Early Spring, Northern California

Change your clocks, change your batteries. It is day-light savings time in California. Our days are marked by cycles of rain and cold weather alternating with glorious sunshine. We rush into the garden when the sun is out and feverishly prune, weed and labor. Already there are almost premature signs of spring, as is often the case, but it's just Mother Nature taunting--there will still be freezes and some dismal days ahead before we can settle into the "real" growing season. This weekend in our garden we see the precursors of le printemps....

Trumpet Daffodil

(Narcissus 'Salomé')

Trumpet Daffodil

(Narcissus 'Ice Follies')

There are thousands of jonquils, daffodils and narcissus available these days, so just about any shade of white, yellow or apricot is available, as well as the various flower forms. I have opted for softer colors in lieu of the classic 'King Alfred' daffodil in our garden and we have 'Ice Follies', 'Paper White" and 'Salomé'. Always, always plant these in swaths to get the best effect--and away from deer browsing as they will nip off the flowers.

Silver Black Lace Primula

(Primula vulgaris 'Silver Black Lace')

This is one of the delicate plants that I use along the walkway at the entrance to the house so it can be appreciated up close. The clumps of foliage stay around all year and multiply slowly.

Early shows from flowering shrubs include:

Red-flowering Quince

(Chaenomeles 'Kurokoji')

Winter Heath

(Erica carnea 'December Red')

This is one of the hardy heaths from the European Als. It blooms through a good deal of the winter months, into spring.

Flowering Quince

(Chaenomeles 'Toyo Nishiki')

Flowering quince are great for cutting and bringing indoors, especially if one has a penchant for Ikebana.

Japanese Camellia

(Camellia japonica)

I planted this Camellia in the background years ago and promptly forgot about it. These plants grow very slowly! I am not a huge fan of Camellias usually but many have gorgeous flowers and some are even scented. This one is a classic for its color and blossom but I don't even recall the variety. I did pick several blossoms this year to float in a centerpiece bowl and they were lovely.

Loaded with fragrance, and among my favorites are:

Evergreen Clematis

(Clematis armandii)

I use this vine on so many projects, it is getting to be a trademark, I'm afraid. Once it takes hold--which can be anywhere from one to two years after initial planting (not uncommon for most vines), it is spectacular. It makes a great screening plant (as shown here on top of a fence with a lattice support) or as a "fringe" along a balcony or eaves.

close-up of Clematis blossoms

Sweet Olive

(Osmanthus fragrans)

This evergreen shrub is a great background plant--but not too far in the background because the scent of the flowers is too delicious to miss. The foliage is attractive and it is easy to keep it in bounds. Its only drawback is that it grows so slowly. There's another species that has pale orange flowers and gives off a lovely scent that is reminiscent of oranges (Osmanthus fragrans aurantiacus) AND one that is used in some of the most expensive perfumes: Osmanthus fragrans thunbergii.

Some choice perennials have emerged to provide a little more interest along the pathways.

Voodoo Lily

(Dracunculus vulgaris)

Caution: this is an invasive plant and has an obnoxious odor if you get too close. It was already in our garden when we bought the property and there seems to be no way to get rid of it so I move volunteers back into a clump every year.

Mediterranean Spurge

(Euphorbia characias)

another Euphorbia with red stems and a miniature form--great for containers

Watch out for this perennial too--it will spread its seeds everywhere, but is easy enough to weed out. Use care when cutting back--the sap is irritating if it contacts the skin and toxic if ingested--ergo, not a plant to have in your garden if there are children around. If you want to cut it for arrangements, dip the stems in boiling water or hold a flame for a few seconds to stop sap bleed--much the same way as one does with poppies. It's tough, reliable and early to provide some color when little else is out. These have been blooming for a couple of months. This genus has about 2,000 species so there are lots of interesting color possibilities and some of the species will also repel gophers!

Lenten Rose

(Helleborus orientalis)

This image shows some of the varietal coloration in the flowers from free hybridizing.

Lenten Rose

(Helleborus orientalis)

These plants are from Turkey, Greece and Caucasus, but have adapted very successfully here because of our relatively warm winters. It will grow fairly well in dry shade but a little water helps. As it self-sows, you can select the ones you like by the variations in flowers, i.e., it hybridizes quite freely, especially with other species.

Some of the stone fruit blossoms have opened as well--which could be a disaster for the fruit crop if the rain falls too hard and long.

Dwarf Nectarine

(Prunus persica nucipersica)

Miniature Nectarine

(Prunus persica nucipersica 'Necta Zee')

Our faithful cover crop in the vegetable garden is blooming as well. I enjoy this plant long before we can harvest the favas.

Fava Bean

(Vicia faba)

Spring is just around the corner....