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Crazy Mixed-Up Garden World

What is up with Mother Nature? Last year on February 18, I had beautiful grape-soda-scented Mountain Laurel blooms all along the driveway.

Today, the Mountain Laurels are not even forming buds yet. The caterpillars are eating them already, but no buds. I wonder if the recent freezes killed them entirely.
And, yet, a month behind in our blooms, we already have May flies! This is a lousy picture (YOU try capturing a flying May fly on film (well, not film, either). And I saw a 3″ long grasshopper on the back of the house today. By all rights, he should have DIED in the big freeze. Sigh.

But there are a few reliables in my garden, even if many things are topsy turvy. Ms. Phoebe Hellebore’s two sisters joined her yesterday – one pink and one with a greenish tint.
And since I am so infatuated with the Hellebores, I did order another from Springhill — see her here above in her little cage? Her name is Ice Wine, and she’ll make a nice contrast with the Phoebes, don’t you think?

Does this look suspiciously like someone forgot there were already a different variety of bulbs planted in this very same spot? Hmmmm…
I was lying on the driveway to take this picture for you. Sure wish you could scratch and sniff your screen. It is Yellow Grape Muscari “Golden Fragrance” — a variety very different from the traditional grape-y muscari, known for its scent, which is said to smell a bit like a mix of gardenia and banana. I stuck my nose in it and WHAM! So full of scent – what a wonderful smell, though I had forgotten how it was described. As I smelled it, I thought it smelled like pineapple and cinnamon. Interesting, huh? But boy was it great.
And here are a few of the different Daffs popping up all around the garden. Dutch Master, Tete-a-Tete, and Yellow Fortune.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:42:34-05:00March 9th, 2010|Blog, bulbs, daffodils, Hellebore, May flies, Phoebe, Sharing Nature's Garden, Texas Mountain Laurel|0 Comments

Signs of Spring keep popping out…

Yesterday I was moping about in the yard, looking at the dormant grass, scraggly rock path plants with lots of dead foliage, and the dead or dormant variegated shell ginger.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear — but blooms on my Mexican Plum tree. Lo and behold, it is emerging from it’s long winter’s nap.
One of the handful of bulbs I planted last month (long-neglected and unplanted in a pot in the garage) bloomed today. Can you please ID this for me? I have no idead what this little pretty blossom is.
While not as far along, these are the little buds on my little peach tree that never produces any peaches. I keep saying I am going to rip it out, but then it buds out and I take pity on it and leave it there for another miserable year with two marble-sized and sadly-diseased stones that are supposed to be peaches! It looks like it holds promise, doesn’t it? (Don’t be fooled!)

Spring may be on its way, yet.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:42:34-05:00March 4th, 2010|Blog, bulbs, Mexican Plum, peach tree, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

A little Vitamin D…

See that right there?

No, not the bulbs…see…what’s embracing the bulbs?

It’s sunshine.

We haven’t had a lot of that the last two weeks, and I’ve been in bed most of that time with a sinus infection I can’t seem to shake.

But yesterday, the sun shined. I got a little energy, my good friend Robin, at GettingGrounded brought me some chicken soup and tea, and I think I turned the corner.

When I ventured outside to survey the garden and bask in that sunshine, I passed (for the hundredth time) a little plastic pot into which I had literally tossed a dozen or so bulbs I didn’t have time to plant. That was months ago – when I tossed them there, and they’ve been sitting in the garage – STARING at me. Lately, they’ve sent up green shoots to yell at me on top of the bulbs.

Sheeesh!
So, yesterday, with my ears ringing, I thought — I’m not up to much, but surely I could spend 10-15 minutes planting these darn things so they will quit hollering at me. I have no idea what they are, either! I know that the little ones are passalong irises and the big ones on the left I bought myself and never planted. I think they might be paperwhites intended for a pretty glass jar with rocks.
Aren’t they pathetic? But they all had a smidgeon on green on them. So I soaked them in some water and dutifully planted them in the garden.

But don’t tell anyone their story…I’m afraid someone will call PPS (Plant Protective Services) on me!

Do you have any plants, bulbs or seeds in your garden in need of an advocate? Do you peer over your gate in fear that your neighbors will call PPS on you?

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:42:35-05:00February 18th, 2010|Blog, bulbs, iris, paperwhites, PPS, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Planting a little hope…

A few sunny days this week inspired me to get out into the garden.

I can’t prune yet (for fear of promoting new growth) because we could easily have more freezing weather before the 2nd week in March, our last average freeze.

