My Favorite Iris, and My Lone Allium

My favorite iris is an oldie - Shah Jehan from 1932. It may not be the largest of irises in my garden, but it is more refined, without all the ruffles. Love the colorway.

Shah Jehan

This year, my garden has produced one lone allium, whose name escapes me. Two years ago, however, I planted hundreds of Allium sphaerocephalon, but not a single one has come up. It's very frustrating, especially because this variety is supposedly native to Spain. In buying bulbs from Holland, though, I can't help but wonder if their stock has been modified for central/northern European climates, and therefore is not able to handle our drought.

I have been trying to find bulbs here in Spain, but no luck so far. It's interesting how native plants to Spain, such as Allium sphaerocephalon, euphorbia and asphodelus, are becoming popular in other countries for their use in drought-tolerant gardens, yet I can't find them here at a garden center or online.

But I've got my eye on a native allium that I've seen growing in a neighboring olive grove... ;)

My lone, no-name allium lasted just a day before the wind toppled it over.

The Front Garden

Well, the roses in the front garden are starting to do their thing, and I have been spending more time just sitting, looking and smelling.

Yes, there are weeds. Yes, there are rose bushes that did not get pruned this year. And, yes, there are a few plants that need to be cut back. But, I tend to be more of a hands-off gardener, and I love letting plants 'do their thing'.

Abraham Darby

  

Charles Darwin

The Shepherdess

The Shepherdess

Crown Princess Margareta

Pierre de Ronsard

 


I am sharing this post with this month's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, run by Carol at May Dreams Garden. Stop by to see what is blooming in other gardens around the world!

Too much?

We have been quarantined at home since March 12th, and that has given me ample time to spend in my garden. Not work in the garden, mind you, because a larger volume of medical pre-publications have been demanding my attention, logically. But, a looksie here and there have got me thinking...

I have too much purple. Yes, yes I do.

Well, to be fair, perhaps I didn't necessarily have too much purple to begin with, but over the years my white Thalia daffodils have disappeared (the shrews?), as have the gladiolus byzantinus (ditto?). Meanwhile, the native lavandula stoechas and iris have been prospering, and the wisteria is slowly climbing the pergolas. I am now kicking myself for not planting a white wisteria.

Thank goodness for Lady Banks!

 

Bloom Day - March, 2019

Frustration has reigned in my garden this month.  We have had exactly 1 day of rain this entire winter.  As a result, certain areas of the garden have turned hard as cement, and NOT A SINGLE daffodil has come up this year.  I gave up on crocuses and tulips years ago, and now I have to say good-bye to daffodils, too.  Frustrating.  If I ever plant them again, it will be in pots.

In addition, I have had to switch on the drip irrigation system every few days since mid-February so I don't lose my larger bushes and trees.  With the added water, the pyrus calleryana is looking spectacular today, and it is quickly becoming the largest tree on our property.

Pyrus calleryana

I am absolutely thrilled at the progress of our wisteria.  On the backside of the house, we have two large 5 x 6 meter pergolas that were installed 2 years ago, with 2 established wisterias and 2 new purchases.  Last year, the older wisterias offered up a few blooms, but this year they are ready to explode!  Even the Little 2-year-old specimens are top-heavy with buds.  I am so excited to see them take off and hopefully provide some much-needed shade.

Finally, my loyal freesia and iris are in bloom early this year.  Well, of course!  It was 27ºC / 82ºF today!

 A bit late, I am linking with May Dreams Gardens for the fun Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts.  Stop on by!

Almond trees in bloom

Over the years, I have found that our almond trees can bloom anywhere from late January to early March.  I attribute this year's March bloom to our excessive drought this year.  I have also found that 'native' trees and nursery-bought specimens do not flower at the same time.

Native almond tree

A garden center almond tree

The native wild almond trees bloom first, yet their blossoms can often be affected by a winter freeze, or their flowers open before the pollinators are out, which is what usually happens in my garden.  As a result, my natives hardly ever produce much of a harvest.  The nursery-bred trees, however, flower anywhere from one to three weeks later, and they give a much better crop.

This year, though, our temps have been high, so some pollinators are already awake.

Will I have double the almonds this year?

Marvellous mimosa

Once again, the mimosas are in bloom.  And, once again, it's that time of year when I dream of having one of these beauties in my garden.

Acacia dealbata