A long term relationship with a Clivia

Clivia × cyrtanthiflora

I've been growing this Clivia for at least two decades, having gotten a division from a friend. A hybrid between Clivia miniata and C. nobilis - the pendant flowers come from the latter species. Usually it flowers in summer, but after last summer's dryness, it chose to bloom now.  I have a friend who lives in my neighborhood who reports the same unusual bloom time.  Curious.

In any case, this is a tough and dependable plant.  While it does well in the ground, it also thrives as a potted specimen.  A great plant for a shady mediterranean climate garden.

A weedy 'visitor'

Veronica persica

This little weed, Veronica persica, appeared one spring years ago in the little scruffy "lawn" on the property on which we live (in a shared space). It literally covered the turf that spring with a soft blue haze! I was delighted, loving a mixed bag of walk-on ground cover more than a mono-culture. Yet that was the only year. Nothing was done to irradiate it just as nothing was done to introduce it! We do, at time, have raccoons and possums come through (seeds caught on fur?), but I've never seen it here again.Hope someday it returns!