Azalea Progress

My potted Formosa Red Azalea (Azalea indica 'Formosa Red') has made quite a bit of progress since it was originally purchased back in 2010.

February 27, 2010 (planted)

March 19, 2011 (1 year)

March 15, 2012 (2 years)

In two years, it has more than doubled its width while adding some to its height.  And the bloom production has been amazing this year.

 I have been really enjoying the show this spring.

Flower Power: GBBD March 2012

Sponsored by May Dream Gardens

Established Plants

Lady Tulip (Tulipa clusiana) - 'Chrysantha

Lady Tulip 'Cynthia' (Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia')

Chocolate Chip Ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda')

Variegated Abutilons (Abutilon pictum 'Thompsonii') 

 Texas Gold Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana)

 Nandina (Nandina domestica)

 Firecracker Plant (Justicia spicigera)

Annuals

Pansies & Violas

Potted Plants

Formosa Red Azalea (Azalea indica 'Formosa Red')

 Blue Elf Aloe

 Ox Tongue (Gasteria liliputana)

Indoor Plants 

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.)

Flower Wannabes

Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium)

Tardies

Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana)

Rattlesnake Agave (Manfreda maculosa)

Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica)

Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa)

Aloe juvenna blooms

The succulents in the pop-up greenhouse have been quite happy this winter.  Since it has been a mild winter, temperatures in the greenhouse have often soared to 80-90 degrees - and the heater has been on only rarely (to prevent it from dropping below 40 degrees).  Many of the succulents are in the process of developing blooms.

This is the first time my Aloe juvenna has ever bloomed  and presently has the best flowers of the bunch.

Mild Winter

You know you're having a mild winter when you can pull off some damaged leaves from a Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) in November, cast them into your garden to decompose and then, come late February, discover that one leaf has managed to sprout and grow almost six inches.

Didn't even know that Snake Plant would sprout like this.  That's the original castaway portion laying along the ground in the back right of the picture.  I may have to see what I can produce next fall by trying this is some pots and keeping them out of the cold (though that hasn't been a problem this year!)

Planted in Ground:

• Wall Iris (Iris tectorum): Have been hanging on to two of them in nursery pots since last spring; finally decided to drop them down between the twin waterfalls.
• Little White Soldiers (Drimiopsis maculata): Finally planted this pass-along from Philip (East Side Patch) that I received way back before winter - this plant was on my Gotta Get List, so hoping it does well.

Flower Power: GBBD February 2012

Established Plants

Variegated Abutilons (Abutilon pictum 'Thompsonii')

 Gopher Plant (Euphorbia rigida)

Annuals

Viola sp.

Pansies (Viola tricolor)

Flower Wannabes

Ornamental Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

  Nandina (Nandina domestica)

 Dwarf Buford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana')

 Possumhaw (Ilex decidua)

Indoor Plants 

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.)

Flower Power: GBBD January 2012

Annuals

Pansies (Viola tricolor) & Ornamental Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

Flower Wannabes

 Nandina (Nandina domestica)

 Possumhaw (Ilex decidua)

 Dwarf Buford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana')

Potted Plants

Aloe 'Doran Black'

Indoor Plants 

 Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.)

Tardies

Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium)

Post Freeze: Aloe Was Blooming in December

Well, by golly, I guess this proves that Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata) blooms don't like 28 degree nights.  Think the plant itself likely suffered some damage but it tends to handle that level of cold fairly well.