A CHILLY WIND BLOWS IN

We sat out in the front garden for lunch today. The temperature was only in the 40s but the front garden has a little more shelter from the cold north wind, even though it was gusty from time to time. We were both wearing jackets and needed the sun to keep us comfortable.

There are a few remaining seed heads on the Ruby Crystal grass, Melinus nerviglumis. This grass enjoys even more success than Mexican feather grass, Nasella tenuissima. In fact there is only one remaining in this garden, the crystal grass having taken over.

I like sitting outside because it gives me the chance to enjoy the garden as well as to decide on changes. As I was looking across at the bamboo in the pot I decided it needed to be refreshed with some paint and it was easy to decide what color to use. You can probably guess too.

At one point a drowsy bee appeared on the one remaining white cone flower. Echinacea purpurea 'white swan'

We dodged a freeze last night but it isn't looking good for the next two nights. I think it will be the end of many of the flowers tonight including the gomphrena grapes' Such a pity because they have really only just come into their glory having been nothing but foliage all summer long.

I picked some the other day for our dinner table. Friends commented on what a pretty centerpiece they made. As difficult to photograph on the table as they are in the garden.

Copper Canon daisy, Tagetes lemmonii,  has only just come into flower. I can't remember how this one fares in a frost as this one is weeks too early, but I suspect they will be gone by tomorrow.

and the Flame acanthus, Anisacanthus quadrifidus. No hummingbirds around anymore.

Two days ago the winter veggies were basking in the warm sun. A lone mullein just couldn't wait until next year having put on a spurt of growth and flowered within 2 weeks.

Now the beds are shrouded with blankets.

I think it may be the time for this gardener to have a break.

WILL IT WON'T IT

This morning I pumped up 500 gallons of water from our stock tanks into the garden. I am banking on the fact that they are promising rain. The sky is dark and when the wind blows you can smell the rain. Most of my beds are bone dry even though we had 3" of rain 2 weeks ago. The dark skies are adding depth to the color of flowers in the garden.

The pink knockout roses along the back of the pool were the recipient of some of that water. As I held the hose in one hand I snipped off the dead flowers with the other. They are mostly self cleaning but those flowers that got the soaking when it rained were just glued to the sepals. Untidy as I am I just didn't like seeing it.

It's the norm after an extended trip for my garden to get very untidy. I let plants grow and seed in the pathways and there is a price to be paid. That price is hours of pulling out. A few select plants will get to stay. This blanket flower, Gaillardia pulchella, on the corner, is one. Please watch out as you turn the corner!! There is the return of the flame acanthus Anisacanthus quadrifidus, right there between the two beds. I hacked at the root last year but there was one piece I couldn't remove without disturbing the pavers. It's back again but I have pruned it back so it will not be the monster of the past by the fall.

Verbena bonariensis wafts among the blanket flowers in the herb garden. How could I pull them out. Maybe in a few weeks when the narrow leaf zinnias arrive.
We just had a quick shower. The tanks are starting to fill again.

GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY, JUNE 2012

The middle of June already!  What is more amazing than that is that flowers are still blooming in my garden as we join Carol of Maydreams for a late spring bloom day. After all, we have been having summer in Texas for weeks on end with very little in the way of rain.

The pink evening primrose, Oenothera missouriensis, is blooming along the pool edge, for the second time this year. I cut it back severely several weeks ago and here it is again. Angel's fishing rod may not grow in this climate but the arching flowers of the gaura are a great substitute.

One favorite from last year is the Gomphrena 'fireworks' In the fall the root had gone so deep that I couldn't pull it out. I just cut it to the ground thinking the root would rot over the winter. Happily the mild winter didn't kill it and here it is back again. Gomphrenas of all varieties are a summer favorite because they just keep on blooming.

Here's the flower, hence the name.

On the other side of the pool more favorites, like the narrow leaf zinnias Zinnia linearis,  line the edge. They come from seeds saved from last year.

By and large this is a self seeding garden and at the far end a beautiful cone flower has seeded in among the stones, its growth curtailed by lack of irrigation.

