The Sweet Smell of California to Me...Citrus Blossoms!

My new favorite California past-time: Citrus Sniffing. Each morning, barefooted and in my pj’s still, coffee in hand,I head out the back door to the orange and…breathe. In, out, in, out, in, out. Oh,  how I love those blossoms! 

I have no practical knowledge of growing citrus (they tend to freeze out in Oregon) and I don’t know exactly what variety orange we have. And to be honest, I only know it’s an orange because it had one beautiful,yet way past its prime, fruit on it when we moved in last fall. The tree itself is gorgeous however, full and green. It stands about 8 feet tall and is loaded with blooms. Boy, am I going to do my best with it this year. Any tips would be most welcome. It just makes me feel like a Californian to have it in my yard.

My next favorite, new-to-me obsession is, of course, succulents. I come from the land where ‘Hens and Chicks’ are as succulent-ty as it gets. I worked last year for a nursery in Berkeley, Magic Gardens, where succulents held a prime spot. They were known for their very large selection. When we closed the nursery in January (after 30 years) a lot of those succulents came home with me. No, I don’t have them in the ground yet. They are sitting on the patio, in their little nursery pots and looking at me as I write this. Aeoniums, Crassul’s, Echeverias, Agaves…singing a little chant that my husband is trying to ignore.

“Rip out the front lawn, Kathy. Rip out the front lawn!” (He likes the lawn because, well, he’s a man and he must mow.)

Then there are the Salvia’s, those fabulous hummingbird-getters! Yes please, I’ll take one of every color. Oh yes, those came home with me, too. They are sitting on the patio next to the singing succulents. Then there are the grasses, the ferns, the fuchsias, the…Wow, I’d better get busy!