Callistemon

The early mornings that are cool but not freezing morph into perfect spring/summer days. The heady fragrances of rose, wisteria and sweet pea, the springing to life of dormant, dead looking plants, the brilliant blossoms and the buzzing bees, whirring hummingbirds, cackling woodpeckers, cawing crows (or are they ravens…I can't tell whether their tails are flat or slightly rounded) and the amazing mockingbird that even seems to be able to mimic our toaster oven--all add up to the most perfect days in the garden.

I have photographed the striking bottlebrush blooms almost daily because, like the Queen Anne's Lace saga last summer, the different phases of Callistemon fascinate me. I chose this shot of the unfurling "bristles" because it is just so unusual. The mature blossom does indeed look like a bright red bottlebrush, bristles tipped with the pollen that attracts the bees.

The blowzy bearded iris and the burgeoning rose bushes are all competing with the white wisteria for most fabulous flower. Later in the summer we will have raucous zinnias and huge dahlias. We have worked hard to create more color and to soften our rocky garden, and despite insects, rodents, drought and poor soil, we are still amply rewarded for our labors.

It's difficult to come inside on such days, which is why, instead of cooking dinner we went to the local sports bar for a truffled mushroom with caramelized onion hamburger….