California Fuchsia, Manzanita and Orange Blossoms

This morning we headed over to this native plant nursery - specializes in native California plants and trees as well as drought resistant plants. 

I could have gone hog-wild - but limited it to 4 pots - 2 Vine Hill Manzanita plants and 2 California Fuchsia plants. 

California Fuchsia

Love the scarlet color. 

Epicorium canum is a beautiful species of willow herb, native to the California foothills and coastal areas. It is a perennial plant, notable for the profusion of bright scarlet flowers in summer and autumn - it's usually the only native California plant in an area flowering at the height of summer. They tend to die back and go dormant in the winter. Other common names include California-fuchsia (from the resemblance of the flowers to those of Fuchsias), Hummingbird Flower, and Hummingbird Trumpet (the flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds).  And we love our Hummingbirds. 

It will survive just fine, with a once a month watering. 

The Vine Hill Manzanita - 

Arctostaphylos densiflora is a very rare species of manzanita known by the common name Vine Hill manzanita.  Manzanitas like hot, dry summers and cold, damp winters. (In regular, non-drought years) 

Known for its smooth, wine-red bark; one of the few manzanitas that tolerates our clay-loam soils; attracts hummingbirds and beneficial insects.

The Manzanita branches are popular in floral design and home decorating. 

We bought all 4 plants in 1 gallon containers for $20 and that included our senior discount.  The manzanita is hard to find and is usually sold out. You can't find these just anywhere. I was thrilled that finally, I found them! 

Both these California natives will be loved by our hummingbirds and the other birds that frequent our yard - and they host 35 different types of butterflies and moths. 

Our potted Orange tree has flowers - the fragrance is sweet. 

When it gets a little bigger we will plant it in the ground - We bought it last year and probably next year we will do that.