Fall Wildflower Sale

Himself and I shelled out our $50 at the sale last spring to become members of the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. It gets us in free for a year (to there and other botanic gardens around the US), AND we get to come to the Member's Only day at the Wildflower Sale. Himself got a half day off--which was great 'cause I hate to drive into Civilization by myself (the traffic! the construction! the new tolls!). And for being a good sport, he got to go to a nearby winery afterward. But anyway, here's the haul:

• Lace Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) --I also have a couple other varieties of this in pots--this one is like a little two-headed mushroom--so cute
• Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) I love these--planted some in the spring and they are tough little buggers, and so cheerful! They are in the Aster family.
• White Leadwort (Plumbago scandens)--I have some blue plumbago in a dry shade bed out back--this will join it along with ajuga, turks caps and a few hostas--and will probably be much better suited too. I'm actually pretty happy about the height as it will help graduate in size nicely between the above.
• Scarlet Penstemon (Penstemon triflorus)--This is going in the front Sage Bed that I'm expanding--it's mostly reds and hot pinks with some whites, blues, and a dash of yellow. Will increase the appeal for both hummingbirds and bees which already frequent it.
• Heath Aster (Symphyotricum ericoides)--This is another aster with white flowers against ferny grayish foliage. It's a host for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. The pic is one I took of a Pearl Crescent on the Prairie Fleabane I bought at the last sale.
  
• Tulipan del Monte or Heartleaf Hibiscus (Hibiscus martianus)--Like I need another hibiscus!!! But it's my latest passion...anyhoo this variety is supposed to be able to survive in the ground here if properly mulched.
• Pitcher Sage or Blue Sage (Salvia azurea var. grandiflora)
  
• 
• Zexmenia or Texas Creeping Ox-eye (Wedelia texana)--YES, it's another Aster! With gold to pumpkin-orange flowers. Really precious--but tough--grows everywhere around here. Larval Host for the Bordered Patch shown left.
• Spice Lily (Manfreda maculosa) --I'd gotten one of these last year but it was reeeeeallly small and is in a pot. On Members day they still had a nice selection, and I got a nice big one I intend to put in the yard. I can't wait for one of these to flower as they are supposed to be very fragrant--hence the name. Also the bigger they are the more noticeable the spots are--so far mine are very light.
• Fall Aster -- Ahhhh, reminds me of Up North, but apparently they grow well here too. It's also a needed cool color that I use to cool reds or oranges.
• Purple Milkweed Vine (Matelea biflora) -- larval host for monarch butterflies. Lookit the purple-brown flowers--aren't they the Coolness??
• Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) -- I have some of this somewhere--it's an excellent foil for all the red sages I have, and I love the silver foliage.
  
• Guajillo (Acacia berlandieri)-- Like I need another tall-growing shrup (this could be anywhere up to 15 feet!). Actually there IS space along the street-side of the back yard but the soil will need major improvement for better drainage, and there's trees to cut down back there, BUT this at least like arid conditions, so I wouldn't have to water it much once established (it's in the mimosa family--and I have a mimosa borealis). However, when I read that the "white-to-cream-colored flowers (yellowing with age) grow in ball-like clusters and are quite fragrant" as well as "a source of heavy light-colored honey rated by many as the best in the state," I was enchanted and placed it in my cart before the spell could wear off. It's also a host for the Long-tailed Skipper butterfly, which I saw in the Center's gardens but did not get a decent shot of... Meantime, it can go in a pot.

• Finally I have a Mystery Plant==it came home sans tag and for the life of me I can't remember what it is! I have sent a picture to "Ask Mr. Smarty Plants"--the online answer-service run by the Wildflower Center to see if they can ID it for me--I need to know where to plant it!!!
• Update: It's a Cardinal Feather (Acalypha radians)