Yes, I am a blogging fool. My sister and my four and five year old nieces were in town last week so I didn't have much of a chance to blog or even read blogs.
But I (and my sister, who had lens envy) did take these pictures on the 15th. I guess technically I should have filed an extension with Carol at May Dreams Garden and perhaps paid my estimated taxes in advance so she wouldn't penalize me for posting late. Maybe she'll let it slide this time!
The pink primrose in the free plant zone is going crazy. It's even snuck through the fence into the backyard. I may end up with a wildflower meadow after all.
Last year I threw some seeds from the Wildflower Center back there and ended up with a lot of these tall red flowers. I have no idea what they are. Only one has shown back up this year. I was hoping that when it opened fully I could get a better shot of it, and someone could identify it. But the storm Thursday night annihilated it, and I can't even find its remains. I guess that's why I call that my tough love area. The plants have got to make it on their own, or NOT make it on their own.
In the frontyard a few of the yellow columbines stuck around long enough to be in bloom with the Gulf Coast penstemon, a color combination I actually planned!
I hate to say that I have a favorite flower. It seems so insensitive to all the other ones who really are trying their best. But I have to admit I do. This salvia coccinea, snow white nymph, is the first plant I have grown successfully in the frontyard. I love that it reseeds itself, blooms repeatedly, and brightens the shady frontyard. Several other salvias in shades of blue and purple are in bloom around the yard, but I don't have photos of them.
I bought two four-inch lion's tails at Barton Springs Nursery on sale at the end of the season last year. I think they cost one dollar, maybe even fifty cents. My husband is a huge UT fan, and I bought them for him because these blooms are pretty darn close to burnt orange.
I have saved the best bloom for last. I call this one P in bloom. You can try, but you won't find it in any nursery.
I think we have the first attendee of the 20th anniversary Garden Bloggers Spring Fling.
The red flower is some kind of poppy, Vert - bet one of the experts will know just which one. I love them but haven't been able to make any poppies grow here as yet although the big Oriental Poppies grew like weeds back in Illinois.
ReplyDeleteI've got S. coccinea 'Coral Nymph' reseeding in some areas and the red Hummingbird sage in the so-called hummingbird garden, but bet I could find room for a reseeding white nymph - wonder if the hummingbirds still find it?
Playing with young ones is more important than the Bloom date... children change and grow as fast as flowers do!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Love the beautiful P bloom!
ReplyDeletegail
Great title to your post, Vertie. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour white salvia coccinea blooms in the shade? I think I'm going to have to try it, then, since my back bed is getting too shady for most of my sun-lovers. I bet that the white looks gorgeous at twilight, too. :)
I have a Lion's ear which looks suspiciously like your lion's tail. Just can't trust those common names.
ReplyDeleteIt's become my favorite plant. It bloomed right up until Christmas last year and like yours is just setting out this years first batch of flowers.
Aw, that last one is a beautiful flower! So cute, there working in the garden. I'm with Lori, if that white salvia coccinea blooms in the shade, it would be perfect in my shady, dark bed. I like having white in there. Never heard of the lion's tail -- are you growing that in the sun?
ReplyDeleteAnnie, I haven't seen any hummingbirds on my snow nymph but then again it's by itself.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Lori and Diana, it is blooming in the shade! Yea for plants that will bloom in the shade.
It does get some sun at various points during the day but it's mainly in the shade. I started with two plants two years ago and now have a bed full. It even spread about 20 feet. If you don't like that, it is easy enough to pull out.
Herself, sounds like the same plant: Leonotis menthifolia. It is growing in a full sun area where I give it almost no attention. My kind of plant.
p.s., Gail, P's my favorite bloom too. (But not my favorite niece; can't go there!)
ReplyDeleteNo penalties for late bloom day posts! It just gives us something to look forward to..
ReplyDeleteI like to see the little ones out helping in the gardens... someday, maybe she'll be posting for bloom day!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens