January Clippings

Spring comes early in Northern California, so the the last weekend in January is a good time to prune roses and cut back ornamental grasses. After two weeks of rain, the return of the sun meant the garden was calling. Loudly. It's satisfying to reduce things to their lowest common denominator once in awhile.

As opposed to, say, letting them stay all wild and woolly! I am a stickler for cutting grasses back hard; fresh new growth emerging from a haystack is NOT a good look. A couple months of lumpishness will be worth it when this Miscanthus wakes up.

I can't believe how big the crown of this Pennisetum spatheolatum got in one year! This tight mound of old stems will give good support to the grass during the season.

Look who was living all cozy in the grass crown; very happy to come out and twirl in the sun!

Soft seedlings of Mexican Hair Grass are appearing here and there, just the way I like it!

Is there anything more promising than the first daffodil buds?

The Spanish Lavender is starting to emerge; a nice contrast to the dastardly oxalis!

Oxalis, Lavender and Daffodil foliage, a classic California winter vignette

This might be more classic in South Africa; Grevillea 'Coastal Gem' and Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' combined with purple sage and blue fescue take over the show during cool weather.

The last seed pods on the Cercis 'Forest Pansy.' Dreaming of purple, heart-shaped leaves in just a couple of months...

Cerinthe major (yeah, again...she's one of those types who start mugging when they see a camera, how can I resist?)

And they are everywhere!

Pretty Tulbaghia simmleri is another lovely winter bloomer. And it's fragrant too!

Ahhhh, saved the best for last; Hardenbergia violacea 'Happy Wanderer' is covering my back fence with loveliness; this is a nice vine to combine with climbing roses on an arbor, as it is so happy to take the winter shift. Thanks for joining me in the garden today!