Giving Thanks

Here's a little photo journal of what's blooming here at CG this Thanksgiving holiday!

Yum...and so pretty!

Greg's greens garden is coming along. He decided to try 'no till' method of planting and it seems to be a slow go.

Nasturtium are coming up all over the place and the Rosemary is in bloom and covered with bees!

Mums from Julie's yard.

The flower on the Silverado Sage is so lovely and often overlooked because when it blooms the entire shrub is purple!

Cone Flower looking a bit pale...this is the last one left!

The delicate veins of the Arugula flower...so simple and elegant.

Thyrallis in her new location!

The Fall Aster is looking a bit haggard after being cooked and ignored this summer...but she's still shining like snowflakes!

The sage is also a big bee magnet!

We've had quite a few butterflies this fall, but nothing like we have in the past.

All of the roses are blooming, but none smell so sweet as Cecille Bruenner!

Hopefully we won't get a hard freeze before the Loquats arrive...we didn't get any last year.

Mexican Honeysuckle

Shrimp Plant

Butterfly weed still covered in blooms

And there are two favorites for Thanksgiving in my yard, Mexican Tarragon and Copper Canyon Daisy...I've always made a big yellow bouquet for the table of them...but alas the daisy didn't make it this summer...neither did the kids so things just didn't seem quite right.

Nevertheless, we woke to find screech in his box and he made a very fine guest! I hope your holiday is fantastic! I for one, and thankful for tiny flowers that brighten my day....yearlong in Tejas!

Happy Gardening!

CAMN at the Ladybird Wildflower Center

I remember the first bluebonnet field I saw. It was in Waxahachie, Texas 12 years ago this spring. I have a quintessential picture of my then, 2 year old romping in her state flower and I put that photo out every spring. I never get tired of fields of blue, wildflowers or the beautiful breezy Texas spring, filled with buzzing life.

I've recently become a Facebook addict. Yes, my name is Cheryl and I'm addicted to Facebook.

One of the things I love about it is keeping up with the weather in other parts of the country. I spent 7 years in Alaska... my formative years that is, and this time of year, up there is not lovingly referred to as "break-up," as in the ice is melting and breaking up. It's a muddy mess. I wish we had the stylish rain boots they have today. Anyway, this blog is for my friends up north, especially Scott whose mother retired in Pampa and thinks all of Texas is a flat, stinky desert. I've tried to wooo him into the heart of Texas but stereo-types are hard to break and you would just have to be here to know what those of us who live life in our year-round gardens have come to understand. I am the poster child for the bumper sticker "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could."

But, enough about that. It's dang hard for me to keep focused in the spring, especially on gorgeous day's like this. Which leads me to our CAMN class...which, after driving in through all the flowers, crushed me by making us sit for an entire morning before being able to explore the gardens! Never the less, the class was clean and clear and helped me organize the messy-mess of botanist naming with a great little game and then practical application exercise using Brother Daniel Lynch C.S.C.'s book and the binomial system of classification. The above photo is of my groups classification project. Which, being spring and all...put our minds in the gutter...screws and hooks...you can imagine.


We were able to do it, amazing through the giggles and straight up (no pun intended) naughty-naming and we had a great time. We played the game after a wonderful lecture from Flo Oxley, PhD. student in Botany and long time employee of the Wildflower Center. If ever you have the chance to take a class with her, get ready to speed through the information...she doesn't miss a beat, you won't doze and you'll walk away empowered. She was a hoot!

Oh yea, I want one of these from my backdoor to the garage:)

Tiniest little wildflower growing up through the wall.

The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center is truly a stunning facility and recently joined forced with the University of Texas. Check out their site at: http://www.wildflower.org/

Right now there is a sculpture sale and show.

Next weekend, April 10-12 is their yearly Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Festival.

If you haven't taken the time to drive out there, you really must. It's charming, has lots of classes and events, shopping and a healthy cafe...not to mention the views.

Mexican Honeysuckle.

Doesn't this just make you want to take it easy? I managed to snap all these shots while my class was diligently working on identifying species using the guide...ho hum, it was much to pretty to look at a book.

One of the several ponds.

Mexican Buckeye seeds.

More plants getting ready to jump into your yard! I've heard told that some stuff sells out on the first morning...

The live Bluebonnet Cam...what a crack up! It's on the website.

Here's Flo Oxley telling us about some farmer who drug this old hollowed out tree in after the bees left...why? He didn't know.

I think this is close enough for you to smell it...mmmm rich burnt honey goodness!

This was one of my favorites of the sculptures! It had a sold sign on it...dagnabbit!

We were told that having just a few Indian Paintbrushes among Bluebonnets will deter the bugs.

That's one healthy field of blue...with just one red spot for safety's sake. I don't know what to say Scott, you're missing out if you pass through life without seeing a Bluebonnet field...Texas ain't Pampa.

The day was great, the class was worthy and if you're interested in being a Capital Area Master Naturalist, get on it! They only take 30 applicants a year and it's a world of knowledge. Tomorrow, we are meeting at the LCRA Redbud Center to learn about Ichthyology, Herpetology, Aquatic Systems Ecology and Management, and Wetland Ecology and Management. I should be ready to put in that pond after this!

Have a great day and Happy Gardening.

Grow Green Festival

Sunday was the Grow Green Festival at Zilker Botanical Gardens and we introduced the new guide for Austin with some 45 additions including roses, succulents, agave's and palms. We had a nice turn out and the day was just beautiful! Here are a few shots of the Green Garden, which is the one I tend and is maintained not by Zilker but by the Watershed Department of Austin. It's a demonstration garden, featuring native and adaptive plants that have low water requirements.

The quiet spot...when I take a break from working, I sit here and meditate and wait for a hummingbird or butterfly or anole or something else just as magical to visit.
The intensity of this flower is unbelievable! One day I'd love to have a simple sage garden...because there is nothing simple about it, I have over 15 varieties at home.

This is the wildlife habitat that is maintained primarily by Wildlife Stewards...the pond needs some work but the critters don't seem to mind.

Just one of the beds...the first one I worked on a few years ago now when I was a volunteer.

This is a row of Rock Rose in front of Muhly Grass, I love the contrast in texture and can't wait for the roses to bloom!

Last year we removed Iron Plant from around St. Francis because we'd lost a tree due to the hail storm so he is now in full sun. Behind him are Wine and Cheese Irises...still waiting for blooms.

The February star, Flowering Quince...destined to please on Valentines Day every year!

The fabulous ever blooming creeping purple Lantana!

How many names can one simple flower have? Bitterweed, Four Nerve Daisy, Hymenoxys...I first bought it at the old TexZen nursery with a tag that read "Desert Flower" maybe that's why they're not around anymore....my favorite is TDYF, or what gardeners call...flower.that damn yellow flower!

Butterfly Weed!

We have beaucoup Bulbine!

And, due to a super mild winter...the Mexican Honeysuckle made it with no frost damage at all!

Come by the garden sometime and say "Hi." Or better yet, volunteer with us on Thursday's and learn more about Green Gardening, Texas style!

Happy Gardening!