As we approach the first day of spring, my garden in Southern California bursts with blossoms.
These delicate blossoms cover the entire nectarine tree this year. I’m hoping for a bountiful harvest come July!
Two years ago in January we planted a Methley Japanese Plum tree at the request of my oldest daughter and the tree finally got its first blossoms this year:
The Methley Japanese Plum tree is self-pollinating and produces dark red, medium-sized plums.
The first of our four apple varieties is in bloom as well:
The Anna apple tree is a low-chill variety that thrives in sunny Southern California.
Much to my chagrin we do not have any oranges (what kind of Southern Californians are we?!) but we have lemon and lime trees. The lime blossoms smell heavenly right now:
This tiny lime tree produces a ton of limes. You can see how many blossoms crowd this one offshoot!
My girls and I planted milkweed in hopes of attracting Monarch butterfly larvae. Many varieties of milkweed are toxic to vertebrate creatures and thus offer a natural protection to the caterpillars who ingest the toxins and make them taste bad to predators. In spite of the toxins, our first caterpillar (given to us by the garden center who sold us the plant) appears to have fallen victim to a bird.
Even if our milkweed plant never supports a Monarch butterfly population, I will still love it for its tiny yellow and orange blossoms.
Speaking of birds, this “bird” of paradise stands tall like a statue among the palm fronds:
Majestic “bird”
The calla lily also reminds me of art — specifically of artist Georgia O’Keeffe:
The mesmerizing white spathe and yellow spadix of the calla lily bloom.
The grapevines don’t have any blossoms yet but they are just starting to leaf out.
Nestled below the grapevine is our outdoor cat, Camo:
“I tolerate you and your camera only because you feed me.”
Currently there is one fruit variety ready for harvesting — avocado!
I pick several of these every few days throughout late winter.
Last but not least, my organic heirloom tomato seedlings are hardening off (gradually getting used to the outdoors in preparation for transplanting) on the patio:
I hope to put these in the ground soon. They’re getting a bit leggy!
It’s a little ambitious to think I will have time to maintain a tomato garden and train for a marathon at the same time (and keep house and raise kids and blog and and and), but I’m giving it a go anyway!
Are you a gardener? Are you planning to grow anything this year?
Fit Fun Mom 