menu

social

blog

3 seasons converge in Texas weird weather

Spring works fast in Central Texas. A week ago, my Mexican plum reigned.
bee on Mexican plum Central Texas Gardener
As temps veered to early summer, already it’s raining petals in favor of new leaves. Now, mountain laurels take up the bee and butterfly baton.
mountain laurel Central Texas Gardener
Technically, it’s still winter, as this possumhaw holly knows in the Belo Center for New Media raised beds across from KLRU. Until its spring leaves pump out, it’s a berry nice sculpture. (Update: leaves popped out Tuesday!)
possumhaw holly berries Central Texas Gardener
Underneath, ‘Brakelights’ yucca, better than a groundhog, predicts that winter is over as it carries on the red theme through summer.
brakelights yucca Central Texas Gardener
On the way to work, I hit the brakes at El Chilito when I spotted an aloe blooming in this charming succulent raised bed planter.
raised planter El Chilito Central Texas Gardener
I was so hungry after taking a few pictures that I hauled a taco back to work (of course).
aloe el chilito Central Texas Gardener
Winter sort of passed us by this year. That prompted gorgeous color duos, like Salvia greggii and cold-weather ornamental cabbage, at the Travis County Extension demonstration garden.
ornamental cabbage Salvia Greggii Central Texas Gardener
At home, the bulb parade keeps marching! Narcissus Marieke showed up a month early in its second year, so only a third will tell its true story.
narcissus marieke Central Texas Gardener
For years, though, I’ve relied on spring star flower (Ipheion uniflorum) and Freesia laxa: photobombed by Lantana montevidensis, still blooming in February.
freesia laxa spring star flower lantana Central Texas Gardener
spring star flower annual flower Central Texas Gardener
freesia laxa Central Texas Gardener
Ah, so much pruning left to do to dense up shaggy plumbago, turk’s cap, and Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera).
Mexican honeysuckle shrimp plant ready prune Central Texas Gardener
I’ll wait a bit on that Mexican honeysuckle since its flaming flowers are just too good to sacrifice (yet).
Mexican honeysuckle flower Central Texas Gardener
‘Patrick’s’ abutilon is scheduled for a haircut soon (I’m not convinced that winter is really over). For now, I treasure its pendulous orange lanterns.
Patrick's abutilon Central Texas Gardener
The bees and I love all my oxalis, but I’m so glad I snagged this yellow, ‘Scotty’s Surprise’ (Oxalis pes-caprae) a few years ago. I’ve been dividing it to great success.
Scotty's surprise oxalis Central Texas Gardener
In this morning sun bed behind the mountain laurel, this week’s arrivals include annual re-seeding baby blue eyes and perennial golden groundsel.
semi shade annual perennial garden Central Texas Gardener
Native baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) delightfully seeded itself against golden groundsel (Packera obovata) set to open any minute.
baby blue eyes native annual Central Texas Gardener
The first golden groundsels already partnered with billbergia.
billbergia and golden groundsel Central Texas Gardener
In case you missed it, this week we repeat our inspiring interview with Jenny Peterson, author of The Cancer Survivor’s Garden Companion: Cultivating Hope, Healing and Joy in the Ground Beneath Your Feet.
Cancer Survivor's Garden
Thanks for stopping by! See you next week, Linda

Comments