04/24/12

TEXAS WILDFLOWERS

Sunday on the way back from our orchid trek, we passed a field of Texas wildflowers.  We owe so much to our late Lady Bird Johnson who taught us how beautiful Texas could be.



03/30/12

Bluebonnets - Lupinus texensis 

The wet winter has brought out the Bluebonnets in Texas this year. My spring garden has spots of Bluebonnets growing here and there, which have come up from dormant seeds from the past couple of years. I was delighted to see that a few of the Alamo Fire Bluebonnets popped up as well.



03/27/12

Japanese Rose - Kerria japonica

Iris germanica 'Change of Pace'

Texas Gold Columbine - Aquilegia chrysantha 'Hinckleyana'

Tiger Eyes Saghorn Sumac - Rhus typhina

Lenten Rose -Helleborus orientalis  (forming seeds)

 

Iris germanica 'Victoria Falls'

I just came in from snapping a few things blooming in my garden.  This is just the beginning!

11/16/11

Inland Sea Oats

I usually clip the seed heads of my Inland Sea Oats when they are still green.  This year I've let them go to seed.  I'm enjoying seeing the pretty tan color on them.  I'll pay for it, however, next spring when new little blades of grass will be popping up everywhere.  Guess I'll be on all fours plucking them out one by one!  One of those 'keeps me outta trouble' things!

 

11/4/11

Salvia greggii Teresa and Pink Preference

11/2/11

Lindheimer's muhly

07/07/11

Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii Pumpkin and Red)

This is a plant native to Texas. The flowers are either light orange (Pumpkin) or deep red-orange (Red.)  I started mine from some seeds someone gave me.  Each year I have more because they re-seed with abandon.   It's pretty clear why they have been given the common name Flame Acanthus.   'Don't call the Fire Department - it's just my Anisacanthus!'

05/19/11

Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens)

Mexican Oregano is one of my favorite Texas native plants.  It blooms non-stop throughout the season.  Mine is growing in a bed with orange Coneflowers and a miniature Crepe Myrtle.  Not only is the plant a beauty but it has a pleasant scent as well.

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.

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!

05/07/10

Inland Sea Oats

In the spring, when the Inland Sea Oats begin to grow, they look very much like bamboo. This is what I think of as one of the more elegant grasses. It gracefully moves with the wind and has a calm and peaceful nature when it is still. When the oats begin to sprout, the show isn't better, but equally stylish with an added flare.

05/06/10

Texas Spiny Lizard

This little lovely was in one of my flowerbeds. I came upon her while I was planting some new plants. She was in the middle of laying eggs. I was going to plant a plant smack dab where she was. When I left the scene for a second, she had covered the hole. She saw me and took off. I now have a spot in my garden where a higher form of life is growing! I'm guarding it like a hawk!

04/06/2010

Golden Groundsel and Ajuga

I've been letting Golden Groundsel (Packera obovata) reseed with abandon in one of my larger backyard borders. I moved some Ajuga last fall and planted them at the groundsel's feet hoping they would be in bloom simultaneously this spring. It is!

There is nothing happier than a blue and yellow duo!

11/17/09

Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

I love love love my Pink Muhly Grass. Once fall arrives it mystifies my garden with its pink seed clouds. It is in seed right at the same time that my Beautyberry has its berries. This year the Tassel Flowers (Emilia coccinea) are also in bloom. They contrast with the grass in a most jarring way. I always like gate crashers in the garden!

10/22/09

'Augusta Duelberg' Salvia

'Augusta Duelberg' Salvia is the white version of 'Henry Duelberg' Salvia. It has an elegance of its own. In the rain, it droops and to me looks somewhat romantic. It grows in my moon bed with silver and white plants. If you want to read an account of the discovery of these two salvias go to: http://www.plantanswers.com/salvia_arcadia.htm .

10/17/09

American Beautyberry

What can I say? Aren't the berries to live for!

10/16.09

Various Sedums and Mexican Feather Grass

Texas Aster, Lindheimer's Muhly Grass and Horseherb

One end of my Inferno Strip

My sidewalk/street bed is filled with mostly Texas natives. I also have other well adapted plants in the same bed. Farther down the bed I have Jewels of Opar that have happily seeded themselves (9.19.09). I decided since this other area of the strip gets full hot blaring sun all day, and this is the least likely place for me to water, it needed some real toughies.

10/08/09

Unamed Pig in a bed of Horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis)

I saw this little piggy made out of scrap metal and I fell in love. It was a birthday present from my dad and step-mother. It seems happy sitting in a bed of Horseherb, a Texas native groundcover. Someday her/his name will hit me!

09/21/09

SALVIA GREGGII

I have a bed devoted to different varieties of Salvia greggii. In Texas we call it Autumn Sage. I usually cut it way back in the last part of June in preparation for blooms in the fall. We are having a delightfully early fall this year (knock on wood) so they are blooming their heads off. I promised myself that I would keep track of all the varieties, but I'm starting to lose track. I also have some that have seeded that are each different than their parents. It is an easy bed to maintain because they don't need gallons of water. I have noticed however that they seem to respond well to it during really dry spells. Salvia greggii is tops on my list!

8/31/09

Oxblood Lily with Crepe Myrtle 'New Orleans'

Today is the first day for my School House / Oxblood Lilies to bloom! Perfect timing because I just found my camera's memory card. I love this color combination. Purple always makes red look tasty and red always makes purple look spiffy!