EARLY SPRING

I have never looked upon early February as being spring before. Usually our first spring bloomer is the Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens. And yes, this year it is just starting to bloom.

But our warm weather has brought a host of plants to challenge this spring bloomer. Many are the flowering bulbs, like Ipheion uniflorum with its star-shaped blue flowers.

iph

And the summer snowflake, Leucojum aestivum, the southern answer to the snowdrop. Why is it not called the spring snowflake?

Both theses are about a month early this year and today a solitary flower on the blue-eyed grass, Sisyrinchium sp. caught my eye. These are native to this area and now grow in the garden from gathered seed. This year is going to be a spectacular year for them as favorable conditions have meant an explosion in the number of plants with their iris-like leaves. Hopefully their bloom will not be spoilt by the unseasonably warm temperatures.

I dragged the citrus out of their winter home because I could see flowers beginning to develop. Within a few days this one plant was in full bloom. This was a plant I had root pruned last year and had only one or two lemons. I think it is going to make up for the this year as long as we don't see a hard freeze.

The bees have been busy for days and I can already see tiny lemons forming.

There are still plenty of lemons on the other trees and tonight, for dessert, we had crêpes drizzled with sugar and lemon juice. No need to wait for Shrove Tuesday this year.

Growing up, as I did, on the west coast of England there was never a time when I asked for it to rain. Quite the contrary I was always asking for it not to rain. As those rain-laden winds blew off the Irish Sea and rose to climb over the Pennines, they dropped their rain. But here in Texas, with no rain for weeks,  I have been praying for rain and it looks as though finally we will get some. It may be too late for some plants. My Lady Banks rose has already started blooming but the the blooms are small and many quickly dried up in the heat.

There is still the white Lady Banks in the back garden. Lots of buds but no open flowers.
And yes, the rain came. Only and inch but maybe some more next week. For now Spring continues.

GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY DECEMBER 2014

Mild days have meant that Texas gardens have not yet shut down for the winter. Many gardeners are reporting very early bloom times for plants such as iris and clematis.

I am a little sad that this mullein has decided to bloom early. Over the last month it has produced a rosette of leaves and sent out a flower stalk which is now in bloom. It was supposed to do this next year.

The same is true of the Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, which is usually a February bloomer in my garden.

Blanket flowers, Gaillardia pulchella, seem to bloom year round.

Heart-leaf ice plant, Aptenia cordifolia with welcome pink blooms.
But the general scene is one of a garden settling down for a winter's nap.

It's such a beautiful day I need to get outside and cut a few things back in readiness for spring. Wishing you a Happy Bloom day. Please join May Dreams Gardens and see what is blooming in other gardens.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

I can hardly believe it is still February when I look outside. While much of the country, and even the panhandle of Texas, is buried in snow, we are rushing headlong into spring.

Iris and snapdragons are blooming.

The Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens,  is in full flower and beneath it the gopher plant, Euphorbia rigida.

Even the chocolate daisy, Berlandiera lyrata,  is blooming. This one, growing in between pavers in the sunken garden clearly likes the spot. It has been there for more than 6 years.

When we took down a cedar tree outside the walls of the English garden, to bring in more sun, I suggested to D that we might cut off the trunk and put the English bird house on the top. This week the wrens were busy making a nest in there. One of many I am sure.

But the nights are still cool with a threat of frost so I still worry about all the trees and plants that are leafing out. Blankets are at the ready for the most tender of my plants.