Easter Eyecandy

We are so fortunate to live in SoCal. Yes, we 'pay' in terms of horrendous traffic jams, hour-plus commutes over just 11 miles one-way, smog, and all the other problems of living in a huge metropolitan area. But Burbank has much in common with a small city (pop. 100,000) and Spring is joyful for me, even if our flowers don't have to push their way through snow and cold. So today I'd like to share the bounty with you. Click on the pictures for a larger view.

The first roses are blooming: Diana, Princess of Wales with her pale peachy-pink that will add yellow tones later, and First Prize, the deep pink that makes blooms 4-5in across.


In our arbor, just outside my office window, the cyclamen are blooming again, and have produced some tiny new plants; you can see one just at the edge of the top plant. The deep purple oxalis is spreading, and the wisteria is adding its lovely grape-jelly smell. Last summer some of the dad-dratted squirrels took a fancy to the bark, and we lost several large branches to their gnawing. We've sprayed the remaining branches with cayenne pepper as advised, and I'm hoping that this year's growth will fill in the gaps (blooms on 'old' wood).

Elsewhere in the yard, our newly-pruned lime tree has the last of the old crop, thumb-sized new fruit, and cascades of tiny white flowers, all at the same time, promising another huge crop, spread over several months. Our 'peppermint' camellia is blooming, for the first time in over 10 years; it has always had lots of buds, but they have all dropped without opening. Finally we seem to have found the combination of water and food to suit it. Our other two camellias exist entirely on their own on the north side of the house in the few feet to the lot line fence, unwatered and unfed, growing higher than the eaves, and producing dozens of deep and light pink flowers. The neighbors enjoy the colors more than we do, since they have a better view.

The front yard is finally looking much better. The gazanias we planted last fall are thriving and showing off their lovely cheerful yellows and deep oranges. Gazanias are evergreen, and when they've spread make a lovely and drought-tolerant substitute for a lawn. Last Saturday we replanted the hanging baskets by the back porch, and they're popping with lavenders, white and sunny yellows.