Good morning world and happy Friday!
I hope your working day passes quickly and you are heading into a great weekend!
If you fancy a bit of online Christmas shopping, I'd be so happy to welcome you to my Etsy art shop…
https://theweeowlstudio.etsy.com/listing/1034507557
or you can search for 'TheWeeOwlStudio' on Etsy.
The arching branches of Ceanothus 'Concha' (Californian lilac) appear over this wall in London with a tsunami of flowers. This evergreen shrub has a dense habit and will thrive in a warm sheltered garden. The flowers are excellent for attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Ceanothus is a genus in the Rhamnaceae, or Buckthorn Family, and California has the greatest concentration of species. Many of them have clusters of small blue flowers, and they are sometimes called “California lilacs”, though they are not actually related to the true lilacs. ‘Concha’ is a hybrid that has been around for some time, and it is thought to be the result of a cross between two species from California’s central coast.
Lovely Memories…
This was one of Jacqueline’s favourites (Andy's Mum) 😊
She used to have a beautiful huge bush just inside the driveway entrance to La Maison...
Seven or eight years ago (I remember my son being in a pushchair when I bought it) I planted this ceanothus on the large wall of my house by the road. I put it in the garden because it’s a very true blue, rather than purple-ish, and I haven’t liked that colour with my other flowers. Out in the road it could not clash. (Actually I think the colour of this variety would have been fine with my other flowers out at this time.) However, it is now so enormous it’s a good thing it isn’t in my small garden, there would not be space. It’s not blocking traffic yet but that feels like a matter if time! I have never fed or watered it, except when I first planted it, and the soil is both dry and poor. Amazing performance. Ceanothus does not like very cold temperatures, and lost its evergreen leaves in a cold spell last year, but recovered happily.
Original oil pastel painting - Ceanothus -Californian Lilac
This larger statement piece is available in my Etsy shop…
https://theweeowlstudio.etsy.com/listing/1034507557
or you can search for 'TheWeeOwlStudio' on Etsy.