Blue Monday...Not!

Today I returned from work and after inspecting Pergola-tory for a few minutes discovered, to my delight, that a new passiflora was in bloom! 'Blue Bouquet' opened up! Though that hybrid is prolific bloomer given sunny conditions, it wasn't until today that it opened up for the first time this year. Because it's mixed in with P. racemosa, 'Monika Fischer', and 'Star of Surbiton' in a single large pot, I wasn't even sure it had survived the mite attack. But, now I see that it had survived to climb to the top of the pergola and bloom first of all the others! Now that it's up there and June gloom (as it's commonly referred to in Southern California) is nearly over, I expect fireworks!

Update: I just returned from a business trip and I found 'Lady Margaret' opened for the first time this year too. And, 'Blue Bouquet' is popping open everywhere just as I expected. 'Blue-eyed Susan' continues to impress.

The Trouble with Thrips

It was the mites last year. I was able to kill them all with some miticide, but not after some casualties. This year, there were thrips. It took me awhile to figure out what was causing the general chlorosis on some of my passiflora, and then I saw a couple of them skulking about on the newest growth. So it was back to the poison. I think I got them because the chlorosis has stopped, and since they were slightly less devastating, most of the plants have fully recovered. I do think that I've lost P. sanguinolenta. It gave me two blossoms before the pesticides burned it up. Nevertheless, I have some new blossoms from some of the other inhabitants, and the best part of all is that the leaves are looking healthy and large.

Manta Ray of Sunshine

I've been excited for this one to open for a few days now. Passiflora 'Manta' has the smallest passion flowers in Pergola-tory, and today the first one opened which makes for the second of the new arrivals to bloom. Now, if I could just get some height on it, the I'd have some shade this summer!

Blood, Sweat, and No Tears

The first of the new arrivals bloomed today - passiflora sanguinolenta, which means "that which expels blood" in Spanish. The flower is a mauve-ish color and there are no thorns, so I think it's a bit of a misnomer. Nevertheless, with the heat the first little pretty flower popped open.

Update: I'm sorry to report that the pesticides used to kill the thrips also whacked sanguinolenta. I don't do so well with the smalls (aka Decaloba subgenus). I've killed two cintrinas now. They just can't handle the poisons like the others.

Sequoia National Forest Flowers

I went backpacking into Sequoia National Forest over Memorial Day weekend. The weather was as spectacular as the scenery. I took the obligatory pictures of the trees, which don't really translate into photographs so well because you just can't capture their massive size in one picture. Also, there were plenty of wild flowers in bloom. Enjoy!

Fremontodendron californicum

 

Star of Surbiton

There's no real story to tell today. I just spent a little time sweeping the patio clean of some bamboo flotsam, and taking a picture of the latest blossom in Pergola-tory. The Star of Surbiton hybrid is very bright white with little blue filaments. I also noticed that two of the newer arrivals have buds - 'Manta' and P. sanguinolenta. It's getting exciting as the real star starts to heat up the weather.

Hapeony Mothers' Day

I recently wrote about how I transplanted all of my bromeliads to the patio planter in Pergolatory from the front yard. That decision was partly to prevent the raccoon (I suspect) from destroying my plants in an attempt to eat the snails, partly to fill the shady planter with something that would survive, and partly to put something more inviting in the front yard. Well, I think I've done that. I put a few new plants in most notably an Itoh Peony. I have zero experience with these, but from what I can tell it's going to do great.

I was out of town this last week, and at a friend's house they had several pink and purple double peony varieties, which was a strange coincidence. I hadn't realized until then that there were Japanese, semi-double, double, and bomb varieties, but there are as it turns out. So, when I got home it was great to see that mine was a semi-double and smelled pleasant.

Typically, for Mothers' Day you give a spring bouquet with daisies or lilies, or perhaps you go with something more formal like roses. But, I think peonies would make a nice choice. Come on florists, let's see some variety and peonies. OK, so since I've been over-worked as of late, I'm going to have to just dedicate the following picture to my mom. Hapeony Mothers' Day.