Diana C. Kirby, Author at Diana's Designs Austin

Snow in August?

Sitting here after a sweltering August day in Texas, I was trying to muster some creativity for a blog post.

I’ve been remiss in keeping up — I could blame it on the heat, less activity in the garden, summer, school starting — you name it.

But I decided with a few hours tonight, I’d try to catch up on reading and try to post.

Brain-dead. Maybe it was sunstroke. Or simply a lack or recent photos.

So I started scanning my iphoto files. So fun – to relive the exciting and beautiful moments of the past year. Including these wonderful winter wonderland shots of last winter’s big snow. I was immediately transported to that icy day when we all played in snow and marveled at how it transformed our world — and my garden.

They brought a smile to my face, and took a little of the hot edge off!

Wouldn’t mind a little of this right now, would you?

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:26-06:00August 31st, 2010|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, snow, snow in August|0 Comments

Am I blue?

Nope. I’m not blue.

But my pretty new pottery is.

And my new Mountain Yucca is as well.

You know how sometimes you do something with a space and then stop, but feel like it still needs a little “something-something?”

That’s how I’ve felt about the day lily bed. It’s a small space with limitations (access to the air conditioner and the breakfast room windows).

But it felt hollow in the middle. Probably because there was a big hole there!

Sitting at breakfast this weekend it occurred to me that a big ‘ol blue pot with a big ‘ol blue agave would look right nice in there.

And it does!

I made a quick run today to The Natural Gardener, where I knew I could find both items (and a whole lot more) and came home happy.

So, am I blue? Nope.

I’m tickled pink!

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:40:13-05:00August 30th, 2010|Blog, day lilies, pots, Sharing Nature's Garden, yucca|0 Comments

Playing hide and seek in the garden

This amazing moth made an appearance around our Datura the other night – entranced by the sweet scent of the white trumpet-shaped blooms. In the dark, my DH and I both watched it fluttering around.

When I first heard it close by, I thought it might be a hummingbird, but then I caught a full-moon lit glimpse and realized it was a huge moth.

Then yesterday a giant thing blew by my head while I was out pruning, and lo and behold it was our moth. I raced to get the camera, expecting it to be long gone by the time I returned.

Happily it was not. I climbed on a chair to get a closer look and took her portrait.

One of my twitter tweeps thought it might be a leopard moth. I haven’t been able to ID it yet — what do you think?

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:40:13-05:00August 29th, 2010|Blog, datura, moth, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Gardening that’s not gardening…

It’s been too darn hot to garden — even for me. Temperatures hit 107 more than once in the last week and it’s just oppressive.

And, between the heavy blanket of heat and the start of school, I haven’t blogged either.

I’m feeling a little disconnected, and looking for ways to get back into some semblance of a routine. Know what I mean? It happens to all of us sometime — things are just out of sorts.

Last night I went with a group of friends to “Painting with a Twist.” It’s a group painting class — they offer a different painting each evening and an instructor guides you from start to finish. Like Bob on the old PBS series — remember that? I know you watched it! We all did.

So last night we painted “Dancing Sunflowers” which isn’t based on a famous painting, but rather a composite that they offer.

We brought food and wine. We laughed and we talked, and we painted!

No surprise that I voted that we go on a night with a garden theme – I did that when I painted pottery past year as well. Guess it’s my “thing” when I’m being creative, even in other mediums.

I was pretty happy with my final painting, and it’s now hanging on my wall. It’s there to remind me of all the beautiful things in my garden, even when I’m not outside to enjoy them.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:26-06:00August 26th, 2010|Blog, painting, Sharing Nature's Garden, sunflowers|0 Comments

Blooming in spite of August…

Maggie Roses keep each other company.

Ok.

It’s hot. Dang hot.

But they’re still going and so am I!

This is a cooler summer than the last two summers have been. We’ve enjoyed lower temperatures and much more rain than we normally have. But not too much rain, like 3 years ago!

So my garden is pretty happy this Bloom Day. Carol, of May Dreams Gardens, invites us to share what’s blooming in our gardens on the 15th of every month so we can share and compare and contrast with what’s going on all around the world.

Sapphire Showers Duranta leans down to mingle with Sedum Autumn Joy.

So, here are some of my blooms. Some things are not as full of blooms because they’re used to the blazing heat and drought.

Love Lies Bleeding

My Amaranth, a passalong from Phillip, of East Side Patch, is 4 feet tall and just sprouted a lovely bloom. I’m hoping for many more blooms trailing over soon!

Grandpa Ott Morning Glory

Plumeria

The Plumeria were stunning last month, but they are coming to the end of their bloom cycle now. This is the last bloom on my three plants.

Cypress Vine

The Cypress Vine looks pretty here. But what you’re not seeing here is how it has taken over the vegetable garden and is trying to choke out the tomato plants, the pepper plants, the strawberries … you get the idea!

Trailing Lantana

Datura

Esperanza

The Esperanza is bursting with blooms all around the pool area.

Mandevilla

Clematis Jackmanii

Buddleia

I love the look of this Crape Myrtle next to the Ruby Crystals grass flowing in the breeze.

Angel Wing Begonia

I love how this beautiful plant from my good friend looks in the pot by the front door.

Homestead Verbena

This is the verbena that was supposed to be the wonderful deep purple but it turned out to be white.

Senorita Rosalita Cleome

Moy Grande Hibiscus

The fabulous big-as-your-head hibiscus is performing up to it’s reputation again this year.
Dianthus
Can you believe that these dianthus all around the walk way up to the front door, planted last November, are still blooming? I’ve lost a few to the heat, but boy, are they hearty.

Yarrow – Paprika

One of many different colors of Lantana around the gardens.

Sedum Autumn Joy

Blackfoot Daisy

And, last but never least, the ever xeric Blackfoot Daisy. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking!

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day – what’s blooming in your garden today?

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:26-06:00August 15th, 2010|blackfoot daisies, Blog, Crape Myrtle, duranta, GBBD, grass, maggie rose, Moy Grande hibiscus, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

How to cool off in the heat wave…

The Texas heat has followed us to Indiana. The big heat wave of the Midwest has seen uncharacteristic heat indices of 105-110.

While we’re avoiding actual temps of 100 in Austin, it feels that hot or more here. But after we leave, the heat wave is expected to break and temperatures here will be in the upper 80s.

Sadly, we’ll be gone by then.

Everything is looking for a way to cool off. Yesterday we watched as hundreds of beautiful butterflies found their way to the creek to get a drink. I wish I knew what kind of butterflies these were – they were all over the white and red clover in the pasture.
These swallowtails loved wallowing in the mud.
And Ed the dog went to lie down in the creek, lapping up a nice drink of water while he cooled off.
He’s in the creek about 3-4 times a day – smart enough to know when to cool down in the heat. He showed up at the farm after a long journey last May when we were here. He was lost or abandoned. I believe he was sent as a gift — at a time when the love and companionship of a wonderful dog was the answer to a prayer.