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

Design day…

Today was the perfect day – 81 degrees and a gaggle of garden bloggers came to my house for our second monthly “DesignA Go Go” brainstorming session.

We did have one non-blogger interloper, who came to greet the guests and snag herself some lemonade. While she was doing that, her Dad was taking these great photos so I could post about our party before they headed off to the movies together.

We toured the gardens, talked about plants and compared notes about what’s still dormant and what might be dead in our gardens after our harsh winter.
After some visiting and chatting,
…and some eating and drinking,

…we set about looking at the area that I designated for my design brainstorming session. (Scroll down to my last post to see the area.)

Everyone asked great questions about what I like and what I don’t. What I’ll plant and what I won’t. And most importantly, what are the dogs gonna do with it all?!

The first component is an area along the wrought-iron fence that allows them to look out and watch the deer off into the woods behind the fence. In front of that, I had visions of a garden area — maybe a little like a secret garden — with some neat features you have to walk into to actually see and experience.

Bloggers sketched and drew and wrote and walked and looked. And I was giddy with anticipation. We all talked about lots of great ideas. And then each gardener shared with me his or her unique perspective.

And honestly, I think I am going to be taking ideas from many of the plans that were laid out – and there were so many good ideas – stock tanks, seating, fencing, plants — you name it, nothing was left off the table.

They even convinced me to try some plants and a stock tank (for plants), that I’d previously rejected. I was really trying to keep an open mind.

And then we had our plant swap and we all got loads of great new plants to try in our gardens.

It was a delightful day – a perfect Austin spring day – for relaxing and enjoying the garden instead of working in it for a chance.

THANKS to everyone who came and spent the afternoon sharing your great ideas with me.

Tomorrow I am off to the Zilker Garden Fest — our biggest garden festival of the year — where I hope to fill my wagon with more goodies to plant. Enough of this resting stuff!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:32-06:00March 27th, 2010|Blog, Design A Go Go, garden bloggers, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Lemon tree, very pretty…hmmm hmm, hmmm…

So, today was a big garden clean-up and planting day.

I was assuming (yes, I know the old adage about people who ‘assume’) that my variegated Eureka Lemon tree was a goner. Every branch I cut or scraped was dry and brittle. They snapped with that ugly dead sound that confirms your worst fears.

So, as I was giving instructions to my ‘guy’ about digging it up, we gave it one last look. And all the branches were still dead.

But far, far down at the base of the trunk there was the tiniest sliver of green.

Amazing.

It was no bigger than the white tip of your pinky fingernail. And there — just above it, another speck of green, the size of a pin head.

Unbelieveable.

See it? Right there, next to that wound. A sign of glorious life.

Of all the plants at risk this harsh winter, I was most concerned about this tree. It is my prized possession – the lemons are amazing and I just love it. And I was very sad when I thought I’d lost it.

But, many of my garden friends encouraged me to have hope, and they were right. It was a long, slow and late winter, and recovery for established plants will also be long, slow and late this year. I know that in my head, and now I understand the reality. I guess I shouldn’t try to rush Mother Nature!

I did, however, lose my little Bottlebrush tree in the front yard to last winter’s cold temperatures. Nothing alive left anywhere on that one. I planted it late and it was small and just too tender and not established enough to survive. Today, a new (and bigger) Bottlebrush – “Hanna Ray” went into the extension of the front bed.

It will soon by joined by a large blue Agave and some deep blue-colored salvias. Not sure which salvias, but I do know I want them to be the color of the Indigo Spires – just not that tall.
My first Wine Cup bloom opened today. Lancashire Rose was here this weekend and said hers were blooming all over the place, so I am glad to see mine aren’t too far behind. I love the way they look spilling about the rock path.
These could be yours! These two photos are all of the Society Garlic that I’ll be sharing with Austin Garden Bloggers who come over this Saturday for our design/brainstorming/swap meet-up. My neighbor dug them all up and shared with our neighborhood, then let me offer them to garden bloggers. This is what’s left after 3 neighbors and 4 garden bloggers have already taken bunches of them!
And it smells delightfully like an Italian restaurant outside of my garage!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:32-06:00March 23rd, 2010|Blog, Bottle Brush tree, eureka lemon tree, Sharing Nature's Garden, society garlic|0 Comments

Inspiration needed for Design A Go Go

This is it. My boring, inspiration-less corner. The subject of the Austin Garden Bloggers Design A Go Go this weekend to brainstorm with me about what to do in that back corner.

First rule, however, is that dogs must roam. They love to race to that back corner and watch for deer and other critters through the fence. Since I know that isn’t going to change because I put some inspiration over there, the dogs have to keep a path behind whatever I do.

I’d really like a garden room – some almost enclosed area with a focal point, but with a hidden element as well. It could cover part or most of the front of the playscape, too. I’m open. Might like a nice cedar arbor back there.

I’m just tired of competing with the dogs for the space and the bed that’s there, while nice enough when in bloom, was a put in as a filler. I’ve removed some of my original shrubs in favor of more perennials, too. Now the bed holds bi-color iris, Esperanza, Butterfly weed, Coneflowers, some pass-along bulbs, Ruellia, and an Abutilon. The fences have Crossvine and Wisteria on them. The trees in front of the area are 2 Lace Bark Elms and 1 Big Tooth Maple.

