BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF GARDENING

I have been side-lined for the last couple of weeks by recovery from surgery. Something that was probably caused by all the time I have spent outdoors in the sun either gardening or hiking. I will be more cautious in future but let this be a warning. WEAR SUNSCREEN.
Even though it is February there is much to do cutting back and removing plants that didn't make it through several unexpected deep freezes.  Here is one plant that has been a star through all kinds of weather.

The large rosemary is planted out front by the side of the driveway. It has never been watered and has withstood drought, summer heat, hail and freezing temperatures. Yesterday it was blooming as it has never bloomed before and I even spotted a bee visiting one of the flowers.
On one of my non-gardening days I did the rounds of the nurseries. For a moment I thought that I might have missed spring as all were overflowing with spring bedding plants, grasses and vines. Of course I was tempted just as I was last year. Five pots of grape hyacinths at $1 a pot was easy. The patio table needs a little brightening. I still have the ones I saved from last year but they are making a slow start. Once in a while it is worth having someone else do the planting for you.

One plant I wasn't tempted to buy was a large pot of climbing jasmine, Jasminum polyanthum.

And this is why. I have had maybe 3 or 4 good years when the plant made a worthy bloom. Yes, the scent was heavenly but this is a vigorous vine forming a big tangle of finely cut leaves. This was cut to the ground last year! It roots easily and I don't doubt there will be a stray shoot somewhere that will try to make a comeback.

After cutting it back to the ground I used the pick axe to remove the root.

The question now is its replacement. Something which takes less work. I don't mind dieback in the winter if the plant performs well in the summer. Nor do I mind a bare trellis in the winter. I'm pondering on remaking the trellis so that it reaches to just above the weep screen. That way it is easier to get smaller vines started. This is a south facing exposure but sheltered from early morning and late evening sun by the wall of the house. Maybe I'll try a Mexican flame vine or even a clematis. I wish our nurseries carried better selections of clematis but I will be out looking for a summer bloomer this time.
The roses in the English garden are all pruned. It doesn't seem to make a difference how early we prune because they were already leafing out. I see a lot of weeding to be done. Last year I planted iris  around the bird bath. They seem a little slow to take.

The citrus are out of the potting shed. The Mexican lime still has fruit as do the lemons.

Some seedlings are outside to harden off. Some destined for the window box and planters others for the ground.

Brachyscome, Swan River daisy

10 week stocks

The grasses are all cut back and it will be a a waiting game to see if the ruby crystal grasses will return. If not there are plenty of Mexican feather grasses to take their place.
A cloudy, cool day is my favorite day for gardening so that is where I am heading right now. It's good to be out there again.

IS IT BLOOM DAY AGAIN? GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY, MAY 2013

I can't believe the middle of the month is here again. I'm joining Carol at Maydreams garden for her special month.

Someone asked me recently what is in bloom in my garden when the early spring blooms leave. Coreopsis tinctoria is one.

A pot of one of my favorite early summer annuals, Brachyscome on the wall between the sunken garden. Is that Verbena bonariensis trying to get into the picture?

The day lilies begin to bloom. I wish I knew their name but the list is long gone. They were all grown and given to me over 10 years ago by a work associate of Ds who bred them.

This one has a little competition from the purple cone flower, Echinacea purpurea, which just started to bloom.

This one is in a more shaded location.

Love-in-a-mist, Nigella makes a big show in the Philippine violet bed, completely hiding it.

The Texas clematis, Clematis pitcheri.

Blackfoot daisies, Melampodium leucanthum, in the gravel English garden.

Creeping germander, Teucrium cossonii. I think I may add more of this plant next year because I have never watered it and it is not under irrigation and yet has survived.

Bee balm, Monarda fistulosa 'Peter's Purple" begins to bloom. Finally a bee balm that flowers in Texas!

The purple skullcap, Scutellaria wrightii.

Heart leaf skullcap, Scutellaria ovata.
What's blooming in your garden this May Bloom Day?

RED SKY IN THE MORNING

When I was growing up, and even though we only lived a 1/4 mile from the sea, I always heard my parents foretell the weather as, "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight, red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning" It would have made more sense if it had been sailors. The red sky in the morning usually meant it was going to rain. The wind would be out of the west picking up rain as it crossed the Irish sea and prepared to dump it on the coastal areas before rising over the Pennines. Wouldn't that be nice. Red sky in the morning here means it is going to be hotter than hell and no rain. Exactly the opposite. OK, enough Texas weather talk. So how is the garden faring after this delightful summer weather pattern, in May.

Cone flowers, Echinacea purpurea, are loving it.

They are positively in their element. I am so happy for these flowers. They seeds themselves freely and it is just a matter of not letting them take over.

They will even grow in gravel.

I let a few grow here and there to break up the expanses of gravel.

I'm more concerned about my Swan River daisy, Brachyscome. Clouds of blue, purple and white miniatures daisies are not long for this earth. They are already looking quite stressed. Still they have been beautiful for weeks and I would not be without them.
More reminiscent of a woodland meadow than a dry gravel garden, a clump of Oxalis has appeared from nowhere.

The Mexican feather grass is starting to show its age. Having enjoyed a winter growing in a pot and having produced its seeds for the year it is fast moving into its twilight years.

GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY MAY 2010

I can't sleep. The rain is pounding on the roof and thunder crashing all around. It is 4:30am on May Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Although it is going to be a soggy one here in central Texas every gardener is celebrating a good garden soaking. The wine cups and ice plant that have wowed my garden for weeks will likely not be opening today.

Our native Clematis pitcheri will still be open because unlike the more showy open flowered clems. this one has rather waxy petals.

Ever since a packet of Brachyscome or Swan river daisy seeds came in a magazine I have grown this annual. I can't get enough of the tiny purple and white flowers. Open pollinated so I can save the seeds from year to year.

Another year with my gorgeous mounding Wright's skullcap, Scutellaria wrightii. This one has solid purple flowers which is rather unusual.

The more usual is two toned.

Although blanket flowers are blooming everywhere, most are the single petaled variety.

Only one of the fluted form appeared between the pavers in the vegetable garden.

What a surprise I had yesterday when I spotted this pomegranate flower and it is not on my big pomegranate tree, which has been flowering for weeks. This one is on a tree I grew from seed. Of course it is in the wrong place; an impossible place.

It was just in temporary spot and I had every intention of moving it this winter but didn't get round to it.

If I don't do it next winter we will soon be unable to walk down the path.

I think we will be seeing a lot of these this week. Happy Bloom Day.