Salvia – Hot Lips Sage
Spring flower pics!! I think it was just about this time last year that I posted pictures of some spring flowers in my garden..but wait, no, I am wrong. I just checked and it was March 4th that I shared my garden pictures last year. So I am a month late. January to March have been quite a busy few months for me this year including helping with events like neighborhood Progressive Dinner and trips to Korea and Newport Beach. And last week, I was consulting/training some staff at a new Korean restaurant that will be opening soon. I developed 20+ recipes for them so it was a LOT of recipes to cover!
Anyway, when compared to my spring garden post last year, it’s quite interesting how some flowers have already bloomed but then some have not even bloomed at all. This year, my climbing white roses are just now budding compared to how it was already in full bloom last year in March. I think it must have something to do with having much more rain this winter and also the fact that I pruned some of my climbing roses later this year.
There are also some new additions to my garden so I am excited to share those!
- NEW – Saliva Hot Lips Sage – As you can see from picture above, these delicate flowers come in solid red to white and red. Like hot red lips..haha.. this is a new drought tolerant perennial I planted last year and I am so happy that I did. They are thriving this year. They also have the most wonderful fragrance.
California Lilac
- NEW – California Lilac – I had a few lilacs in my garden before but they all died while I was away in Korea. I especially loved Miss Kim’s lilac.. California lilac is also drought tolerant and also has a mild lilac fragrance which is really nice.
Now onto my edible garden!
Nasturtiums
- Nasturtiums – I always have these vigorous vines growing some area in my garden but it just did not do well last year due to the sever drought we had. This year, they are more than happy and is just overflowing with happiness!
Gravenstein Apple Flower Buds
- Gravenstein Apple flowers – These beauties are pure white when they are in full bloom but a very pretty pink when they are still in their bud stage. The small bunch of pink flowers seem like a small bouquet of flowers, doesn’t it? These are in full bloom now but was not flowering in March last year.
Navel Orange Blossoms
- Navel Orange Blossoms – orange trees are just about everywhere in California but this year, they are especially going crazy. If all those flowers became oranges, my poor tree would suffer..Last year, I only got about 15 oranges the whole year so I am so looking forward to a season of abundance.
Meyer Lemon Blossoms
- Meyer Lemon Blossoms – The oldest fruit tree in my garden, this one is also blooming profusely this year. I am going to have to make some marmalades and share~
Rosemary Flowers
- Finally, my rosemary is blooming dutifully – same as always.
Here, I am serving cups of Korean Nokcha (녹차) or green tea with some lovely nasturtium flowers and leaves. Because the nasturtiums have very delicate flavor and fragrance, if you really want to enjoy it fully, try making tea with only the nasturtium flowers. Use about 2 flowers for small cup of tea. Come sit! It’s Tea time!
Korean Green Tea with Nasturtiums
Happy Spring~❤️ 🌿
JinJoo
Hi Jinjoo. Just wanted to let you know I found a glass top for my onggi pot locally. I spotted it clear a crossed the food court into the store. The sight you sent would not ship outside Korea. It is Koreana plaza outside Sacramento. I’m so excited!! So from this blog you said you’re putting nasturtium in the Korean green tea. I like the roasted rice green tea…is this the one you use?
Oh YAY!! So glad you were able to buy them. Sorry about the Gmarket – maybe they don’t want to ship that cover since it’s breakable. I know they definitely ship some other items internationally. I used just Korean green tea without the roasted rice. The nasturtiums are so mild, even the green tea, I put in just a little bit. I am afraid the roasted rice may take over but no harm in trying. Thank you so much for the update and wish you all the best!
Lovely varied garden, must have a great scent. Glad your weather is normalising this year. You must be looking forward to your summer break having been so busy! ☺
Yes, it does! In fact, my whole neighborhood smells of citrus flowers this time of year. We are so lucky to have the weather for it. Summer break would be wonderful but I have traveled so much already this year, I kind of look forward to staying home and spending time on my blog. 🙂 Thanks so much for your comment!
How beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing the tips about transplant!!
You are very welcome! Thank you~
You have some of my favorite flowers in your garden! 🙂 I love ceanothus/California lilac – it grows wild around my parents’ house and I think it is so beautiful! The scent of ceanothus is the scent of spring to me. I am sitting a hundred miles away from my parents’ house and in an office, and I can still almost smell it when I look at your photo. The bees love it, too! I hope it grows well for you.
Gravenstein apples are also one of my favorites – the area I grew up in used to be famous for growing Gravenstein apples! Every year the nearby town has an Apple Blossom Parade and a Gravenstein Apple Festival. They make the BEST apple pie.
Hello!! Oh, EXACTLY what I wanted to achieve with my post! So glad my photos brought good memories and perhaps a little bit of the smell back to you. Yes, the lilac has been growing really well for me (it is in a tree form) and bees love it definitely! Gravenstein Apple pie was yummy last year! I must find where the Apple Blossom Parade is…Thank you so much for leaving me such a lovely comment. Hope you have a wonderful day!!
Happy Spring to you too! Love all your beautiful photos and I am so delighted that spring is on its way.
Thank you thank you! Happy Spring to you too!