daffodils

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.

Spring thinks it has sprung!


Oh, I know we’re ahead of the curve here in Central Texas, and it isn’t really Spring here quite yet, either, but Miss Daffodil thinks it is.

She’s got her party hat on and she’s ready for her friends to join her, but I think even the closest ones are another week or more away. She’ll just have to dance in these gusty winds all by herself.

And this is Miss Maggie – from my newest rose bushes. She is really lovely, and she smells so wonderful — wish you had a scratch and sniff computer screen! She’s in a bowl in my kitchen.

“Isn’t she lovely?”


Ok, I have to admit I have Stevie Wonder singing in my head as I write this post title, so now I think maybe you do, too!

I just had to share.
Look at Ms. Daffodil above — here she is this morning. Looking for the sunshine that graced us today.

And here she is, this afternoon, as she begins to unfurl her precious petals in preparation for her “First Bulb of the Season Party!”
And you are invited!
I’m continually amazed at how such a simple little thing can be so joyful.
The normally-cranky looking Mr. Leatherleaf Mahonia is quite perky in today’s sunshine as well, as he shows off his yellow berries.  The birds don’t eat them, though.  I’m guessing they taste like they look – kind of prickly.

And here’s the view up the side path to the wild garden, with that glorious sunslight glinting on the trees.  Lots of dead foliage and plants in here right now, but in spite of that, it looked beautiful to me today.  Sunlight has a way of changing your view of things, doesn’t it?
I guess that’s why I love living in Texas – LOTS of sunshine.  (Ask me how I feel about it in August!)
But, today, I’ll leave you with another jingle in your head – like McDonald’s…
“I’m Lovin’ It!”

This and that …

Can you see my little friend up there in the tree?  He was CHEEEEEPing at me today as I worked in the yard.   I think it was a wren, but it’s hard to say.  I couldn’t see him any better than this photo.

He must have a nest near by because he was fussing at me.  I went away for a little while and left him in peace.  But it sure was a lovely sound.
We lost a male cardinal this week … I’m so sad to report that he was the victim of one of our dogs.  I suspect it was our new hound girl (the chicken-killer).  Made me so sad to find him.  We specifically don’t feed or put up houses for the birds in the back yard, but they often sweep across the back and fly really low to the ground.  And sometimes they just hang out in the bushes.  I know it’s all part of the cycle of life, but I don’t like it when my dogs contribute to it.  
And here’s a two-fer for you:  My new Felco pruners, posing next to the two daffodil tips peeking up out of the ground — already!  See them?  I LOVE the daffodils.  And though I didn’t get a photo of it, I saw one tiny bloom on my Anacacho Orchid today.  Spring is just around the corner…or just under the mulch, as the case may be.
And since it worked for me last year, I actually PLANTED daffodils today and yesterday.  I got two dozen into the ground in various spots.  When I did it in January last year with bulbs I had forgotten about, they all came up, so, since now is when I have the time to plant them, now is when they are going in the ground.  
With our bizarre weather these days, I don’t think any of the conventional rules apply, anyway!
It was 80 today – but it’s supposed to be in the 50’s tomorrow.  Summer today, winter tomorrow.  Hey – I’m just happy to have had a little break with sunshine.

Don’t chew, I surrender!

I surrender. Sigh. After planting lots of little eye candy last week, I got up and went outside to survey Saturday morning. Lo and behold, several of my plants were strewn about the driveway and the beds. Clearly, someone, or several someones, came through for a tasting sampler and found some of them unpalatable! If they didn’t like them, I wishe they’d at least figure that out first, or put them back!

I was able to shove most of those back into their holes and water them. Unfortunately, there were also quite a few plants that were obviously tasty, because they were munched on. They ate all the blooms of Kallie’s Cyclamen, and munched on shrubs and annuals. I know the deer tolerance for most of the perennials and shrubs, but there are just too many annuals to keep track of. And, let’s face it, when I’m standing in the nursery oogling some cute new plant, I know I’m not going to rush home to look it up and come back to buy it. I want it NOW!

So after the deer had a nice salad from my beds Friday night, Saturday morning I went out with strips of laundry dryer sheets to tie around the plants I was most worried about. (They are very scent-sensitive and I’ve some success with it in the past to keep the deer out of the bird feeders.)

Mostly eaten.

Spared — and now with a dryer sheet scarf!
Munched on — sporting a lovely new scarf.

Here are a few bulbs from the experimental ones I planted last month! They are actually coming up now – I can’t believe it. I think these are daffodils or irises. I guess they will surprise me, or I can go back and search my posts.
These are two amaryllis that were eaten last year and managed to survive to grow another season. I guess I’d better chicken wire them until they’ve bloomed!
Here’s another little daffodil that sprouted up and surprised me — I thought these were hyacinths when they first peeked up!
Here is my new vegetable bed — the little one on the left. I just thought I’d squeeze one more in there.
These are the two cleaned-up beds — new garden soil inside and with weed block and thick mulch in the pathways instead of the zoysia grass that kept invading the gardens. Between that and the new metal edging, I’m hoping to keep most of the grass at bay. I swear, last summer it looked like a LAWN in my veggie gardens at one point! Cross your fingers for me.

The gate has been promised tomorrow. And it’s supposed to be 84f — unbelieveable. I’m postponing my teacher conference meeting until Tuesday when the cold front comes through and we drop to 63f 😉

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