Flower Power: GBBD November 2013

 Sponsored by May Dream Gardens

Established Plants

Dwarf Mexican Firebush (Hamelia patens 'Compacta')

 Toad Lily (Tricyrtis lasiocarpa)

 Mountain Sage (Salvia regla)

 Philippine Violet (Barleria cristata)

 Pale Pavonia (Pavonia hastata)

 Forsythia Sage (Salvia madrensis)

 Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue')

 Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata)

New Plants in the Garden 

Leopard Plant (Ligularia tussilaginea 'Aureo-maculata')

Turk's Cap 'Big Momma'

(Malvaviscus drummondii x arboreus 'Big Momma')

Annuals

Begonias (Begonia semperflorens)

Potted Plants

Stapelia incomparabilis

Flower Wannabes

 Dwarf Buford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana') 

 American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

 Dwarf Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Rotunda')

Tardies

Joe Pye Shrub (Eupatorium viburnoides)

Flower Power: GBBD July 2012

Sponsored by May Dream Gardens

Established Plants

Zephyr Lilies (Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea')

Liriope (Liriope spicata)

 Variegated Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon jaburan 'Vitattus')

Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue')

Dwarf Mexican Firebush (Hamelia patens 'Compacta')

Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)

Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)

Aztec Arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis)

Chinese Indigo (Indigofera kirilowii)

Pink Rain Lily (Zephyranthes rosea)

Purple Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis subsp. papilionaceae 'Atropurpurea')

New Plants in the Garden

Pachyveria 'Exotica'

Annuals

Begonias (Begonia semperflorens)

Potted Plants

Aloe 'Doran Black'

Red Yucca's (Hesperaloe parviflora)

Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata)

Flower Wannabes

Chile Petin's (Capsicum annuum var. aviculare)

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) 

 Black Swallowtail larvae (Papilio polyxenes)

Flower Power: GBBD September 2011

As I ventured out to participate in May Dream Gardens' Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, I could think of only two plants blooming in our everlasting heat & drought.  But I was surprised to discover a few additional spots of color.  Of course, we're not talking a lot here - excluding the Soap Aloe, I could gather all the remain garden's blooms and pile them into one hand.

Established Plants

Showing more blooms than any other non-potted garden plant, my few Liriope (Liriope spicata) add a nice splash of purple.

Having never bloomed before, one of my three Dwarf Mexican Firebush (Hamelia patens 'Compacta') seems to be celebrating the heat by producing some clusters of yellow/red flowers.

Apparently, due to lack of rain, the Pink Rain Lily (Zephyranthes rosea) has lost it's mind.  A single pink bloom was found rising up from its grass-like foliage.

Potted Plants

I have several Soap Aloes (Aloe maculata) planted in the ground, but the only specimen to produce flowers this year was the one I had in a pot.  Its flower stalk developed in a curled, clumped manner (likely due to lack of water) which actually caused the flowers to be clustered more tightly.

The Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata) continues to have a single tall, thin flower stalk rising up, its tip still producing a cluster of magenta blooms.

Aloe 'Doran Black' has again produced a flower stalk that is just now starting to spread and open its flowers.  It has been quite reliable this year.

Flower Wannabes

The bright purple berry clusters of the American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) continue to survive amongst the plant's limp foliage.

Be sure to visit May Dream Gardens to see what others have blooming in their gardens.

First Winter Freeze: 2010

Though several other Austin gardens reported freezing temperatures as far back as a month ago, my garden had only received the slightest of touches from winter's cold hands - none of the plants even showing damage (though the leaves were certainly falling from the trees).  But in the last few days, my garden finally received a good freeze setting a few of the plants back to their protected roots where they'll await next spring's warmth.

The Red Christmas Pride (Ruellia amoena) always get zapped back to the ground.  The three found in my garden have been slow to return each year and are slowly disappearing - am thinking this may very well be their last hurrah.

I am hoping that the Salvia van houttei can return from its roots (most of my Salvias do).  It was bravely trying to bloom right up to the end.

 

The potted Root Beer Plant (Piper auritum) leaves turned into the soggy handkerchiefs as always documented by Philip at East Side Patch (from whom I received the plant as a pass-along).

The three Dwarf Mexican Firebush (Hamelia patens 'Compacta') had shown some promising growth during the year so it will be interesting to see if they can return to form next spring.  Though I'd like to see even stronger growth if I am to retain them.

I deliberately left the Hedychium 'Tahitian Flame' out so that the foliage would get nipped back - wanted to see how low it could go and how (if?) it recovers next spring.

Others that received at least a little leaf damage:

• Southern Wood Fern (Dryopteris normalis): lost about half their fronds
• Philippine Violets (Barleria cristata): now have mostly crunchy leaves
• Mountain Sage (Salvia regla): ditto for this plant
• Toad Lily (Tricyrtis lasiocarpa): both potted and in ground showing some die-back
• Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata): show some damage (though that may have begun even earlier; one of them is potted and safe in the house - and even blooming)
• Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'): still mostly green, but some minor damage
• Red Dragon Knotweed (Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon'): typically dies back in winter, then comes back strong next spring
• Crinums: all have minor leaf damage, but still mostly green (the ones I've had for years always die back to ground; not sure what new ones will do)
• Banana Tree: in a pot; wanted some die back this year (got my wish).

Planting Plants

Yesterday & today I planted the following: Bamboo Muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) in dappled shade near backyard path, 3 Stone crop (Sedum confusum) at top of path & near front of large backyard bed, Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina) at top of path, 2 Toad Lily (Tricyrtis lasiocarpa) along path (transplants), Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa) near deck and 3 Dwarf Mexican Firebush (Hamelia patens 'Compacta') scattered about in sunnier spots.

Tulips and potted Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) continue to sprout. The Chinese Indigo (Indigofera kirilowii) is showing signs of budding out - wasn't sure it had survived the 18 degree winter.