Plants I'm Growing: First Blooms--Ceanothus, Rhododendrons, Michelia, Flowering Crabapple

In the past couple of weeks, a number of plants have come into bloom in the garden, including the large Julia Phelps Ceanothus outside the kitchen window; Michelia Yunnanensis, a magnolia relative native to China; our flowering crabapple tree; and the large white Rhododendron called "King George." The Ceanothus and the Michelia came into bloom on March 3, the crabapple on March 10, the Rhododendron on March 11.

Plants I'm Growing: First Blooms--Ceanothus "Ray Hartman" and Ceanothus "Julia Phelps" (February 19-22, 2012)

I belatedly note that the first flowers opened on the large "Ray Hartman" ceanothus near the kitchen window on February 19 and that the first flowers on the "Julia Phelps" ceanothus opened yesterday, February 22. "Ray Hartman" is pictured above, "Julia Phelps" below. The "Ray Hartman" is trained up as a small tree. The plant bloomed on February 10 in 2011 and on February 22 in 2010, calculating years of 377 days and 353 days, which average to exactly 365 days. I don't seem to have a complete set of records for "Julia Phelps." The blossoms I note today are on a newer plant near the beehive.

Plants I'm Growing: Yellow Rose, Other Roses, Scabiosa, Ceanothus "Skylark"

Yellow rose today, but blasted by the rain--unseen perhaps. Other roses the same. We've had more rain today. A bit melancholy, but it's a good thing. Following the two inches we got Friday through Sunday, it looks like we'll get at least another inch or so today. Very welcome indeed.

First blooms today also on the "Skylark" Ceanothus, the pink and purple Linaria purpurea, and on Scabiosa farinosa (pictured). This is an unusual Scabiosa in that it has thick, leathery leaves and it's quite drought tolerant once established. It's extremely easy to propagate from cuttings. It has a tendency to die out in the center, but if you clip away the dead leaves, the bare stems will sprout as soon as they see regular sunlight again. Forms round mounds about two feet across. 

Plants I'm growing: First Blooms-- California Poppy (2009)

The first California poppy (Escholzia californica) of the season opened in the garden today. These have been  blooming around town for at least two weeks now, but ours have been laggards. Looking at the center of the photo, it is easy to see why the bees and bumblebees love the poppies. They are a rich source of pollen early in the season.

The "Julia Phelps" Ceanothus is in full bloom at the moment. The tightly packed, fragrant, blue flowers that cover the Bush attract an extraordinary variety of insects, including native bees, bumblebees, and honeybees.  Another great source of early-season  pollen. Notice the packed pollen baskets on the legs of the bee in the photograph.

I also note here that the "Ray Hartman" Ceanothus has been in bloom for more than a week, but I missed the first blooms.