1201 - Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe has become one of my favorite genus of succulents, this species quite happy in our gardens, its leaves turning dark blue, then pink, as it sends up foot-long, pink flower stems.

When the bell-shaped flowers open, their interior will be bright orange.

1201 - Hyacinth

Since heavy rains have failed to arrive this winter, I've been surprised by the dozens upon dozens of hyacinths now emerging in the gardens.

One cut flower on the mantel is enough to perfume the front of the house.

1201 - Tac

Here are a few photographs of Tac hanging out with me in the gardens on a very windy day not too long ago.

Her winter coat gets so long, Phil takes to calling her "Badger."

1201 - Cabbage Poppy

Our unusually dry and warm December encouraged this cabbage poppy to bloom, its flower half the size as ones blooming in the spring, but spectacular nonetheless.

111226 - Larkspur and Sweet Peas

Today I photographed the sweet peas and larkspur in bloom at the top left of the terraces.

Despite this being the last week of December, the burgundy sweet peas show no sign of fading, their vines at least six feet long and now blocking the staircase running alongside the fountain.

The purple larkspur has just bloomed beside other larkspur and a cabbage poppy on the verge of flowering, too.

1112 - Kalanchoe

Several years ago, a friend gave us a kalanchoe from Hawaii.

He suggested we put it in a pot, but we unwisely ignored his advice.

The kalanchoe quickly spread across one of the lower terraces, so we were forced to put black plastic and heavy rocks around it in an effort to slow its growth.

Every fall, it goes into bloom.

I took this photograph yesterday of its flowers, which last a few weeks, are about the size of your thumbnail and smell like honeysuckle.

1109 - Dahlias

Even while much of the gardens underperformed this summer and fall, these dahlias put on quite a show.

1109 - Candy Tuft

I was disappointed when only a few of the candy tufts came into bloom this summer and fall.

I took this photograph in September in the fride (FRont sIDE) garden.

1110 - Echeveria

A section at the top, left of the terraced gardens was purposely left at a steep angle, and it was here that Phil planted mostly succulents, which require excellent drainage.

These echeveria have all grown from one cutting stuck into the ground near the brick used to slow down soil erosion from the terraces above.

1110 - Larkspur

A few larkspurs, dwarfed by our cool, foggy spring and summer, have bloomed in the gardens.

I found this one by accident, spotting it beneath the mass of sweet peas at the top, left of the staircase, at first thinking it was a butterfly.