My birthday gift

 My DH (dear hubby) bought me a birthday gift that I have wanted for a long time.... a Meyer Lemon tree. I love my little lemon tree and can't wait to harvest some fresh lemons this summer. I've noticed I'm not the only one loving this little tree. The bees and butterflies and swarming it. 

The DH also bought me a gorgeous flower arrangement. 

As I near the middle years of my life, I realized that I have learned some important life lessons. Here are just a few...

Cyclamen add bright color to a winter garden

During the dreary days of winter, I love to see some pop of color in my garden. Cyclamen is a wonderful winter annual that provides color with beautiful blooms and heart shaped leaves.

They look spectacular sprinkled throughout the garden or planted in groups. My intention when planting them is to make the planting look organic as possible. As if they decided to spring up all on their own.

With so many different variety of colors available, it is hard to buy just one. Their beauty and cold hardiness in TX winters makes them one of my favorite winter annuals.

Highlights of 2012

I've enjoyed looking at pictures of the garden in 2012. It gives me a perspective of how the garden has evolved and what projects I have planned for 2013. Here are a few highlights from 2012.

With the addition of raised beds, we were able to have our first vegetable and herb garden.

Passionflowers are one of my favorite flowers. There were four different varieties added to the garden this year.

The addition of passionflower vines brought lots of Gulf Fritillaries

Plants that attract hummingbirds were planted.

If you plant it, they will come. The hummingbirds were drawn to the plants. We are still enjoying watching two Rufous hummers this winter.

The Coral Vine put on its first blooms this year.

The newly planted butterfly garden hosted numerous Queen butterflies. 

This was definitely the year of the butterflies. They were everywhere! What a difference this year was compared to last year with the drought.