Spring flowers in Southern California 2022

Pink Geranium

These are some of my Spring flowers pictures, many of them from home. All pictures by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives.

Red Geranium

White Geranium

Brazil Raintree (Brunfelsia Pauciflora) 

African Daisy Osteospermum

African Daisy Osteospermum

Orange African Marigold

Climbing rose Lady Banks Lutea

Climbing rose Lady Banks Lutea

Dahlias

Freesia and Red Salvia Coccinea

Camellia and Hibiscus

Camellia

Clover tiny flowers

Cactus tiny flower

 Rose 

Rose bushes in full bloom.

Milky Widow's Thrill (Kalanchoe Laxiflora). I'd rather say this is a Winter flower but there are a few left in the sunniest areas of home.

California poppies

Pride of Madeira (Echium Candicans)

Blackspot Horn Poppy

Red Snapdragon

White Snapdragon

Viola

Basil flowers (they are edible)

White Impatients

Purple Jasmine

Red Salvia Coccinea

 

Cactus and succulents gardens

 

The succulents and cactus garden at the Newport Beach Civic Center

I believe California is the kingdom of succulents and cactus gardens. And I've been taking pictures of them for long years. There is trend to replace lawn (grass) in the front yard for cactus gardens to save water. Those are called "waterwise" gardens. This post is to show some arrangements, usually there is no a pattern because cactus and succulents are beautiful per se, but it's interesting to see small plants combined with tall ones and surrounding architecture as well. See most of the backgrounds with Palm trees. All pictures by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives.

Fullerton Arboretum

Fullerton Arboretum

Huntington Gardens and Library. There is a combination of sizes and textures.

Huntington Gardens and Library. A low cluster that allows us to enjoy the taller cactus.

Huntington Gardens and Library

Huntington Gardens and Library

Fullerton Arboretum

Fullerton Arboretum. A path is defined between a forest of cactus.

Fullerton Arboretum. An arrangement to let us walk around the cluster or the single cactus.

Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. A huge cactus with thin Palm trees behind.

Sherman Gardens and Library. Glass decoration enhancing the garden. A beautiful wooden pergola behind.

Sherman Gardens and Library. Glass decoration enhancing the garden. A beautiful wooden pergola behind.

Rancho Dominguez

Rancho Dominguez. The winding path.

Rancho Dominguez. The path is edged with stones.

Patio cover next to swimming pool

 

This hardscape project in Orange County has a couple of years. We have proposed a pitch patio cover that breaks the flat continuity of the existing rear facade.  There is a narrower area for outdoor dining and a wider living-family area for relax. The homeowner requested glass on the side due to strong winds. 

The barbecue has a free standing chimney (it is not allowed to have fire elements below a roof, minimum clearance should be 14'). And the minimum set back to the swimming pool is 5'. 

There is no garden so close to this patio cover, but we added some landscape with ceramic plants pots.

The bottom finish is made with natural stone liner, to match the flooring.  

Renders prepared by arq. Luis Makianich.