03/31/11

Arugula (Eruca sativa)

My Arugula has decided to bolt.  I'm not surprised, since our spring has mostly been like an early summer.  I  grow Arugula to eat, not as an ornamental. These delicate little flowers are making me re-think its purpose!

03/30/11

Bougainvillea 'Orange King'

I just added a new Bougainvillea to what I call my 'Boogie Collection.'  I have found that of all the tropicals I overwinter, Bougainvillea is the most reliable.  In fact, much of the winter they are blooming in the house.  When I saw this 'Boogie' I couldn't pass him up.  I think every garden needs a King and an orange one - even better!

03/28/11

Iris germanica 'Prissy Miss'

I bought the rhizome for 'Prissy Miss' at the hardware store nine or ten years ago.  She has been my best performing Iris.  She multiplies rapidly so I'm able to pass her around to friends almost every year.  She is also the iris that gets the most comments from people.  She has just started to bloom so her display is about to begin.  Step right up to see the show.  And friends, let me tell you, there ain't nothing prissy about this miss!

3/23/11

Clematis 'Warsaw Nike' and Ajuga reptans

The first bloom of my Clematis 'Warsaw Nike' was just too beautiful not to bring indoors.  I decided before I took her in to snap a photo of her near the Ajuga that grows at her feet.  The blue flowers of the Ajuga help show off the richness of Warsaw Nike's color.  I love that both plants bloom at the same time each year.

3/21/11

Bulbine frutescens

This beauty is a new addition to my potted plant collection.  I love the intricate little blooms that look like shooting stars.  I also like the succulent grass like foliage.  It isn't hardy in my 7b/8a zone so I'll be taking it in for protection in the winter.  I think it will be worth the effort.

03/20/11 First Day of Spring

unknown Rose

We can finally say 'spring is here!'  I can also say 'my garden has it's first rose of 2011.'  This rose grows on a small climbing bush.  The canes reach about 6' long.  It's what I call the neighborhood rose.  It's been passed along from neighbor to neighbor and can be seen at several of the houses around my street.  I'm not sure if I've had a rose on this bush this soon or not, but it's a treat having it on this first day of spring!

3/19/11

Awww -the simple elegance of a pure white Iris!

03/18/11

Citrus aurantifolia (Key Lime) and Photinia

I'm looking forward to a bumper crop of Key Limes this year.  My little tree is covered with blooms!  The red foliage in the background is from a Fraser Photinia.

3/17/11 St. Patrick's Day

Oxalis (Shamrock Plant)

As the 'luck o' the Irish' would have it, my Shamrock Plant has a few little flowers on it.  In not too many days it will be covered.  This little clump has been returning for me for several years.  It surrounds my little container water pond. I send these photos with an old Irish blessing.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

03/14/11

Golden Groundsel (Senecio aureus) and Pelargonium

I just potted up some bright red Pelargonium.  I've placed them near the Golden Groundsel that is beginning to bloom.  I like the red and yellow combination because it's a little surprising for spring. 

Some of you may remember the dumpster lounge chair in the background.  Last year it was painted chartreuse, but now it is bright red for the 2011 season.  In Feng Shui the back eastern area of a space is the 'Wealth and Prosperity' sector.  I've placed the lounger in this location.  Purple is often used as an enhancement in the 'Wealth and Prosperity' sector so my garden shed is painted a royal purple.  Along with the shed I have purple wandering Jew that acts as a ground cover over most of the area.  Along with ornamental grasses and lots of other perennials the space is 'rich' in its diversity.  I've always liked red and purple together, so I decided this space would be the new home for my dumpster find for this year.

3/1/11

Sedum telephium

What happens when summer kisses spring? That's what is about to happen with my Sedum telephium.

It started blooming as it always does in the late part of summer. As autumn approached, the pink flowers turned into russet seed heads. The beautiful reddish hue remained in the fall and through the ice and snow of winter. Now, as spring approaches, fresh new foliage is beginning to emerge. The proud stems standing about a foot above the new growth seem to be saying 'look how far we've come.' The auburn heads contrast so beautifully with the green leaves, that I plan on leaving them until the first day of spring when I will scatter them into the earth, but not a day sooner! I want the seeds and stems to enjoy the first sunlight of spring intact.