Garden Bloggers Bloom Day May 2009

There are so many blooms to document and I have so much work to do in the garden that as I was rushing through the morning photo session I decided to snap one shot and just go with what works! I'll follow up later with the complete list, but seriously...some of these gal's have been blooming all year and how many shot's of Hymenoxis can one take? It's a DYF(Damn Yellow Flower,) and though I'm trying to know mine...the story is always the same...she's a hardy girl...movin' on. Welcome to Bloom Day in North Central Austin, the Crestview Neighborhood to be specific and to my "show" of blooms this muggy, overcast May day. Bloom Day, the brainchild of Carol at May Dreams Comes must be bursting with her blogs namesake and as soon as I'm finished I'll be popping over to her zone to see what that's all about!

Thyme has been blooming for over a month, and in my own life it seems as though time has expanded as well. I love the minute softness and luscious smell.

This is a volunteer Vitex that came up probably about 6 or 7 years ago and I protected it until now I have to control it. It had vibrant purple blooms that over the years have faded...I've heard of other people saying theirs did the same...just haven't taken the time to research it properly...I still love it's strong smell and dependable flowers.

This is the lowly Indian Blanket that came up from a wildflower mix I put down probably 10 years ago. I love this photo because it looks a bit like my hair today. In the background you can see my Red Yucca gone wild.

The little succulent was covered with buds but this one alone opened up for the camera.

Gregg Dalea

A new addition to my backyard space is White Avens, the horticulturist at ZBGardens called it a weed...for shame. I brought her home and put her in my wild scape, then found her being propagated at the plant exchange earlier this month! I call her Lady of Avens!

Hard to see all the blooms, but the Purple Heart is blooming, the Mexican Sage, the little purple ground cover that I can never remember the name...basically I wanted to show my onions...document their signal: get me out of the ground! Can't you see I'm laying here dying!

Not yet opened is my baby Desert Willow tree that was given to me by TreeFolks when I completed the Citizen Forrester program. That's my purple Crock at the bottom...just ignore it!

The only rose still blooming.

The first blossom to open on my new Wonderful Pomegranate!

Cosmos...I never get tired of it and I don't have that many annuals!

There were probably 35 buds on my spineless Prickly Pear...I can't wait for the fruit, I'm going to make jelly this year since I think the Peach tree has dropped all her fruit!

There aren't buds yet on this Amaranth, it's the first year I've tried planting it and the response is so funny...everyone thinks it's a poinsettia!

Simple, and often overlooked Lambs Quater. I occasionally throw it in a stir fry, but it's mostly for the birds...my hens that is.

My cat Daikini Bob...if I sit on the ground he won't leave me alone...thanks for the Raspberry Bob!...Behind him is my blooming Heart Leaf Skullcap...crazy aggressive thing that she is!

I just love the Onion blossom!

Sky flower or Duranta catching the morning rays.

Lavender

I hate cyclone fences and was climbing around my wild corner in the back and found this hanging on the fence! I love little discoveries like this...

The tomato's are looking lovely...yea!

Lettuce gone to flower.

Purple Mexican Petunia, Ruellia

and the pink variety...

Can someone identify this DYF, it's not in my Texas Wildflower Book! The bloom opened facing downward and then the next day straightened her neck out! She's pretty and I'll keep her I just want to know her name!

Oleander

Confederate Jasmine

Lovely Turks Cap bud

Dagnabbit Bob! New Gold Lantana and Silver Pony's Foot, I should have taken some cuddle time with him before I got started.

Another Heartleaf Scullcap because the blasted thing jumped the fence and is blooming in the front and back yard! Oh, ignore purple Crock...again!

