Submitted by twig on Thu, 01/24/2013 - 7:30am
Submitted by twig on Wed, 01/23/2013 - 7:30am
Submitted by twig on Mon, 08/27/2012 - 5:30am
Lagerstroemia indica
Crape myrtle
Very much in bloom here in Zone 10. These trees are quite common here in LA, the pink ones especially, but there are also white and lavender varieties. Crape myrtles are deciduous trees, which the Sunset garden book describes as having a "very attractive trunk and branch pattern." The trees bloom from July to September. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Tue, 05/29/2012 - 7:30am
Zantedeschia
Calla
Everyone calls these lilies, but as I understand it, they're not. I could be wrong -- but callas are in the Araceae family, and lilies are in Liliaceae. So I'm not sure why they've been labeled lilies. Maybe someone who actually knows about these things will weigh in on the calla v. lily controversy. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Mon, 03/12/2012 - 7:30am
Chrysanthemum
Lavender mums
Kind of odd seeing mums this time of year, since normally they bloom in the fall. But here they are -- making me wonder if they were grown in the southern hemisphere and shipped here, like so much of the produce in stores now. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 7:30am
Mystery plant
This is a multi-branch shrub, between three and four feet high and about as wide. It's growing in a sunny spot here in Zone 10. The long, arching branches end in purple and lavender flowers and it's been blooming like this all winter, actually most of the year. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 7:30am
Lavandula dentata
French lavender
I'm pretty sure this is French lavender, although there are sort of similar looking English and Spanish versions and several others, too. My taxonomy skills being what they are, maybe some more knowledgeable Correntian will come along and identify it properly. Meanwhile, we can be certain it's lavender of some kind or other, because it smells like it ;-) Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 7:30am
Matthiola incana
Stock
Fragrant, colorful and hardy, stock is an easy-to-grow flower suitable for winter gardens in mild areas. Stock likes cool weather, good soil and adequate drainage. It can be grown as an annual in zones where freezing temperatures are likely, but even then it may re-seed on its own! Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 7:30am
Submitted by twig on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 9:30am
Rosa
Roses at the end of summer
Random roses from a nearby garden, still magnificent, even if they are a little past their prime. I love late bloomers. As long as they're around, winter isn't. So at least we've got that going for us for a little while longer ;-)
******************************* Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Fri, 07/01/2011 - 7:30am
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Jacaranda
Correntian JoeinSF gets a great big hat tip for today's photo of a jacaranda tree in bloom, something that eluded me this summer. Normally at this time of year, the jacarandas (jak-a-RAN-das) are in full bloom here in Zone 10. That means hundreds of 25-40 foot tall trees all over the city are simultaneously covered in lavender blossoms for three or four weeks. It's truly one of the best things about Los Angeles. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 7:30am
Submitted by twig on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 7:30am
Submitted by twig on Sat, 10/02/2010 - 7:30am
Lavender Rose
Family: Rosaceae
Weekend Bonus Plantidote with two images!
An occasional contributor named “Lambert” provides the latest entry in the series, along with a story that makes an excellent point.
This rose grows in a large pot on the steps by my porch in full sun; the friend who gave it to me is great at starting plants in pots and keeping them alive indoors in the winter, where I'm a complete fail because the temperature swings caused by my wood stove make plants very, very unhappy.
Read below the fold...
