11 March 2009

Spring Winter Spring

Last night, I was lounging on the back patio in my flip flops, sipping on a cool glass of cheap vinho verde (Casal Garcia, a favorite for warm weather) as the moon rose through the clouds to the east. The katydids sawed through the air. The crickets chirped.

Tonight, I am cloistered in the study against the cold drippy night covered in two layers of fleece. I attempted to exorcise the cold with a bowl of Spicy XX Chili (not Hot Hot Hot XXX) from the Texas Chili Parlor, but that only lasts so long. What better weather to blog in?

Before settling in with said glass of wine last night, I snapped a few photos around the yard with the help of our now later sunset. (Boo on the crappy late rising sun though. Los Federales need to reconsider this entire Daylight Savings Time experiment, in my opinion.)

On to the photos...


Texas betony is gearing up for the arrival of the hummingbirds. These plants did OK last year, but they seem to have taken hold, and I'm hoping for a bigger show this time round.


The yellow columbine, a native, is beginning to rocket forth with butter yellow blooms.


Up close.


I found some very young caterpillars munching away on this roughleaf dogwood. I'll have to remember to ask my friend Mary what they are.


I was super psyched to find a few heartleaf skullcap transplants at the Sunshine Community Garden plant sale this past weekend. I've been admiring these growing at the Wildflower Center for some time. Good shade ground cover with blue sage-like flowers. Plus, it's a mint, so it'll spread. I also got a tall goldenrod, which I hear may drive me crazy some day, but I'm happy to get things that will fill in the spaces for now...


I just can't quite capture the dainty blue hues on these violets blooming all over the place.


The Scott's sedge, a variety of Carex texenis from Barton Springs Nursery, looks like fireworks in bloom.


Here's one of the March veggie beds. Hidden amongst there are basil and tomato transplants from the Sunshine garden plant sale (a GREAT event every year if you've never been). Also, a new row or two of arugula, spinach still going strong, strawberries, peas and broccoli feeding the bees in the rear.


6 comments:

Cindy, MCOK said...

Lee, it's very interesting to me that your columbines and Pam's Mexican buckeye tree are blooming ahead of mine. I haven't even seen buds on my columbines yet here in Katy. Weather weirdness continues!

The veggie bed is gorgeous.

Jennings said...

Hi, Lee,
I'm a new blogger. Lovely to see all that's going on at your place. I esp liked learning about the "fireworks" bush. Gotta get a couple.

Rock rose said...

I love that sedge. Must look out for it at the nursery.

Anonymous said...

I just saw my first columbine and Texas betony blooms in the old garden today too.

What can you tell me about your growing conditions for that Carex? It looks great in your garden.

TexasDeb said...

Deer keep eating my columbine. Some day....

We don't have limes but rather Meyer Lemon trees in pots. We haul them in w PM lows in the mid 40s to avoid triggering dormancy and feed them with John's Ladybug formulation to fairly good results so far. (different post I know but trying to be efficient).

Thanks for sharing your blooms!

Lee said...

Hey Pam. I've been really happy with this sedge, which seems to be a larger more clumping variety of the native Texas sedge. I have it planted in clay that's been amended over the years with some compost. It really has done fantastic and with very little care. I don't really water it (after established). It was in shade, but now it's part-shade/sun (with some trees being cut down). Does fine in both, apparently. It may spread, however, so something to be aware of. I'm watching it carefully, as I see new little sedge popping up around the area. One way to prevent that if you didn't want might be to cut the flowers back before they go to seed, but then you'd miss the fireworks!