There are still some Manzanitas in bloom around the garden. They have been blooming since a little before Thanksgiving. I seem to be taking them for granted: almost missed including their delicate blooms in my “Around the Garden” series! I am very fortunate to be surrounded by manzanitas. From the house, from the garden, from my studio, anywhere I look, there they are, gorgeous any time of year. A couple of weeks after the first good rain they burst into bloom. After a few more rains they start to bring out new foliage, and they ripen their fruit slowly over the summer.
Look, there is one berry forming in this raceme! By the time it is ripe, it will be bit larger, wider, a bit flatter in its overall shape, and will look very much like a little apple. This is were this plant got its common name, for little apple in Spanish: manzanita.
January 11, 2010 at 4:48 pm
hi Angela! its me, Luca!
your blog looks wonderful and your pictures are excellent!
January 11, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Welcome to my blog, Luca, I’m glad you like it. Thanks a lot for your support and encouragement. I hope you’ll visit this blog from time to time.
January 13, 2010 at 10:05 pm
When I visited Zion National Park I noticed Manazanita growing all over that area. It was so beautiful covering hillsides with views of unbelievable red mountains in the distance.
January 14, 2010 at 1:32 am
Oh, Zion. How I love that place!
I wonder how far East can one find Manzanitas… It is definitely an arid land shrub.
Also, it can make a great container plant, as you surely know. Manzanita Howard McMinn even makes a good bonsai…