And I don’t want to pick up all those oak leaves covering the dead plants either, because they are providing a little winter cover. (It’s supposed be down to 36 tonight.)

But I can put in some cool weather annuals in pots and planters to bring some color into my mostly-brown landscape. So I went to the Natural Gardener on Friday and bought some little pretties to scatter about and bring some cheer. I put these three colorful annuals in the pots by the front door.

I also cleaned out and planted one of my window boxes with some very perky Spring colors.
And then I planted all the bulbs I bought last fall.

I know, I know.

In Central Texas, most bulbs are supposed to be planted right after Thanksgiving.

But with traveling for Thanksgiving, preparing for the holidays, two birthdays, party for 160, and traveling for Christmas, bulb planting just wasn’t on my list!

I know – I’m a slacker~! Frankly, I shut off the gardening part of my brain the first of November. It’s tough sometimes, but I just can’t juggle all that at once.

If you were reading through here last January, you’ve read about me doing this before! And since those bulbs came up just fine, I’ve decided I will just plant them on my own time line and hope.
So, now I am ready to welcome back gardening with open arms.
I planted about 60 bulbs this week – most of them daffodils. (I love them, AND the deer don’t — the perfect combination for outside the fence.) But I still covered them up because the deer love to check out the turned earth and the compost and stomp around new plants, whether they eat them or not.

I planted:

Odorous Plenus “Double Campernelle” — which is supposed to be an early blooming heirloom Narcissus dating back to the 1600s and very fragrant.

Tete-a-tete — a shorter Daffodil that I tucked in among some other perennials.

Jonquil “Simplex” — a standard 10-12″ daffodil that I scattered about in several places.

Yellow grape Muscari “Golden Fragrance” — a variety very different from the traditional grapy muscari, known for its scent, which is said to smell a bit like a mix of gardenia and banana.

Fritillaria michailovskyi — a 6″ tall Turkish wildflower with 1-5 purple=edged and yellow hanging bell flowers per stem. They looked so exotic and beautiful in the catalog, I just had to have a bag of them. I put these right outside the breakfast room window, where I will see them the most.

Cross your fingers for me!

Bulbs planted in previous years are popping up all over the beds, much to my delight. If I had to pick one favorite moment in time in the garden, it would be watching the daffodils open in the spring.

What’s your favorite moment in time in the garden?

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:42:36-05:00January 24th, 2010|Blog, bulbs, daffodils, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Pot o’ pretties

Ok, even though I have some daffodils in my garden, I just couldn’t resist this mixed bulb pot at the big box last Saturday.

Isn’t that pretty? And those bulbs can all go right in the ground when they are done blooming, so it’s like recycling …

Have a great week…

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:44:39-05:00February 23rd, 2009|Blog, bulbs, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

A little rain and a little motivation

It’s amazing what a little rain will do for the garden … and for the gardener’s soul.

I am totally invigorated by the recent two days of steady rain that totals more than an inch. In our drought stricken area, this is a real blessing.

So yesterday, after a lovely lunch with Robin, of Getting Grounded, we went to Barton Springs Nursery to see what we could see. And we — rather — I — saw some bluebonnet PLANTS that had to come home with me!

I have not been successful with seeds because I have too much mulch in most places they would like to grow. So yesterday I painstakingly amended the soil with crushed granite in 3 little spots and pulled back mulch and made them a home. And then fenced them in immediately so my deer friends, Emmy and Lulu, wouldn’t come snack on them! (Did you notice that Madame Daffodil has invited a friend to her Spring Party?)

I also planted a Potato Vine and I bought an Abutilon that will get planted today. I’ve been eyeing everyone else’s and been green with envy. Unfortunately mine was mis-labeled, and when I called they just didn’t know what kind it was because it was a gift to them from a friend. I guess nurseries get passalongs, too. So I will post a picture tomorrow and you can help me ID it.

I also got a few Rain Lilies that Robin picked up from Annie at The Transplantable Rose when she was passing-along. I didn’t get in on the offer quick enough, but Robin shared hers with me and I am so excited to have some — I’ve never had any — thanks to both of you!

And the rain has also prompted these little Crocosmia above to pop right up out of the ground in search of sunshine.
This lovely Hibiscus was waiting for me when I went into the greenhouse yesterday to open it up and let some humidity in from outside. Wow. It’s really very intricate. My photo doesn’t do it justice.
And here is the Bougainvillea that Robin gave me last Fall. Blooming happily — in February! She must think she is in Mexico!
As does this Desert Rose, happily blooming away in the greenhouse.