Aristolochia californica blooming

[William]

You will not read this with as much excitement as I write it but after two seasons, I think, my Aristolochia californica (Dutchman's Pipe) is blooming.

[finnloag]

William,
I share your enthusiasm as my thrice transplanted pipevine finally bloomed a couple of weeks ago. Keeping my eyes out for swallowtail eggs.
My aggressively pruned flannel bush (now a "flannel tree") is blooming spectacularly (the plant is around 7 years old). For those of you interesged, it has no branches below 4 feet and was topped at about 15 feet. I also prune the branch tips in the early fall to promote lateral growth. Lots of itch inducing labor (extremely painful if fuzz gets in your eyes) but the spring fireworks are worth it.