It's March

And then after a stop at Garden Valley Ranch were Zuzu picked up some Vintage roses, we headed to Sonoma Hort, lots of camellia in bloom and a few rhodies and azaleas just starting.
This came home with Zuzu, a camellia named 'Old Judy Mathew'.

As did this beauty, 'Jury's Yellow'.

Look at the ruffled opening center of this one named 'Candy Mint'.

Here's the same one fully opened with a close up view of that center.

This rhododendron named 'Grande' had these beautiful pleated bell shaped blooms with luscious coloring.

The beauty was a huge bush just loaded with these huge deep pink full blooms. Tag said "Ballet' but what was the second name Zuzu?

A few daffodils were scattered throughout the walkways.

Sunshine color!

Another pretty one.

I liked this all white one.

'Pink Delight'

Another beauty with large bouquets of pleated cream bells, 'Macabeanum'.

'Little Babe' has some wild designed petals!

Zuzu admiring the magnolia.

Do you know the name of it? It just glowed.

Another pretty hellaborus.

Pathways and old bridges everywhere with spots of bright blooms.

And arches and fountains.

And a large shaded pond reflecting the surrounding plants.

After stopping for lunch, we headed over to Lone Pine nursery and into their greenhouse displaying one of the nicest small succulent and cactus collections I've ever seen. Each plant is lovingly cared for, the elderly owner is always there to show us around and point out hidden gems.

Kalanchoe daigremontiana AKA Mother of Thousands because it can drop plantlets everywhere, was in full bloom.

Euphorbia symmetrica

Aloinopsis

Just a few small things came home with me from Lone Pine.

Was that double hellebore at Peacock Nursery really Regal Ruffles, Sue? I didn't see the tag. I'm so excited. I ordered three of them from the hellebore co-op.

The big gorgeous camellia in the ground was Ballet. The gallon plants were named Ballet Dancer and they looked just like the big one, but the description for Ballet Dancer said it was supposed to be cream colored with a coral rim. Some discrepancy there somewhere.

The Magnolia is Magnolia stellata. I always remember because there's one at Stella's house.

I have to go back and buy Grande. I have Macabeana and Grande looks just like it, but with a touch of pink.

That was so much fun, Sue. We must go back very, very soon.

I want to go too. I have never seen some of those succulents, so beautiful. Of course I would kill myself because I'd be bringing them inside for the winter and outside for the spring, inside, outside...no way could I do that. I do well to get a few houseplants back in before frost time. And I would love to grow camellias. But it won't happen here. Sigh.

Why can't you grow Camellias, Sharon?

Too cold in winter. I have tried, and it isn't happening. Gloria125 tells me that they don't grow very well north of south Tennessee (I think that's the dividing line, can't remember exactly). Zonal difference is my guess. I keep thinking I could find a hardy variety, but with every effort I am a total failure, and I kill them. Breaks my heart to kill a plant just because I want it.

Gloria has beautiful camellias, by the way, I keep every photo that she sends me.

(Edited because I can't spell at this hour.)

This message was edited Mar 7, 2009 1:41 AM

I thought you might enjoy this picture. My cat, Jazz, is not happy with the upheaval my painting has created. Can you tell?

I hope I haven't already posted this on one of our threads....Jazz does tend to get around, sometimes without my knowing.

Oh, I love that cat. What an adorable picture. He looks supremely happy to me. King of the ladder and all that.

Jazz appears to be against any painting work, Sharon!

That 'Old Judy Mathew' is too beautiful to be stuck with that name. The thought of an 'Old Zuzu', or 'Old Pirl' would slay me!

Great photos, Sue.