Out and About at the LA Arboretum Early to Mid-April

Puya berteroniana in bloom on the east side of the Cactus and Succulent garden. 

 Cistus ladanifer 'Blanche' located in the west side of the Mediterranean section. 

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Our own version of the 'Superbloom'

Our own version of the 'Superbloom';
compare to the real thing below. 

The real 'Superbloom'. 

Viburnum macrocephalum the Japanese snowball viburnum
located at the entrance to the Kallam garden. 

Mistaken for Cherry trees, the Arboretum's blooming Pink Trumpet Trees (Handroanthus impetiginosus) confuse the less botanically wary. This one is located on the north edge of the Bauer lawn. 

First Day of September Blooms at the L.A. Arboretum and Botanic Garden

Today was oddly cool and the plants here loved it. One really exciting plant to see right now is Puya berteroniana, the 'Turquoise Puya'. It has a rather unusual teal flower with orange anthers, a color combination rarely seen in nature. 

Puya berteroniana, the 'Turquoise Puya'

Puya berteroniana, the 'Turquoise Puya'

Puya berteroniana, the 'Turquoise Puya' closeup, notice the teal 'tepals' and the orange anthers. 

Also to the north of the Puya in the Water Conservation Garden are beautifully scented Sea Daffodils, Pancratium maritimum. These flowers are unusual in that they bloom in the summer or fall sans leaves, creating almost a ghostly look to them. However scary they may look, they make up for it in a very nice scent. They are native to the greater Mediterranean coastal areas and have become naturalized in parts of Southern California. 

Sea Daffodils, Pancratium maritimum. 

Ceiba (formerly Chorisia) speciosa var. 'September Splendor' is usually the first Floss silk to bloom in the fall. It was one of four seedling varieties of the species that were introduced for their ability to bloom in sequence from September to November. Here's a video I did that shows the differences between the four introductions. 

Ceiba (formerly Chorisia) speciosa var. 'September Splendor'