Texas is just about to reach the peak of its wildflower blooming season and this is one of the best years we have experienced in quite a while. Following on one of the hottest and driest summers on records we were treated to an unusually cold, wet fall and winter. It was just what those flowers were waiting for. The land is ablaze with all manner of spring flowers. Wildflower Days, at the the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, continue through the month and this weekend's plant sale was the perfect opportunity for gardeners to move in the direction of growing more native plants.
The opening photograph, taken on my upper lot, is of lace cactus growing amid bluebonnets, four nerve daisies and wild onion. It will be a few weeks before they bloom.
This year they have very distinct top knots, which I have never seen before. I wonder what it means?
Corn poppies are growing in huge clumps. Now that the wind has subsided their delicate tissue paper-like petals can be appreciated in all their glory.
The bluebonnets are the most prolific they have ever been.
Seen here through a blooming yaupon holly.
The first flower on the claret cup cactus ( new purchase yesterday) seen through zexmania with a soon to flower Manfreda sileri in the background.
The first flower of the large yellow flowered primrose opened on Friday.
Along with the not always welcome pink evening primrose.
As you can see the Prickleleaf Gilia, grows in limestone rubble, and we certainly have plenty of that. It grows in only one area alongside the retaining wall between the bathroom and English garden. I have never seen this at the Wildflower Center or anywhere else. Do you have this flower in your garden?
Blue Star, Amsonia ciliata suffered badly this year and the usual banks of blue flowers are reduced to just a few bloomers.
I have only one clump if chocolate daisy, growing between the stones in the sunken garden. It has never seeded any new plants. Under certain conditions its chocolate aroma fills the area. No substitute for chocolate, I assure you.
Blue eyed grass with Festuca ovina,
Daisy fleabane
Blackfoot daisy. These plants all enjoy living among the cracks in the sunken garden. There are plenty more but I plan to save a few for this month's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.
So pretty.
ReplyDeleteWe're all really enjoying the wildflowers, this year.
You were right, when you commented on my post, about spending a lot of time, walking around the grove, seeing what's blooming. Then, going through my books, trying to find out what the ones are that I don't recognize.
They're all little works of art.
Hard to pick favorites among all your lovely photos. I do love the blue eyed grass -- yours is so lush. I bought some Friday, hope it looks as good as yours some day. Wish I had some of that large yellow primrose - it looks so regal for a wildflower. And there is nothing like a dainty little pearl growing in limestone rubble - love that Prickleleaf Gilia. That contrast is so striking.
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful flowers! Your lake/river of Bluebonnets is a thing of beauty.
ReplyDeletepatchwork- We were just stunned by the flowers when we went out on the Willow Loop today. I must have taken 1000 photos.
ReplyDeleteDiana- Those blue eyed grass are everywhere. they are one of the easiest flowers to reseed but like the gravel or granite. perfect in your pathway.
Sweet bay- It has just been a fabulous year and worth all the picking and seeding.
What wonderful photos! The bluebonnets are, of course, stunning, but I'm loving that primrose too. I think that the smell of the chocolate daisy would make we want to eat more chocolate -- not a good thing!
ReplyDeleteIt's like the Wildflower Center in your own back yard! I'm heading over to see your Willow City Loop post now.
ReplyDeleteFantastic show Jenny. Brings back memories of about 1969 after a similar cool, wet winter. You take great pictures.
ReplyDelete