"E" is for Euryops

This is my first contribution to the online collaborative project, ABC Wednesday, a weekly posting of items relating to a particular letter. This week it's the letter "E."

There is something to be said for the "faithful retainer." The person, plant, friend who is constant and dependable, but somehow, for this, less valued. Every gardener has the plants in their area that grow without fail...I'm sure this is true...and this can make them seem common, whereas to another, they would be prized. Such is the case in Sacramento with Euryops. What would you say to a shrub that bloomed thru winter with yellow daisy-like flowers when its neighbors had dropped everything but their thorns? My experience with Euryops is that I can abuse this plant, with neglect and artless pruning, and it says, "I'm there for you."
According to the Sunset Western Garden Book, the easy care and extremely long flowering season of Euryops pectinatus' make it a good filler, background plant or low screen. So there!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - February, 2009

This flowering quince is the first bloomer of the year in my garden...but the saucer magnolia is just ready to pop and so are the daffs...then my forsythia...and then my sparaxis bulbs. I got some of my dad's quince years ago, just after my mom sold the house and was ready to move. He had a big stand with plenty of room, so no need to prune and control...shrub heaven. I had a devil of a time digging it up. Had to go way down to get some viable roots, which the shrub didn't miss at all, at all. I planted some in the front yard and some in the back. The one in the front yard gets more daytime sun and comes into bloom first.

Oh What a Beautiful Seed Catalog

I went to heaven this morning when my mail arrived with a 125 page seed catalog from Heirloom Seeds. Dreams of glory, let me at that order form! Such a work of art I felt like I should send a donation. Luckily, ordering seeds is a bit like making a donation...don't you think?