Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, April 2010

Carol of May Dreams Gardens invites us each month to display what’s blooming in our gardens on the 15th of every month. Though I missed it by one day, belated still counts in the gardening world.

While my garden is still getting her adolescent legs under her, she has lots of showing off happening right now. With coltish smaller displays, there is room to grow in between plants. As always, just wait till NEXT year, right?

Starting with my favorites, (don’t tell the others), the Yellow Sunny Knockout Rose is knocking me out (below):

It’s her first year in my garden (a birthday present to myself last fall), and she loves her new location. Here’s a closeup of the blooms; they open quite lemon yellow and a day or so later fade to a lovely cream. Combined with her rosy fragrance,  she’s quite the gal!

I like how she combines with Senorita Rosalita Cleome, a proven winner trialed by Pam/Digging and made all of us Austin bloggers clamor for one of our own:

A better look at Senorita Rosalita, one of 5 (yes, I said five) in my yard. A great annual for filling in empty spots that will someday be filled by nearby perennials:

Another top-of-my-list favorite is  Marilyn’s Choice Abutilon. Hardy and showy, she’s very happy in her morning sun location with rich soil:

I hope those same conditions are right for the white-blooming Diamond Frost Euphorbia, because I like the two of them together:

And one of the great joys of Bloom Day is that I always find a surprise waiting for me. Today’s shocker is this newly-planted-last-winter Camellia in bloom now! And to top it off, the plant tag had indicated a white bloom. So she really is quite the off-color jokester:

Verbena in many forms is off-the-charts gorgeous everywhere this year. I have several colors:

I love this combo of native Moss Verbena and Daylillies:

Mock Orange is always a lovely spring show, giving me blooms for about 3 weeks. Here she is, right on time:

Nearby, this is the first time I’ve gotten these two plants to bloom together, and I’m lovin’ it! Coral Honeysuckle with Primrose Jasmine:

The Byzantine Gladiolus returned this year with long-lasting show-stopping neon fuchsia blooms:

My acid-soil, morning sun container is so far working to give me that southern garden charm. I hope I can keep the stock tank container watered enough through the hot summer to keep everything alive. Here’s Autumn Belle Encore Azalea going to town in her Sunday best:

Next to her is the new addition of Clerodendron Bleeding Heart Vine, also known as Glory Bower:

I’ll finish out with photos of the other blooms; it’s quite a colorful show this spring!

Blackfoot Daisy

Chocolate Chip Ajuga, past its prime

Pink Ranunculus, a happy return from last year

A few yellow Columbine, a plant I have difficulties starting

The first few blooms have started on Gulf Coast Penstemon

Salvia Greggii White form

A new pink Abutilon

Salvia Coccinea Coral Nymph

It seems the whole country is in bloom! From gardens to wildflowers, check out the blogroll at May Dreams.

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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day- April, 2009

Many thanks, as always, to Carol of May Dreams Gardens for creating and hosting this monthly event in the world of garden blogging.

Many of you read my recent whine about feeling like my yard  looks just like the local Whataburger, so I set out today to prove myself wrong. With this bloom from a passalong rose from Lori/Gardener of Good and Evil, I think I achieved that!

Double Delight Rose is gorgeous, with a scent to match.
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The Primrose Jasmine is at its peak.

The Mock Orange is just beginning. It will probably peak next week, especially if we get the “promised” rain in the forecast.

I didn’t even know that this recently planted Pittisporum bloomed, but it was covered with buds a week ago and these sweet, light yellow blooms have a fragrant scent to boot.

And I’m still loving my Double Ranunculus. It is going strong, with more buds to follow. These were bulbs picked up on a whim at Barton Springs Nursery last fall.

This most recent bloom on the same plant, though, is a single form.

This is my latest Ivy Geranium, a winter hardy geranium if I protect it from cold.

Another look at Double Delight from the front.

I finally got a decent photo of the bulbine.

The Abutilon is blooming. I love the variegated leaves with the busy, veined blooms.

And yet another Ivy Geranium. I love how you can see a bloom through the sheer curtains of the gazebo.

The Byzantine Gladiolus, an indulgence purchase from Southern Bulbs. Great color, aren’t they?

Coral Nymph Salvia Cocciniea. Molly Ivans is blooming in the front yard as well.

White Salvia Greggii, Pink Sunburst Canna, and The Flash peeking at me.

The Bottlebrush is just about to burst into blooms all over. I’m anxiously awaiting that, it’s a sight to see every spring.

Spotted Dead Nettle with Impatiens; a nice shade combo in a container.

A close-up of the Gladiolus.

Verbena is blooming in several colors now.

And this newly blooming plant just popped up as I was strolling through the garden taking pictures.

Other blooms are a kolanchoe, an aloe, ice plant, ajuga, red salvia, pink salvia, purple heart, and society garlic, bicolor Iris and butterfly Iris are just beginning.

Bloom Day, February 2009

Thanks to Carol, May Dreams Garden, for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

At first I wasn’t going to bother with bloom day, because I didn’t think I had much to post. Today is the final day prior to kitchen remodeling, which commences tomorrow morning, and much work still remained to get ready. However, in pursuit of a much needed break, I decided to roam around the garden with my camera. Pleasantly surprised, I found more blooms than I realized. Of course, each of these blooms is just one on the entire plant, so don’t get excited and think that spring has come early to Central Texas. I’m anticipating one last cold front or freeze before spring arrives in March.

A little cheat here; I purchased a new Abutilon with gorgeous variegated leaves last week with Diana, Sharing Nature’s Garden, when we went to Barton Springs Nursery. I love the combination of the variegated bloom with the variegated leaf. A busy plant, but I have just the place for her and her drama queen behavior.

Tucked away into my tiny, portable and overcrowded greenhouse, this hardy Ivy Geranium has given me another sweet lavender bloom. I’m loving this plant more and more as I observe her survival instincts.

The Chinese Fringe Flower, or Loropetalum, is just starting to bloom:

Another recent purchase (perhaps a month ago) is this white potato vine that I added to the shady latticework intended for privacy between me and my backyard neighbors. If I can get this plant going, it will be stunning when filled out and in bloom.

Technically not a bloom, but showing off some seasonal color is this Flapjack Kolanchoe:

And my first true spring bloomer of the season, a baby Spring Bouquet Viburnum. This one was put into a container once I received the large viburnum passalongs from Diana last Fall. Those large transplants are still in a bit of shock, so I’ll look for them to be covered in blooms next spring once they have recovered.

This little succulent certainly looks like a flowery bloom, doesn’t it?

And I can assure you, when my newly planted bulbs bloom, I will be so excited that I will be posting pictures immediately! And I’ll probably even cheat, and put them on the next Bloom Day post, even if it isn’t the 15th. Here are the promises of things to come:

Grape Hyacinth

Passalong Iris from Pam/Digging

Byzantine Gladiolus from Southern Bulb Co. These were the bulbs that cost $10 EACH, so I only purchased two. I had been concerned that the squirrels had eaten one of them, but fortunately, it showed up as well as you can see. If I can get these established, it will be worth the expensive bulbs.

At one of the seminars I took at Zilker Gardens last year, I heard that Guacamole Hosta might grow okay here. I purchased a bulb online (actually I purchased 4 others as well, but they aren’t up yet) and this one immediately went to town. I hope it continues.

And then, of course, that bloomin’ cat!