Oleander through the Year

Oleander Seeds Bursting from Pods,
© B. Radisavljevic

I can't ever remember living long in any location where oleander shrubs weren't nearby. They are a staple in California gardens and even freeway plantings because oleander isn't fussy about its soil and it doesn't need any irrigation once established. It actually likes a sunny, hot, dry location. In this post I will show you the life stages of oleander flowers -- how oleander flowers begin and end. The photo to the right shows you both the beginning and end of an oleander flower. We will continue to see how oleander changes through the year.

Since oleander is an evergreen shrub, it adds color and texture to the garden year-round with its long blade-like, dark green leaves. It can also be used on large rural properties where deer roam because it's said that deer won't eat it. Perhaps it's poisonous to them, as well as to people. Children need to be taught not to snack on it, since it can be deadly.

The photo below was taken on April 15, when my oleander was just starting to bud.

Oleander Budding,© B. Radisavljevic

This next photo was taken in June, when my oleander was in full and beautiful bloom.

Oleander Blooming,© B. Radisavljevic

When walking my neighborhood in the summertime, I see neighbors with many shades of oleanders ranging from white and light pink to red. Some neighbors have contrasting colors. This neighbor combined white with light pink.

White and Pink Oleander Blooming Together,© B. Radisavljevic

By October, the oleander flowers are beginning to make their seed pods. As the flowers have been pollinated and die back, what's left turns into one of these long seed pods. Some flowers just die back without making pods.

Oleander Seed Pods,© B. Radisavljevic

This last photo in the series was taken in February. It shows the seed pods bursting and the seeds getting ready to parachute away with the wind. See the close-up of the seeds in the very top photo.

Oleander Seed Pods Splitting,© B. Radisavljevic

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This is my fifteenth post for the 2016 AtoZchallenge, a Blogging Challenge for the month of April, 2016. My theme is plants, since this is a gardening blog. Here are links to the other posts if you missed them.

A is for Apple Blossoms
B is for Bottlebrush
C is for Carnations
D is for Daisy
E is for Elderberry
F is for Flowers
G is for Gazania
Hollyhocks are Edible
Irises Are Garden Survivors
Jupiter's Beard: A Mystery Finally Solved
Kale for Lunch

Lion's Tail - A Perennial Summer Burst of Orange
Miner's Lettuce is Tasty and Free

"Naked Ladies" Bloom in August