Garden Bloggers Bloom Day from Linda’s east Austin garden!
March 15th, 2012 Posted in Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, Insects, bulbs, butterflies, drought, early spring flowers, poppiesThis week, CTG joins fellow gardeners from around the world for May Dreams’ Garden Bloom Day! Here’s a mere sample of what’s blooming after two years of torture-by-weather in my east Austin garden. With our recent rain salvation, this poppy (Papaver orientale) cupped its petals in gratitude.
Some early bird daylilies are so thankful that they couldn’t wait to blossom.
Maybe they just wanted to join the not so mellow yellows of columbine (Aguilegia chrysantha).
Tiny species tulip ‘Tinka’ is indeed mellow, a subtle one that naturalizes for us.
I love the balloons of annual snapdragons.
Native golden groundsel (Packera obovata) pops up from ground-hugging rosettes to join oxalis (Oxalis crassipes).
Fluffy spiraea stands tall against even taller and fluffier Lady Banks rose.
Self-seeded larkspur decided the yellows needed a touch of purple. Oh yes!
But I planted the Dutch iris, since I love purple. These return every year, flood, freeze, or drought.
Without a hard freeze this year, trailing lavender lantana (Lantana montevidensis) feeds overwintering butterflies like crazy on warm days.
Young Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) dots it up with some complementary orange.
‘Patrick’ abutilon drips little lanterns of teamwork orange and yellow.
Native Texas blue grass (Poa arachnifera) adds a seed head texture to Bloom Day, along with the foliage of Arum italicum that returns every winter in the shady spot under a mountain laurel.
Happy bloom day to you! Linda
26 Responses to “Garden Bloggers Bloom Day from Linda’s east Austin garden!”
By Shirley on Mar 15, 2012
Beautiful blooms and the yellow/purple combos are gorgeous!
It is so refreshing to be in the garden this year, especially when compared to the last two.
Reply
Linda reply on March 15th, 2012 4:46 pm:
Don’t you know it! I took more pictures today. It’s quite amazing after the way things looked a few months ago!
Reply
By Iris on Mar 15, 2012
Beautiful, bountiful blooms! That poppy is just stunning. Your poppies and larkspur are ahead of mine. I hope mine are as pretty as yours.
Reply
Linda reply on March 15th, 2012 4:46 pm:
Oh, yours will be out soon! Mine just really went into gear today. I think our plants are just as confused as we are.
Reply
By Linda/patchowrk on Mar 15, 2012
A lot blooming there.
And, a daylily! Mine are just now peaking through the soil. They were all gifts, and I think might be types better suited to northern climes. They’re still hanging in, though.
Happy Bloomday.
Reply
Linda reply on March 15th, 2012 4:45 pm:
Hi, Linda! My other daylilies haven’t performed yet; these unnamed ones are just crazy! Happy bloom day to you!
Reply
By Desert Dweller / David C. on Mar 15, 2012
Very nice, especially since you missed winter and didn’t miss the rain! The blooms and foliage look full-on spring. Nice taste of things to come for me…
Reply
Linda reply on March 15th, 2012 4:44 pm:
Yes, weird year, David! I’ll check out what all’s up in your creative sphere.
Reply
By noel on Mar 15, 2012
aloha,
spring is coming out full burst in your garden, love all the colors and your sharp photographs, beautiful
noel
Reply
Linda reply on March 15th, 2012 5:59 pm:
I was just thinking about you! I’ll check out your bloom day in a second! My plumerias need your help.
Reply
By Steph@RamblingWren on Mar 15, 2012
Gorgeous blooms! Love the ‘Patrick’ abutilon. Looking to add this to my garden this year. Should be a wonderful wildflower season with all the rain we have had.
Reply
Linda reply on March 15th, 2012 7:12 pm:
Thanks, Steph! I’ll check out your post and add to CTG’s blogroll! Right now!
Reply
Linda reply on March 15th, 2012 7:18 pm:
Okay, you’re on the CTG blogroll!
Reply
Steph@RamblingWren reply on March 15th, 2012 8:44 pm:
Thank you Linda. I really appreciate. I love CTG.
Reply
By Bob Harper on Mar 16, 2012
Linda, my PBS station is on the world’s longest fund raising spree and I’ve not seen a new CTG in almost a month. Have you all been running them and I’m missing out? Sure hope not. And, I think your pictures sure look good. And, how big is your garden area? It looks really big when I see the wide variety of plants you have. Will hope for a CTG SOOOOON ! Bob H.
Reply
Linda reply on March 16th, 2012 3:34 pm:
Hi, Bob, we’ll be back on April 7, so hang in there!! My garden really isn’t all that big, but right now the weeds make it seem larger!
Reply
By Tina on Mar 16, 2012
Such lovely photos! I like that tulip,’Tinka’ and along with everything else in your garden, it makes for a beautiful show.
Reply
Linda reply on March 16th, 2012 3:31 pm:
Thanks, Tina! I’m a fan of Tinka and all the species tulips.
Reply
By Katina on Mar 16, 2012
my purple lantana does not look good – I think the two years of assault have really dented it.
That being said, the wildflowers are looking good this year (yay for fall rain!).
Reply
Linda reply on March 16th, 2012 3:30 pm:
Oh, no! They are usually so tough.
But yahoo on the wildflowers.
Reply
By Ally on Mar 16, 2012
Wow, daylilies already. This spring is moving right along. Love the abutilon! I have a pink one, but that ‘Patrick’ is a real looker.
Reply
Linda reply on March 16th, 2012 3:29 pm:
Ally, I like the pink ones, too. Can’t have too many abutilons!
Reply
By Jo Dwyer on Mar 16, 2012
Beautiful Linda! I’m so jealous of your flowers. Your yard must be spectacular. Thanks for sharing the photos!
Reply
Linda reply on March 16th, 2012 3:27 pm:
I WISH I had your vegetables.
Reply
By Missy on Mar 18, 2012
I have a question. I built a new home last year (out towards Spicewood), and it came with a yard full of sod, and not much else. I would like to eventually have NO grass, and lots of flowers and gardens. Do you have a suggestion on how to get started removing a yard full of Tif Bermuda? I want to do it a little bit at a time, if that is reasonable.
Reply
Linda reply on March 18th, 2012 3:09 pm:
Hi, Missy! That’s a great idea! Check out Home Depot and Lowe’s to see about renting a sod cutter. It’s going to be a lot of work, but that might make it easier.
Other than that, it’s simply digging. Bermuda roots are pretty sturdy and deep-rooted, so this will be some work to do a little at a time. I’ve been removing grass myself and digging it out. When a sneaky one pops up, I dig that one up. From my experience, a spading fork really makes it easier, especially when the soil is moist but not drenched. Do one area at a time and you’ll have your new flower beds soon!
Reply