Good to know that it isn't just my digiplexis that are leggy. You don't think the one in a pot would come back, if you cut it way back, Carol? Saw some buds on one of mine today... I'll probably try rooting some of the branches that are laying on the ground, Sherry, since you don't think that's a crazy idea.

Liz, No, mine isn't going to recover. I bought a pretty Alstromeria yesterday to replace it, but it was too windy today to do anything outside. Oh well, tomorrow's another day.

Never hurts to try, liz.....that's a stupid saying, isn't it? I can think of many things that might hurt to try...let's just say, "Why not?"

A first time bloom from my carnivore: Sarracenia purpurea



Lampranthus Pink Kaboom finally makes its show:

beautifullllllllll !

Thanks Sherry!

I've never seen that sarracenia....and the lamprantha? It reminded me of the name I'd tried to think of and hadn't looked up....Lamprey Eels....LOL

This Sarracenia is having its ongoing wake up mode..so some pitchers look rather ratty:

But new ones are coming up slowly now:

Pretty, Tarev! I had one that lasted about 3 years. They are so pretty, but don't tolerate our city water, so my rainwater goes to my orchids. If nothing changes soon, those will be on city water too. The guy I bought mine from wasn't at the Annual Spring Garden show last year, so I don't know where I would find another one anyway.

I only use rainwater if we have it or distilled water for the carnivores. The rest of my plants uses our tap water. Speaking of which I am down to the last 1/3 of a gallon rainwater..nada rain..it was good while it lasted. I initially only planned to have Pinguiculas as always..new plants keep adding up..just one more!

Yeh. El Nino seems to have missed most of California. If we knew that was going to happed , we could have all taken barrels up to Sherry's place. I have 6 35ga. trash cans to store rain water. 5 are still full, and we do get the fog most nights at this time of year, so I'm good for now. Not sure the quality of it will be good in Aug.

yes, seems "they" were wrong all around...you guys did not get much and we certainly did not get the "warm and mild" we were expecting.....who are these experts anyway? Pretty good today, I dug a bit and decided to uncover my wintersownstuff inbins, don't know if that's a good decision or not, but we're not supposed to get any downpurs and it's not frosting, so....

Now why did it take me so long to discover this thread?

Liz, this was my second winter with my first digiplexis (I have 4 now) and I cut them back as the top growth was looking ratty and they all sent out new growth. They don't do well in pots, they want to spread.
I have had abutilon here in the ground for 5 years and have not lost one yet to winter. They can get frosted to the ground but if the roots were large enough, and mulched, they come back. My best one is a white one I got from a local nursery and then the monster one that I brought from my other garden. It got 10 foot ths past year and with no real sustained cold to knock it down, I had to cut it back.

Took these a couple of days ago, they have been in constant bloom through the winter.

I posted this on the Rose forum so sorry if you've already seen it.

I have a few things blooming, taken with an IPhone so not the best shots:


First bloom on Honey Perfume


Louise Clements


First bud on Distant Drums with it's bronze foliage


Daughter of Stars


The cute iris confusa 'Chengdu' that I got from Zuzu


Osteospermum ecklonis Zion™ Copper Amethyst, just awesome color. It's in a pot on my deck.


Santolina 'Lemon Fizz' in the foreground and St. John's Wort (Hypericum Hypearls™ Madelon)


Rock Rose (XHalimiocistus wintonensis)


My favorite heuchera, Amethyst Myst


Lithodora (Glandora 'Grace Ward') planted on the raised beds with iris and our 5 eating grapes, they seem to like this area with good drainage.


Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria Inticancha® Summer Breeze)


We extended the chicken run so they are not messing up the garden and my patio, I let them out maybe two-three times a week for a couple of hours late afternoon. My grandson brings them weed greens so they follow him when he walks by.

All lovely...I see the lithodora blooming all over up here right now also.

I see that at some point I'm going to need more abutilon...right now until some things, like TREES, get larger, it's awkward to work more things in. Everything is weird to me until there are large trees for other plants to sit beneath and around, etc....I'm hoping my Tiger Eye pulls through...not a leaf on it, but the stalk / few branches seem to have some green. I need to take a closer look tomorrow, scratch it.

All of mine are in full sun and they are thriving. I am thrilled to have the room finally for them to live up to their full potential.

and I have less room...sigh...

edited to add that......
however, I also realize that I cannot take care of as much now either and the Fallbrook property was killing me.....

I had to look up Lithodora. Really pretty, but not listed for my zone. I'm always looking for blue flowers to keep the bees happy.

I tried lithodora in FB and it did not do well.....up here I was seeing it a lot and at first did not know what it was, thought it was lobelia from a distance.

Only good up to Sunset zone 17, which means "needs winter chill". I think it's pretty though, and it can't possibly be as much of a thug as creeping campanula or Borage.
I do love my Christal Palace Lobelia.