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Monday, July 21, 2014

WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT

It's about the 3" of rain in my garden this past week. The garden is screaming into action. One plant we always expect following rain is the rain lily, Cooperia drummondii, (Zephyranthes drummondii) The flowers pop up within two or three days of rainfall opening during the night. If you look at the flower closely you will see that there are three petals and underneath three sepals, all of which are white. This rain lily has a very long calyx which distinguishes itself from the other white rain lily seen in Texas.



But that's not the only rain lily that showed up today. This yellow Zephyranthes sp. popped out of the ground in the sunken garden.


Will there be more tomorrow? I think so. They are popping up all over the place.


The Euphorbia has put on new growth and added leaves.


The Texas barrel cactus, Ferocactus hamatacanthus, is opening its first flower of the year with two more to come. This cactus is sometimes referred to as a giant fishhook cactus because of the hooked central spines. It has hooked me several times even pulling itself out of the ground when it was younger. Hardy for our area.


Another flower bud here on this unnamed cactus.


And four flower buds at one time on the Echinopsis.


A new bud on the Gymnocalcyium baldianum. I look forward to its red flower.


Toadstools fighting for space.


Of course everything else is going to start growing too and that means weeds and weedy plants. Bluebonnets are already germinating by the hundreds and fig ivy, Ficus repens is about to turn this garden wall into Angkor Wat.


It's going to be another busy week in the garden.

17 comments:

  1. Love the rain lilies. I'm not seeing any yet, maybe tomorrow? Love the cactus flowers, can't wait for more pics.

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    1. The cactus flowers opened last night and joined us at breakfast this morning.

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  2. I love how a good rain soaking makes things explode!

    Was 3" from a single storm? I hope not! I feel like we could use some rain here too (in St. Louis), as the heat returns this week.

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    1. Yes, Alan, single storm. It was a rare summer treat and the garden just loved it.

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  3. Wonderful rain just when we need it. I've been looking for rain lilies too, maybe soon. No sage blooms yet this summer either.

    It's been a good year in the garden but it's going to be hot and humid this week so I might stay in a bit more. We'll see.

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    1. Hot and humid it is. I can hardly stand to be outside even early in the morning.

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  4. Those rain lilies are a joyful sight. Three inches of rain in a week! That's almost as we've had this entire season. We did get a very brief (3-minute) spray a week ago and a few sprinkles on Saturday but nothing to jolt the garden or address our drought. Still, the monsoonal moisture has kept us unusually cool for July, which is wonderful in itself.

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    1. I remember living in Ca. No rain in the summer but at least it cooled off at night which really helps out the plants. It was 86 at 9am this morning. Triple digits this weeks.

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  5. The rain and cooler temps last week had me double checking the calendar. I haven't seen many rain lilies out this way yet. I know they're out there waiting, but maybe we didn't get enough rain to penetrate the soil. I'll keep a lookout for them over the next couple of days.

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    1. Wasn't it a treat. Now it is so muggy it reminds me of Asia. Hope you get some rain lilies soon.

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  6. 3" of rain, in the summer....that's just crazy. We won't see that in all of July, August and September combined. Glad your garden is enjoying the bounty.

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    1. When it rains in Texas it rains-and runs off mostly. The gentle rain that you get is much more preferable but we rarely get it.

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  7. Glad for you...I'm hoping for 3" of rain this year! I do enjoy seeing your place come alive, but from my dry heat blast, or rather, inside under the cooler. Rain lillies are a new favorite, seeing they can take it here and Abq - cannot wait to see them come alive...someday...maybe.

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    1. It seems all those rain lilies need is rain. No rain, no blooms. They will just hunker down and wait. It came.

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  8. Cactus flowers are the best. The juxtaposition of the delicate blooms against thick thorns is something I can't take my eyes off of. I think I get as excited over those as any others.

    We "only" got two inches but that is gracious plenty, not complaining here. Speaking of which - do you not have mosquito issues at your place or you simply refuse to complain about them? The rain brought us a fresh crop!

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    1. We do have a few mosquitos over here, especially after the rain. Normally we are mostly free because there is no grass around us and the dry cedar scrub is rather inhospitable. I do put dunks in the various tanks and drains.

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  9. I like how it looks like the fig vine is strangling her. Very "are you afraid of the dark."

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