Flower Power
Flowers often mark a change of seasons, and their power comes in many forms, from their ability to relay an emotional thought to their ability to promote healthy soils and beautiful landscapes.
The depth and breadth of the power of flowers also needs to be approached from a point of tempered reality. Just as some flower species add to their beauty by being edible and nutritious, the beauty of other flowers masks their toxicity. They are the flowers meant to be seen but left alone.
Native flowers, those growing as indigenous plants in a particular region, represent the majority of flowers presented here.
Because diversity is a spice of life, the addition of select introduced plants and flowers nicely spices up any corner of the flower world. That's another power of flowers.
In the Western United States, February marks the traditional start of native flower bloom time, especially in areas around Southern California such as Anza Borrego State Park.
Flower power continues through the spring and summer, with blooms popping out of the ground up and down the West Coast. Come fall, mushrooms take center stage.
Botanists and gardening enthusiasts promote native plants typically, but not always, as low maintenance garden plants, in need of little extraordinary preparation or care. As such, native plants offer organic gardeners excellent flower choices.
Many of the flowers listed in the box make excellent garden flowers. They also add enjoyment to any West Coast walk or hike.
Currently they are arranged according to themes. The pictures of flowers provides a complete list of the individual species.
© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels