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

A swinging Sunday…

It was quite a nice day here today. It got up to about 60 and was breezy but sunny.

Kallie had a friend over for a play date an they had a nice time swinging and enjoying the fresh air.

(No one in our house seemed bothered by cedar allergies today, thank goodness.)

So, while they were playing, I managed to prune back one big purple work bucket full of dead “stuff” from the Lantana, Indigo Spires and pruned back the roses.

I’ll have to do some research to learn how to prune the Lemon tree and the Peach tree…any suggestions out there?

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:44:42-05:00January 11th, 2009|Blog, pruning, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

This and that …

Can you see my little friend up there in the tree? He was CHEEEEEPing at me today as I worked in the yard. I think it was a wren, but it’s hard to say. I couldn’t see him any better than this photo.

He must have a nest near by because he was fussing at me. I went away for a little while and left him in peace. But it sure was a lovely sound.

We lost a male cardinal this week … I’m so sad to report that he was the victim of one of our dogs. I suspect it was our new hound girl (the chicken-killer). Made me so sad to find him. We specifically don’t feed or put up houses for the birds in the back yard, but they often sweep across the back and fly really low to the ground. And sometimes they just hang out in the bushes. I know it’s all part of the cycle of life, but I don’t like it when my dogs contribute to it.

And here’s a two-fer for you: My new Felco pruners, posing next to the two daffodil tips peeking up out of the ground — already! See them? I LOVE the daffodils. And though I didn’t get a photo of it, I saw one tiny bloom on my Anacacho Orchid today. Spring is just around the corner…or just under the mulch, as the case may be.

And since it worked for me last year, I actually PLANTED daffodils today and yesterday. I got two dozen into the ground in various spots. When I did it in January last year with bulbs I had forgotten about, they all came up, so, since now is when I have the time to plant them, now is when they are going in the ground.

With our bizarre weather these days, I don’t think any of the conventional rules apply, anyway!

It was 80 today – but it’s supposed to be in the 50’s tomorrow. Summer today, winter tomorrow. Hey – I’m just happy to have had a little break with sunshine.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:44:42-05:00January 9th, 2009|Blog, bulbs, cardinal, daffodils, pruners, Sharing Nature's Garden|12 Comments

Oh, what a beautiful day …

After months of making hors de oeuvres and preparing for birthdays and holidays and company and a whole New Year, today was the perfect day to get back into the garden.

Kallie and I spent the afternoon in the sunshine — it was 78 here — and got some work done. In between playing with dogs, bike riding, writing and painting with watercolors, she helped me plant some seeds.

I planted a row of radishes in the veggie garden, and she planted a Big Boy tomato, some Genovese Basil and some Sweet California Wonder bell peppers in little pots to go into the greenhouse for an early start. We’re crossing our fingers…

I also planted some orange ditch lilies that were a gift from Lori at The Gardener of Good and Evil.

And then I planted a fistful of Larkspur seeds that were generously given to me by MSS of Zanthan Gardens.
And I planted what I think are Crinum Lilies, given to me by one of my dear blogging friends on our adventure to Peckerwood, but now I can’t remember who shared them with me. Help – if you are my generous friend, please take pity on my poor memory and let me know and remind me what kind they are. (I have a terrible memory…it’s a wonder I can garden at all sometimes!)
All in all, a very good day!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:51-06:00January 2nd, 2009|Blog, bulbs, seeds, Sharing Nature's Garden|11 Comments

What an interesting start to the year…

This is why I planted this lovely Japanese Quince.

Today. The first of January, in Austin Texas (which is a totally Spring-like day), my Quince has given me a wonderful gift — the first blooms of Spring.

I know it’s technically not Spring. And we’ll have a few more cold spells and maybe a freeze or two, but very sporadically. It’s just that we have so many nice warm days that plants are fooled into thinking … “Hey, it’s time to bloom!”

And that’s what they do.

Here’s my daughter enjoying our beautiful 68 degree day looking for seeds and such in the garden.

A little Skullcap blooming and happy.

The Euonymous that likes slightly cooler weather and sunshine.

Mexican Mint Marigold that has totally redeemed itself by blooming since September straight. And it’s still blooming. It has earned itself a solid place in that bed, even though this summer I was ready to rip them out as they were blocking the water from my vines. I’ve worked around that, vines are getting watered again and the Marigolds are my new best friends!

And this is one of several blooms on the Helianthus Multiflorus Maximus that I planted last Spring and normally blooms in August. Go figure.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:44:42-05:00January 1st, 2009|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, Uncategorized|0 Comments

We’re still playing…

with the new Diana Cam!

Here’s who came to visit our yard last night — little Mr. Buck and Emmy and Lulu.

This is too fun — it’s so neat to see when they were there and who came to check things out.

No gardening going on here these days. My brother and sister-in-law and their spouses are here enjoying our nice Texas weather (75 when they arrived on Monday, 60 and breezy today), and some great Mexican food.

My husband is making dinner tonight — yummy appetizers and then prime rib, risotto and salad with a champagne punch with a kick.

Tomorrow we recuperate and my Mom and Dad will come over and I’ve made a giant pot of chili and black eyed peas and greens for good luck.

And in honor of the new year, my mantra for 2009 is “gentle.” A scrapbooking mentor of mine got me started with a theme for each new year — a little goal — as opposed to a mostly unrealistic list of resolutions. Last year, my theme was “flexible“, so I tried to be more flexible in my life last year. I think I made some progress and it’s always good to strive for improvement.

I am hoping for some quality gardening time next week…maybe some scrapbooking, too. My two hobbies that have to compete for my attentions.

Peace, happy gardening and best of luck to you in the New Year.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:51-06:00December 31st, 2008|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Thank you Santa!

Look who Santa helped me catch on film! Santa brought me a wild game camera that my husband strapped to a tree out in our wild area and I got pictures of this nice buck coming for Christmas dinner at our house.
You can see from the tag that it was 76 degrees and he came to eat at 5:12 in the evening. He had a nice dinner of some corn and sunflower seeds that I put out along with some water in a big dog bowl.