Itoh Peony

Itoh peonies also known as intersectional hybrid peonies have the characteristics of tree and herbaceous variety; they have huge and colorful flowers like most tree peonies and the perennial growing cycle of herbaceous peonies. They have vigorous growth habits and huge colorful flowers like the tree peonies and the bush will remain green after the flowering cycle. They have woody stems which can support bigger blooms.

 

I purchased from the Spring Hill Nursery catalog several years ago and finally bloomed this spring. The label is gone so I am not really sure the name of this Itoh peony. It has huge flowers, about 7 inches in diameter with a coral color and large flare in the center. It comes back every spring but has not bloomed since I planted it then dies back in fall. It has several flowers this spring and perhaps will have more next year and the next.

The foliage stays until early fall then cut back when the stems and foliage turn brown.

Climbing Rose

Climbing roses are a classic complement in any garden big or small especially if they are made to climb on a wall or a trellis. They are excellent on a bare wall that gets enough sunshine. 

Planted the rose on one of the side corners of the house; did not bloom during the first year and bloomed the second year. While most climbing roses bloom only once or twice a year, this one has blooms all summer long with occasional dead heading.

The white blooms are about 4 inches, fully double with a lot of petals with a slight scent and the blooms are in a cluster like a floribunda. The blooms are produced booth on old and new cane.

Spring

Spring is the season when the garden starts bursting with color. Spring is my second favorite season after fall, and I always anticipate spring. I’d like to share some of my favorite spring pictures in my yard.

The pomegranate which is all bare stalks and twigs in winter is now full with it small leaves and bright red flowers.

Every Southern California garden should have an orange tree, it does not grow very tall and always having fruit and flowers all year long; flowers, young and ripe fruit all at the same time.

Roses which has been pruned in mid winter is now full of flower buds ready to bloom, this one is an English rose but I forgot the specific type. It has a strong fragrance but like most English roses it only blooms in spring and then another one before fall.

Fall & Winter Colors in SoCal

Southern California is known for evergreen and palm trees but not for trees with leaves that change color in fall. Except for trees that are planted for fall color, there are no vegetation and trees that grows naturally in Southern California for their colorful leaves in fall.

The pomegranate tree in my yard is one such tree that has leaves that turns yellow then shed sheds them in late fall early winter. It has relatively small leaves that turned yellow in late fall.

Another tree in my yard that turns color is the Japanese maple which is now about ten foot tall. The leaves turned yellow in early to mid fall then turned red in early winter. The red leaves are still in the branches during Christmas.