10/06/09

Alyssum 'Royal Carpet,' Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields,' Cosmos, Sedum 'Autumn Fire,' Skull Cap 'Texas Pink'

Except for the Sedum and Skull Cap, all the flowers in this front yard bed are from seedlings from the previous years. I've allowed them to pop up where they may. The informality feels perfect. I also get exciting color combinations that I only had a small part in. In the second photo above, I got to know the Alyssum up close and personal. Sometimes we don't take the time to really see a flower, especially if it is low and acts like a groundcover. It really is a statuesque flower up close!

10/01/09

Helianthus maximiliana 'Santa Fe'

It's October, time for my Maximilian Sunflowers to be in full bloom. The scent of honey is everywhere. Since my garden is not that large I kind of have to keep these staked. If I don't, they flop everywhere. They actually look nice that way and when they were smaller that's how I left them. Their size has more than doubled since those days. All through the summer they stand tall and proud, but when the flowers start to weight the stalks down they start to put on their floppy show. I got a couple of these from a nursery in Santa Fe, New Mexico called High Country Gardens http://www.highcountrygardens.com/ The flowers have since then multiplied and I'm more than happy about it!

09/29/09

BOG SAGE (Salvia uliginosa)

"Bluer than Blue," that's how I describe Bog Sage. I first saw this Salvia at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. The blue was so striking I couldn't take my eyes off it! I've had it a few years. If I'd let it, it would take over my garden. When it starts to travel, I easily pull it up. This is not however one of those nice smelling salvias, and I'm reminded of that when I'm yanking away. The rest of the time, the scent is undetectable.

09/24/09

I've decided to make one of my beds a mixed bed of ornamental grasses. I've also included annuals and perennials to give it pizzazz. I'm a big fan of Setcreaseas (Wandering Jew) and have four different varieties. I like how they combine with grasses. The most common, which is a deep purple, is at the forefront. In the morning, they are dotted with little lavender pink flowers. Coleus is also part of the mix acting as a 'gatecrasher.' In the top photo, just barely visible, are the bright red blooms of Salvia coccinea sprinkled here and there. A chartreuse potato vine sprawls through like a snake and makes the salvia pop.

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!

09/19/09

Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum)

You have to see these enlarged, to get the full effect! Click the photo to enlarge.

We have been blessed with rain, for several days. I took this between spells. I love how the little droplets look frozen. A little winter preview in the summer! The pink buds are usually open, showing the daintiest of flowers. I have let them re-seed abundantly on the 'inferno strip,' the bed between the city street and the sidewalk, in my front yard.

9/16/09

I'm still here! September pictures coming soon!