Marty, the may night salvia is a very vivid purple, great if you're a TCU fan! LOL It doesn't handle the heat very well; it goes dormant but starts producing again when it cools off. For you, it would probably bloom fall through winter and into early spring. It also STINKS to high heaven!
march blooms
Hee, hee. Stephanie, the garden mags did not tell me that it stinks!
You don't smell it unless you're right there near it, but it's really stinky; a very intense salvia smell. If you want some, I can bring you some to the RU. I need to move these 2 plants I have as they get buried by taller stuff every summer.
As I have said, I have asked for too much already but dont throw any of it away. I would like some but I could wait until next year if need be.
I'll see what I can do!
I have ONE bluebonnet and I'm south of most of you! Humph lol
steadycam3
great pictures. You definitely are one month ahead of me.
One of my neighbor is growing a wildflower mix on his front yard. he has already Blue Bonnets blooming today.
I forgot to post that my Datura grew back already from last year plant.
It is 8" tall.
Also today I found a few small Datura's seedlings in my gravel.
Drthor- my 1 blue bonnet is from a Wildflower blend too. But with these crazy temps it's the only thing that's growing or blooming. Silly weather.
I gave up on Bluebonnets. I'll just grow something easier.
Here are some more blooms. First is Flea Bane and Jerusalem sage that I got from Josephine.
Second is Gaura lindheimeri, Pink butterflies,
third is my orchid tree in full bloom. I have not been able to get Dogwoods to grow here so I guess this can be my dog wood. I grew from a seed trade with girl in Romania.
4th is one of my miniture african violets.
5th is regular size african violet.
Whats the scientific name of the orchid tree? Its so pretty.
C
Wild columbine is blooming.
Great pictures. Drthor, you win for the first clematis bloom. Bravo! My yellow columbine is just starting, but not the red yet. Marty, you give us all zone envy!
Daffodil from the Webb House in Colleyville
To minimize zone envy, realize that the harbingers of spring I grew up with in zone 8 such as dogwood, flowering Quince and forsythia wont grow here. They wont die but it does not get cold enough to produce any blooms. Except for the dogwood, it just dies. azaleas arent as easy here as they are in zone 8. I lost about 4 in that first drought we had couple years ago.
The latin genus of the orchid tree is Bauhinia. I think this species is candicans. There is a purpureus that is lavender colored. The seeds look like dimes and it is fairly easy to grow from seed. I should have a lot of seed this year. If you can get your tree big enough, it will survive a freeze but it needs to be about 2" in diameter before it can survive. The first two years of my tree, it froze to the ground.
Oh, I guess its a little too cold here for them. I have not tried any dogwoods. But might take a look for some.
Cheryl, is that the same red columbine that Dennis had on his list about a year ago? It's really pretty but yours is the first good photo Ive seen of it. Thanks for posting.
No, its A. canadensis. I don't think its the same plant.
C
I guess it is. I don't think of those as red. They are more orange with a light center. There are red columbines and I guess I thought thats what he might have. I grew this plant back in MI and I can tell you it tends to be short lived but reseeds a lot. Its a lovely native.
This message was edited Mar 23, 2013 8:26 PM
Azaleas grow great in zone 10 in Ca. but they need a more acidic soil then I have, it's just not worth the effort. I never thought bluebonnets were hard, once I got it thru my thick head to sow the seeds in the fall.
I think I just did not or could not meet their watering requirements. Since I moved back to Houston, there was one year with rain. The rest of the time 5 years, we have been in some stage of drought. I have one adult plant left and it did really well this year for the first time. We had some rain during Jan and Feb. Maybe that made the difference. I have the right soil. I made sure of that and now I have rain water to water with. Then I did not. Maybe I wont give up on them just yet. I have 2 young ones coming along.
Pickings are still slim in my butterfly garden as not much is blooming. However, all perennials are starting to put on new growth. I installed the butterfly garden only a year ago and it was my first attempt at growing flowers, so I’m amazed at how the plants are coming back to life after dying back to the ground over the winter. It’s almost time to consider which annuals to buy to fill in the spaces. My favorite is pentas with gomphrena and Zahara or Profusion zinnias (longer blooming period, shorter height and more heat tolerant) close behind. I’m also going to replace my “Dallas Red’ lantana with ‘Miss Huff’ which the butterflies prefer according to Dale Clark, a knowledgeable local lepidopterist. I need to replant milkweed (not coming back as last fall I removed all of the seed pods and forgot to save any seeds) before the monarch butterfly migration across this part of the country begins.
Picture 1: scabiosa
Picture 2: 'Homestead Purple' verbena in front of 'Lipstick' salvia
Picture 3: 'May Night' salvia
Picture from 2012: the sign my DW got for me to hang on the gazebo
My mex. milkweed comes back pretty reliably from last years plants.
C
Welcome to the thread, hrp50! Check out the Round Up the area DGers are having April 21 in Arlington. You could meet other DGers and maybe get some butterfly plants to add to your beautiful little garden. Also, are you interested in growing any host plants for the caterpillars? The "regulars" to the swap meet are almost all butterfly enthusiasts and we often swap host plants and we work extra hard to help newbies get started. It cost $5 and a potluck dish to share + bring a doorprize related to gardening. We have 3 new-to-the-swap people coming this year already. Spouses and guests are welcome. Some of us drive from Houston because we have ties to the area. It is great fun to swap plants, eat good food and talk plants. Sometimes Dale, Lepfarmer, makes it to the swap as well. Check it out on the Texas forum. We'd love for you and your DW to join us.
steadycam3,
Unfortunately, Dale Clark and I both will be volunteering and helping out at the plant sale at Texas Discovery Gardens that weekend. That's where I will purchase my milkweed and lantana, both of which I possibly will have propagated myself. I do try to have as many different host plants and nector plants as I can to attract all of the butterflies in our area and my garden has been "certified" as a butterfly habitat by the North American Butterfly Association.
This message was edited Mar 24, 2013 3:41 PM
Nice looking flowers, Ray!!
hrp50,
what a beautiful garden. I love the gazebo and the sign. Great job !
Well, Ray, you just need to post more often so I wont think you are a newbie!!! Please excuse my mistake and know that I just like to see DG'ers meet.
More Clematis ...
Jerusalem Sage is almost open
Crossvine keeps blooming
Geranium Roxanne
Toadflax is popping out every where
Louisiana Iris
This year the garden is very very slow ...
Hawthorn is blooming
Red Sage
Datura is coming back and also a lot of free-seedlings around the garden
Stunning Bearded Irises ... they did multiplied so fast ...
Beautiful flowers Drthor, you are a great gardener.
Your garden looks great..it seems like you are a month ahead of my blooms.
Beautiful drthor!
This message was edited Mar 30, 2013 12:26 AM
Jerusalem sage from Josephine
flea bane just hitting its stride
pink knockout by my front door
Dietes just beginning to bloom
Lantana, I dont ever remember seeing them look as good as they do this year.
Here's one more. My zig zag iris which I thought was gone has bloomed. this is my favorite and Im so glad it is still alive.
Beautiful blooms Marty!!!
thanks
bananna18 I am late this year ... everything seems so slow !!
That's cause you are looking at Steadycam's blooms!