Happy March Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day! I have to admit I’ve been kind of bloom picture taking slacker lately (some of these pics are from a week or two ago). The California poppies are in action out back and they’re cabbage looper free so far. Last year all our poppies were covered in holes and little green caterpillars. I’m not bitter.
So the crazy orange flowered Lotus maculatus (parrot’s beak) has been blooming its little heart out for months and months. It doesn’t stop. I shake the spent blooms off now and then and trim parts of it that start strangle the other plants in the grill.
The California native section is starting to take off and after all the rain stops in the next few days stops it’s going to be insane. I’m a big fan of all the Gilias.
The Aeoniums have been a bit sad with so little rain this winter. We’re not seeing very many blooms. It looks like birds have been hitting the leaves of this guy (a free score from a neighborhood garage sale a couple years back).
The pitcher party is almost over and the leaf (crazy freak out take over the world) party is taking over. This pic was taken at the start of the month.
Our one and only hellebore is doing its thing. I was hoping it would be a little more gold, but still love it. If you crush the leaves it’s supposed to stink hence it’s common name “Stinking hellebore”. We’ll have to give it a try to experience the stench.
As soon as the rain started all of the freakazoid crested blooms weighed down this poor plant, so they’re no longer standing up.
How can you not love the monster like blooms?
I can’t believe how long this thing has been going for. We lost a stalk in a wind storm a month or two ago, but this one’s still standing tall.
Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the flower share-a-thon!










March 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Far out indeed! I’m a little envious that you got rain up there in SF, but it’s enjoyable to look at your blooms nonetheless. Love that Aeonium! (And yes, Aristolochia is blooming in my garden as well. I just forgot).
Happy bloom day!
March 14, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Love that gold Hellebore and Tiny Tim euphorbia. Crazy warm here; keep getting confused about the date as it is almost impossible to realize this is March! Three hours in the garden today and I was pooped it was so hot. This is not really what I want in March in WI. You know it makes everything bloom too fast and disappear.
March 14, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Love the poppy photo and can’t believe the amount of blooms on Parrot’s Beak. Will be interested to see the native section go into full bloom. And of course, love Tiny Tim…Very nice…
March 15, 2012 at 12:38 am
aloha,
great blooms, always been a fan of parrots beak and those euphorbias at this time of the year
March 15, 2012 at 3:33 am
You make me wish I had a grill – I’d fill it with plants right now! I wonder if that Gilia capitata would grow for me here in NC?
March 15, 2012 at 3:54 am
Love the combination in your last photo, but also the euphorbias and the aristolochia. I also realised that I haven’t seen an aeonium in flower before. I have a truly pathetic specimen that has struggled on over the last few years. Happy GBBD!
March 15, 2012 at 4:35 am
Awesome. That crested euphorbia is really striking, and I love your grill planting.
March 15, 2012 at 8:09 am
It is so interesting to see what you have blooming on the west coast…such beautiful plants and blooms. That hellebore variety is very different, very nice. Your garden is lovely. Happy Bloom Day!
March 15, 2012 at 8:34 am
Wow is that aloe plicatilis in the last photo? If so, gives me something to look forward to in the little one I have. Great garden; love the grill with the hanging lotus.
March 15, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Fantastic crested euphorbia, and pitcher plant!
March 15, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Love that Lotus maculatus, gorgeous colour. I have tried growing lotus but they didn’t like my acid soil and wet winter – although we have drought now so perhaps it would have survived this past winter!
March 15, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Very Cool…
Thanks for sharing.
March 15, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Lotus maculatus is one of my fave container plants. The texture and color are incredible, and when it blooms, Wow. Combining it with Kalanchoe tomentosa and the Aeoniums is brilliant. Just so you know… your combo will be in Denver this summer!
March 15, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Outstanding and far out! Love your collection.
March 20, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Ah yes, the poppies come out to play when spring is here. I always look forward to going out to the desert to shoot wild flowers. There’s an area in Lancaster/Palmdale where there are acres and acres of poppies all spread out in bloom. Hoping to make it there this year. And I die looking at the pictures of all these succulents. Love them! — Michelle