Here's the rest of the list:

Hymenoxis

Prairie Verbena,

Blue Plumbago,

Russian Sage

Black and Blue Sage

Mealy Blue Sage

Butterfly Weed

Firecracker Fern

Coreopsis

Clematis

Shrimp Plant

Squash

Black berries

Kumquat

Mexican Mint Marigold

Culinary Sage

Cedar Sage

Lantana

Oxalis

Bulbine

Nasturtium

Crown of Thorns

Fall Obedient Plant (yes! early)

Lions Tail

Guara

Mexican Oregano

Cherry Sage

Blackfoot Daisy

Fuschia

Petunia

Peruvian Lilly

Four O'Clocks

Apricot Sunrise Agastache

Nandina (I know, she's an invasive...I keep yanking yer up and she keeps on coming)

Oh, and inside my Peace Lilly is blooming :)

What's disappointing is that my artichoke doesn't look like it's doing much, my Datura is big and beautiful but has no buds, as is my Brugmansia, and none of my gigantic Sunflowers are up...though I'm seeing them all over town. I think that's it. Now, I've got to get out and do some work! I hope your world is filled with blooms!

Happy Gardening!

Whole Foods Team Volunteers at the Green Garden

Once in awhile I get lucky and someone contacts me to help in the garden at Zilker. Golda, seen on the far right, e-mailed me several weeks ago asking if I needed help. She is the team leader for one of Whole Foods IT divisions and this is her group. Twice a year they get out of the office and volunteer, sharing the experience of doing something different, together. Basically, it was like getting two months of work done in one morning! Thank you so much!

Yearly Plant Exchange

I picked up my friend Ila at 12:30 and we loaded the back of my pick-up truck with her cuttings, mine were already there...then we drove out to the country, to Elayne Lansford's magical, relaxing space. Elayne's property is 32 acres not far from the Natural Gardener. I've been to other plant swaps, but this is my favorite one...she knows how to do it right! Everyone on the list is a friend, of a friend, of a friend of Elayne's. I'm a friend of her former sister-in-law and my neighbor Regine, who I've blogged about before. You may know Elayne as she was on Central Texas Gardener earlier this year, she's also a Wildlife Steward and does free speaking engagements. You can catch the re-run of her episode on KLRU Saturday May 30th at noon and 4pm and Sunday the 31st at 8am.

She's been doing this swap for four years now, this is my third time, we visit...eat...drink...announce...swap...eat and drink some more before you go home with planting projects for days! You bring a dish and stuff to share...anything, plants, seeds, object d'art, garden magazines, books etc.

The night before she has a gathering of her closest friends and they organize the space, make signs and food and catch up.

The first time I attended, Elayne introduced herself, then announced that she had 14 baby Japanese Silkie Chickens that she would like to give away. I didn't know she had chickens?! I was intrigued. I quickly called my super-spouse and asked if he thought he could build a coop? He said yes, and within a few weeks we had a coop and gorgeous baby chickens! I've been hooked since!

Everyone arrives, puts their plants in the proper space, then heads for the fixin's table by the pond to munch, mingle and meet fellow plant enthusiasts!

When we were finished, Elayne announced that she had arranged a special time and place for folks to light a candle to remember loved ones and she began by honoring her grandmother.

Then the swap begins! Everyone has a moment to explain what they brought, how it's worked for them and then add any additional announcements. Regine and I were also taking flowers to plant at the Crestview Baptist Church across the street.

The great part about this is that it's a virtual botany classroom...everyone is pitching in what they know about whatever is being featured.

I was happy to meet a fellow CAMN member in the group!

There were about 40 folks in attendance including spouses, kids and even pets!

This is Elayne, she's a lovely hostess with a huge heart and an amazing flair for creating exciting spaces....here are a few shots of her garden.

The pond, one of several water features.

This is the inside of the open air veranda complete with concrete stained floors and comfy seating.

The veranda, built by Elayne's talented husband and some seating for the luncheon.

The trail leading to the "funkadellic" space.

The calming sound of burbling water is everywhere.

Her enormous coop with tons of Silkies! I'll be picking up 3 on Friday to add to my fold! She's part of a chicken rescue group and needed some more space...yay!

Get to work handsome!

