Marshalls Abroad

Life Monterey

A Spring Flower Guide to Monterey!

One of the sweetest parts about Springtime is all of the gorgeous, fragrant, colorful flowers that bloom and celebrate this glorious season. I look forward to this time especially, all year! For all of my fellow flower-loving souls, I hope this will be a fun guide for you and if nothing else, a beautiful way to start the week! 
Lavender: Typically a summertime flower but the lavender in our yard has been blooming beautifully. In California with the dry, warm weather, that’s no surprise! 
Sunflowers: Also typically a summertime flower, but they’re already in bloom, too. You can find them on the Monterey Peninsula at the local farmer’s markets (Friday mornings at MPC have had them every week!), Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. 
Garden Rose: They’re blooming throughout the area and the smell is to die for! The best place for garden roses, specifically David Austin Juliet Roses are at the Tuesday evening Old Monterey Farmer’s Market and the Thursday morning Carmel-by-the-Sea Farmer’s Market. 
Sweet Peas: Find them during the Spring at the MPC Farmer’s Market on Friday mornings, $1 per bunch!
Icelandic Poppies: California poppies are blooming all over Monterey on the side of the road and Icelandic are currently blooming in our backyard garden 🙂
Stock: One of the best smells in the entire world! They’ve been available since late Winter and the best selection and price I’ve found is at Trader Joe’s. 
Peonies!! I wait all year long for these beauties. I’ve never seen them at the local farmer’s markets in Monterey or Carmel but Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s both sell them, TJ’s being the better price. There is also a peony farm above San Jose called Chateau CharMarron Peony Farm that lets you visit and cut flowers. 
Sage: Typically it grows year-round in Monterey, but the sage in our yard does especially well in Spring and Summer. I pick the flowers for bouquets and we cook with the leaves. 
Snap Dragon: They started appearing in the farmer’s markets a few weeks ago and the best place to find them I’ve found is at the MPC Farmer’s Market, which (to me!) has the best variety of local flowers.

Freesia: Purple, white and pink varieties have been selling for about $4 a bunch at the MPC Farmer’s Market.

Another helpful place to learn about what flowers, fruits, vegetables and other produce grows locally each season (as well as restaurants to try, b&b’s and local events) is Edible Monterey Bay. The print magazine covers the whole area, including Santa Cruz, and you can pick them up for free around town, like at Earthbound Farm Stand, coffee shops, or read it online. 

Happy Monday and happy start to MAY!


Comments

  1. Anna @ IHOD says

    Oh this is such a clever idea. Wish I could drive through Monterey this week. Those flowers are gorgeous. You look incredible my friend!

  2. brittany says

    gosh this makes me SO happy! my back yard flowers are juuuust starting to bloom and i ammmm so excited!! i need to go a-flower shopping ASAP!!

  3. Nicholle Montalvo says

    Peonies! 😀 😀 😀 I have yet to find them locally… tear. Hopefully farmer's mkt this weekend will have some. You, my friend, look beautiful!! <3

  6. Caravan Sonnet says

    As a lady who loves every kind of flower on earth (no exaggeration here at ALL *smiles*) even the little dandelions out front I am in LOVE with this post. You look absolutely stunning in these pictures!! 🙂
    Blessings, Rebecca 🙂
    P.S. I think this post confirmed my decision to move to California. hahaha 🙂

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