The existing corner bed gets morning and mid-day sun and late afternoon shade on the right side.

So, are you inspired when you look at these pictures? Something amazing pop into your head? Think you might have an idea to share with me? I’d love to hear it. All inspiration welcome!

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:42:33-05:00March 22nd, 2010|Blog, Design A Go Go, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Spring awakening…

The Gardening Gone Wild photo contest theme for March is “Awakening.” Our challenge, from photo judge, Saxon Holt, is to cheer the blogosphere with images of spring bursting forth in our gardens.

My entry is Miss Phoebe Hellebore, as she stretches out her delicate petals, braving the rare Texas snowfall. With dewy drops of melting snow gently perched on her bloom she waits patiently for warmer southern spring days to come.

Happily, she’s tougher than she looks, and the following week she greeted 70-degree weather by opening two more blooms.

Now we just wait to see if her friends that were eaten by the deer come back in time to bloom before it’s too hot for them.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:32-06:00March 17th, 2010|Blog, GGW, Hellebore, Phoebe, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Finally a few blooms for their day…

We’re breathing a sigh of relief here in Central Texas as we celebrate Garden Bloggers Bloom Day with our friend Carol of May Dreams Gardens.

Blooms are slowly coming back to our gardens. We’ve had a taste of true winter here this year, and like most of our neighbors to the north, have had to wait a long time for spring to show her face.

We are about a month behind in growth for most plants in our gardens. And while the official chance of frost has not yet passed (the range takes us to the end of March), we think we are probably safe. (How’s that for scientific guesstimating?) Isn’t that what we gardeners do though?

So here are my blooms for this very slow March. Above is a new Phlox that I added to a front bed this week.

My favorite time of year for the little peach tree – in its full glory. Since it never produces peaches, this is it – enjoy it!
After trying hard to kill all my Amaryllis this fall and winter, once they went into the greenhouse and got farther away from me, they were all happy and growing. This is the first one to bloom – it opened this week.
Okay – don’t put me in time out. I know these aren’t in the ground yet, but they will be this week and they’re just so pretty I wanted to photograph these Diamond Frost Euphorbia that will join the shade bed soon.
My Sierra Memorial Impatien is still blooming – bloomed all winter long. I hope it’s equally happy when it moves outside next week, because it’s getting a little too hot in the greenhouse when it’s 80F outside.
I have lots of strawberry blooms and even have little green strawberries growing already. I think these kinds of blooms are my favorite because I know they will yield sweet, juicy fruit that I can eat standing in my garden.
A few white and fucsia colored Alyssum plants went into vacant spots in the rock garden path yesterday. They love living in the crushed granite.
As does the Ice plant and the Homestead Verbena.

I hear my paperwhites are short because I planted them late, but they are really cute and they don’t flop over as easily either. Maybe I’m onto something!
Not a great shot, but you know the Hellebores are shy and hang their little heads so you can’t get a good photo of them. She’s pretty in spite of my lack of photo skills.
Even though the vines are pretty skanky-looking after our hard winter, I do have a few blooms on the Primrose Jasmine.
And much to my surprise, the mystery Viburnum left by the previous owners even has a little bloom on her.
The first Hymenoxis opened today and there will several following on her heels. They are growing where no one else will grown, and they like it there just fine.
Daffodils of all types are still blooming all over the beds. Sadly, I fear that those not close to blooming may not make it because it’s already too hot for them. It’s been 80F for several days and I see some leaves on daffodils without buds are already turning yellow.
Don’t ban me from GBBD for this one, but I just had to show you how close the Texas Mountain Laurel is to actually blooming. And yes, it is a full month behind. I was showing off beautiful Mt. Laurel blooms on Feb 18 last year: http://bit.ly/9BpqxP
A little Dianthus returning after the blooms all went away for the bitter cold of winter.
Loropetalum showing off her hot pink fringe flowers.
Mexican Plum tree in full bloom.
Yellow Grape Muscari “Golden Fragrance” that packs a punch of scent. It’s so sweet and yummy smelling, you almost want to take a bite out of it. (Sure hope no one does!)

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:42:34-05:00March 15th, 2010|Blog, GBBD, Hymenoxis, Mexican Plum, peach tree, phlox, Sharing Nature's Garden, Texas Mountain Laurel|0 Comments

Tantalizing tulips

No, I didn’t grow them. (Right, in 106-degree days for months on end in a drought in Texas)

But I did come home with them. I adopted them from my local grocery store yesterday. They were all closed when I put them in the vase. A few hours later, much to my amazement – these beautiful double tulips opened. I can’t stop staring at them.

They are so pretty and perky and cheerful in my kitchen. Sunshine in a vase.

Cheers!

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:42:34-05:00March 11th, 2010|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, tulips|0 Comments

Diana C. Kirby

About Diana C. Kirby

Design day…

Lemon tree, very pretty…hmmm hmm, hmmm…

Inspiration needed for Design A Go Go

Spring awakening…

Finally a few blooms for their day…

Tantalizing tulips

Escape in the garden