30 Armstrong Garden Center
March 12, 2021
32 Cottage Gardens
April 9, 2021
Spring Sprang!
I n the garden, Spring is about colorful flowers flowers flowers. I could write pages pages pages for this post, but where to start? You could simply go outside or visit a nursery and open your eyes! Then I visited Aunt Patti's place and I knew what to write about.
I went there to drop off some potting soil and had a look at her backyard. You know how happy it makes Aunt Patti to cram as much color into her yard as possible. (She has an illness.) But OMG I could not believe my eyes. So much of her yard was already in bloom—and it wasn't even officially spring yet!!!
Grrrrrr.
So lucky her. She lives in Zone 14. Which means her plants do not freeze or face possible death by frost every night like they would in Zone 7 where I live. No, her plants wake up to sunshine every morning and get to lay happily out in the warm rays all day long.
Like this one. (Photo taken recently. Not lying.)
Nasturtium ‘Empress of India’
Nasturtiums always remind me of my home in Eureka, California, where they grow like weeds in that climate. But really?! Patti's is blooming in March?! Generally they don't bloom until May-ish.
And here is her African Daisy. She added a note when she sent me this photo: "Can’t propagate." Hmmm, now why would she tell me this?! Feeling a bit possessive? Smug maybe?
MIDDLE: Osteospermum (aka African Daisy) Zion Copper Amethyst
TOP: Teucrium fruticans ‘Azureum’ (Azure Bush Germander)
BOTTOM: Dianthus (leaves, unknown variety)
That photo also caused this text conversation:
Me: What's the name of the plant above the African Daisy?
Aunt Patti: I don’t know.
Me: Tip of my tongue....Is it smelly?
Minutes pass.
Aunt Patti: Yes.
Me: Crap! I know it!!!!! Geez. Do you have PlantSnap? [a plant identification app—mostly useless, FYI]
Aunt Patti: No. Installing now.
Minutes pass.
Me: I’m in pain.
Aunt Patti: Lol I’m trying.
Minutes pass.
Aunt Patti: PlantSnap says Nepeta. No, it isn’t that.
Me: No. I think it’s a native too. Think think think. It’s not a Teucrium is it?
Aunt Patti: Yes it is a Teucrium. Whew! Now you can relax. It comes in pink too.
Teucrium fruticans ‘Azureum’ (Azure Bush Germander)
Aunt Patti's Germander has been in full bloom since January—normal for Germanders. Put it in MY landscape? In January it would be dead, or just a lifeless twig begging for warmth. It is absolutely ridiculous for plants to be so fussy.
Now get a load of this...
Osteospermum ‘4D Berry White’
There are so many varieties of Osteospermum available this time of year that it is hard to control oneself! However, I find they are short-lived or tender perennials, and I buy them knowing I am just going to toss them out at the end of the season. Because Zone Seven!!
These should make you smile...
LEFT: Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’
RIGHT: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Flowerpower Spider Pink’
Now on to Aunt Patti's Petunia obsession—a major symptom of her illness for color.
She shot these photos during our travels. The top shows Petunias at West End Nursery in San Rafael, California. The bottom, those at Gray’s Garden Center in Eugene, Oregon.
During a visit to Annie's Annuals & Perennials, Aunt Patti bought Tickled Pink Petunias and I bought Tickled White. Both bloomed profusely over summer. When mine gave out, Aunt Patti’s continued blooming!! OFF SEASON. Geez!!!
Aunt Patti's Petunia 'Tickled Pink' and she is too.
Normally I do not waste my time on Petunias (Zone death), but the tag on Tickled White said "cold hardy" so—letting plant-lover's hope push my doubts aside—I grabbed 2 of them and put them in the ground to test the tag's "theory."
Petunia 'Tickled White' (in summer)
Mirabilis jalapa (Four O'Clocks)
Yup, they survived! Took the freeze almost like champs. The foliage died back one foot at the top which I left to protect the remainder of the plant. Now the foliage has grown like crazy this last month. I’m so excited to see it flower again soon.
Now take a look at the size of the purple Lantana behind Aunt Patti's Gaillardia.
Gaillardia grandiflora 'Arizona Sun' (Blanket Flower)
with Lantana sellowiana (Purple Trailing Lantana) behind.
That Lantana is a few years old, but seriously, who gets that kind of color in March?! I mean...this just pisses me off.
So that's what is now Springing at Aunt Patti's. (And without a smidgeon of envy from me!)
Now let us journey deep into Zone 7. Other than my Helleborus and my trees, here is what's blossoming at my place.
Primula ssp.
Yellow and cobalt. Can’t go wrong with that combo!
I’ve had these bulbs (below) for at least 15 years. They just opened up a few days ago.
Leucojum aestivum ‘Summer Snowflake’
They're beautiful but they are reduced in bloom because I had to transplant them from a stupid falling-apart wine barrel planter. And please, somebody tell me why they are called Summer Snowflake. Makes zero sense!
A few years back, I took a handful of selected seeds and just threw them caution-to-the-wind into this galvanized trough.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Nemophila menziesii (Baby Blue Eyes)
BOTTOM LEFT: Viola (unknown variety of my #1 favorite flower)
TOP: Antirrhinum majus nanum ‘Black Prince’ (Black Prince Snapdragon)
I have to tell ya: best design I ever did for myself. There's more in the trough that will bloom later.
So...what's in bloom already at your place? Email me a photo with a comment. I'd love to see!
Okay, let's admit it. It's Spring and we are all infected with Aunt Patti's illness. Why not make a color pandemic happen? (Since we're well practiced now at this sort thing.) Embrace whatever Zone you're stuck with, head out to the nurseries where thousands of other color-infected people are right now and grab some!
Photos courtesy Sheri Lynn Burke. All rights reserved.
