I Have Monkeys, Leopards and Butterflies in My Garden!

I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I was really looking forward to the Mariposa Lilies blooming.

Mariposa is Spanish for butterfly. There were twisty unopened buds for the longest time.

 

Finally, last week they started to open.

Then, suddenly, this past weekend, they all opened at once.

 

 

 

Someone thought the markings on the petals looked like butterfly wings. Native Americans collected the corms of these plants (Latin name: Calochortus venustus) for cooking and eating. They are a West Coast native, very well suited to our wet winters and dry summers.

My Leopard lily (Lilium pardalinum) has also started blooming. At first it was just one bud.

Then several more.

Looks like there are plenty more to come. Leopard lilies are another West Coast native that thrives on our wet winters and dry summers.

My monkey flowers (Mimulus cardinalis and Mimulus lewisii x cardinalis) also just started blooming.

Mimulus cardinalis/scarlet monkey flower

I started scarlet monkey flower from seed. Last year it was just a few small clumps of leaves. Now I have three large plants. This plant likes moisture, so I'm going to have to see what I can do this summer about keeping it wet. It is another West Coast native, with a reputation as a hummingbird magnet. In fact, hummingbirds are its exclusive pollinators.

Apparently someone thought this flower looked like a monkey's face. I don't know.

 Mimulus lewisii x cardinalis (bought from Annie's Annuals)

I think it looks like a singing mouth. I can picture Disney animating it.

Monkeys and Leopards and Butterflies, Oh My!