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Monday, June 2, 2014

BEFORE I REALLY GET GOING

Can you imagine how much I have to share about the gardens I visited on my travels? But wait, all in good time. I have my own garden and there were one or two nice surprises waiting for me when I got home.


I can have a little bit of England in Texas. Old Foxy foxglove, Digitalis sp. was blooming her head off. I have tried for years to grow this plant and finally this year opted to grow it in a pot. Count on me trying that again next year.


Monarda, Peter's Purple is a mass of blooms. There is a frenzy of bees and other insects around the plant. This plant should be in every Texas garden.


The lily pads had just about covered the stock tank pond and there was a bloom. This bloom is the hardy water lily, Nymphaea 'Colorado'


The twist-leaf yucca, Yucca recurvifolia,  was flowering. I moved this one into the garden a few years ago because there is no way a flower survives out in deer land.


And while I was gone tomatoes, Celebrity, Yellow pear, Black Krim, Yellow boy, Sweet 100. and peppers, Pinot noir, were ripening. Mmmm, nothing like a home grown tomato.


What a nice welcome home, garden.

14 comments:

  1. Deer eat your yucca blooms?!

    Also, I don't think I've ever seen a photo of your garden in full, midday sunlight before! :)

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    1. No Alan, I din't know you could. Must check that out. If they are as good as squash blossom blooms then I must try.

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    2. In Mexico, they batter (much like tempura) and deep fry yucca blooms. Delicious!

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  2. I'm loving 'Peter's Purple' monarda too.

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  3. Welcome back! Things look beautiful in your garden. I think I'm going to need some of that purple Monarda, as this Texas garden doesn't have any. I had my first Celebrity tomato from the garden for dinner tonight. Sooo goood!

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    Replies
    1. WIll have lots to share in the fall/winter. Let me know.

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  4. What wonderful surprises! Blasted by unexpected heat here this spring, my Digitalis purpurea either died or delivered stunted blooms - maybe I'll have to try potting them next year as well, although the Digitalis x mertonensis came through the heat well (unless you count an attack by aphids).

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    1. Maybe this was just a lucky year but I suspect it prefers the more neutral potting soil.

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  5. OMG--tomatoes??????????????????????
    I just got my plants in the ground. I'm so envious!

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    Replies
    1. They are yummy but also they have stopped setting fruit because the nights are too hot.

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  6. Your garden knows how to share the love! The foxglove blooms are quite stunning. I can see why you'd miss them. They look like the love child of an orchid and a salvia! Peter's Purple is quite a celebrity in Central Texas spaces this year. The Monarda I have are the older natives and while the blooms are not as showy, they're at least keeping the other older natives around here happy, including the gardeners.

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  7. I know how you've been pining for foxgloves, so I'm glad you've found a way. Looking forward to the travel posts.

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  8. Love the Monarada! Tried several in our garden years ago but without success. Guess a Texas garden is a better environment for them; isn't that where they come from originally, as are the Echinacea, another flower I love but doesn't want to grow in our garden. I have had one in a pot now for several years, maybe I should try that with Monarda as well.
    Marian

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  9. Squirrels keep eating my tomatoes. They have also learned how to take the lid off the bird feeder and eat directly out of the tube. I think they may be the next stage of intelligent life on this planet.

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