While driving from Napa to LA via the PH I saw the most beautiful, big blue flowers. The looked like spikes, and I wonder if anyone can tell me what they are. By the way, if you live in this area, congratulations....wish it was me.

Most likely lupine. Springtime in CA means yellow mustard, orange poppies and blue/purple lupine.

It could be lupine, they are beautiful wildflowers, but I was thinking Pride of Madiera, a perennial with very big blue/purple spikes, which is quite common along the central coast. Check this photo to see one. I love the wild ones growing along the cliffs of Big Sur. We had a particularly nice one growing in our front yard in Carmel years ago. The bees loved it b/c it does have sort of a sweet scent.

http://www.seedman.com/image/rhc271.jpg

Ceanothus?

Or if the flowers were sky blue, scattered along a mostly leafless stem, wild chicory.

Gemstone, they were indeed Lupine. They are just breath taking. Wish we could grow them in Central Fl. Thank you

Gemstone. Sorry I mean they were Pride of Madeira. Just beautiful..

You have a pink lupine that is native to Central Florida, and an endangered species:

http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Spec...upine-2005.htm

Maidalsabel, glad to be of help. If you are in USDA Zone 9a or b you might be able to grow Pride of Madeira, perhaps with a little protection? -- it might be a fun experiment. Btw, they are thriving down here on the south coast too. Come back and visit again!

We have Pride of Madiera plants in our back yard. They are quite spectacular when they are in full bloom.

Omigosh---we were in San Francisco last weekend and hiked the coastal Trail from Cliff House to GGB. Many times we saw these spectacular purple spikes in full bloom but I didn't know what they were (not too surprising, since I learned my botany in Alaska).

My sister and niece, who live in So. California, kept asking what they were. Now I can tell them---Pride of Madiera, and they can grow them. Thanks!

And then there are Lillies of the Nile which, unfortunately, don't thrive in a lot of places...sigh..but are beautiful IN San Francisco!

Dukey: you can have my lilies of the Nile - any day!

After the flower stops blooming it grows into a pod. The pod matures and bursts open releasing lots of seeds which become baby lilies.

This wouldn't be so bad, but the root is also a rhizome or something like it, so it continues to grow and spread OUT from the original spot.

Lilies and bamboo - and herbs, especially mint! Spidering all over the place. Yikes!