12/25/10

Merry Christmas from my home to yours.

11/15/10

You may have noticed that I've taken a break. I'm ready to get back out there and photograph my garden before we get a freeze, any day now.

The hardest part is, it's too dark in the morning when I head to work and by the time I get home it's already dark again.

I'll try though --- and who knows maybe I'll become an expert at night photography!

Keep your fingers crossed!

10/21/10

Sweet Potato Emarald Lace

You may remember my chaise lounge from earlier posts here and here. At the moment it is covered in chartreuse like the color it is painted. Stay tune for its next incarnation.

10/19/10 TUESDAY ENSEMBLE

Vinca Cora Pink and Cora Burgundy, Swamp Sunflower, Texas Asters, and Arnold the Flying Metal Pig.

10/18/10

Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard' and Rose 'Sweet Pea'

Another plant from my garden decided to make friends with a potted plant nearby. I noticed my 'Sweet Pea' Rose getting frisky with my Yucca 'Color Guard. I hope they didn't noticed me taking pictures.

10/16/10

Swamp Sunflower Update

My Swamp Sunflowers are really taking off now. A while back I posted a picture of when they were just beginning. Now that they are in full bloom the scent is even more DIVINE!

10/13/10

Celosia and American Beautyberry

I planted a couple of different varieties of Celosia seeds a few years back. Since then, they re-seed all over the garden. I let them grow wherever they pop up. They have morphed, through the years, and each plant seems to have different characteristics. This one popped up in front of my American Beautyberry. It's grown to about four and half feet tall. The color combination of the purple berries behind the reddish purple Celosia spikes is quite pleasing to view.

10/12/10 TUESDAY ENSEMBLE

Hot and Sweet Ensemble

Gomphrena haageana Strawberry Fields, Profusion Zinnia Apricot, Ornamental Peppers Sangria and Calico.

10/11/10

Zinnia elegans

I sewed red Zinnia elegans seeds in July. This is the first bloom. There are three other about to open up as well. I like starting them late because powdery mildew seems not to bother them as much in the fall. Instead of a multitude of colors I decided to go with just one bright red. It's a shocking red - the best kind!

10/05/10 TUESDAY ENSEMBLE

Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea) / Setcreasea pallida 'Purple Heart' / Setcreasea (unknown variety) / Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)

I'm going to try something new. On Tuesdays I will be posting pictures of ensembles. Other than the plant names there will be no text. I'm terrible about doing anything routine, but I'm going to give it a shot. Let's start it off with this quartet.

10/04/10

California Aloe and Garlic Chives

The cool thing about putting potted plants in amongst the flowering garden beds is that sometimes unexpected combinations appear. I liked seeing the pristine white blooms of the Garlic Chives flopping over into my silvery blue Aloe California. I wish I could say I planned it, but I can't, I only discovered it.

10/01/10

Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph'

Yippee it's October! The weather is beautiful outside!!! In Texas, the autumn is spring part II! To celebrate I'm showing off my 'Coral Nymph.' The color reminds me of spring and fall. Mix a handful of easter egg pink with a tablespoon of autumn orange and what do you get? Coral!

09/30/10

Cinnamon Cactus (Opuntia microdasys var. rufida)

I saw this Opuntia in the window and I just had to have him! Actually, I decided he was too expensive so I left without him. I couldn't get him out of my head so I returned the next day just to look at him. To my horror, he was gone! I asked about him and nobody knew anything about him. It finally dawned on a sales person that he might be in the half price pile in the back. I walked back to check and there he was. They had thrown him on the ground like last night's dinner. I felt so sorry for him I decided it was my lot in life to come to his rescue. I picked him up paid for him and took him home. Little did I know that he must have been happier laying on the ground in a heap because he stuck his little needles in me from head to toe. Those pretty little cinnamon colored polka dots were weapons in disguise! After I soaked in a hot tub to remove those little instruments of pain, all was forgiven andI'm happy I adopted him. He seems to be adjusting to his new home fine, and he's even made best friends with a near by Salvia. They not only enjoy each other's company but they compliment each other well, don't you think?

09/29/10

Swamp Sunflower 'Santa Fe'

It's that time of year again! The Swamp Sunflowers are just beginning to bloom. They aren't at their 'Kodak Moment' yet, but I couldn't resist getting an early picture. The scent is already amazing! I got this variety at High Country Gardens a few years ago. They have multiplied like rabbits!

