Farewell-to-Spring

No, no. I'm not bidding farewell to Spring just yet. That's the common name of the California annual wildflower Clarkia amoena. 

Along with all the California Poppies I've been inflicting on you, I also planted these Clarkia. Now, as the poppies and lupines are fading away, the Clarkia are starting to bloom, as if to say farewell to the spring wildflowers.

Rather like the "mixed" poppies with which I've regaled you, the Clarkia come in a wide array of a variety of two-tone pink colors. The "brochure" says that, with irrigation, they can last up to 3-4 months. Since we're in a serious drought year (following on the heels of two other drought years) and are admonished to cut water consumption, these guys likely won't last that long.

The "brochure" also suggests that they make long-lasting cut flowers, but I'll most likely leave most of them in the garden to go to seed.