Columbines, camellias and home

Was I surprised when I went in to my garden this week. My columbine are blooming again! They first bloomed in late May until early July. I know they are a spring blooming flower, so don’t know what’s up with these, but was a delight to see them. I have a yellow/orange one and a light purple too. Both of them are in a planter along with some salvia which is in bloom in bright red. I also have my Camellia sinensis that is in bloom, this camellia is the one that most “tea” is grown for. The flowers are so small and they sort of hide among the leaves, so they are hard to see.

I have this camellia because as a Master Gardener, I along with another Master Gardener gave a talk on this plant, first at a tea room in Sacramento. We then gave the talk again at the Vacaville library. Because it does not have showy flowers you probably do not know it, I love it for its green foliage. I have other camellias but then most people have them and very few that I know of have the “tea” camellia.

Right know my front yard is a mess, new sprinklers and sod to be put in, along with new planting beds, because this is the hot sunny side of the yard, I will have a lot of plants to choose from and hope to have a happy looking garden.

-Betty Victor

Comments

[Darrell Schramm]

Regarding your columbine, see my blog on the Prairie Star rose and freesias. And that was just to mention a couple. Today, on my way to Tomales Bay, I saw dozens of California poppies IN BLOOM! The seasons are becoming topsy turvey. Can we adjust? Meanwhile, my solitary columbine is green and leafy, but no blossom as yet. If yours are blooming, can mine be far behind?