09/28/10

Black Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Moundry') surrounded by Salvia coccinea and Castro Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)

I have devoted an area in my backyard to ornamental grasses. This one grew from seeds I scattered. It has grown to a significant sized clump considering it is one of the smaller grasses. I love the purple tone in the blackish plumes. I see it popping up everywhere in my pseudo-meadow. It is such a beautiful grass that I'll most likely let a few of them stay.

09/26/10

Salvia farinacea 'Henry Duelberg'

This year I finally decided to toss the Cannas that were at my front door path. I replaced them with a native Salvia 'Henry Duelberg.' I have not regretted the change one bit! The Cannas required constant care. The spraying, the watering - oy - no more! In contrast, The Salvia has had absolutely no care and has been in bloom since mid April. I did save a couple of Cannas and put them in pots. As usually however they look ratty and sad. I may let them die in their pots. I guess I do have my limits when it comes to plant selections. That at least is nice to know!

09/22/10

Euphorbia cotnifolia

A couple of nights ago I looked out my back window and saw a plant glowing that at first I didn't recognize. I realized it was my Euphorbia c. with back lighting. I quickly ran and got my camera. Some plants are even more beautiful when the sun shines behind them. I now know Euphorbia c. is one of them.

09/14/10

Senecio scaposus and Euphorbia anoplia

It's interesting that so many succulents look like sea creatures. I came across Euphorbia anoplia (Zipper Plant) and thought it looked like an octupus. When some Senecio scaposus (Silver Coral)

caught my attention I knew the two had to go together in the same pot. I surrounded the Euphorbia with the Senecio in a pot that reminded me of the ocean. What I ended up with was a strange looking sea creature. I kind of like it.

I owe this spurt of creativity to Debra Lee Baldwin who wrote a fantastic book titled Succulent Container Gardens. I decided to throw my own mix together after reading her book. I have a feeling I'm hooked!

09/10/10

Potted succulents

I've begun to add potted succulents to my flower beds. If I had it my way I'd plant them in the ground. I live in Zone 8 however and most of them would perish. People ask me why I wish I lived in my birth state of California - this is one major reason! The grass is always greener...

9/07/10

Oxblood Lily

Last fall I transplanted all of my Oxblood lilies into one bed. Before that they were scattered here and there. I decided they would look great in my circular bed of variegated Liriope. The show is not quite as spectacular as I had hoped. They are popping up sporadically rather than en masse. I have hope for future displays though since the lilies multiply rather quickly. One year in September I will look out my kitchen window and see a circle of bright bright red and green.

09/01/10

Re-seeding 'Balcony' Petunia

I grew this heirloom petunia last year. It almost made it through the summer. I was hoping it would re-seed. I gave up thinking it had until this one popped up in the middle of spring. It has been going strong all these months. It soared through August and this is what it looked like last night. I do believe this one will make into the fall. It is a climbing petunia and it's almost 4 feet high on the arbor I have it growing up. It grows beside a bright bougainvillea. Balcony Petunia is a real winner!

08/29/10

Birthday Pot

This past July my twin brother and I had one of the 'big' birthdays. The kind where you look down at your written age and shake your head in disbelief! To mark the occasion my brother surprised me with this beautiful pot. When he told me he made it I was even more impressed.

The heat in Texas this August has been pounding down on us like the fury of satan. I noticed that the plants showing no sign of pain were my potted succulents and cacti. As my pot sat empty I decided I wanted to pot something in it that would add to my healthy assortment. What better plant to plant than a cactus! I found this 'Ming Thing' (Cereus forbessi monstrose) on sale and knew it would be perfect. I was glad to be able to add my brother's gift to my blossoming collection of potted beauties!

08/18/10

This blog is not dead!

Sorry it has been awhile since I've posted anything. It is August and HOT! These days all I am doing is keeping things from dying. There have been very few 'Kodak moments!' Look for new posts soon, as the weather gets cooler. Can October get here fast enough?!?

7/12/10

Datura

Datura, like me, is nocturnal. Last night the blooms on my Datura started opening. The scent that was in the air was overwhelming. The blooms only have this scent at night. In the morning don't try to sniff it or you will be more than disappointed. It's on the verge of peeeyyyyeeeew. Much like me in the morning!

0710/10

BOG SAGE in the garden

This summer we have had our share of rain. There is at least one plant in my garden that isn't complaining. Salvia uliginosa (Bog Sage) is one of the salvias that actually does well with extra water. It is also the truest sky blue I've seen in a sage. It grows up to about 5 feet tall and flops around in the garden adding joy everywhere. It does multiply, so if you don't want too much of it, spread the joy to others!