Consolida ajacis 'Earl Grey'?

 This Consolida self-sown itself in my garden on Guerrero in February.   Copiously so I know it was one I planted last year.   Which according to my seed records it would be Consolida ajacis 'Earl Grey'.   I have sown a few different Consolida over the last three years.  One is white but this one doesn't match the photos I see when I search the internet.  It's a single and the leaves are more palm-like than fern-like, dark green with a heavy waxy surface.

Unique Biennial for the Meadow - Clary Sage

 Over the last few years I have been growing more of my plants from seeds.  Although it takes at least 24 months from sowing until a one-gallon plant,  I find it worthwhile.   But with a plant that tends to be biennial you can lower that to nine months.  Sow in the fall and flowers in July. 

Beaujolais Sweet Peas

 Here’s an annual I sowed last fall for an early start this year.  

Dearborn Garden's Rose Border

On Friday mornings, there is no parking along this section of Bird Street.    This is effectively the Rose border for Dearborn Community Garden.  Well maintained by a dedicated member of the garden.  

Dearborn Community Garden

 

This is my plot in the nearby community garden. It is a raised bed 11 feet by 8 feet or so. This year I am testing some new plants. A layer of bulbs including: Allium schubertii 'Arctic Snow', A. Schubertii, A. aflatunense ‘Purple Sensation’, NoID Hyacinthoides (Spanish Bluebells), Freesia, Sparaxis, Narcissus ‘tête-à-tête’. A second layer of self-sowing annuals Papaver dubium subsp. Lecoqii ‘Albiflorum’, Lobularia maritima, Nigella damascena, NoID bread seed poppy and Atriplex hortensis var rubra (Purple Orach).

Spring Bulbs in San Francisco

 

Narcissus 'Minnow' in Eureka Valley

Last of the Dahlias

I think this is the last week for Dahlias.   But it was a good week.   I really into the golden upper petal/burgundy under petal variety called Dahlia 'Gets Crazy' from Swan Island.   It's a big dahlia and I didn't adequately stake it this year but works well with Aster 'Little Carlow'.  

Other notable Dahlias this year: Dahlia 'Ripples' and Dahlia 'Nicholas'.

Dearborn Community Garden Plot #12

Fall Asters with Dahlias and feverfew.  

SPRING Flowers of San Francisco

Twenty-five plants in blossom in my 12' x 7' raised bed.

So our seasons or climate are not like everyone else's. Forget your New England Lilac. English Tulips.  No.  We have distinctive growing seasons. Mainly growth, slumber, muted growth and finally rest. Those translate to spring summer, fall and winter of most of the rest of North American and Europe.

In San Francisco, you may see Dahlias blooming in the ground in February. Or Asters in May. Most perennials shrubs I work with will bloom twice every year. We have SPRING, dry, spring, water.

Dearborn Bouquet and Bounty

We are currently reaping the wonderful bounty from our community garden plot.   This bouquet includes the unusual April Dahlia, Ranunuculus asiaticus 'White', white velarian and parsley.

I like to pack it in.  I don't want to see the soil.   I've combined the French intensive technique with my passive aggressive algorithm of editing annual seeds and perennial plants.   It's a tournament of the flowers;  May the best plant win.  But of course I stick my nose into the process, limiting those that are too vigorous and making sure there's an even succession of flowers.  It's all about the process.  I'm in control for a couple hours every Sunday.   Then Nature has her way for a week.

Dearborn Community Garden Spring Meeting and Fashion Show.

Our community garden's Spring meeting and my plot is looking fantastic.  We rebuilt our bed in November adding six inches of soil and completely redecorated the bed.

Today we see the end of the spring showing of the white dahlias.  Dinner Plate?  I'm not sure, they're big and lovely in a freaky February showing.   The purple poppies are starting to bloom and the foxglove is producing well.  Everything is staked well and should be well supported.

Dearborn After Atmosphere River Delivered Over 2 Inches of Rain

Most notable new entry blossum is the Ranunuculus asiaticus 'White'.   I started from bulbs from Flowercraft, a local retail nursery.  One of the four I planted turned out to be pink. 

March in Dearborn Community Garden

Spring is at least 2-4 weeks early this year.   Warm and dry December followed by regular intervals of rain and sunshine has been sublime.

February Dahlias in My Dearborn Plot

Big news is Dahlias blooms in February as San Francisco sees exceptionally pleasant winter sunshine and showers.

October Seed Heads

Fading year with Aster seed heads.

Late Summer in Full Glory

This is my plot at Dearborn Community Garden in San Francisco.   I use this bed to test out new plants and color combinations and just see what happens.  It's always beautiful.  But today is the pinnacle of this seasons planting scheme.  Lots of late season dahlias and asters.

Bees on a Poppy

Lots of activities in the garden today.  Busy bees, mostly honey bees here.

Olio Lens on Dearborn Dahlias

I got a new four lens optical gadget for my iPhone. It lets me take 10x, 15x, wide angle and fish-eye photos. Here are some close ups of what's blooming here in June (Dahlias).

Dearborn Community Garden

Frank has put together another tour of San Francisco gardens. This one is exclusive to professional gardeners, horticulturists, arborists and the likes.

Dearborn Community Garden. Showcase the 45 gardeners micro allotments and Lotta's Rose border along Bird Street.

Dearborn Community Garden - An Urban Vegetable Plot

I have shared this 12' x 8' plot with my friend and colleague for a couple of seasons now. We sowed a few interesting new plants from our trip to England. We mostly grow edibles but have a few purely ornamental plants we are testing for our other gardens.