Welcome to my garden today. It's been awhile since I've posted...it's been a very busy spring and one that clearly puts me in the "gardener first" category...I'd clearly rather be outside on a day like today. Cecile Bruner is magnificent...the Lady Banksia last month was unbelievable, this is a year for roses...and so much more.
Carol of May Dreams Gardens started us all on this monthly blog and to her, we are all grateful. I've decided to organize my photos not by front and back yard, new or standard but by color...several things blooming today didn't make the post because I feel like I've seen to much of them, but I've kept the images for further reference...I wonder when Spring will be so glorious again? Thank you for dropping by.
The backyard entrance...please come in for a spell...
Morning light on my onion patch
Onion flower
Isn't she lovely in her smallness? I can never remember her name...some kind of African succulent that literally grows wherever I put it...
The last of the Arugula flowers, so simple yet hot and spicy!
Barrel Cactus buds, a gift from my friend Tom
Seeds are up! 
White Lantana 
Boysenberry flower (not pictured is the blackberry)
Blackfoot Daisy, I don't care that it's just a Daisy...they mean Spring to me.
I just couldn't resist a few annuals this year...
Oxalis, simple clover
Mexican Sage in front of the upright Rosemary 
Spanish Lavender, my favorite of the Lavenders...
Provencial Lavender
This is the first year my Sage bloomed! It's blooming all over the yard...all varieties, I can't tell you how beautiful they smell and how happy it makes me.Cue the music... XXXX Deep in the heart of Texas...
Purple Lantana, so tough and dependable
This is my newly planted Sky Flower or Duranta, the butterflies love her and the shallow bath.
SpiderWort, still going strong! 
Check out the sugar ants on this Sage early this morning!
Cherry Sage
Guara in the morning sun 
Volunteer Larkspur, my next door neighbor for many years was a tiny old lady named Freida and she planted them every year...they're only living in my yard now.
Texas Betony and Cosmos...for Buckley.
Fuscia from my friend Elizabeth and the most fragrant of my roses...Cecile Bruner
Old Blush going to town on the front pergola
Belinda's Dream
Scarlet Sage
Salvia Greggi in the warm sunshine
It may be poor form to show such an out of focus shot...but this color combination reminded me of Christmas...it's Firecracker Fern in front of Powess Castle's Artemesia.
Crown of Thorns with spider webs...don't they look like lips?
And, the last of the reds...
The oranges...Red Yucca flower, Nasturtium, Butterfly Weed, Patrick's Abutilon...which is new to my backyard and I can never get a good shot of because it's so low to the ground...still...and the garish orange of my Mini Pomegranate.
The only blossom on the tipity top of my Ocotillo!
The delightful Bulbine
My first crush was on the Pride of Barbados, I still think she's magical with those spitting red ribbons!
New Golden Lantana
Last year, this pokey agave got me good when I was working and I decided that was the end...I didn't want things that hurt people...little people especially in my yard. So, I chopped her back and she was too big for me to pop the pineapple shaped orb out of the ground...so I instructed "Spouse" to do the duty...Spouse was busy. This spring, she bloomed from the stump! Thank goodness he had better things to do!
I love Nasturtium...they are the seed that I can't mess up! and, they're tasty!
This is my second lilly from Randy's yard to bloom...I wonder how mine are doing in his yard?
Had to sneak another shot in...becuase this is my favorite bright yellow...happy face yellow.
These Snapping Dragon ladies wintered over in the window box!
Hell zone Hymenoxis doing her cheerful thing. I think yellow flowers are my favorite, and they remind me of my love. 
She spills over nicely, hiding the cracked pot! 
And, lastly...a volunteer squash flower with a drunk bee. This bee was here when I began my rounds and an hour later was still at it! You go! Thank you for visiting my garden in Zone 8b, a snowbirds paradise, and my favorite place to be.
Happy Gardening!
