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in bloom

For a long time I've watched enviously as contributors have commented on
species I've never heard of, wishing I could join in.  Yesterday it hit me
that I was missing the obvious opening.  As part of a phenology exercise
I've been maintaining a diary of bloom cycles for dozens of species(next
year I hope to link this info to data on degree-days, and maybe even some
insect and weed population monitoring).  I walk local neighborhoods and
note species, exposure, and occasional other particulars that seem
interesting.  It's mainstream stuff most of it not at all mediterranean and
not worth mentioning here.  But as part of the whole exercise I've been
visiting some of the local arboreta noting blooms there, too.  Some of what
I see is medit.  My taxonomic knowledge is sketchy so some of what I note
may be pedestrian but some may also be interesting to someone in Australia
or Capetown, so....

>From the Berkeley Botanic Garden, May 13:

in bloom and notable,

Crinodendron hookerianum (Chile Lantern Tree)
lots of Banksias
several callistemons including pachyphyllus 'viridis'  &  speciosus
some fab, gaudy yellow Cassia clusiana (Chile)
a ribald looking aloe, Duryanthes palmeri
and from the mediterranean part of China(?) Rosa helenae, a beautiful, huge
white rose

There were some other less spectacular medit things flowering(mostly
australian):
Astelia banksii
Leptospermum myrsinoides
Parohebe perfoliata
Solanum laciniatum
Gahnia aspera (a sedge)

And from the non-medit group:
Satureja mexicana (red!)j
Sisyrinichium platense, a blue iris that seems to be naturalizing through
an entire bed
zillions of salvias
Calceolaria salicifolia (yellow)
Philadelphus
Styrax youngae

and for reasons unknown to me an Anthony Waterer Spiraea was just opening
despite being in a hot spot.

If I've mispelled anything or committed some botanical faux pas please let
me know.
Most of the above species are not mentioned in any of my garden encyclopedias.

Jerry Heverly, Oakland, CA
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