California winters mean flowers: gardening opportunities sprout
year-round
It’s the dead of winter, right? So, why would we go around
looking for pretty flowers in the garden?
The answer to that is easy. Because this is California, and in
our region flowers bloom year around. Even in the dead of winter.
Here are some of the flowers putting on a show now. If you missed
planting them, you still have a chance:
California winters mean flowers: gardening opportunities sprout year-round
It’s the dead of winter, right? So, why would we go around looking for pretty flowers in the garden?
The answer to that is easy. Because this is California, and in our region flowers bloom year around. Even in the dead of winter. Here are some of the flowers putting on a show now. If you missed planting them, you still have a chance:
– Calla lilies: Big, bold calla lilies, which are marketed as “summer bulbs” actually bloom at their best in winter. The white callas, which are called Common Calla Lily, are found in many of the older gardens in South Valley, where the rhizomes naturalize and come up year after year. The newer callas – those with pink, purple or yellow flowers – bloom in late spring or summer. Callas are almost carefree, are faithful producers, and make an excellent cut flower for indoor bouquets. You can plant calla rhizomes now for summer and beyond, or you can buy callas blooming in pots at nurseries and florist shops.
– Bird of Paradise: Is there anything more colorful that a bird of paradise bush with those amazing flowers that resemble the heads of crested tropical birds? Bird of paradise is from South Africa, and blooms off and on throughout the year. The best flowers, though, show up in cool, damp winter months. The bush is somewhat invasive, so you need to work a bit to keep it within bounds. The flowers last a long time in a bouquet. Buy a well-started plant in a 5-gallon pot. Pick your planting spot carefully because bird of paradise does not like to be moved about.
– Red-Hot Poker: This is another shrub with amazing-looking flowers. The spikes in shades of red-coral-orange look like the growing tip of a poker or torch. They bloom all winter in our region. As a bonus, red-hot poker attracts hummingbirds. Look for a well-started plant in a 1- or 5-gallon container. Plant in a sunny location that is protected by the roof overhang.
– Winter Annuals and More: There is an entire list of winter annuals that thrive in the cool, wet season. These include primroses, pansies, johnny jump-ups, violets, stocks, snapdragons, Iceland poppies, calendulas, clarkias, sweet peas, cinerarias, and an assortment of daisies. If you missed planting flowers in fall, all is not lost. Most of these can be found as started plants in six-packs and four-inch pots, and will bloom in the coming weeks. But start sweet peas from seed since they do not transplant very well.
– Winter vegetables: They aren’t as colorful as the winter flowers but then again broccoli is snazzy and leafy chard is attractive. Some winter vegetables among the flowers add an interesting touch. And you get something to eat, too.
Just ahead and appearing in gardens in the next few weeks are some additional beauties. Lilac bushes are beginning to swell on their tips, which means the purple flowers are on their way. I’ve also spotted the green leaves of early daffodils and still earlier California poppies. The flowering trees are not far behind.
A couple of caveats: Snails and slugs absolutely adore this kind of wet, cold weather, and they are everywhere ready to mow down tender new leaves. Hand pick the critters or use a bait to keep them under control.
Weeds ruin the garden. Hoe or pull them up. They’re easier to remove when the roots are small and the soil is damp. As they get bigger they are far more work.
A Reader Wants to Know: I have two houseplants that consistently have brown edges on the leaves. They are the peace lily and the corn stalk plant. It’s always the older leaves that get brown edges on them. The new leaves are OK for a while. Eventually sometimes half the leaf turns brown. I try cutting off the brown part but after a while there is not much leaf left. Any help you can give would be appreciated. – Anne
Joan Says: This is a bit of a guessing game, but it sounds as though your plants have too little humidity. The typical symptom is leaves that turn brown around the edges. Those leaves eventually die and fall off. Place the pot on a bed of moist pebbles in a tray or in a larger container with moist peat moss around it. Mist the leaves regularly. Keep the plants away from the vents of a hot-air furnace.
Typically when leaves start to turn brown, the owner says, “Oh, more water.” Overwatering kills more plants than any other single cause. So, improve the humidity and go easy on watering.
