Flowers – Cannas

Cannas are spectacular summer bulbs. Paddle-shape leaves wrap in ruffles around stems, tapering to refined buds. The buds open into eye-catching flowers of red, orange, yellow, and pink from late spring or early summer to first frost. Cannas are commonly referred to as “bulbs,” although they are not true bulbs. They multiply beneath the soil from a rhizome, an underground stem. The red cannas are from Hickory whereas the golden ones are from Santa Monica, California.

Red Canna
Golden Canna
Canna

Flowers – Bee on a Grevillea Flower

Grevillea Moonlight, a stunning shrub blooms all year in some climates. A fast grower, its large, moonlight-colored flowers and finely divided, gray foliage are a must for any southern-temperate garden. Frost and drought tolerant once established, it attracts bees and hummingbirds. Captured in Santa Monica, California.

Bee Attracted by Grevillea Flower

Flowers – Brazilian Jasmine

Mandevilla sanderi, the Brazilian jasmine, is a vine belonging to the genus Mandevilla. Grown as an ornamental plant, the species is endemic to the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Here is a collage of Brazilian Jasmine flowers spotted in Santa Monica, California.

Collage of Brazilian Jasmine

Flowers – Lily of the Nile

The genus name, “Agapanthus” is derived from two Greek words: “agape,” which means “love,” and “anthos,” which means “flower”. Taken together, the agapanthus is the flower of love. It is sometimes also known as “African lily” and “lily of the Nile,” tributes to its African origins. Lily of the Nile is a common ornamental in warm climates (below images from Santa Monica, California), grown for its large spherical flower clusters.

Collage of Lilies of the Nile

Leaning Palms

Palm trees leaning towards the Pacific Ocean at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, California. Why do palm trees lean towards the sea? Palm trees lean to get more light called “phototropism.” The ocean acts as a mirror for light, so there is much more light coming from the sea than from a single building.

Leaning Palms

Santa Monica State Beach

Located just west of Downtown Los Angeles, the 3.5 mile Santa Monica beach is an iconic example of the famed beautiful beaches of Southern California. 

Clouds Over the Ocean

The beach sign below has cutouts for the umbrella and the birds so that the colors change depending upon the shade of the sky in the background.

Cutout Beach Sign

Pier Corner

Set in California at Santa Monica’s westernmost point, the Santa Monica Pier is a staple of this picturesque seaside community. Packed with family-friendly activities, vibrant street performers, restaurants and shops, the public pier also has stunning views and over a century’s worth of history. Here is a corner view of the famous pier.

Pier Corner