April

I guess APRIL is next.  Last April was amazing in the yard,  Clematis blooming....not just this purple one, also my Nelly Moser,Lantanas, Prickly pears, Amaryllis, Nastrium, Snaps,everything so fresh and Green..... Spring really is the best time of year. Salvia Greggii under a peach tree. 

Every fall I walk around and randomly plant about 100 daffodils.  They are sooo cute and Cheerful, LOVE them...April is probably the nicest month of the year.  Most everything is bloomin, leaves are out, green and fresh as far as the eye can see

A year in Review... Jan -March

 The year Started out GREAT, then came the summer from Hell, and now things are starting to get better in Fall.

 January started off with Paperwhites, 4o'clocks, Stock, Dianthus, Gaura (sadly passed away in July 09) and Cheerful Pink Gerbera Daisy

February was blooming up a storm the Amaryllis started, as well as Petunias, Calendula, Barbados Cherry, Salvia Greggii, Geranium, Daffodils, Paperwhites, Stock, Dienthus, Gerbera Daisy.  The only part I don't like about winter gardening is that the rest of the yard looks bare.  none of the deciduous trees have gotten their foliage yet.

March... March and April are some of my Favorite months, with May being the probably best.  March is great, Fruit trees are blooming, bees are humming, sun is shining....aaaahhh  you get the picture.  March is great.  The Lavender Lady Passion even is blooming, it always blooms.  Year round.  Perfect beautiful vine.

March  and spring is great... So much possibilities, new plants sprouting every day...definately a rush...

Rain Rain Rain GO AWAY!!!!

6 months ago I was praying for rain, now I am praying it'll STOP. Enough already. The ground is saturated and has been for a while, and I can hear the painful screams of my plants as they slowly rot away. The worst part is the false hope the weather men always gives me.... There's always sun and mid to high 60's in their forecast. Just doesn't happen. AAAARGH!!!!!!! I want to be able to go outside and start my seeds. Calendulas, Snaps, Stock, poppies, I really want to attempt once again to Lakespur. Tomatoes and other veggies should be started soon....All I want for Christmas is SUN, SUN, SUN, and NORMAL temperatures.





In two weeks 2009 comes to an end. A whole new decade is approaching. Hopefully one that will provide great gardening seasons for me and everyone else.

Mid December Blues

Yeppers, I've got the blues.  Can you blame me???  This has so far been a VERY unusual December.  Temperatures WAY below average, Cloudy, Rainy, Cold and Foggy.  Nobody likes that, my garden included.We've in 2009 had an exeptional drought, our lake levels are still way lower than normal, but this drizzle doesn't help at all.  Many plants have surcombed to the elements.  Surprisingly, most of the casualties, and oldies.  Not new garden aquisitions, but plants that's even lived through the Icestorms of '05 and '07.
I don't think it was caused by our brief dip below freezing, no.  I think 2 weeks worth of 40's no sun and constant drizzle has caused these to die.  My fairly large Blue agave, no longer have firm branches, they are sluggish, as if filled with liquid. 
There's always next year, and until we get normal weather and sun, there's not much I can do except take my daily walk out to the orange trees, and pick me some yummys.

December Shock!

December has brought this seasons first frost.  Just barely, and hopefully things will recover.  A lot of plants turned to mush, surprisingly since my lows ended up beeing 31.6 degrees.  Did get colder than that last winter, but not with the same devestating effect. 

The beautiful pink Pentas are goners.  The Duranta, Canna, South African Honeysuckle, Tropical Sage, Plumbago, Nastriums, Geraneums, 4o'clocks, Peppers, Tomatoes.....Some are really surprising.  I have 3 Agaves that turned into MUSH.  I don't understand WHY?????  Foliage on the Lemon trees look sad as well....

Last winter we had lows down to 28, with all of the plants above (except tomatoes and 4 o'clocks) not missing a beat.  Could this be residual damage caused by severelyt stressed plants after the horrid summer???  Who knows.  Winter blooms are not missing a beat.  Calendula, Violas, Pansies, Snapdragons, Dianthus, Alyssum are all going strong.  Once the drizzle stops, and the temperatures warm up to tolerable, I will make a survey of the plants. 

December Snow!!!!

Snow day, snow day... at least that's what the meteorologist want us to believe. Possible 1-4 in of snow. The anticipation was great, and by mid day I did see a flurry.... then a few minutes later another one. I excitingly waited by the window, concentrating , looking , thinking how much fun. It's gonna SNOW, but to no prevail. That was it. 2 snow flurries and it was gone. On the news they reported snow, to the north and south of us. Even Houston got snow. I saw to 2 snow flurries. Does that even count as snow? Probably not. Wouldn't even be able to make the worlds smallest snowman out of that. The rest of the day was chilly, yet sunny and nice. Tried to go outside, dressed in my warmest gear. Picked some Oranges, and went back in. No use to be outside when its THIS cold

December Stroll...

