First blooms of the year in the native patch

It's that time of year for some of the native plants to start to bloom, especially after the December rains and a few unusually warm February days.

This California poppy is blooming in almost the identical spot where the first one bloomed last year.

Since I leave the plants go to seed and just partially cut them back in late fall, this must be the same plant.

The orange color is so incredibly solid and bright, it's easy to understand how pollinators quickly locate them.

Just a few feet away from the blooming poppy, a borage plant is also in bloom.

It's been wonderful observing how the borage plant developed through the winter from a complete state of dormancy, to slowly producing larger and larger leaves, and now the cluster of beautiful purple blooms.