In February of 2006, we had a very cold spell where the overnight temperatures dipped below freezing. I went out one morning and read the thermometer at 31° – very unusually cold for this part of California. After that freeze, this Umbrella Plant turned yellow, all the branches fell off and nothing was left but a skinny stump sticking out of the ground. I don’t have a photographic record of that, but it was pathetic.
In the spring of that year, the stump sprouted some new growth, so we decided to let it grow. And grow it did! Now, just 30 months later, the shrub is full and seems to want to take over its little corner of the yard. Verna took this shot today in the back yard. Click the image to enlarge.
