Camissonia's Corner: First Manzanitas in bloom and "THE HILLS ARE ALIVE, WITH THE SOUND OF potential weeds sprouting..."

Saturday, January 9, 2010

First Manzanitas in bloom and "THE HILLS ARE ALIVE, WITH THE SOUND OF potential weeds sprouting..."

The slopes and bare spots around the property are starting to green up from the recent rains, but still waiting until the sproutlings are a bit more defined before hitting the Mustard and Filaree with Round Up. I am not generally an advocate of using chemicals for weed abatement, but we've just got to get the bad stuff under control, once and for all. If you've got more than a couple acres to contend with, then you will understand where I'm coming from. Who the hay wants to spend 24-7 for months on end trying to remove all the offending invaders (which, btw, are firmly entrenched in decomposed granite) by hand?

Last spring we also had large swaths of Fiddlenecks popping up all over the map and I'm sure they've reseeded. Although native, some find them weedy. I myself am rather fond of the Amsinckias, so will do my best to avoid them in the upcoming spraying frenzy.

Spotted the first manzanitas in bloom this morning - two Paradise Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos pajaroensis) have kicked off the winter season with their teensy, adorable, urn-shaped blossoms.

1/9/10 Paradise Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pajaroensis)

BUT THE SHOW DOESN'T STOP THERE:

1/9/10 'Jolon' Santa Lucia Bushmallow (Malacothamnus palmeri)

1/9/10 'Alexandra' Monkeyflower (Mimulus Cultivar)

1/9/10 Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus)

1/9/10 Seaside Dahlia (Coreopsis maritimus)

1/9/10 Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi)

1/9/10 Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea)

1/9/10 Cliff Aster (Malacothrix saxatilis var. implicata)

1/9/10 'Cape Sebastian' Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus)

1/9/10 Clarkia rubicunda 'Shamini'

1/9/10 Whitney's Clarkia (Clarkia amoena ssp. whitneyi)

1/9/10 Black Sage (Salvia mellifera), native to site.

1/9/10 Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus)

1/9/10 Canyon Sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides)

Cool weather also suits the sweet peas, pansies, violas, snapdragons, and heathers. My fav perennial violet is "Etain' and the Black-Eyed heather is just as cute as a pixie.