WINTER 2016
February
A "Mid-Pride" peach tree is the first to bloom in the stone fruit orchard. This variety is the best yellow freestone for warmer winter climates. Its also known for exceptional flavor and dessert quality.
Clarke's White Flowering Quince profusely blooms to signal the approaching Spring. Branches are often harvested with unopened flowers, and brought inside to open and brighten the late winter days.
Forsythia adds a dramatic flair even before Spring begins.
Jonquil Narcissus along the Kitchen Garden path are extremely fragrant and are related to Daffodils and Paperwhites
Mature 5' tall Red Flowering Quince blooms in the wood
Naturalized Winter flowering Snow Drops (Galanthus) add interest along the path of the small wood near the Kitchen Garden.
Red Baron Peach - a richly flavored yellow freestone fruit.
Profuse, showy, double pink flowers on a Double Jewel yellow freestone peach tree.
March
A Flavor King Pluot tree is flanked by Fay Elberta and O'Henry Peach trees in the stone fruit orchard.
Descanso Lilac buds in the cutting garden
Prunis Triloba - Flowering Plum
Berginia
Clematis cascades from a crabapple tree at the edge of the wood
Viburnum tinus
Fragrant Chinese Lilac
Anna Apple blossoms in the heirloom apple orchard
Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'
Forsythia in full bloom
Spring 2016
Late March
Descanso Lilacs and Great Bearded Iris line the Kitchen Garden path
Lavender at the center of the Kitchen Garden surrounded by a Boxwood hedge
'Lilac Lady' Lilac has legendary fragrance and makes a superb cut-flower
'California Rose' Lilac
Crabapples in bloom
Akebono Yoshino Cherry
Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' (Pincushion Flower)
Angel White Lilac is a Descanso Hybrid
Drifts of Tall Bearded Iris at the edge of the wood
Purple Smoketree
Redbud in bloom
Buster on the peach orchard path flanked by Tall Bearded Iris
Spanish Lavender, Russian Sage, Catmint and Salvia Nemorosa
Catmint
Cherry blossoms
Abelia and Lambs Ears. Abelia is in the Honeysuckle family and very fragrant.
Darwin's Barberry
Spanish Lavender 'Otto Quast'
Tall Bearded Iris against a backdrop of Pink Flowering Almond
Gold Flame Honeysuckle climbing a copper downspout
Purpleleaf Sand Cherry (Prunis cistena)
April
Chinese Fringe Tree (Chionanthus retusus)
White Hawthorne (Crataegus monogyna)
Hawthorn 'Paul's Scarlet'
Tall Bearded Iris on the garden walk
Pink Wisteria on the Breakfast Terrace
Eastern Snowball (Viburnum opulus). Masses of pure white, snowball-like flower clusters make a showy display. Bright green leaves have a purplish-red fall coloring.
Purple Smoketree and Hornbeam
Foxglove (Digitalis) in the wood
Climbing Rose Mlle Cécile Brünner scrambles up the wall and across the Porte Cochere
Gaura 'Pink Fountain' on the entrance drive
Crabapple Buds
Spanish Lavender 'Wings of Night' at the stable
Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue'
American cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum)
Gaura 'Pink Fountains' and Nepeta x fassini 'Walkers Low'
May
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia 'Miss Molly")
Peking Lilac (Syringa pekinesis) has large, creamy-white, honey-scented flower clusters
Ceanothus x p. Marie Simon
Yucca filamentosa
Waxleaf Privet (Ligustrum texanum)
Lewis' Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii). The flowers have a heavy, sweet scent similar to orange blossoms with a hint of pineapple.
Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis)
June
Kitchen Garden - starting in the front - Lavender, Boxwood, Russian Sage, Eastern Redbud 'Forest Pansy", Tomatoes (spirals), Asparagus, Hornbeam (hedge), Sycamore
Oak Leaf Htdrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen')
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Cardoon or Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus)
Gardenia
Astilbe
Summer 2016
July
Fushia
Gardenia
Morning Glorys in the Roses
Russian Sage
