Diana C. Kirby, Author at Diana's Designs Austin

I did it!

Well, I did it.

Thanks to all the encouragement of my garden blogging friends, I took the plunge (and the pruners) and cut off the German Double Pink Brugmansia.

Yep – I whacked her off. And the good news it that I am trying to root threw new ones!

I took three shoots and planted them in good soil with compost and watered them well.

And I talked to them. I hope they all survive. I know my tall Mama will be better off, because she will continue to grow.

How fun would it be to have a cluster of them planted together?

So, thanks for all your words of encouragement and “get over it!”

Sometimes it’s just hard to cut new growth when you’ve just seen it come on and you feel lucky to have it in the first place!

Since I dug her up for the winter, I was so afraid I’d hurt her roots, that I didn’t want to take any chances with her.

Cross your fingers for the babies!

I’ll keep you posted on their progress.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:49-06:00February 16th, 2009|Blog, brugmansia, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Many bees and butterflies joined me for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens, and I hope you’ll enjoy the tour through the garden as much as they did!
This is my new Potato Vine, which Robin of GettingGrounded, encouraged me to buy for a shady fence.
The Rosemary is in full bloom all around the garden.
The Snapdragons that I planted in December are finally coming into bloom.
The beautiful fringe of Loropetalum adds a touch of whimsy in the garden.
My photos don’t so justice to the stunning purple of this verbena. (Or the ugly brown leaves that I’m leaving there for another 2 weeks to protect it in the event of a last freeze.)
Some more Daffodils joining the Spring party.
A lone Phlox bloom popped open today just in time for Bloom day.
Japanese quince loves these Spring days.
Can you believe I have a Hellebore? I love it. It was a catalog order, and her name is Phoebe. I need to get her some friends now that she’s survived to bloom.
Indigo Spires never fail to produce, though these will need to be cut back this week so they aren’t too leggy by Summer.
This Euonymous just seems to say, “Hello.”
This sneaky little Vinca is a volunteer that just popped up in the middle of a Bi-color Iris outside the back fence.

Some Sweet Alyssum in the rock garden may the path a perky place.
Happy Bloom Day!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:49-06:00February 15th, 2009|Blog, GBBD, Hellebore, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

I need a Garden 12-step sponsor — help me please!

Ok, I’m coming clean. This is my German Double Pink Brugmansia. (See the unbelievably tall, skinny stalk that goes all the way to the ceiling?)

I know I should cut it down at least some and let it start again at a more reasonable height, but…

…I can’t do it.

I just can’t.

It will be unstable, I may not be able to get it OUT of the greenhouse, and it might break off in the gusty winds we have out here all the time if I leave it like this.

I know all this.

But I still can’t bring myself to cut off this new growth at the top.

I’m just so glad it survived my digging it up and potting it for overwintering in the greenhouse.

It seems so, well … mean.

So, I need the computer equivalent of a group chant:

Do it, do it, do it, do it!

Won’t you help push me over the edge?!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:49-06:00February 13th, 2009|Blog, brugmansia, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

A little rain and a little motivation

It’s amazing what a little rain will do for the garden … and for the gardener’s soul.

I am totally invigorated by the recent two days of steady rain that totals more than an inch. In our drought stricken area, this is a real blessing.

So yesterday, after a lovely lunch with Robin, of Getting Grounded, we went to Barton Springs Nursery to see what we could see. And we — rather — I — saw some bluebonnet PLANTS that had to come home with me!

I have not been successful with seeds because I have too much mulch in most places they would like to grow. So yesterday I painstakingly amended the soil with crushed granite in 3 little spots and pulled back mulch and made them a home. And then fenced them in immediately so my deer friends, Emmy and Lulu, wouldn’t come snack on them! (Did you notice that Madame Daffodil has invited a friend to her Spring Party?)

I also planted a Potato Vine and I bought an Abutilon that will get planted today. I’ve been eyeing everyone else’s and been green with envy. Unfortunately mine was mis-labeled, and when I called they just didn’t know what kind it was because it was a gift to them from a friend. I guess nurseries get passalongs, too. So I will post a picture tomorrow and you can help me ID it.

I also got a few Rain Lilies that Robin picked up from Annie at The Transplantable Rose when she was passing-along. I didn’t get in on the offer quick enough, but Robin shared hers with me and I am so excited to have some — I’ve never had any — thanks to both of you!

And the rain has also prompted these little Crocosmia above to pop right up out of the ground in search of sunshine.
This lovely Hibiscus was waiting for me when I went into the greenhouse yesterday to open it up and let some humidity in from outside. Wow. It’s really very intricate. My photo doesn’t do it justice.
And here is the Bougainvillea that Robin gave me last Fall. Blooming happily — in February! She must think she is in Mexico!
As does this Desert Rose, happily blooming away in the greenhouse.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:49-06:00February 11th, 2009|Blog, blue bonnets, bulbs, Crocosmia, daffodils, greenhouse, Potato vine, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Hallelujah ~~ Half …

an inch of rain! And still coming down. More forecast for the next two days.

Hallelujah.

I love seeing that little cloud icon. It’s been much too long for us.

And it’s a nice, steady rain, one that woke me up at 4:45, the sound of it on the roof so foreign that it pulled me from a deep sleep.

And of course, this now necessitates the dog-foot-drying line by the back door — a sight animal owners know well. Luckily, they’re pretty good about stopping on the rug and walking back and forth if they are just damp, or sitting down for a foot wipe by Mom if they are really drenched.

I’m so happy to do it this morning!

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:44:40-05:00February 9th, 2009|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Chirpy, chirpy, cheep-cheep!

This little wren looks so fluffy, sitting outside my breakfast room window this morning. He even let me take his picture from fairly close up.
Well, this is quite poor photography. I was trying to see if I could get a shot of the gold finches on the wire tube feeder that goes up to the top of this photo. If you squint really hard, you can see their two bellies though the feeder screen!
And here’s Mr. Squirrel. He and TWO of his buddies showed up this morning after I fed everyone. I can tolerate them, but let’s not get greedy, guys!