Sharing Nature's Garden Archives | Page 107 of 124

oooh, oooh, oooh…

Ok, so thus far, I suck at seeds. Sorry. But that’s the ugly truth. My seedlings (round 2) are still alive, but I’m not holding out too much hope for them. So, I’m going to toss the seed catalogs, because tonight, I let my fingers do the walking at a Daylily farm!

Wow. I’ve always been partial to them, but never had a great place to put them. I collect a new one or two each year at the Zilker Garden Festival, but most of them have been over-run or eaten.

But now, I have a NEW bed – an empty bed – just outside the breakfast window, that needs something. And while it isn’t all-day sun – it is all afternoon sun and I am hoping that’s enough. (Cross your fingers)

I got purple and orange and yellow, short and tall, and early and late bloomers. And the bed is inside the privacy fence, so they will be safe from the deer.

(I’ve been looking at this bed for years, and just removed the two sad olive trees that the previous owners planted in a stupid place so tight they couldn’t even stand up straight any more – against the fence, against the house and bordered by a sidewalk — and two of them in 12 feet X 14 feet or so. Sheesh – I guess they were cute when they were 3 feet tall – aargh)

Pssst…don’t tell anyone – but I rush shipped them because I need them NOW! Inspiration came to me tonight and even drew out a plan!

So, now I need a nice but not too invasive vine to grow up the fence behind them … suggestions anyone? I already have cross vine, trumpet vine, Mexican Flame vine, morning glories and wisteria climbing around — I’d like something new. Pam — what was that white flowering vine you posted a week or so ago? Send me your ideas!

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:47:51-05:00March 20th, 2008|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, Uncategorized|24 Comments

Oops … I missed a few …

When I took GBBD photos this week, I didn’t even check the vines. Then I saw some wisteria in bloom while out driving and rushed home to check mine. Yeah! Wisteria in baby bloom. Very few blooms, but lots of soft, fuzzy caterpillar-like buds all over it.

And then, I turned around and realized I hadn’t seen the Coral Trumpetvine because it wasn’t blooming on the fence, it was blooming far up in the tree beyond the fence!
You can see the fence tips at the bottom of the foreground, and the Coral Trumpet vine is planted in front of it.

Plants in the mail! Whoo hoo. I have things lined up in the garage waiting for a good planting day.

Yesterday was NOT a good planting day. I was trying to capture a picture of the river of rain in our dry river bed pathway. You may not be able to see the rushing water, but you can sure see all those evil oak leaves!And here are our palm trees in the blustery breeze.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:47:51-05:00March 19th, 2008|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, Uncategorized|4 Comments

In the ground … finally

On Sunday a few little plants went into the vegetable garden – strawberries, peppers, collards and one tomato.

This bed is anxiously awaiting seeds!
This is the lone tomato – who was immediately whipped around into a limp mess by the gusty winds, so I propped him a little and didn’t plant the other two. We are supposed to have storms today, so I thought I would wait just a few days more. Then yesterday, lo and behold, my TomatoBob Heirloom seed order arrived!
In addition to my traditional celebrity plants, I am going to try Black Krim,Yellow Giant Belgium, Omar’s Lebanese and Eva’s Purple Ball. I also got a free sample package of Hank tomato seeds. I chose varieties that aren’t as likely to split – a problem here with occasional torrential rains, and those that are also pretty heat- tolerant.

Around here we typically get two seasons from our tomatoes – a brief respite in August/September when it’s too hot for most varieties to set, and then a full second season of yummy tomatoes after that. My stand-bys are Celebrity, Big Boy, and Better Boy, but I just love to try new varieties. Last year we also grew Cherokee Purple and Juliets, interesting, but not as tasty as some.

What are your favorites? Determinate or indeterminate? Any great heat-tolerant tomatoes I just have to try? I’m always looking for new recommendations!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:55-06:00March 18th, 2008|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, Uncategorized|0 Comments

It’s election time … blog-election, that is!

If you’re like me, you love surfing and popping in for a visit to your favorite gardening blogs. It’s what I’m doing right now – computer in my lap, dogs in their beds beside me, a coke on table and a few chocolates waiting for me!

From reading great prose, to gleaning gardening secrets or just enjoying the beautiful blooms so many bloggers in our little community work so hard to share with us all, blogging connects us in so many ways.

So, now it’s time to reciprocate and show how much you enjoy and appreciate your favorite blogs.

It’s time for the Mouse and Trowel Awards … just click HERE and go vote!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:55-06:00March 17th, 2008|Blog, Mouse and Trowel, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Bloom Day, (+two!)

Garden bloggers around the world posted their blooming plant photos on Saturday for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

I’m not only a day late and a dollar short, I’m TWO days late. But I think you’ll enjoy the blooms anyway! I have 31 photos, but many of these are single plants or just a few blooms. The first photo is my little Peach tree.

Grace Ward Lithodora

Malicoides Mix Primula

Sorbet Babyfae Ruby and Gold Violas

Phlox

Verbena

Japanese Quince

Loropetalum

Osteospermum

Coreopsis

Petunia

Snapdragon

Lavender

Phlox

Verbena

Blackfoot Daisy

Euryops

Oxalis

Cactus

Cyclamen Persicum

Nicotiana

Four-Nerve Daisy

Prostrate Rosemary

??? I forgot what this is! Anyone want to guess?

Strawberry

Snapdragon

Variegated Meyer Lemon

Penta

That’s all folks! The blooms are wonderful, and next is a layer of tiny little green leaves that are peeking up in various beds, the fruits of my efforts last year that, thanks to a mild winter for us here in Austin, have decided to grace us with their presence again. Even some plants that are normally annuals are coming back, like Impatiens and Begonias. More on them later as they get big enough to identify clearly in photos.

Happy bloom day!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:55-06:00March 17th, 2008|Blog, bloom day, GBBD, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Coming up roses … well, not really …

…but Toad Lilies and Mexican Flame Vines ARE coming up! These are two plants I wasn’t sure I would see again after this winter, but I’m so happy that they have little green sprouts peeking up out of the ground.

I especially love the toad lilies — they are among my favorites and someone did eat some of them last fall, so I wasn’t sure I would ever see these expensive little plants again. (Someone wild, not my rascally dogs on this one!)

The Flame Vine went in last summer, so it hadn’t overwintered here yet, and while it is supposed to be a perennial, you just never know, do you?!

This is where the Mexican Flame Vine will grow up!

These are those experimental daffodils that I planted in January because I hadn’t gotten around to them at Thanksgiving. I hope they make it, it’s supposed to be 90 F tomorrow — think it will stunt their growth?
And, since it’s going to be 90 F tomorrow, I plan to do my grocery shopping and a little work in the morning and RUSH home to plant all these guys in my garden. Below I have strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and collards. There is a stray sedum in there to put into the rock pathway, too.

Then, I am hoping to put the Thornless Mexican Lime tree and rose bush into pots and put the Japanese Red Maple into the ground. Whew…I’m tired already!