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Health & Fitness

Magic in the Garden: Seasonality

Add seasonal interest to your garden!


Is there anything more magical than watching the progress of daffodils in the grey light of late winter?  Or the falling of autumn leaves on a windy day?  

In California we have a climate that allows us to have green all year around if we wish to but seasonal change makes one pause and notice the passage of seasons and therefore time.  A deciduous tree with great fall color, winter blooms of Camellias, spring-blooming bulbs and late summer salvia abundance...and then it starts all over again!  

Look out your window or take a walk and find harbingers of the season.
Some plants to look for now:

  • Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) - lovely fan-shaped leaves that are starting to turn gold now. The leaves usually fall in quick succession making for a beautiful carpet.
  • Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ aka Purple Vine Lilac - I mentioned this vine before...I love it!  Great fountains of purple blooms now and through the winter.
  • Camellia sansanqua ‘Yuletide’ - Just started blooming a few weeks ago...flowers are happy red color with a bright yellow eye.  Makes for a nice container plant for the holidays.
  • Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) - Another plant I have written about before...nice large blooms with red or purple-red fall color depending on the variety.  Very large leaves!
  • Mandarins and kumquats - Citrus are so cheery in winter and they make a nice plant for pots.  


The thing about seasonal changes is that it’s transitory and so it must be enjoyed in the moment it is happening...blink and it is over!  



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