The season has stayed unusually cool this March. I suppose it's for this reason that the transition to the flowers of late spring - usually a very marked transition - has not really gotten underway yet. At present the garden continues to be dominated by two winter-blooming shrubs, Alyogyne huegelii and Senna nemophila.
It's also the season for Lavandula stoechas, two forms of which are going ahead despite the cooler weather. Top: L. stoechas "Blueberry Ruffles", bottom: L. s. "Madrid".
There are also other lavenders, L. dentata and L. multifida (with bee).
There are groundcovers in bloom: white lantana and, in a heavy flush of flowers, Eremophila x "Outback Sunrise".
Flowering succulents include a potted Mammillaria elongata, Kalanchoe x "Pink Butterflies", and Aloe striata "Ghost" against a backdrop of Euphorbia tirucalli "Sticks on Fire", one of the brightest things in the garden despite having no flowers!
In my last post I wrote about Encelia farinosa.
Another very special plant which has just come into bloom is Penstemon parryi, signature plant of spring in this garden.
Several years of allowing Salvia greggi seedlings to grow, and encouraging the less common colors, has resulted in multiple plants with white flowers. These range from the original plant "Autumn Moon", which is the source of the white coloration, to an all-creamy version, to one with pale lavender tones.
Another nearly everblooming Salvia is S. "Summer Jewels".
Among the other plants in flower, there are Tagetes x "Gold Medal", Calliandra californica, Justicia spicigera, and Justica californica...
...and, especially rich right now, the fragrant flowers...
...including the blossoms on the lemon tree.
Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for March!
Weather Diary: Mostly clear, though we had a very light rainfall this morning; High: 68 F (20 C)/Low: 55 F (13 C); Humidity: 40%-59%
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Lea @ Lea's Menagerie (Friday, 16 March 2018 05:20)
Beautiful!
Al those vibrant purple blooms are gorgeous!
Loree / danger garden (Friday, 16 March 2018 10:42)
Someone I know was recently ripping on the Calliandra californica, I don't understand! How could you not love that bright red explosion? Another I wish I could grow.
March is beautiful in your garden.
Denise (Friday, 16 March 2018 11:25)
It all looks so delicate and fresh. What a beautiful month in the desert.
Marcelo (Friday, 16 March 2018 11:28)
Amy, so many beautiful blooms in your garden! I love The Alnwick Rose!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Friday, 16 March 2018 11:40)
Thank you so much, Lea! The garden is certainly full of purple right now! :) I love this time of year when the Spanish lavender is in bloom...
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Friday, 16 March 2018 11:44)
Thanks, Loree! Doesn't seem fair to the Calliandra... ;-) I love those blooms! My plant has gotten pretty leggy because last summer it got smothered by a giant hollyhock... seriously! But I love everything about it: the red bark, the delicate, dusky green foliage, and those explosive flowers.
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Friday, 16 March 2018 11:46)
Denise - Yes, such a great time in a desert garden; the plants love this weather! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Friday, 16 March 2018 11:49)
Marcelo - Many thanks! The Alnwick Rose is fabulous, isn't it?!! It takes the heat quite well here, though it can get a little salt burn - perhaps that is not a problem in your garden! ;-) I think it is one of the prettiest to photograph...
Diana Studer (Friday, 16 March 2018 16:43)
I do love that lavender hibiscus. Such a wonderful glowing colour!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Friday, 16 March 2018 18:51)
It is, Diana - and so incredibly sun/heat/drought-tolerant!
Kris P (Friday, 16 March 2018 20:52)
Freesia alba looks like it does a better job of standing straight than the hybrids that populate my garden. I'll have to look for it. A belated happy GBBD!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Saturday, 17 March 2018 12:25)
Kris - Mine definitely are more upright than my florist types. These are particularly straight and short as they were pruned by rabbits when they first came up. Can't believe how they can go on to flower like nothing happened!
Cathy (Saturday, 17 March 2018 16:23)
Gorgeous photos - so many blooms! Really love those salvias, and the freesia too. :)
Brian Skeys (Sunday, 18 March 2018 14:35)
Great pictures of so much colour. I love the colour of your freesia.
David Cristiani (Monday, 19 March 2018 22:52)
Everything looks so lush and colorful. We're about average for growth, with no Salvia or Lavendula in bloom. But the ocotillos are starting to form buds...
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Tuesday, 20 March 2018 03:39)
Cathy - The Salvias have been great fun. I use the seedlings to provide spots of color where it's needed, and I've been delighted to find the various hues developing. Thanks so much! :)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Tuesday, 20 March 2018 03:41)
Thank you, Brian! I'm so pleased with that freesia - very glad I went ahead with the species as it's rather a different plant from the florist types.
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Tuesday, 20 March 2018 03:50)
David - I love ocotillo; I'm afraid I didn't realize it was hardy enough to grow in the high desert. I've now looked it up and know better... ;-)
I've been intrigued by the fact that some of my lavender species are distinctly seasonal, while most bloom almost continuously, taking a break in late summer but blooming throughout winter.