What's Left to Survive...BloomDay July '09

I got married the second time in my backyard, 8 years ago it was a very small private ceremony with just family and close friends. We rented 7 round tables and for centerpiece decorations we put terra-cotta pots with hot peppers and wrapped some twisted hay in a bow around the pot. We were barefoot and my old college friend John and his buddies, "The Waller Creek Boys" played bluegrass and I think it was a lovely day with peek-a-boo showers and saturated color. Peppers always remind me of my wedding and this year I decided to repeat the overwhelming pepper parade and it's added some lovely spice to our cooking and in this dire hot as hell summer is bringing me much joy.

I must give a shout out to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for her terrific idea of doing GBBD, over the next few days I'll be browsing the list of participants, as it seems to get longer all the time.

Tabasco

Thai Pepper

Ornamental Pequin

Crown of Thorns

Flame Acanthus

Datura Metel, Double Purple Frill

A gift from my girlfriend Elizabeth before she moved away...I've never been much of a Geranium fan but I must admit they are much hardier than they look, and I really enjoy the fragrance of the leaves.

Yellow Bells or Esperanza, the orange variety is twice the size as this one but doesn't bloom so regularly. Seems that this is a perpetual bloomer no matter how hot it gets.

First time I tried growing these babies...Lions Tail and they are doing great. I planted a whole bunch of them out at Zilker and they've grown together in one lovely mass.

This is one of 3 Plumaria stems that my dear friend Randy brought back from Hawaii! They smell like the old Island Tropic Tan Lotion I used to douse myself with in the 70's!

As you can see the monarch has won the battle here. This morning there were 7 on this single Butterfly Weed plant...they don't seem to be bothered by the aphids but wish the Lady Beetles would come soon.

Purple Cone Flower, still blooming away!

Red Yucca

Thyrallis, my first bloom! I planted this gal last fall and she's been unremarkable until now.

This was a gift from my friend Linda and I can never remember her name! I was surprised that she came back this year though, after almost dieing back completely.

Kumquat

This is quite a surprise blooming because there is partially ripe fruit on other parts of the little tree. The blossoms are so sweet and delicious, unlike the tart fruit.

Phlox

Mexican Honeysuckle

The Turks Cap

Such a sweet and hardy wildflower that was here when we moved in and it's spread to several areas of the yard. I'm not sure about the terms invasive vs. aggressive...but either way, it's a welcome little treat. Now that I've uploaded some of the stuff in my yard that's blooming I guess things aren't as bad as I thought...the carnage is so discouraging that it's a good thing to take the time to photograph what's right.

Hope you're staying well hydrated, Happy Gardening!

Not Much Bloomin' Here...except the Heat!

It's supposed to get up to 99 today. I was up at 5 so I could ride my bike to the track to meet my workout partner, walk/jog do yoga and ride home. It was miserably muggy and has been since that measly rain last Friday. Can I bitch? Living in Texas is really heavenly for about 9 months out of the year...but honestly June, July and August feel like someone hit you upside the head with a board. Unless I'm out, and stay out from before dawn I feel a prisoner in my own home staring outside at the dying greenery...I swear I can hear everything live saying " just set me on fire now and get it over with." It's especially hard when trying to be conscious of water usage...which I try to do, though sometimes I admit getting carried away with my hand watering...can't help it, seriously how can I expect these guys to thrive with burning feet?

I'm not going to include my entire list of die-hard Natives that are still blooming away because well...if you live here you know them. Lantana, Yucca, Hymenoxis, Crape Myrtle, Purslane, Turks Cap, Shrimp Plant and the like...I salute you, you're Texas true-blue...clearly deep down, I'm a Yankee, somebody get me a cocktail, I'm fading.

Here's what's up in my yard right now...death and dying...but some life, so I'll share with you the pretties I was able to capture yesterday morning before the heat sent me rushing inside. For those of you tuning in for the first time, it's Bloom Day...our gracious host Carol at May Dreams Gardens organized, created and maintains this wonderful concept where folks all over the world Blog-in on the 15th of each month to share what's bloomin' in their yards. As always, Thank you Carol for your inspiration!

The beautiful Phalaenopsis and I would rather be inside looking out at the heat than participating in the scorch fest. Mist me.

Esperanza (Hope Autumn comes soon) doesn't seem to be bothered a bit.

Lions Tail, Leo of course is the July/August sign...he's standing tall in the sun, myself, a Leo...not so sun worthy, sporting a rather farmerish tan prefers tubing.

This little tattered Phlox came from my neighbor Beverly's yard.

Lindheimer's Senna, transplanted from Zilker finally boomed!

There is something just magical and silly about Purple Cone Flower, I love it's floppy, fuzziness, it reminds me of something a kindergardener would draw.

Mexican Oregano going to town in the heat.


Had to show you this side of my drive with Crape Myrtle and Texas Sage, both were in bloom just before the rain last week but even without blooms I love the shiny green next to the soft gray.

Plumbago and Artichoke

This is Agastache-Apricot Sunrise. Tom over at Barton Springs Nursery talked me into giving it a try...he's just a delightful gentleman and gives top notch advice!

Yellow Yarrow with gray foliage

White Yarrow with green foliage

My crazy Desert Rose blooming on the deck. Well, that's about it for this month. Thank you for checking in on Bloom Day. Stay hydrated and take it easy!

Happy Gardening