They would normally grow much taller as the ones above next to the yellow knockout rose.

The chocolate daisy never seems to stop blooming. It is there in the morning but flowers have faded by late afternoon.

Among the flowers that the hummingbirds adore are Dicliptera suberecta, above, and flame acanthus, Anisacanthus quadrifidus, below.

I think it's about time to cut back the lantana, in the sunken garden, once again before it takes over..

Another plant ready for a clipping is the wall germander, Teuchrium chamaedrys. I am gradually re-establishing the plant as a low hedge in the English garden.

Last week we planted a new tree close to where the 5 Spanish oak trees once grew. It will never take the place of those trees but it may eventually offer some shade in the lower garden. It is the native, desert willow, Chilopsis linearis 'bubba' Although they say this is a small tree I have seen some pretty large ones around here. I have put it on a drip system to make sure it makes it through the summer. On the subject of the lost shade in the once Spanish oak garden I planted a new seed today. I talked at dinner about the possibility of doing an overhead arbor in this garden! We really miss the shade we once had and I see the plants in this garden are none too happy.

And who would not fall in love with its pretty orchid-like blooms?

There are lots more blooms but I think I will end here with my 50c pot of plants. They came from the rescue table at Lowes. Each 4" pot was marked down to 10c. All they needed was some TLC.

Have a great bloom day and a great summer!

DID I SAY I DIDN'T LIKE RED

I should have added that my mind can easily be changed.

This is the second year for the red spider lily, Lycoris radiata, to bloom and once again it took me by surprise. It is one of the few plants to have made it through the summer in the raised bed in the English garden. There were only two last year and the same this year. I must look for more because I think they would look better if they were in a clump. I'm just happy they survived.

I think this cutting came from Bob at Draco Gardens. The tiny tubular flowers of flame acanthus, Anisacanthus wrightii, bring hummingbirds into the garden.

A self sown zinnia.

The cardinal climber, Ipomoea sloteri, growing on the potting shed wall, finally began blooming this morning. The seeds were a pass a long at one of our garden a go gos. Not sure who it was but a big thank you. I think I found the right vine for this wall.

Blanket flower, Gaillardia pulchella,There is no flower in my garden that blooms as consistently though the year as the blanket flower. The birds love the seed heads.

The spider zinnia. Always welcome in my garden.

The pomegranate I grew from seed. This year it has 5 good sized pomegranates. Unusual for it to bloom in the fall. i saw a hummingbird visit this morning.

GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY JUNE 2011

No doubt we will have another 100 degree day today, so I look forward to seeing how gardens are faring in cooler parts of the world. Thanks to Carol at Maydreams for bringing us all together.

It seems appropriate to showcase the blooms which match the temperature first. Dicliptera suberecta isn't fazed by the triple digit temperatures.


Nor is the Flame acanthus, Anisacanthus wrightii, which has similar tubular flowers attractive to hummingbirds.

This Gaillardia grandiflora 'fanfare' re seeded in a burgundy form this year.


Along with the simple burgundy flowered blanket flower.

I have never seen a yellow form before. One of nature's endless surprises.

Last year a white form of Echinacea appeared. This year there are more than ever.

Blue plumbago.

Some spring time lingerers, larkspur.

Chocolate daisy may not be the tidiest plant in the garden but it is a sure fire early morning performer and during the morning hours fills the air with that delicious chocolate fragrance.

Among white achillea and purple statice a new addition to the garden. Gomphrena 'fireworks', on tall slender stems, wafts in the breeze.

Coreopsis tinctoria.

Narrow leaf zinnia, Zinnia linearis.

Rock rose, Pavonia lasiopetala.

I still can't believe that this perfectly mounding purple skullcap, Scutellaria wrightii, is still alive after 5 years. It grows larger every year. Obviously very happy in the sunken garden.

In the herb garden, clouds of pretty pink flowers dancing on slender stems. This is dittany of Crete, Oregano dictamus. What happened to my plans to move some to hang over the low wall in the vegetable garden. Next year, maybe!

So from scorching hot Texas, Happy Bloom Day.