It's June 1st and my thoughts are firmly in summer mode. Oh I know it's not really summer, but it sure feels like it. A few days in the mid-80's, sun, and blooms! The first flower on my Embothrium coccineum is opening. There are many more, hopefully they'll stick around for Bloomday on the 15th.
Paris polyphylla - Heronswood form. This amazingly insane flower is in a tucked away (hard to see) spot. I want to move it, but it's been so happy there I'm scared to do so.
The pure white luxurious Magnolia macrophylla flowers...
Have a blush of pink when you can actually look at them up close.
They fade to what I think of as "magnolia leather" and fall to the ground with a sort of "flop" noise.
Hopefully a few of the centers stay behind and mature to big heavy seed cones bursting with coral colored seeds.
Lupinus albifrons and NOID Eryngium, starting to turn it's electric blue. You'll see this same flower again in tomorrow's post, without that tinge of blue. I've flipped the order in which the photos were taken and shared.
The Ceanothus impressus ‘Victoria’ is covered in flowers, much to the delight of the neighborhood bees.
I'll end with the first water-lilly bloom of the season.
Nymphaea 'Marliacea Chromatella'
Summer...finally...
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Hmm...there was no blush of pink on my Magnolia flower, which waited till I returned to open. It did fade very fast after that, in the recent heat. I hope I get the red seed-studded cone. Hooray for your water lily bloom! Despite the algae problems, looks like that plant at least is happy.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got to see the Magnolia flower! Maybe the pink comes with age? As for the algae problem I am cautiously optimistic that I've turned the corner on that one!
DeleteI haven't noticed that detail on a macrophylla flower before Loree, and a very nice blush it is too!
ReplyDeleteThis year there seemed to be more flowers down at the level where I could at least pull on a branch and look at them up close, it was nice to see the details.
DeletePretty! When I someday have a pond and lilies, I'm recruiting you for help, Loree. My ceanothus is about done blooming but yes, the bees have enjoyed it immensely this year especially. That Paris polyphylla is on my list now, thanks for that - a beauty!
ReplyDeleteNo! Not me, I don't have a clue. Recruit Matthew, he's the pro!
DeleteLove the blush, never seen that! The Lupinus albifrons and NOID Eryngium together are stunning...I have such bad plant lust for Eryngiums. Used to grow them when I lived in Mission Viejo, CA. After seeing some different varieties in Portland i got some seeds for the Eryngium Planum Sea Holly Blue....but it has been so dang wet here I know they will just rot. I have a big raised bed in my right of way that is suppose to be a hot dry bed.......much of it washed away when our street became a river. I will enjoy your variously! See you soon!
ReplyDeleteAre Eryngiums not common in Houston? I would have thought they'd do fine there. I am so sorry about all the rain you've had to endure!
DeleteOh, that Embothrium coccineum bloom against your luscious chocolate wall! My C. 'Victoria' is pretty much done, so the bees at my house have moved over to the Ilex crenata hedge to feast. Happy June 1st, and happy almost-summer!
ReplyDeleteSummer! Is there a better word?
DeleteCongratulations on your first Embothrium coccineum bloom. You must be a very proud mama! Your magnolia must have that blush on it because you named it after Clifford, the big red dog! Of course, the blush is more pink than red.
ReplyDeleteI am, very proud. And that's a great point about Clifford, I bet he had something to do with it.
DeleteGlad you captured the moment...no waiting for Bloom Day. I fell hard for Paris polyphylla during the Fling, but forgot to write it down. Thanks for the reminder. Now I will definitely be on the lookout (if you see one for sale, please send up a flare).
ReplyDeleteThis one (the Paris) came from Cistus, it's a winner!
DeleteSo many perfect blooms! I am impressed with Paris polyphylla - Heronswood form!! maybe you could buy another one instead of moving this one.
ReplyDeleteThe thought has crossed my mind Lisa (to buy another) but I've grown a a few others, or at least tried to, they never amounted to much. The placement of this one seems to be in the "sweet-spot" and that's why I don't want to move it.
DeleteGorgeous blooms for the first of June! I know you like the heat, but I'm quite happy to have a couple rainy days finally.
ReplyDeleteThanks! And actually I was thrilled at the promise of rain, I just wish it was really rain, not this lame misty business that isn't amounting to anything really. Hopefully it's different up in your area?
DeleteWe've had about an inch, I think. There was some heavier rain at Cistus today and I certainly passed through some showers on the way to and from. Hopefully some of them visited your garden, too.
DeleteI couldn't pick a favorite from your bloom photos - although very different in color and form, they're all equally magnificent. I think it's wonderful that you can actually see your Magnolia flowers - I have to crane my neck to see my M. grandiflora flowers and I can never get decent photos of them (but the petals do make the same soft floppy noise when they fall).
ReplyDeleteTruth be told I had to grab a leaf and pull down on the branch to see the Magnolia flowers, although from the bedroom window I can get a pretty good look at them. I think the one I'm most bummed about height-wise is the Embothrium, there's only holding the camera up high, and zooming in, to get those.
DeleteThat magnolia is mighty pretty. Do you need any sort of filtration system (to avoid stagnation) for the tank your water lily is in, or can you just fill a container and it will be ok? It's gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI should have a filtration system in the tank but I don't. Last year was fine, this year I've suffered an ugly red algae outbreak. I went to a local gardening group on Facebook for advice and I think (after partially draining, cleaning, refilling and being sure to add new water frequently) that I might be winning the battle.
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