Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: May 2011

Happy GBBD! Here's a look at the blooms in my yard today...sprinkled with the neverending cottonwood fluff. For more flower photos from today, visit May Dreams Gardens.

Standing cypress working its way into chaste tree blooms with russian sage at its base.



Larkspur

Indigo spires

First copper canyon blooms of the year

Butterfly weed

Lantana and firebush

Parsley

Geranium

Thursday's rain washed away the cottonwood fallout, but it's been snowing heavier than ever since then.

One day's worth of cotton on the patio.

Bridesmaid bouquet from my friend's lovely wedding Friday night.

Let the cotton fall where it may...

Ah, it's that time of year when the 40 foot cottonwood tree in my backyard is seriously snowing. Nose-itching fluffy snow that falls in drifts with the breezes. I just learned that only the female trees do this, which makes sense...and makes me wish I had a male tree.





Does anyone else have a cottonwood in their yard? I've decided (again) that I love them best near rivers, although they are fabulous shade trees (provided they get enough water) and the sound of their rustling leaves in summer make me want to curl up in their shade with a good book.

Today's wildflowers at Walnut Creek

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: April 2011

Happy GBBD! Here are some things blooming around my yard. For more garden photos around the world, visit May Dreams Gardens.



In pots: geraniums, bougainvillea, and dianthus with coleus.




The showy primroses are still putting on quite a...show, with larkspur joining in for contrast.


Cut leaf chaste tree is just starting to put out new buds.




Autumn sage, coreopsis, and indigo spires salvia are ever-dependable.


I've only got the one California poppy blooming, but it makes me happy to see every day.




Last of the freesia, butterfly weed, and coral nymph salvia.


This shrub volunteered in front of my rain barrel, conveniently screening it, so I never got around to pulling it out. No blooms but this year it's produced berries of some sort.

Flower power

Lena, the garden warrior, all painted up in pollen

On the morning hike at Walnut Creek, the honeysuckle was taking over the landscape, and I found a variation with rosy color on the outside of the flowers.


Lloyd enjoying some not-so-fresh creek water, and more wildflowers in bloom.

From the weekend

Above: I'm not very good at potted arrangements, but I like the way the burgundy flecks in the dianthus bloom ended up matching the coleus foliage. Got lucky there. Below: Lots of cedar sage at Turkey Creek this weekend, mixed in with the poison ivy and spiderwort (for a patriotic color combo)

Today's blooms around the yard

California poppy in the granite mulch near the curb; first of the larkspur to bloom; honeysuckle taking over back gate.