I noticed while uploading images that this bright blue was speckled throughout the garden...much like my own. I don't know if this color is popular in gardens world wide but here in the heart of Texas, I think it reminds us of the ocean...so far away!

Seating areas are everywhere...you get the feeling she could host a party of hundreds...

The ever popular Bottleus-Collectici

Part of the funky-sun area.

Elaine, in my opinion is a whimsy-artist at heart

See what I mean? I wonder what the vine plans are for the wire-wall?

I think she could write a book on placement.

Elayne's new office! Complete with water collection system!

The view from inside.

I hope this inspires you to organize a plant exchange in your hood! There is a great gardening revival going on due to the waning economy and the Obama's new Victory garden. It's a nice way to meet your neighbors and learn about plants in your area. I think the party wrapped up around 4 and I drove home thinking of where to put everything in my yard and across the street. This year I brought the pups that are still coming up from a Century plant that tried to take over my yard and a variety of things I planted from seed. Each year when I do my seedlings I double the amount to give away to clients, friends and the exchange!

Formula for spring cleaning: host plant exchange, get rid of abundant plants and seedlings, share recipes and libations with friends and neighbors...get out and plant a garden! Thank you Elayne!

Happy Gardening!

May Day brings Roses

I tend to 4 gardens here in Austin, the Grow Green Demonstration Garden at Zilker Botanical Gardens, Howson Library in Tarry Town, the Crestview Baptist Church...it's a developing plan, and of course...my own. The picture below does not give justice to the roses at Howson Library.

They have 9 rose bushes all together, 8 Martha Gonzales and one 9ft. Mutabilis. Last week I began my workday with the roses. I decided to count the 'dead heads,' I quit at 250. I am amazed at how the roses in Austin are growing this year. We are recovering (I hope) from a horrid drought and we've had one rain each week since the second week in March...and apparently June is our heavy rain month! The temp has been mild, mostly in the 80's and it's been strangely perfect...most springs seem like they happen over night...it's cold one day the next you need a Margarita to handle the outdoors and are met with swarms of thirsty mosquito's.

When I first started this job, I didn't care for it because it's on busy Exposition Boulevard, right where the city bus parks and I would gag from the fumes and it didn't feel much like a garden, even though I knew the plants...almost all native and all drought tolerant. It's been a year now and it's one of my favorite places in town. (I try to arrive well before the busses start running and go inside to browse when it arrives.) It's also one of the favorites of birds, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and readers...my favorite people. Above is a photo of a wren nest by the front door, they sing to me while I work...I stop singing for them.

This is Martha Gonzales...looking her best and being ravaged by a honey bee. She stays.

This is tired Martha, she goes into my pocket.

This is Martha's hip...I got to her too late. I try to get them all so they don't waste energy making hips but keep blooming, sometimes I miss one. I let Martha rest December through Valentines Day, that's when she gets a hair cut and shortly after a yummy meal of some organic food. She likes it when I sing Dianna Ross, "Loving you is easy 'cause your beautiful..."

Yes, I'm a dork...I sing to flowers.

Only 5 more to go...it's been an hour so far.

This is the second time my apron pockets are full! And, I have yet to get to the big mama Mutabilis!

2 hours later...my thumbs smell delightfully green and sweet.

And you can find these on the counter inside. The lovely librarians are ever so helpful so I do my best to keep them in the flowers at least once a week.

Rose hip/heads are a main ingredient to lots of potpourri. To prepare them correctly, you would spread them out and let them dry, then spritz them with a mixture of essential rose-oil and spring water, let them dry again. We only have 5 rose bushes at the Green Garden, but over the year I've put 11 in at the Baptist Church and I have 12 at my house. I used to think they were prissy high maintenance girls but I don't anymore. Roses love Texas and vice-versa. They are tough and beautiful and you can't hold that against them! There is a list of Earth Kind Roses online at TAMU, these are roses that have been tested by Texas A&M and prove to be hearty, disease resistant and drought tollerant...check 'em out!

Happy Gardening!