They are like little jewels in dry gravel landscape.
These species tulips are the only kind of tulips that grow successfully in Central Texas. I have Tulipa clusiana, Lady Jane and Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha.
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| Tulipa clusiana Lady Jane |
Unlike Lady Jane Grey my Lady Jane seems to be here to stay unlike chrysantha whose numbers have dwindled over the years.
Among my other spring bulbs the Ipheion uniflorum, star flower is a reliable bloomer in early spring. The bright blue star-like flowers spring from strappy foliage.
An impulse purchase of freesias was a success. Many years ago I grew some in pots and then plant them in the ground. They return year after year. Hopefully these will do the same.
This is probably the only flower that is blooming at the correct time. The native anemone, Anemone berlandiera is usually the first flower to bloom in the spring.
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| Ten week stocks |
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| California poppies with alyssum and dianthus |
Blackfoot daisies, Melampodium leucanthus, and Four nerve daisy, Tetraneuris nervosa.
And the Lady Banks' Rose, Rosa banksiae. I purchased this as a cutting from the rose at the Rose Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. The rose there came from an original cutting of the one at Kew Gardens which was the original one brought from China!
This year she is gorgeous and outshining the yellow one at the front. There are many more blooms to come.
Of course always plenty of bluebonnets although not as many this year.
We are having an unprecedented early spring after little in the way of winter. Today the temperature was 90º It feels like summer on this March bloom day. Have you had an unusual winter? An early spring? Catch up with your favorite garden bloggers on this bloom day. Thanks Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the day.
90? Wow.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a warm spring here too. I'd say we had a real winter in January and February, but now temperatures are running 10-20 degrees above normal (e.g., it's supposed to be 80 today, whereas normal highs would be around 60).
Long-range forecasts do call for temps to fall back closer to spring normals, which would be nice.
Your Lady Banks rose is beautiful! :)
I always look forward to your spring bloom day posts. Those tulips are great! So much in bloom!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty!!! Love all the blooms!! Happy GBBD. I adore the poppies!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. I don't know if it's just me, but this spring has been exceptional. My thermometer in the backyard read 99 yesterday. I didn't believe it, so I checked the one in my front yard and wow, it was 99 as well. I live in Austin.
ReplyDeleteI must try that first tulip! Indeed, many of my species tulips have failed to return. Spring star flower and freesias are definitely keepers. And you have so many more things blooming earlier than I do---all lovely, as usual.
ReplyDeleteYour spring garden is beautiful, Jenny! I'm very impressed with the red tulips. I grew some species tulips in my former garden but never tried that species so I may have to experiment next fall. Your California poppies are well ahead of mine but my Ipheon are already dying back - further evidence of how difficult it is to predict the vagaries of our climates. We had a completely dry February (usually our wettest month) but received some decent rain this month, although the force of El Nino is still pushing the majority of the rain to the north of us. At least that seems to be helping out with California's drought, even if it doesn't appease me or my garden.
ReplyDeleteGosh Jenny, that was beautiful. I planted Lady Jane years ago, and some pop up here and there each year. I enjoy the ones that return although they aren't as reliable for me. Your first species tulips do look like little jewels on the gravel. So lovely. What color! Loved the story about your Lady Banks. Thank you.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteBulbs! I learned so much and am taking notes if the Tazetta Narcissus I planted in the fall return as promised, I will try more bulbs. The Freesia are gorgeous and I just saw Stocks planted out in a Fredericksburg garden which were so impressive.
ReplyDeleteI must remember to find some of the tulips to add to our garden. I'm sure everything is thriving after our recent week of rain. I have bluebonnets blooming, but the stars at the moment in my garden are the freesia. I planted them years ago, and they return each season to surprise and delight. Mine are a deep coral and a lovely purple. Happy spring, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteOh, these lovely pictures were food for my soul today! We are still in early spring here (Eastern Washington state), and I have a long way to go before tulips and poppies appear. Thank you!
What a lovely show your bulbs are putting on this year. I'm so grateful your garden seems bent on making up for time lost to the hail damage you suffered previously (and I say "you" suffered because it was you, more than your spaces, that did truly experience emotional pain afterwards!).
ReplyDeleteHappy to see you've got bluebonnets, even if in reduced numbers. One of my mainstay beds for wildflowers in the fenced area seems to have had most of the seed washed out last year, resulting in a poor showing so far. I'm trying to transplant back in volunteer wildflowers from the paths (areas "downstream" of the bed as it were) but these afternoon highs in the 90s are not helping. It is way too soon for summer temperatures for my taste, and a lot of drooping plants seem to agree with me.
I'm finally back to blogging. Loved seeing your beauties in this post. Your garden is always an inspiration to me.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have a Lady Banks rose with such a heritage! Makes her all the more beautiful.
Beautiful Spring flowers! How awesome!
ReplyDeleteFreesia, stocks and roses! Must smell wonderful in your garden.
ReplyDeleteI should have the same tulips and the Ipheion uniflorum blooming in a little while; California poppies I still have to sow and the stocks are still in a flat on the windowsill inside, waiting to be planted out when I get back.
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