We’re visiting with Jill Blodget today.

We purchased our 5-acre parcel in Cameron Park (Northern California, Zone 9B), in 1998. We spent five years clearing brush, poison oak (some of the poison oak had 2- to 3-inch trunks that climbed and wound throughout the oak trees), and excessive manzanita before finally building our home. Like many GPOD contributors, we have had multiple challenges in our beloved garden, including clay soil, rocks, rocks, and more rocks, as well as deer, rabbits, voles, skunks, and more. But they were here first, so we let them take a small share.

The gardens around the house are mostly perennials that are at their peak in the summer. However, we have a few spots with late winter–early spring jewels to enjoy that are shared here.

In addition, we have enhanced some of the oak woodland areas with various bulbs that bloom from about mid-February to May. The natural soap plant (Chloragalum pomeridianum, Zones 7–10) leaves are very similar to daffodil greenery, so we have tucked about a thousand of them throughout the areas down the hill from our home. We have also added in some snow crocus (Crocus chrysanthus, Zones 3–9) and hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis, Zones 4–9).

Camellia (Camellia japonica, Zones 7–10), with rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, Zones 7–10) behind it, work well together. These are two of our first late winter–early spring bloomers. 

A closer view of the winter rosemary flowers

Christmas rose (Helleborus hybrid, Zones 4–9), with variegated daphne (Daphne odora, Zones 7–10) in the background

This daphne in bloom is right by the front door, where it gives out such a welcoming, wonderful smell.

Miners lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata, annual) is one of the first things to come up naturally in the woodlands behind our home in the late winter.

The miner’s lettuce gets harvested daily for the chickens to enjoy as a salad.

Snow crocuses celebrate spring with their early blooms.

A beautiful daffodil (Narcissus hybrid, Zones 4–9) blends in with the native plants growing in the garden.

Foliage of the soap plant looks similar to that of daffodils. Later in spring, it will produce panicles of delicate, fragrant, white flowers.

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.