More Pretties!

Azaleas (and other acid-loving plants like gardenias) do not grow well in Hell's Half Acre, because the soil is too alkaline. Supposedly in East Tejas they grow like gangbusters, but not here. Being from a part of the South synonymous with such flowering shrubs, and having enjoyed them Up North too, I refuse to be without them, though, and have several in pots. I bought these two in bud from Big Box nursery, so they opened up a couple weeks back are are so preeeeeety! The ones I already had from last year haven't quite gotten there yet, so more pretties to come. The pink on on the left is "Hinode Giri" and the salmon one on the right is "Fashion." A. if you ever see the micro-mini "Wren" up there, snap it up for me and ship that sucker!


Here's "Cameo" quince--it bloomed later and not as much as the "Texas Scarlet" but I love the coluh.






This is one of the irises I brought with us in the RV from Up North. It's really big now and currently has three blooms on it. I don't have a label any more, and I've been trying to find one like it on the internet...

And last but not least--yet another Crossvine picture--I just love this! Unlike the one I posted last year and earlier on the other blog which is growing over the fence from our neighbor's yard, this is the one growing over the gas meter in our front yard. When we first moved in, at the end of a drought-y and super-hot summer, it was just a dead-looking vine twining around the meter. You can see that it has recovered nicely:

The mother-in-law planted it there to camoflage the meter--apparently the gas company told her they were going to do some low-profile thing in some less-obvious area of the yard, and then while she was at work, they came and installed this 2 1/2 foot tall behemoth right smack dab in the front of the front yard. She planted this as her revenge, I think, because they now have to burrow through vine to read the meter. I incorporated the be-vined meter in one of the large beds in the front yard It has been going nuts since it got some TLC and water, and as I think I have said before, I've trained it into a kind of Christmas tree shape around three tall garden stakes.

Bulbs Galore!

These pictures of cute mini narcissi in one of my back beds are for Annabelle, whose yard is being plagued by the dastardly, bulb-eating Narcissus Fly. Die, Fly, Die! It's funny--most of my daffs out front are done but I'm just getting some in back--must have to do with when I planted them or the sun or something.



Whatever--I am enjoying the hell out of them!
Following is a white daffodil with"Powys Castle" artemisia.

And next, A., here is one of the cymbister (?) amarylli you sent me to save them from the Dastardly Bulb Fly. I *think* this one is "La Paz," but if not, let me know...























And finally, we'll end on a really cute tulip and anemone, from the days before the Work-boot Stomp-a-thon:

Sage Is Blooming! [UPDATED]

...in March! I know I keep going on about it, but Up North this would be a summer flower. Here, since it doesn't' die all the way back I guess it can jump right into blooming the minute the days are longer and the weather warmer (btw, this is Salvia Gregii--it's a woody-stemmed perennial variety that does better in hot, dry weather than the more herbacious varieties--I introduced Papa Wheeler to it in Belt Buckle last year, and now he is hooked; honey bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love it too!)...

And here's some tulips I planted in oh, December? They came as extras in another shipment of something, can't remember what. Of course, they will need to be tossed as the climate is not right here for them to rebloom. However, supposedly species tulips can and I'm going to have to order some next fall (Love Clusiana and the Persian something or other--dark pink and kinda silver). In front of the tulips is black mondo grass and yellow violas; that's a mum in the middle. In the background is our crappy, rotten, peeling wood siding, which shall soon be covered by some pristine vinyl siding in a nice, neutral blue-gray (can't wait!)


UPDATE!! Here's the salvia a couple weeks later. I think this one is called "Lipstick":

The one in the foreground is "Raspberry" and behind it is "Lipstick":

The sun finally came out today and the bees are happily buzzing around it. More good news is that the siding is no longer yellow and peeling, but rather blue and vinyl--they are almost done--yayyy! Unfortunately for the flower beds along my foundations--a lot of the irises and amarylli got smashed by sundry ladders and work-boots....

Speaking of Dark-colored Flowers...

I bought a package at Wally-world containing these three flower bulbs:

(7) Gladiolus "Mexico"

10 Acidanthere Murielae (also called Peacock Orchid, but a type of Gladiolus)

(1) Dahlia "Chat Noir"

Wish-list

Oh dear god---"Night Owl" Climbing Rose: I WANT THIS!!!!! Of course I don't really have anywhere to put a climbing rose right now (have two that were here already), but I LOVE the color and the description of the scent and heat-resistance is verrrrry tempting.....maybe when we have finished the addition...

Now here's something else I'd buy if I could. In theory Hellebores should do well in our alkaline soil, but I planted a "Blue Lady" Hellebore that I bought at a nursery here in the only shady spot we have, which is under the big fruitless mulberry that shades our patio. The soil under there, unfortunately is pretty thin and compact even after amendments, and it didn't do much, and didn't look too happy, so I dug it up and put it in a pot. Still not much. So I'm not going to sink the money into another one, even though I'd dearly love to.

The things I miss most about my tiny garden Up North? Peonies, hellebores, and hostas. I brought two tree peonies with me--they are in big pots, but herbaceous ones do not do well here--it is not cool enough. I love me some hostas too, and have planted some cheap varieties from Wally World under the tree. In theory they prefer a more acidic soil and will burn if the sun shines on them too much. I brought a few of my mini hostas in the "bottoms" of some of the potted plants I brought down. I have just given into temptation and totally splurged by purchasing two more which will join the others in pots. The variegated one is "Little Sunspot" (which only gets 8 in. high) and the tiny blue one is "Blue Mouse Ears" (which only gets 6 in. high and is a smaller sport of "Blue Cadet" which I had in my garden Up North). AWWWWW! Aren't they cuuuuuuuuuute! And believe me there were more, but I had to restrain myself so I could get this:

aka. "Jungle Beauty" Daylily---I have a thing for really dark-colored daylilies...

How Dost My Garden Grow .... in February!

Here's more daffodils---just because.

Well, folks, actually it's March, but I've got some pictures from February to feast the eyes on. Today it's a sunny, balmy 70 degrees outside; I have most of my new windows open, and, as it looks like we've seen the last of our freezing nights. I have actually started to take my house-plants outside. Can ya beliiieeeeeve it? I still can't and it's my second Spring here in Tejas. I must say, after wanting to throw myself in front of the nearest snow plow every March for the last few years, I'm lovin' every minute of it. Almost makes the 100 degree plus we'll have in a few months worth it. Almost.

Texas Scarlet Quince

I planted this Mexican Plum tree
Fall '06, it started blooming 2-3 weeks ago-----Amazing!

Just took the potted plants pic today: daffodils, hyacinths and tulips bought at Wally World; I'll plant the first two in the yard when they are done, for next year