Here's a Sunny Hug from California

Discussion in 'Member's Gallery' started by sespegal, Mar 1, 2010.

  1. sespegal

    sespegal New Seed

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    I have been in my native plant garden and also spending some time out in the backyard today and was doing weeding....when I accidently dug up a small snake along with the weed I was pulling out. I'm relieved that I didn't hurt him and he slithered back down into a hole.

    That's a "first" for me!

    I know that those of you back East are homebound with the snow and here in CA we are now having beautiful weather. I thought I would take a few pictures of what is blooming at my house and post them here for you, to cheer you up.

    Although, maybe it will make you jealous of the good weather we are having. But know that your Spring is just around the corner.

    Some of these might appear a little fuzzy because of a slight breeze. It was tricky to get a good picture.

    :)

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    A native grass called Blue-Eyed Grass ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )





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    Blue-Eyed Grass in the Iris family/ sisyrinchium bellum ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )





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    Guess what this is! And it's at my house. ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )





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    Ca Sunflower/encelia californica ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )





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    Orange Blossoms ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )





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    Island Bush Poppy/ Dendromecon harfordii ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )

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    A gopher is eating the ones that are in my native plant garden. Arrggg! ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )
     
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  3. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I love your photographs but just wish I could see such lovely colours here in Scotland. Everything is still buried in snow her ...... but I'm sure spring will be around soon. :-D
     
  4. sespegal

    sespegal New Seed

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    Scotland?

    My oh my, it must be very cold and damp there. I wouldn't last a week in that kind of an environment. I grew up in California, going to the beach, hiking and enjoying the sunshine.

    I get cold really easily, even here. Living somewhere that gets snow and gloomy weather would be difficult for me :-?

    In March I am going to a conference in Breckenridge, Colorado for several days. (I've never been there) and I know it will be snowing.

    The delemina for me, is what to take in the way of clothes? I do have some boots for snow but that's about it.

    Shorts won't cut it.
     
  5. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Oooooh! I can smell the orange blossoms. I once had a nice little tree/sapling with blossoms and the fragrance was to die for. Unfortunately I was not the right kind of gardener for citrus and it perished, but the smell will remain with me forever.
     



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  6. sespegal

    sespegal New Seed

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    Orange Blossoms

    When I moved into my house way back in 1975 (I wish it was paid for, that's what a divorce will do for ya'), this orange tree was here, along with a lemon tree, too.

    The lemon tree puts out copious yellow orbs every year but the poor orange tree gets to much exposure to our hot and dry Santa Ana winds in the Fall. The bad side is, well "bad" and the other side somehow manages to continue to produce fruit.

    But between the wind and tree squirrels, I don't get a lot of oranges. But boy when I can eat one, it is really, really sweet and seedless, too.

    The tree is just starting its blossoms and not too many have opened up yet but when they do! The fragrance is divine.
     
  7. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

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    Orange blossoms remind me of my grandmother. She wore orange blossoms in her hair when she married my grandfather in 1931. She always said orange blossoms were goodluck for a bride. Has anyone else ever heard that?
     
  8. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

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    Lovely colours! :D We've got sisyrinchium in our garden, over there, just under the snow. *points* I can't wait to see orange and yellow, blue, red, pink, anything bar white. :D

    I also love the scent of orange blossoms. I'm the tourist that keep asking people for access to their gardens just to smell their flowers.
     
  9. Penny

    Penny Young Pine

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    Hi there and Welcome.
     
  10. kaseylib

    kaseylib Young Pine

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    Thanks for that breath of spring...I know mine are sill sleeping underneath our snow :-? My parents had California poppies all around their Tucson Arizona home, and they were magnificent when in bloom! Enjoy your sunshine.
     
  11. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Thanks for that sunny hug sespagel, I needed that! We have Blue Eyed Grass here too I just love it! I'm envious of you having blooms already. I'd love to be able to smell that Orange Blossom :)
     
  12. sespegal

    sespegal New Seed

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    Its Tough Living Here

    Well. it looks like another 70 degree day here in S. CA, although there is a prediction of rain by this weekend. That doesn't make me too happy, because if it rains on Sat. the Forest Service will cancel for the second time in a row, our volunteer day.

    The first Sat. of every month, I along with several other people, spend the day on a trail in the Los Padres National Forest/Sespe Wilderness, maintaining the trails.

    I look forward to this every month and especially in the Spring...lots of things are starting to bloom and I hate missing it due to the weather.

    Looking out into my backyard, I just noticed that the Lemon Tree has quite a few new lemons on it. I don't know why I didn't notice that yesterday. This means that my neighbor, Sally, will be coming over to pick one or two because she likes lemon in her tea.

    Here are two pictures of Grape Soda Lupine taken last May along the Sespe Creek. This Lupine smells just like grapes! Thus the name.

    Please take a peek at my new social networking site for those of us who love nature and being close to dirt.

    http://naturalgreenlandscaping.com

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    Grape Soda Lupine/Lupinus excubitus ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )





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    A beautiful May day along the Sespe 2009 ( photo / image / picture from sespegal's Garden )
     
  13. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

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    Oh, lupins! And sunshine, and May too! *dreamy* No, don't wake me up, please.
     
  14. sespegal

    sespegal New Seed

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    Spring is here in CA

    Things are only getting better each day in my garden. More plants are blooming and the orange tree in my backyard, is totally covered in lovely, white fragrant blossoms. It's divine.
     
  15. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

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    I've got lots of white too, but not sweet-smelling. Wanna trade? :D
     
  16. sespegal

    sespegal New Seed

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    I'm keeping mine

    Hey Droopy...where are ya'? I can't believe how fragrant my tree is...it's almost overwhelming and when I step outside, it's fragrance totally permeates the yard.

    I should take some more pictures of the tree and post them here...lots going on for me these days.
     

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