April 2016
Spent the past few hours weeding and thinning out all of the borders while Chris and Tom mowed. Here are some recent blooms:
15 posts in 2016
Lost ladybug
I fear that one of our younger neighbor's may have lost their friend during a walk around the block. I've given him/her pride of place on the corner hoping that a reunion will occur soon.
Found plants
after the past two weeks of rains, today it was an adventure to get out into the garden to see what new flowers have bloomed. Those plants that appear out of nowhere are the ones I enjoy the most. Today I spotted the first sprouts of purple basil that returns each year, some thistley-flowers that I almost dug up last week, some larkspur sprouting up through the gravel driveway, and the progress of the morning glory that invades our garden from four doors down:
Zilker Garden Festival buys
I picked up a few fun items at the Zilker Garden festival this weekend including some different types of begonias, bromeliads, and garden art. Then I came home, potted up my buys and took some new photos. Something smells lovely in the front garden and I cannot work out if it is the roses or rosemary or abloc of both. And my pomegranate tree is about to burst into orange flashes of blooms.
Photographic proof of miracles
Weekend in the garden
Between the bike rides and the Easter egg hunting, Chris and I did a lot pruning and tidying of the back patio this weekend. I managed to capture a few of the prettier things going on in the garden during our breaks though:
March 22 2016
The sunny evenings and bright mornings make it easy to lose track of time in the garden. Here are a few shots from this morning. The latest Davod Austin, Mayflower, has loads of buds about to pop. My tortoise carries the weight of a geranium whose name I've forgotten. The blue and hot pink blooms from the corner of the patio and the 'Flaming Katies' are still going strong since Christmas. Surveying the spring changes is making me late for work!
First days of spring
Enjoyed spending some time in the garden on Sunday and exploring my neighbor, Daphne's beautiful garden. She shared some coneflower and fall aster pass-alongs with me. This evening I planted those transplants and took a few shots of some buys I made this weekend (along with some new arrivals that are popping up from seeds planted in the fall).
Saturday in the garden continues
made a quick trip to the garden center and came back with quite a haul. Tried a new trick of taking photos of the plants as I planted them with their name tag and location so I won't forget what is where. Also picked up a few ladybugs aka ladybirds to distribute. And captured a couple of garden vignettes that I hadn't noticed before-an accidental grouping of plants by the front door, and a group of bluebonnets attempting to hide our wheelie bins!
Rain refreshener
A quick revisit of some plants or pots I may have already shared but they look so happy after the showers. The cyclamen were in the bargain section of a nursery and on sale for the equivalent of 25p...they look better than the ones for which I paid eight times that much! I'd shared the blue and white pots in an earlier post but didn't really focus on the flowers inside! I'm especially liking the red tinges on the succulents. My pansies and violas are going strong despite the ivy invasion in some pots--and are getting many visitors. Plus, I need to celebrate keeping lavender alive for more than two weeks!
Early March 2016
This morning a lady stopped by that I had spoken with a few months ago when I offered up some plants for her new garden plan. Today she arrived with her son and granddaughter in tow and we loaded up her car with lambs ear, bluebonnet, rock rose, red phlox, standing cypress, Mexican petunia, day flower, and hollyhock. It's fun to have everything established enough to have loads of extras to share with neighbors.
Couple of additions this year...
I missed the blooming of my Japenese honeysuckle last year so had been a bit nonplussed about it. But this past week, it has been smelling lovely as we come in and out of the front door.
Talavera Pottery addiction
I was chatting with my friend, Chris about how I liked blue and white talavera pottery but I'd hit up most places in Austin and depleted their stock. Unfortunately for my bank account, she let me know about a place out by the airport so I went and stocked up. Glad I only took the mini as I hate to think how much more I would have purchased in a bigger car!
Purple blooms
The outdoor movie screen got battered in some storm and we never removed the frame...but now I have unintended garden art!
Cloverleaf 2016
We missed winter in Austin and it already looks like we are in the midst of Spring. The mild December and January allowed Katie and I to potter a lot in the garden during her visit. The garden went a bit wild last year so this has been a winter of pruning and tidying and all the boring bits of gardening! However, the tedious chores will hopefully lead to a blooming lovely summer!