04/30/09

Rosa 'Dame de Coeur'

Rosa 'Graham Thomas'

Rosa 'Prairie Sunset'

Rosa 'Belindas' Dream'

I never tire of roses. This time of year, when they are blooming wildly, is what I live for! If I had to pick a favorite rose I'd be in a quandary! I change my mind daily!

04/29/09

Rosa 'Schulenburg Apricot'

The Rose and the Bee

IF I were a bee and you were a rose,
Would you let me in when the gray wind blows?
Would you hold your petals wide apart,
Would you let me in to find your heart,
If you were a rose?

"If I were a rose and you were a bee,
You should never go when you came to me,
I should hold my love on my heart at last,
I should close my leaves and keep you fast,
If you were a bee."

by Sara Teasdale

04/27/09

Yard Art and Borders

Little by little my backyard garden is being transformed into an art yard! I've begun painting borders and adding bits of 'art' day by day. Each border will be having its own colors and patterns. I have a feeling, as I go, the patterns will become more elaborate. I also dug up an old piece of patio furniture that's missing its fabric. I've always liked the structure of the piece so have held onto it not knowing what to do with it. I decided it would be perfect to hold up the top heavy Bog Sage inside one of my beds. I painted it bright chartreuse and put it on display. The color isn't quite right, so I plan on adding a dark blue patina to it to knock back the intensity a bit. Gardening for me is never boring, making art at the same time just adds to the experience!

04/23/09

Tradescantia (Spiderwort)

A neighbor friend gave me a couple of cuttings of their Spiderwort. It has multiplied threefold! It is a wonderful shade of blue and in the morning when it blooms a sight to see! The blooms close up when the sun is out. On cloudy days the blooms are bluer than blue the entire day.

04/22/09

Rosa 'Sunbright'

There's a yellow rose of Texas
That I am going to see
No other soldier knows her
No soldier, only me.
She cried so when I left herIt like to broke my heart
And if I ever find herWe never more will part.


She's the sweetest rose of color
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew.
You may talk about your dearest May
And sing of Rosa Lee
But the Yellow Rose of Texas
Beats the belles of Tennessee.


Oh, my heart is feeling weary
And my head is hanging low
I'm goin' back to Georgy
To find my Uncle Joe.
You may talk about your Beauregard
And sing of Bobby Lee
But the Gallant Hood of Texas
He raised Hell in Tennessee.

04/21/09

These two Texas natives, Damianita and Calyophus, really pop with color in the spring! The lemon yellow of the Calyophus is intensified beside the golden yellow of the Damianita! I plan on planting, in the same bed, some fall blooming, spider lily (Lycoris radiata) bulbs, that I just got from The Southern Bulb Company. Calyophus and Damianita sometimes re-bloom in the fall and all three plants are xeric, needing no supplemental water.

The Southern Bulb Company http://www.southernbulbs.com/ specializes in antique, heirloom and adapted bulbs. The handsome owner, Chris Wiesinger, is very helpful and will answer all your questions.

04/20/09

Nothing smells as wonderful as Sweet Peas! Here in Texas their season is very short - but oh so sweet!

04/16/09

Today would be my Mother's 80th birthday, if she were still alive. I celebrate her birthday with the colors of spring.

04/13/09

A.
B.
C.
D.

The roses are in bloom again! A. Dame de Couer B. Maggie C. Home Run D. Burgundy Iceberg

04/11/09

I planted Dianthus 'Firewitch' late in the season last year expecting it to bloom in the late spring this year. I forgot that in Texas the seasons that plants are actually in bloom are quite different than what is usually foretold in most of the catalogs. It began blooming for me late winter rather than late spring. I was hoping it would be in bloom while the Pink Skullcap to the left in the photo would be in full bloom. I'm afraid it will be finished when the Skullcap starts going mad. I've trimmed off all the spent blooms of the Dianthus hoping that maybe some will still be in bloom. I'm glad the Johnny Jump-ups are in full swing, at least, so that the hot pink blooms can bounce off the purples and yellows.

04/10/09

My 'Prissy Miss' Iris are putting on a show this year. I love the peachy pink color!

04/08/09

I've proclaimed the year of 2009 as the year my garden 'comes out.' You can only add so many plants to a garden (or can you?). At some point, the need to create a 'space' that reaches beyond just beds and borders of plants, starts to become the goal. 2009 is that point for me. I've started looking for 'fun' things to place in my garden. Not just your typical statuary that really isn't appropriate for a small suburban (yuck, I hate that word) garden, but personal and unusual objects that define the personality of my garden. This picture represents the start of my 'Art Garden.' All my backyard borders are edged with cedar. Boring! Now they will be edged with excitement! Since taking this photo, I’ve painted a design onto the purple edging that pushes the envelope even further. The blue flowers are the blooms of 'Ajuga.'

4/2/09

The clematis are going crazy!