Taken this morning. Even though I had that blanket of snow last weekend, many of the flowers shrugged it off.
The California poppies have started.
Columbine, 3ft tall - probably offspring from McKana's Giants although all of mine nod down, only a few dwarfs face upwards. I have a tall blue and white on the back porch - the only one that grows there - that I can separate seed out for if someone is looking for blue. I'll take a shot of that when it blooms.This is also potted right now and at one end of the house in front.
At the other end of the house, I have a few shorter spurred Columbines in pots.
Nepeta racemosa, Catmint
Narcissus Hillstar (color NOT re-touched, it is this bright)
I've been growing Alyssum in the veggie boxes to attract the bees for years now, highly recommend. Generally, the older varieties will smell more. Some of the newer small clumpers lost their scent.
Viola Johnny Jump Up - Violas go in all the pots that have bulbs when I plant the bulbs. They tend to bloom a bit later but help the pots not look totally like hell while I let the bulbs die back. Also some Forget me nots.
I was able to capture this little bee on the Forget me nots - also had a bumblebee in there but those shots all came out blurry.
Again, NOT re-touched on the color. The Johnny Jump Ups I'd dumped in the veggie beds so they'd be something in addition to the Alyssum for the early spring beneficials.
Spring is the best time for flowers here. Summer is so hot and dry - without irrigation the hills are all dry and dormant. It's only us gardeners trying to fight nature and grow things in this locale in the summer.
