What a miserable cold and grey spring we are having here in Portland, OR. The local paper recently ran a chart detailing our exceptional quantity of grey days, because of the cold grey everything seems to be behind in flowering…maybe that’s why I had a hard time choosing just one image to represent each flower. They are each so special in this gloomy spring that I’m treasuring them more than ever. First the Euphorbia, since for me they are THE flower of spring. At the top and below is Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii.
Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow
Euphorbia cyparissias
Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’
Euphorbia myrsinites
Euphorbia polychroma
Euphorbia rigida
Next up is an inherited pest that I control by pulling and pulling but it just comes back stronger, Vinca minor.
Rosemary
The Saxifraga x urbium 'Aureopunctata' hasn’t really started blooming but I still thought I would share it because it’s just so darn cute!
The same for the Point Reyes Ceanothus.
Unknown Kalanchoe, purchased already blooming at last week’s Hardy Plant Society of Oregon’s spring plant sale.
A couple of repeats from last month…Pieris japonica.
And the Hellebores.
Next up my current fav’s…this was my first Manzanita, Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony.’ It is completely irrational how much I love this plant. Blooms or no blooms it’s the red/brown stems and leaves that send me.
Acacia pravissima, I am really doing a disservice to this gorgeous plant by not putting it in a better place to photograph (that’s the plastic of the
shade pavilion greenhouse behind it).
The Grevillea juniperina 'Low Red' has finally started to erupt into bloom.
My new little Magnolia (Magnolia laevifolia).
If it’s got this many blooms going when it’s this small just imagine when it’s bigger!
And last up a couple of small blooming odditites, new to the danger garden. First the Poncirus trifoliata. And yes, those aren’t really in bloom yet but they are still way cool so I’m sharing them...or maybe those aren't really blooms at all and instead are the leaves? I'll be watching.
The smallest flowers ever (in my garden at least)
Hymenanthera alpina.
And the best part is that all of these tiny little flowers should eventually turn into cool white berries!
That’s April 2011 bloomday in my garden, visit
May Dreams Gardens to see what’s blooming around the world on this April 15th.
What a miserable cold and grey spring we are having here in Portland, OR. The local paper recently ran a chart detailing our exceptional quantity of grey days, because of the cold grey everything seems to be behind in flowering…maybe that’s why I had a hard time choosing just one image to represent each flower. They are each so special in this gloomy spring that I’m treasuring them more than ever. First the Euphorbia, since for me they are THE flower of spring. At the top and below is Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii. 
Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow 
Euphorbia cyparissias 
Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’ 
Euphorbia myrsinites 
Euphorbia polychroma 
Euphorbia rigida 
Next up is an inherited pest that I control by pulling and pulling but it just comes back stronger, Vinca minor. 
Rosemary 
The Saxifraga x urbium 'Aureopunctata' hasn’t really started blooming but I still thought I would share it because it’s just so darn cute! 
The same for the Point Reyes Ceanothus. 
Unknown Kalanchoe, purchased already blooming at last week’s Hardy Plant Society of Oregon’s spring plant sale. 
A couple of repeats from last month…Pieris japonica. 
And the Hellebores. 
Next up my current fav’s…this was my first Manzanita, Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony.’ It is completely irrational how much I love this plant. Blooms or no blooms it’s the red/brown stems and leaves that send me. 
Acacia pravissima, I am really doing a disservice to this gorgeous plant by not putting it in a better place to photograph (that’s the plastic of the shade pavilion greenhouse behind it). 
The Grevillea juniperina 'Low Red' has finally started to erupt into bloom. 
My new little Magnolia (Magnolia laevifolia). 
If it’s got this many blooms going when it’s this small just imagine when it’s bigger! 
And last up a couple of small blooming odditites, new to the danger garden. First the Poncirus trifoliata. And yes, those aren’t really in bloom yet but they are still way cool so I’m sharing them...or maybe those aren't really blooms at all and instead are the leaves? I'll be watching.
The smallest flowers ever (in my garden at least) Hymenanthera alpina. 
And the best part is that all of these tiny little flowers should eventually turn into cool white berries! 
That’s April 2011 bloomday in my garden, visit May Dreams Gardens to see what’s blooming around the world on this April 15th. 
In all the years I had a Poncirus it never did bloom for me. My garden buddy Carol has it now. I'll have to ask her. Love the Magnolia. I can vouch for the beauty of that Acacia--another once-had-now-gone plant. Love all your Euphorbia photos. Wulfenii just cracks me up.
ReplyDeleteI'm struck (but not really surprised) by how unusual all your bloomers are, Loree. Maybe it's just by contrast with my fairly pedestrian camellias and natives this month. Now I'm even more entranced by your Magnolia laevifolia - what a gorgeous, simple (I'm all about simple) flower! I'm off to look that one up...
ReplyDeleteHappy Bloom Day and pray for sun (or at least dryness!)
Another Grevillea! I just commented on Mulchmaid's. Such fascinating flowers.
ReplyDeleteAnd I like the Euphorbia Fireglow. I've just started adding some purple leaved euphorbias, I like your Fireglow too. Something else to add to my long list of Plants I Want.
I've been following your horticultural gallivantings -- what great plants you come across! That little variegated London's Pride/saxifrage is such a charmer, I may have to grow it as an annual. They never last for me. That magnolia oozes elegance.
ReplyDeleteMmmmm...that magnolia is sooo beautiful. Your well-earned success is turning me just a little bit green (all but my thumb).
ReplyDeleteYour garden is lovely. You have lots of things blooming. The magnolia is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe magnolia certainly looks set to be a blooming fool. It'll be interesting to follow its progress. How long did it take to germinate?
ReplyDeleteEuphorbia is one of my favorites in the garden! I really like the one you have that has the pink (red?) in the center. xoox, tracie
ReplyDeleteThat Manzanita is the best...love it so much! You've got such a great collection of Euphorbias, I bet they are stunning all together. As for the Vinca...you have my condolences.
ReplyDeleteThose are some insane plants! I love Euphorbias; they're actually seem to look good on cold gray spring days.Here on the other coast we've also had much less sunshine than usual for the last month or so. I was just part of a Magnolia Society Study Day but I don't know brevifolia. I like it.
ReplyDeleteI have been looking to add some Euphorbia to my garden. I really like your Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow. The magnolia also caught my eye- I have never seen this one before-it is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGrace, you've got me wondering now if what i thought were blooms are just actually new leaves!
ReplyDeleteMulchMaid, you should really consider that magnolia! Check out the one at Kennedy School, it's planted in front...along 33rd.
Allison, The MulchMaid's Grevillea has been blooming longer than mine...I was jealous!
Denise, why don't they last? That's too bad...it's a great plant! I am pretty much in love with the Magnolia.
ricki...ah come on! I think you've got some pretty green thumbs!
Sage Butterfly, thank you for stopping by!
Patricia, I just bought the Magnolia a week ago so it's all new to me.
Fishtail, it does look a little pink doesn't it? Last year it was vibrant orange. Perhaps it's the lack of sun.
scott, it's just insane isn't it? (the vinca) I pulled out (actually hacked out) a huge mass in the front garden right after we moved in. I've just mostly ignored the stuff in the back...other than occasionally taking my anger out on it when I need to.
Chris U, I am sorry you all are sunshine deprived too...but you're right the Euphorbias do help to brighten things up, magnifying any amount of sun that we might get.
Jennifer, the Ascot Rainbow is a good one. They seem to be more wildly available now. I spotted one in a neighbors garden that is huge!
Acacia pravissima this plant is on my watch list. I haven't found it yet, but I'll snatch it up if I do. So cool.
ReplyDelete