Rosa spinosissima is an old garden rose that I have had for two years. It did not bloom last year and I was considering replacing it if it did not bloom this year. Much to my delight it made a lovely showing for about three weeks early in the season and therefor may stay.
Old garden roses are ones that have survived hundreds of years (this one is from 1600's) and are fairly tough shrubs. The only downside is that they only bloom once a year, but when it is as lovely a show as this, I'll be happy to wait!
As fragrant as it is beautiful! Compact and disease resistant makes 'Honey Perfume' a wonderful rose for most gardens!
Crocosmia is a volunteer in my Laguna garden, having jumped the fence from the fields on the other side. I do appreciate it for its ease and enthusiasm, and because the hummingbirds are particularly fond of the orange tubular flowers. Unfortunately it spreads like crazy and in no time at all creates a thick stand that chokes out other plants. I remove it vigorously from this spot it especially loves in with the roses and clematis, but leave it down in the more natural areas of the garden. It is unfazed by my efforts to control it and returns every year to rub leaves with the more cultured flowers, much like a horticultural bull in a china shop.
When I first planted this Painted Japanese Fern 'Pictum' there was no ground cover around it and it just kind of blended in with the soil. Now that the Australian violets and volunteer wild strawberries have embraced it, the colors really stand out and attract the eye.
I had ordered this pot last year from a mail order catalog and it arrived in pieces. The company agreed to replace it at no charge. Instead of throwing away the broken pottery, which was still lovely even in pieces, I found a place and a plant for it in the garden as shown above.
And here is the lovely pot that came all in one piece!
I must admit I never would have picked out this color of azaleas if I were buying them at a nursery. They came with the house and were planted in all the wrong places. This was a grassy area that was shady and damp most of the time until we removed the grass and put in a flagstone walk. I needed plant material so I moved the azaleas over here and added tree ferns, ferns, Australian violets and a number of other shade plants. I am actually enjoying the bright, bold color this time of year and they are performing beautifully so I guess I can live with the cherry red.
Every once in a while a Bird of Paradise flower will show this unusual phenomenon, when a second bloom comes out of the first bloom, facing the other way. I had one last fall and missed taking a picture of it, but I got lucky a second time.
Brugmansias or Angel Trumpets as they are commonly called, grow with exuberance in our area. They often develop into small trees like this double one I have had in Laguna Beach for about ten years. When I first started growing them I showered them with all kinds of attention which was what I had learned on-line. Fertilizing once a week, watering every other day, but eventually the demanding schedule fell to the wayside and it turns out they are just as happy. The fragrance is heavenly in the evenings.
Rosa spinosissima is an old garden rose that I have had for two years. It did not bloom last year and I was considering replacing it if it did not bloom this year. Much to my delight it made a lovely showing for about three weeks early in the season and therefor may stay.
Old garden roses are ones that have survived hundreds of years (this one is from 1600's) and are fairly tough shrubs. The only downside is that they only bloom once a year, but when it is as lovely a show as this, I'll be happy to wait!