December is here, its a beautiful sunny day.  Let's see what's blooming...
The Pink Jasmine covering the arbor over the gate to the back, back part doesn't look that interesting yet.  I can see what I think is itty bitty flower buds starting to form.  It will be a sight in spring, govered in white flowers and pink buds.
mmmmmm not to mention the smell.  The fragrance of Jasmine is absolutely delightful.  Really need to get a larger structure there to let it ramble along. 

Salvia Greggii, Majestic sage and Lemons, frame a hidden path, while the yellow/orange bulbine nicely interacts with Mexian Bush Sage. 

I think if I could only choose flowers from one genous, it would be Salvia.  There are so many diffener varieties, blooms practically year round, and is relative pest free.   A sunny border, flanked by an Agave in a container, Paperwhites, Zinnias, Dianthus and Ornamental Pepper. 

Forgotten

First Paperwhite to bloom for the 09/10 winter.  I just think they are so cute.  Smells nice as well.  They are a cheerful hello, telling me winter is almost here.  Later in the season their cousins the Daffodils bloom.  Cheerful yellow trumpets, staring at the sun as if they are singing Spring is here, spring is here....

I like most bulbs.  Ok, I like effortless bulbs.  Stick-em-in-the ground and forget about them.  Then on their own time, when they choose, they surprise you with a stunningly beautiful flower.

Potato Vine Solanum laxum, is a vine I kinda forget I have.  Beautiful clusters of white flowers from fall into spring, occasional flowers throughout the year.  The dark evergreen foliage is pest free.  All I did with this plant, is planting it.  It's done everything else on its own.  No disease problem, never seen any pests (exept those bees that has a nest in it), never watered it or fertilized it...You could say it thrives on neglect.  The only thing I do to it is take photograps of it.  There is something so delicate about it, and I am terrified about pruning it.   This year I might get over my fear and trim it a bit...

This is ...I really don't know it's name.  Impulse buy. Like I am the ONLY gardener to take home a funky looking plant.  Got 3 of them, this is the only one still alive.  I thought this one was a goner this summer as well, though it managed to escape me ripping out dead plants.  Now I am wondering if the other two were really dead....

Stop and Smell the Roses....

oh...Guess I ment Salvias.  My partner in Crime and Garden "buddy"  follows me on my daily morning walk around the garden.  Early morning is a peaceful time to see if anything "new" is happening.  My buddy Puppy is always right next to me.  Today, however I looked down and the dog wasn't there.  I called him, to no prevail.  Then I noticed him, next to a patch of Tropical Sage, nose buried within the flowerstalks, sniffing and looking very happy. 

Managed to snap a few pictures, and realized, I don't stop to smell the roses nearly as often as I should.  Now that I am aware of his sniffing prefrences, I notice him stealing sniffs every day...not just from Salvias, but roses as well. 

What's up with the weather????

Isn't that the age old question??? I am confused. Is it gonna be sunny/rainy/hot or cold? I NEVER get it right. Got my winter gear on and it's sunny and 85. THEN thinking I learned something, next day I wear a t-shirt, and I'm about to freeze to death not to mention it's also raining. Right now it's sunny and raining. Go figure!

Got some new additions for the yard, this Better Homes and Gardens collection urn I think it'll look great when the agave in it has grown a bit. Now I just have to find the PERFECT spot for it.

It is nice for a change to go for an early morning stroll and temps being in the 60's. That was a few days ago, THIS morning it was 76. and Sunny rain, yes, it's possible.

Also one of my newest acquisitions. I am thinking I have inadvertently started a new collection.

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This is Pinwheel Jasmine.

It smells just as wonderful as all my other Jasmines. See there's that collection. I have Pink, Maids of Orleans, Pinwheel, Star and Madagascar.

Looking back ...

through my pictures and found my Halloween Decor from a few years ago. These Orange Gerbera Daisies really fit the Halloween Spirit.
NEXT year, I think I may perhaps decorate a bit for Halloween. This year I haven't come to terms with it being October yet. One year I will get some decorating done.

Sunday....and Sunny...and warm

Got a few 100 bulbs planted. Also planted some gerbera daisies, a Salvia Greggii, and cleaned up. Dh pruned the peach trees. Really can't believe HOW fast they have grown. Then Puppy almost destroyed the Greggii.... I don't know for SURE it was him, but he has a history.

Sitting on Rain lily I was taking pictures off, Sitting in Flower bed, Walking on newly planted Alyssum... Yes he's cute, but.....

It's funny how having multiple dogs, you instantly "know" who did what. Normally I am right, but there is an element of doubt. Greggis are harder to assess. I can ALWAYS tell who was in the Plumbago... Those sticky flowers, SCREAMS I am the one the sat there. It's hard to make me believe that when he has a blue flower stuck to his behind....and no, I don't think the other two are smart enough to "frame" him.