Mojave Echinocactus

Exotic and fragrant!  If you want a consistent spring bloomer and a bulb that will reward you every spring then you need to plant Peruvian Daffodils Bulbs (Hymenocallis festalis). They love our zone 10A and they are extremely reliable blooming each and every spring. Also, they produce offspring bulbs on a regular basis every year. You plant one Peruvian Daffodil Bulb and within 5 years you’ll probably have six or seven surrounding the original mother bulb.  For some very obvious reasons some people call them, “spider lilies.”

This year I planted 24 brassica related plants (broccoli, romanesco, cauliflower, cabbage). No thanks to the local rabbit(s), only 3 plants survived including this cheesy cauliflower.

I notice I am planting more flowers than vegetables, especially in the summer. Flowers seem to survive pests better, handle the heat and use less water. Plus, they are more expensive to buy so I save money on bouquets.

Christmas in New Zealand is summer and everywhere around the coast you will see Metrosideros excelsa, the pohutakawa, in bloom.  It’s relative, M. polymorpha, is native to Hawaii and can also be seen planted around Mission Bay in San Diego.