Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory

Monarch Butterflies in the Garden

Toad Lily

A stroll around the garden in April

 

Baby Chickadee under Mona Lavender

Purple Oxalis

Spanish Lavender

Poppies

Sweet Peas

Happy Friday!

Spring is in the air

We have been getting some nice rainfall which is helping to green up the grass and rejuvenate the garden. It also comes in handy after the dry winter we have had. Hopefully, the precipitation will help the newly planted tomatoes establish a nice root system. The showers are one sign of Spring. Here are few more I have noticed....

Several bluebonnets have been spotted in the backyard and around town.

 The Sweet Peas are starting to flower.

The Cyclamen from last year are blooming.

My favorite sign of Spring though is Miss Wren sitting in her nest. 

Happy Spring!

Fabulous (New) Foliage Follow-Up

After debating what to plant in shade bed at the back of the house I finally decided on Mahonia 'Soft Caress', Japanese Aralia, a small Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum) and Creeping Jenny. I always try to do my due diligence and research a plant before planting and I happened to have a wonderful resource in a local Texas garden blogger, Pam Penick from Digging, who had featured the Mahonia and Japanese Maple on her blog. It is nice to know how a plant will perform in your area. The established Autumn Ferns were planted in a circle in anticipation of planting a tree in the middle. Please excuse the lovely garden hose we are using as edging in the "before" picture.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

As you can see this area gets dappled light and it only gets morning sun. In the afternoon it is in full shade.

Japanese Aralia

I love the large, glossy leaves on the Aralia. They remind me of a houseplant.

Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum)

 The Japanese Maple should be beautiful when it turns red in the Fall.

Mahonia 'Soft Caress'

 The Mahonia resembles Cousin Itt and is doing a great job catching the leaves from the Oak trees. While researching this plant I found out it is related to Nandina. Hopefully, with its soft foliage it will be just as tough.

Chocolate Ball Stonecrop Sedum

 I was smitten with this Stonecrop from the second I saw it. It has a coppery, red color to it and is extremely delicate. I was thinking of planting it between flagstone, however I think I might have rethink that decision. It looks like a plant that might stand up to our Texas heat in the Summer. I guess I will find out:)


Thank you to Pam Penick for hosting Foliage Follow-Up. This past Winter I definitely realized how important evergreen foliage is to a garden.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The not so unlimited salad

 

The Winter salads are coming to an end. The lettuce is bolting and becoming bitter. I have some Arugula that is still growing, however most of the space in the garden has been cleared for Mater planting time.

Oxalis Rainbow

The last few days have been rainy and cold, however there are little signs of Spring in the garden. For instance, the Oxalis are lush and in full bloom. The plant is a pass along from my Grandmother's garden. The bright pink blooms bring me so much joy and remind me of how my Grandmother loved gardening.

Oxalis

Fall into Place

The Fall garden is starting to take shape. We have planted most of our veggies and herbs. Luckily, the early freeze did not do any damage. Thank goodness for Frost cloth! 

Here is a look at our  lettuce bed. I try to choose a variety of green and red leaf lettuce, however my favorite is Arugula. Just makes me crave a salad every time I look at this bed.

Variety of Lettuce

This is the first year that I decided to plant Strawberries. We will see how it goes since the local squirrels love to eat fruit. 

 

Sequoia Strawberry plants

There have been a ton of butterflies when the sun comes out and the temperature warms up. 

We have some new additions to the garden including this bottle tree. I'm sure it will be full of bottles after the holidays are over;-) 

Some of the new plants recently planted include a variegated Abutilon or Flowering maple. I believe this variety is "Thompsonii".

 

Also new to the garden is this Heartleaf Skullcap. 

 

The Beautyberry was planted this past Spring. The gorgeous purple berries disappeared fast thanks to the Mockingbirds.

 

The Agastache was added this past summer and it pairs nicely with the White  and Blue mist flowers in bloom.

The Pentas were planted last year. They behave more like perennials than annuals.

Bees just adore the Fall blooming Coral Vine.

 I just don't have the heart to pull up my Cherry tomato plants yet. They are huge and blooming again!

 

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my garden. 

Hummingbirds - Fall Migration 2013

Fall migration is here! I've spotted several migrating hummingbirds this past week, including a male Rufous and a Red Ruby-Throated male. Both of these birds dominated the feeder while they were visiting to the point the little female hummers could not get a drink.

I've also seen Hawks and Warblers moving through the area. Seems a bit early for hummingbirds to migrate, but they are here. Get those feeders ready! 

Twas the Day before Migration

Twas the day before migration, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a titmouse. 
The feeders were hung in the trees with care,
In hopes that the migrating hummingbirds soon would be there.

The birders were searching for tripods lodged in the shed,
While visions of Orioles danced in their heads.
And mamma with her binoculars, and I in my cap,
Had just settled in for a migration nap.

When out in the lawn arouse such a clatter,
I sprang from my birding chair to what was the matter.
Away to the window, I like a flash,
It tore around the yard and made quite a dash.

The sun on the breast of a Red Throated Ruby
Gave the lustre that rivaled royal jewels beauty.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a territorial male and a female who decided to disappear.

  A little odd bird, so lively and quick,
I knew it in a moment, from its music and frolic.

Now Rufous! now Black Chin! now Ruby Throated and Allen!
On Buff Bellied! On, Anna! On Costa, drinking my sugar water by the gallon!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now fly away! Fly away! Fly away all. © 2012

~ A Rambling Wren Original Poem

The Garden in June

There has been an explosion in the number of caterpillars in the garden. So far, I have Eastern Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries, Giant Swallowtails and Buckeye caterpillars. On one Parsley plant I counted up to twelve cats. This is the first year for the Giant Swallowtail caterpillars to make their appearance in the garden. They are currently feasting on the leaves of my Meyer Lemon Tree. I also have a Mexican Lime Tree, but no cats were spotted on it. I planted a White Veined Pipevine, so I'm just waiting for the Pipevine Swallowtail cats to show up. Maybe I need more of the Pipevine plant? 

Swallowtail Caterpillar

 Swallowtail Caterpillars

The Artichoke that was planted last Spring has finally bloomed out. I tried to leave some blooms on the plant for the bees. I ate three Artichokes, which I steamed and dipped in a lemon butter sauce. They were delish! Of course, anything dipped in butter taste good. I'm mesmerized by the gorgeous thistle like blooms. They also smell like perfume. Here are a series of Artichoke pictures:

Foliage and flowers around the garden....

Caladium

Coral Vine

Mona Lavender

Kent's Oregano

Firebush (Hamelia patens)

Autumn Fern

Agapanthus, Potato Vine and Red Penta

Sunflower

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my garden.