Just Because

 One of my favorite lavenders for length of bloom time is Lavandula pinnata buchii. It blooms many of the months of the year here, partly I think, because it has lived next to the potted Meyer lemon for a number of years. The lemon is protected on the coldest winter nights with piazza lights and I am quite sure they have played a part in the bloomingness of this lavender. I have now moved the lemon and am wondering how the lavender will fare this winter. So I potted up 7 starts just in case of disaster. Of course, I have nowhere to put 7 lavenders that want to be 4 feet by 4 feet but I started them just because I wanted to be safe.

This caterpillar  made a lightweight cocoon on a bike wheel. On the tread. Some would say I should let nature take its course but I have moved it to a jar, just because I want to see what, if it survives, comes out of that cocoon.

This little unknown cucurbit is a result of my low heat method (as in lazy pile it up and leave it) of composting. Probably a pumpkin, take a look at the big leaves in the next photo, I let one out of the 20 or so plants survive  just because I was curious what I would get. Even if it is weird and inedible.

Coriander has dried and been collected. I wanted the cilantro but am not so sure I will use the coriander. I may simply save it to plant next fall but collected it just because it was there.

This black widow and possibly her mate/potential meal were collected last week in a little magnifier jar. I tell people that if they'd like to see a black widow give me 15 minutes and I'll find one. Black Widow Central...that's us. I popped it in the jar just because I think everyone who lives near here should know what they look like. The day care kids thought it was great and I'm happy they've seen a REAL black widow and not just a photo. Just because I think their safety is pretty important.

New Blooms For Bloom Day

The garden is finally beginning to get going after a slow, cool, rainy May. Therefore, I have been out there puttering and not keeping up on certain computer activities. So here is a quick little look at the new blooms, leaving the continuing bloomers for some other post...someday. 

Maybe not new...but the beginning of the lighter summer bloom. The wisteria blooms its massive total coverage bloom sans foliage in early spring. Now, as long as I keep the seed pods picked, the wisteria will continue to bloom most of the summer.

I KNOW the name for this daylily was written down. Just where is the question....

Bat-faced cuphea, a plant I first saw on Annie in Austin's Transplantable Rose, is a favorite. It has just begun blooming but will continue most of the summer. 

Summer squash  Tondo Scuro di Piacenza promises summer goodness.

 

  Lavendula Melissa

Green beans are just beginning to bloom...one of my favorite summer treats.

Shasta daisies,  Leucanthemum x superbum, is also just beginning to bloom. One of the old reliable early summer bloomers in the Central California garden.

Check out world wide blooms by visiting Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Besides dreaming of May she dreamed up this great way for us to virtually visit each other and enjoy a myriad of blooms!

Wherefore Art Thou Summer?

Much of the country is dealing with unusually high temperatures, but Central California gardeners are being kept out of the garden by unusual weather of a different sort. Rain. In June. Lots of it. It has been interesting to say the least. But today was a mostly sunny and bit warmer day...it may have even gotten into the 80s and I can see some of the soil drying out. I might even get to mow the bit of grass that passes for a lawn here before the BBQ this Sunday celebrating my last child's graduation from college!
In the meantime I've been keeping an eye on the berries and they are slowly but surely ripening, which is better than all at once I suppose, or getting dehydrated before they can be picked. This handful was a perfect dessert.

Tomatoes are also ripening, but in the interest of full disclosure I must admit these are Early Girls, bought in a moment of despair brought on by rain, that came with little tomatoes already on the plant. In any case, I'm keeping an eye on them too.

And lastly, the agapanthus is just about to unfold its flowers into the pseudo-umbel that rises a couple of feet above its strappy leaves. Some white and some blue of varying shades, the agapanthus will bloom over the next month or so.

   Just in time to welcome summer...I hope.