Continuing with our spring landscape – we travel all the way from Hawaii with a beautiful hibiscus specimen. I have found hibiscus to be very particular where I place them. They need humidity and some shade in my garden. Every landscape has microclimate zones. For example, below a slope might be up to five degrees cooler or a sunny spot with some shade will stay less dry than necessary for a succulent, etc. Some plants like solitary conditions. Others like to be in a community of varied species.

A deeply hued throat beckons and calls all hummingbirds. 

An aloe flower spikes straight up. Aloemestria is a popular flowering stem in many professional bouquets from florists and is surprisingly easy to grow. A lemon tree blossom from one of our two dwarf Meyer trees, it will be many months before this becomes a ripe lemon to pick. Nasturtium is a peppery addition to salads. Super easy to start from seed and loves neglect.

Rhaphiolepsis ‘Majestic Beauty’ (Indian Hawthorn) In full bloom and it makes a wonderful hedge.

The blooms just keep coming thanks to the sun, water, soil, bees and good organic practices. No Chemicals!!!

This is a rare variegated geranium. Did you know that geranium essential oil is made from the leaves and stems only? The actual petals have no scent. I use geranium oil which has a citrusy scent with my students to enhance the 3rd chakra – will power. Just rub a little on your tummy above your belly button and affirm: I am a confident, capable and courageous woman to empower yourself before a big interview or event. More exciting colorful freesias! Here we have some freesias growing amongst rosemary and its flowers (the tiny white ones which sometimes look light blue).  I love intermingling so it is a never ending show.

These are specimens divided from our former house’s street/curbside garden I maintained and transplanted them here 18 years ago. They are a type of smallish lily on very tall stems and considered almost throwaway plants (why do some plants get a bad rep?) but are practical and pretty for sidewalks and by pool areas because they don’t have a lot of litter and stay green all year.

This is a climbing vine that smells delicious and trails and trains well. It is a white jasmine variety. Bougainvillea I am on a roll and love sharing our spring!

I couldn’t resist so here is more and perhaps this will give others incentive to go out there and plan (if the weather is still too cold) or plant a garden now in their own backyard.

Notice the teensy bee attracted to this sweet pea beauty. Sweet peas get their name because of their sweet scent and are easy to grow from seed planted in the fall here.

Another geranium cluster in a hot spring pink.

Volunteer snapdragons abound.

Freeway daisies in hot hot colors.

Sweet Alyssum and some mysterious development growing that I will patiently have to wait and see what it is because I simply cannot deduce it yet.

Hope you are enjoying because I am having so much fun, I will return tomorrow with more.

The pink, climbing, absurdly fragrant jasmine has withered. Our pittsoporum box trees that attract literally hundreds of bees have also released their perfume and are now drying up their blossoms and forming papery enclosures to develop their seed pods. The camellias have come and gone. The azaleas are slowing down. This is our late January to early March customary parade of happenings you cannot avoid noticing nor do you want to. It is a pleasure to see gardens, different species and varieties take shape, return and show off.

But Spring has sprung as of yesterday and our landscape obeys the seasonal changes, usually. So I took some pictures around the yard with my macro lens. Here are just a few specimens.

Although geraniums are year round here, I thought this cluster formed a perfectly beautiful ball of radiant orangey red.

This is a very small purple flower on a vine like bush we brought from our other residence 18 years ago. The plant is scattered with these humble, violet, tiny tokens of love. Freeway daisies always make me smile!

This peachy snapdragon re-incarnated from the past because I have not planted any in a while. We call these recurring friends that just pop up “volunteers” in the garden world.One of my favorites. The freesia that from a tiny bulb keeps giving year after year with fresh fragrance and fresh faces. We have white, pink, fuchsia, variegated, purple and lavender ones.

Tomorrow, more from the Stegerhaus garden.