Uncategorized

As a gardener, it really is the little things for me. It’s the little things (weeds) that drive me crazy and make it impossible for me to sit in my back yard and relax without staring them down or getting up to pull them! And it’s the precious little clusters of border and filler plants that bring me such pleasure. I ordered these tiny plants from a catalog in early spring, to fill a narrow strip of border along the front walk way. They haven’t done much in all these months and I’m not sure why, but they are so delicate and pretty I can’t much fault them. They’re trying, and I guess that’s what counts.

The lantana seems rather ordinary, but it performs so beautifully and I love all the rich blends of colors, the orange-reds, the confetti, the fucsia and orange, they love our heat and are finally recovering from all of our rainy, gray days.

It’s almost like Spring revisted. The waiting and watching and more waiting for the blooms to appear on a myriad of plants throughout my garden. They’re green, and they’re growing — and I’m growing impatient! But, Mother Nature does things on her schedule, not mine, and that’s a constant lesson for me in the garden. Maybe in a week or two I can post these pictures again with a profusion of beautiful blooms to share!

Ok – so it’s officially hot. And Summertime. And watering time. S’ok. It IS Texas after all – it’s supposed to be HOT! And the heat is making so many of my plants happy again. Like this little guy, with his little bloom peeking out after a month of soggy, wet roots that I thought were going to give up. I’m not even sure what this plant is, but I like it — it makes me smile.

There’s a running “To Do” list in my head, including projects for the fall, like removing the dying oleander and overgrown primrose jasmine in the front beds and starting a new design from scratch. Something more appropriate to that space, and something I can call “mine,” instead of something that I inherited with the house. I think the previous owners literally planted one of everything with no regard to size or sunlight or sensibility! New projects and landscape designs excite me. Pulling weeds doesn’t excite me. But, THAT’s what’t at the top of my list right now! So, for now, I’ll pull weeds and dream about planting a flowering quince in that perfect pink/coral color that will join my daffodils as the first harbingers of spring next year.

Speaking of quince – I’m looking for a particular variety — with the coral-colored blooms we find dotting the beautiful, rich central Austin gardens of yesteryear. Not the Texas Red, or even pink, but that delicate coral color that is is so rare in the garden, and makes this quince so distinctive. I’ve done some searching, but haven’t had much luck. Any ideas on the name of the variety I want or where I can find one?

This “summer’s” topsy-turvy weather has confused some of my plants — my very young wisteria vine thinks it’s been getting April showers and has begun to bloom again! I love it, because I always wish the wisteria blooms would last longer in the springtime. My newly-landscaped shade bed in the back has thoroughly enjoyed the rains, and the cooler-loving plants are thriving and got a really good start. And I think I actually heard the sun-loving xeric and native plants breathe a sigh of relief today, as the sun beamed down on them.

How great it feels to be back in the dirt with the sun on my back! I was finally able to plant the little pots sitting around waiting for a home – 8 pink Texas Skullcap, 2 salvias, a Muy Grande native Hibiscus, and few smaller hibiscus. Even worked on some weeds — it’s amazing how everything is relative — even weeding seems o.k. after a long-awaited sunny day!