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...

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?!?

06/02/10

Hollyhock

Gardeners know that part of the process of gardening is one of delayed gratification. The virtue of patience is often tested as one waits for nature to take its course. Such was the case with this yellow Hollyhock.

About four years ago, I collected seeds from some beautiful yellow Hollyhocks in Santa Fe, where my brother was living. I hoped to have some growing in my yard soon. I planted the seeds and their germination was a success. One by one however as the heat of Texas arrived they all melted down to nothing. Thank God I still had more seeds so I tried again. This time all but three drizzled away. Two of those eventually, after becoming quite large, decided to throw in the towel. One survived, hallelujah! It grew into a large plant before the Winter came. All through the Winter it stayed evergreen. I knew that since Hollyhocks are biennials they don't set seed until the second year. Just as I had expected, the buds started forming last spring, but for whatever reason the buds dropped off later that season and the plant shrank into a small plant again. I watched it all through the Winter and it seemed to be okay. This Spring as it grew larger and larger I thought 'this will be the year' and it was! It took four years, but it was worth the wait! Now that I will have seeds of my own, maybe I won't have to wait so long for the next generation!

04/30/10

I just noticed the bird in my picture below! I didn't even know I had a visitor!

04/30/10

Peggy Martin Lounges.

Some of you may remember my green patio lounger from last year. I painted it lime green and couldn't decide where to put it. It ended up in this little corner of the garden. My 'Peggy Martin' Rose that has just begun to bloom 'lounges' prettily upon it. I took this photo a day ago and this morning when I looked out she was covered in pink blooms, so imagine more blooms! The sculpture on the left is a found ceramic piece that was beside a dumpster where I work. It had been a fountain, in one of the foyers, in one of the buildings. A friend helped me load it home. A very good friend of mine (Debbie - Love Ya!) gave me the totem that sits beside the lounger for an early birthday gift. If you can't see all these details click the photo to enlarge it.

02/15/10

February Snow Storm 2010

What a beautiful snowstorm we had! It was record breaking as well. I took photos in the day and at night. These were taken the day of. Snow kept falling through the night so what you see here is not the 'best' of it. I felt like I was in Santa Fe!

11/11/09

Kelly's Path

Earlier in the spring I had this wild idea to paint all my borders bright colors. I didn't quite get around to it. Nell Jean left a blog message back on April 27th that suggested that the bright edging might compete with the plants in the garden. I decided she was absolutly right. I think I knew something wasn't quite working, but the color idea wasn't the right way to go. It dawned on me, when I had removed some of the old cedar edging, that the answer was no border at all. I plan on keeping the paths but in a much less formal way. Since there will be no borders the plants will be free to spill over into the path. It gives the garden a more natural feel. This path is an example. I've dedicated this path to my friend Kelly who passed away earlier this year.

11/10/09

Tomato vines

My tomatoes survived the summer. They have grown up and over one of my arbors. I'm hoping they ripen before we get a freeze. If they don't, I'll harvest them and let some of them ripen indoors. The ones that don't will be used for fried green tomatoes. Life is good!

05/04/09

Rosa 'The Fairy cl.' and 'Red Cascade'

I planted 'The Fairy' and 'Red Cascade' so that they would climb the same arbor. I got lucky because they bloom at exactly the same time! I love the pink/red combo.

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!

10/27/08

Morning Glory 'Heavenly Blue' etc.

My Morning Glory 'Heavenly Blue' (Ipomoea tricolor) has just about turned my front garden arbor into a tent. At first, I wasn't happy with the color combination of the red of the Castor Bean plants (Ricinus communis) to the right of the arbor. The weather has cooled even more and deepened the shade of red, however, so I've come to like the combo. I like too, how the Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), to the left, echoes the ensemble.

10/27/08

October 2008

October in Texas is, in my opinion, the best garden month of the year. Annuals have matured and begin thriving during the cooler days. Fall blooming perennials like Asters and Chrysanthemums exhibit their exhilarating pallet of colors, and the roses begin their last flush of the year. The foliage of trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses also begin to turn all their autumn hues. It's a toss on which month, April or October, is my favorite. I guess in April, April is and In October, it's got to be October. The photos above are from my backyard garden. Stay tuned for the front!

10/08/08

Aster oblongifolius

Aster oblongifolius and Helianthus maximiliana 'Santa Fe'

Aster oblongifolius

In Texas, almost everyone I know, looks forward to autumn. The break from the heat is one reason. My favorite reason though is to finally see the buds and blooms from all the fall blooming plants. Aster oblongifolius and Helianthus maximiliana (Sunflower) are two autumn stars that are hard not to miss. What can be better than a purple and golden yellow color combination for fall! These two drought resistant plants were made for each other! As the Asters multiply I plan on extending them closer and closer to the Autumn Sunflowers for an even better display.

09/12/08

Paths to my front door

I have two paths to my front door. One is from the garden and the other is from the drive. I know in 'Feng Shui' teachings you should only have one path leading to your house, but I suspect its okay since I use them both for different purposes.

07/11/08

Crepe Myrtle 'Sacramento' and Salvia 'Henry Duelberg'

This is one of my favorite combos in the summer. I love the cool blue of the Salvia farinacea 'Henry Duelberg' against the warm purple tones of the Crepe Myrtle 'Sacramento.' I am considering moving the Gayfeather, seen in the distance, to the front of this duo, to complete the ensemble.

07/09/08

Liatris spicata 'Kobold'

Each summer I look forward to seeing the Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) in bloom. Kobold is a variety that only grows about 2 feet tall. I have it planted in the front beds. Their spike form is interesting even after the flowers have faded so I leave them all through the summer and fall. The Crepe Myrtle in the distance is a miniature named 'Sacramento.'

07/01/08

Echinops

In the summer, blue flowers are a necessity. They seem to cool things off psychologically. I have Blue Globe Thistle (Echinops) in my front beds. I have begun to let them seed so that I will have more each year.

Salvia farinacea 'Henry Duelberg'

This is another blue flower that my garden cannot do without. It is a native plant to Texas that is carefree. This variety of Mealy Sage (Salvia farinacea) 'Henry Duelberg' has been name a Texas Superstar by Texas A & M. It blooms well into fall. For more information on this great Texas plant go to: http://www.plantanswers.com/salvia.htm

06/08/08

Monarda 'Jacob Cline'/ Rose 'Knock-Out' /Hydrangea macrophylla

My front door border is bursting with shades of red. Red is my favorite color so I'm pleased!

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer'

'Endless Summer' is a reblooming Hydrangea. The best show is in late spring and early summer. The blooms are fewer, afterwards, but keep coming all summer and into the fall.

Hydrangea macrophylla

This is an unnamed Mophead Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). I got her from a wholesale nursery a few years ago. She is planted at my front door so it is the first thing that I see when I go to work every morning. Hydrangea is my dad's favorite flower, and it’s easy to see why!

Stokesia laevis 'Peachie's Pick'

This Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis) sings in the garden. The color is indescribable and almost unphotographable. It is supposed to be short lived but has been returning for me year after year. Last year however it did not bloom and I thought she was fizzling out on me, but she's back this year standing strong and bold!

Canna 'lucifer'

The name of this Canna scares me! Tis true that the red and yellow are like burning coals, but did they have to name it the 'the name that shall not be spoken!" I do love this Canna though in spite of its name. It stands about two feet and the blooms are huge and wonderful.