110419 - Roses

I took these images of the roses in the gardens earlier this week.

Phil and I are constantly amazed they do so well, considering we never fuss over them.

The rose with the tiny bud was planted a year or so ago and steadily grows taller every few months. A nursery's catalog promises it will be well over eight feet tall.

110419 - Aeonium in Bloom

Earlier this week, after several cool, misty days in row, the sky cleared, and I took several photographs in the gardens.

This aeonium has gone into bloom for the first time since we planted it as a cutting three years ago. It is now about two feet tall by two feet wide, its flower stock nearly a foot long.

1103 - Poppy

In early March, between downpours that seemed to last for days, I photographed this poppy blooming at the top of the gardens.

It is a hardy perennial that has been in the gardens since we were first able to reach this area after terracing the hillside five or so years ago.

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.