110131 - Flower Arrangement

The mud season is ending in San Francisco, as the rains give way to several warm, sunny days in a row.

The giant hyacinths are now charging out of the ground, while bachelor buttons and love-in-the-mist that overwintered in our mild climate come into bloom. The roses that Phil and I routinely ignore have paid us back with fantastic blooms.

Today, I cut and brought indoors these flowers to create an arrangement for Phil's sister, who lives in a state buried in snow for much of the winter.

1011 - Nasturtiums

This photograph is of the nasturtiums in November, 2010, when they were blooming at the top of the staircase running up the center of the terraces.

Phil grew up where summer heat kills off nasturtiums before they have a chance to bloom, so he thinks our gardens are heaven, nasturtiums not only blooming profusely but volunteering themselves everywhere like weeds.

I purchased from an online nursery seed packs that promised blooms the palest of yellows and the darkest of reds. They did not disappoint. As you can see, their descendants came up a bright orange before I could pluck them.