Leucos.

Erysimum Poem Mirabelle. One of my favorite winter bloomers.

Freesias. These have reverted back to the species cream color. Still one of the most fragrant flowers going.

Here's a wide view of my Magnolia Butterflies. Best year yet for flowering.

Hints of Spring

 It seems odd to even mention the word 'spring' in early February but then again when it's sunny and temps are in the 60s, one can't help but think ahead to spring. That said, here are more photos from my late winter garden.

Ranunculus. One of the earliest bulbs to bloom, it offers cheer in the middle of winter.

Erysimum Poem Mirabelle. This wallflower tends to bloom more in winter for me than in summer. Odd.

Tulipa saxatilis. This hardy and reliable species tulip has already sent up a bunch of shoots. Boring to some perhaps but for we bulb lovers, a bit of spring promise.

Melianthus pectinatus. One plant that's right on time is this Melianthus. Winter is its blooming time. Though the flowers are much smaller, and the leaves too, the foliage has that unmistakable smell of peanut butter!

My Cryptomeria Sekkan-Sugi has produced its first tiny cones!

My Aeonium 'Sunburst' continues to get bigger and loves its south-facing location.

Camellia 'Winner's Circle.' Such a lovely coral color!

Oxalis 'White Pillow.' I love how it's formed a perfect dome.

Although shot while in the shade, I love this new Iris reticulata named 'Painted Lady.'

Also shot in the shade, this daffodil was a shipping mistake by the bulb company. The pack of 20 bulbs was meant to be a Classic Trumpet mix but instead I wound up with these much smaller daffodils. Then again, they are fantastically fragrant so I'm not unhappy!

My Melaleuca incana has begun to bloom again. I love its soft, fuzzy flowers.

Anisodontea 'Strybing Beauty.' This vigorous mallow blooms nearly year round.

Completely different than the common hopbush, this Dodonea sinuolata makes these little red flowers/seedheads. By the hundreds.

My Magnolia 'Butterflies' is about to flower and I thought that the buds looked handsome against the vivid blue sky.

My Strobilanthes anisophylla has held onto its deep burgundy color.

Lachenalia tricolor. This species is almost always one of the most floriferous of all my Lachs.

This new addition sedum is S. spathifolium 'Tomales Bay.' Lovely.

Erica speciosa. This durable heather blooms off and on all year.

I've lost the tag for this low growing Grevillea but it reminds me of G. 'Coastal Gem.'

My Chasmanthe bicolor has the first of many flower spikes. Vigorous or weedy - you choose the description!

Salvia discolor. Here's a better shot of my favorite Salvia.