california poppy | Far Out Flora

Merry March Bloom Day

March 14, 2012 by Megan | 15 Comments

Eschscholzia californica

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.

Grill full o'plants

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.

Gilia capitata

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.

Awesome Aeonium

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).

Aristolochia californica

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.

Helleborus foetidus 'Gold Bullion'

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.

Crested Euphorbia 'Tiny Tim'

As soon as the rain started all of the freakazoid crested blooms weighed down this poor plant, so they’re no longer standing up.

Crested Euphorbia 'Tiny Tim'

How can you not love the monster like blooms?

Kalanchoe prolifera

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.

Kalanchoe prolifera & friends

Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the flower share-a-thon!

June Blooms

June 14, 2011 by Megan | 27 Comments

Calceolaria integrifolia 'Kentish Hero'

Happy June Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day! We’ve never had so many bloomiferous happenings out back before. A big shout out to Annie’s Annuals for offering a plant employee discount so generous I’ve tried out TONS of plants I never would have given a shot. My current fave that’s covered in buds and blooms is Calceolaria integrifolia ‘Kentish Hero’. How can you not love the freaky lip like orange blooms? I apologize in advance for the mass quantities of flower pictures.

Papaver commutatum 'Ladybird'

This is my first year growing Papavers. My favorite is hands down Papaver commutatum ‘Ladybird’. I’m sad to report that our Papaver ‘Greek‘ died an early death due to a gopher incident we’d like to forget, but it was pretty for the few weeks we had with it. This one’s safe and sound in a container.

Papaver 'Drama Queen'

Named appropriately, Papaver ‘Drama Queen’ almost got eaten by the gopher, too! I definitely would have staked this puppy if I knew how big and floppy it was going to be. The gopher action right next to it didn’t help the situation, along with the RAIN IN JUNE. I think I’m going to replace it with Dahlias this weekend. It’s squashing stuff.

Bulbine bloom

Gosh darn it. I forget which one this is. Love that it has peachy orange blooms.

Delphinium belladonna 'Bellamosum'

I was curious to see if Delphinium belladonna ‘Bellamosum’ could hack it in the cold, windy, foggy Outer Sunset. It went a wee bit sideways, but still pretty.

Fuchsia 'Fanfare'

The fuchsias are all freaking out, but ‘Fanfare’ is freaking out with wild abandon. It’s kind of out of control. Most of the canes are at least ten feet tall flopping all over the place. If I had carefully read the description I would have seen, “I have seen it espaliered to fill up the entire side of a house”. Wholly crap! I’ve been chopping it back a little to promote some bushiness. Maybe it’s just going through it’s gawky stage?

Fuchsia Mystery

Here’s the mystery fuchsia. It’s been looking kind of sick (yellow leaves), but still busting out flowers. My best guess is that it’s getting sunburned. In the winter this side of the yard gets almost no direct light. The blue stuff is a Cerinthe major purpurascens seedling we let stick around.

Scyphanthus elegans

Scyphanthus elegans is a cute little vine from Chile. I planted Eccremocarpus scaber ‘Cherry Red’ next to it and they’re just starting to play with each other. I just realized they’re both Chilean. We have TONS of Eccremocarpus scaber ‘Tresco Gold’ from reseeding action on our shady side. It’s one of my favorite plants. The hummingbirds go crazy.

Clarkia concinna

Clarkia concinna gives the native section a little splash o’ pink. The native middle section continues to rock.

Poppy Attack!

Caterpillars have been having a ball with the California poppy blooms. This weekend I watched as flocks of little birds came in and went to town on the little flower eaters.

Camissonia cheiranthifolia

Still loving California native Camissonia cheiranthifolia. The flower action never ends. I’m going to shut up now, and post more pictures since it’s getting late.