Spring In My Garden

Seeing a random butterfly in a nest of calla lilies. Watching the deep pink blooms of Cercis ‘Oklahoma’ emerge along the zig-zag stems before the heart-shaped leaves. Admiring the frothy white Ceanothus ‘Snow Flurry’ blooms among shiny new leaves. These are all things I love about my garden right now. I’m filling my hummingbird feeders twice a week trying to keep the whirred throng happy. I spend my days in my office listening to all the birds calling to each other to find a mate while I bend over my 1980’s era steel drafting table to translate a painterly planting vision into a 2D black and white construction document.

Starting after the January rains, my Aloe arborescens ‘Spineless’ blooms vigorously and demands attention with its hot orange blooms. It especially looks good against the ‘Bouquet Canyon’ stone raised planter where the mason shaped a stone to resemble a heart. Good karma, he said; I like him.

Iris ‘Frequent Flier’ lives up to its name and sends flower after flower out to brighten the days after the rains.

Not to be outdone, Brugmansia x candida ‘Double White’ blooms in the gentle night, sharing its fragrance poolside.

With the days warming up, our kitties sit on the gravel patio to survey the view. They follow me around the garden on my rounds, enjoying the safety I offer and wanting to share in my delight of new growth.

Ceanothus ‘Concha’ lives up to its reputation as one of the most vivid blue Ceanothus, especially when paired with a pot of the same color.

Newly planted Quercus agrifolia, Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon) and Ceanothus offer welcome habitat for California native insects and birds.

Fruit and nut trees are blooming and producing delicate and fuzzy fruits and nuts. We have yet to harvest any of these, with the voracious squirrels from the public trail at our doorstep taking their share first. Can’t we all get along?