California Lilacs: Blooming Ceanothus

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

California Lilacs, or Ceanothus, are some of our most fragrant and colorful shrubs here in California. They are also evergreen and very drought tolerant.

Our extreme rain has caused my prize ceanothus plant to bloom like it’s never bloomed before.

What’s even more amazing is that a few years ago I thought it had died and planted other things in its place. When I noticed a few sprouted leaves, I decided to watch and see what happened.

Magic happened where I couldn’t see; beneath the topsoil.

Today, it’s taken over the entire area next to my driveway. It’s a testament to tenacity, determination, and perseverance; great qualities to emulate.

This ceanothus is so vibrant and alive that it takes my breath away.

Happiness is a Blooming Hedgehog Aloe and Stunning Ceanothus

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

The temps dropped nearly forty degrees and we were lucky enough to get some unexpected rain.

In the morning I was greeted by this flowering orange Hedgehog Aloe against a background of a very healthy ceanothus covered in lilac blooms.

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Magical Purple-Blue Ceanothus

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

I have NEVER seen a color like the blue of this ceanothus. It’s a deep intense pure purpleblue, an amazing gigantic specimen.

Ceanothus has many ethnobotanical uses. Native Americans would mix the flowers with water to create a soapy detergent. It really works! Roots and leaves have reputed medicinal properties, and the long, flexible stems of some species are used in basket-making. The common name for Ceanothus americanus, a species from the eastern United States, is New Jersey Tea, which refers to its use during the Revolutionary War as a substitute for traditional British tea.

The camera definitely doesn’t capture the saturation of color. It’s full of the sound of buzzing BEES.

#WordlessWednesday

Daley Ranch Hike

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Only about twenty minutes away in Escondido, there’s nothing like the Daley Ranch nature preserve for an array of views on a mostly clear, sunny day.

My favorite ceanothus in blue.

This ranch house that we see today was built in 1925 as a summer cottage for the Daley family.

Visit http://daleyranch.org/ for all the facts and other interesting info about the land that was designated as a conservation mitigation bank to be preserved in perpetuity.

Hiking through the Daley Ranch

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Yesterday we went for a three-hour hike in one of my favorite spots: the Daley Ranch in Escondido. While it was overcast and drizzly near the coast, Escondido is inland where it’s usually always warm and sunny. We took the Sage Trail all the way up to Stanley Peak

This is an especially lovely time of year with the ceanothus in bloom. Ceanothus blooms are rich in saponins, which produce lather when rubbed with some water; basically ceanothus flowers make soap. It really works! Try it for yourself! Pick a handful of flowers, add a little water, and rub your hands together.

Ramona Lilac Ceanothus