1102 - Camellia

The two camellias at the bottom, left of the gardens are going into bloom. I suspect our warm January and February have encouraged their early flowering.

1102 - Tac

In late February, I was photographing the gardens when Tac insisted I pet her, instead.

Here, she waits impatiently for me to put down the camera and give her attention on "the petting wall," a section of the retaining wall they have learned I come to whenever I want to pet them.

In the early mornings and evenings, I frequently stand here, hearing them crashing through the gardens before I spot them running up to be petted.

Today is Tac and Toe's birthday.

1102 - Cala Lily

At the end of January, the first cala lily bloomed at the base of the fountain, which frequently floods, as we overfill the fountain to freshen the water for the cats, raccoons and birds that drink from it.

1102 - Anemones

Until last week, when the nights reached record cold in San Francisco, January and February were unusually sunny and warm.

The first anemones have come up, looking a bit anemic.

I hope the winter cold and rains encourage more anemones to come up with larger and more profuse blooms.

1012 - Amaryllis

The amaryllis did not bloom as profusely in 2010 as they had over the last few years, most likely due to the unusually cool, foggy summer.

However, in December, 2010, just at the top of the staircase, these put on a spectacular show, their perfume filling the air around the steps.

1101 - Bachelor Buttons

Most of the bachelor buttons I seeded throughout the gardens late last summer were eaten by birds, snails and slugs.

However, the few survivors overwintered nicely, growing to almost one-and-a-half feet tall and producing spectacular flowers in shades of blue, pink and purple as January warmed up.

1102 - Nasturtiums

Earlier this month, I took this photograph of nasturtiums already in bloom at the base of the fountain.

Phil loves any nasturtium in bloom, but I like best these dark red flowers.

110214 - Heart of Hearts

On Valentine's Day, Phil arrived home from work after the sun had set, so I gave him a flashlight when I led him into the backyard.

I also gave him a little heart on a stick, telling him it was a clue. He was confused in the dark for a moment or two, then shined the flashlight around and spotted the trail of hearts leading up the terraces.

At the top, he found a little box inside the heart of hearts.

In the box was the hanging vase that we've since put up in the kitchen window.

Phil says he likes the hanging vase and was surprised by the treasure hunt.

On the other hand, as you can see in one of the photographs, Tac was clearly underwhelmed.

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.