Bloom Day November 15, 2011

Well today is exciting as it is RAINING in Austin!!!!!!

I was so excited I almost forgot it was bloom day!

We still have quite a lot blooming in the beds though, you can see signs that fall is here and things are starting to winterize.  I went out after the rain so some things are droopy but are really just exhausted from being so happy it rained, so please excuse them!

 To be fair, I am only posting things I have planted in pots or in the beds.  I had to start out with an update on my Kalanchoe- day by day it is getting closer to opening!!!

 The Desert Rose I think is such a pretty little bloom- faint yet striking.

 The front shade "test" bed is rocking right along but the only thing with blooms I have in there is the Tropical Sage, which is doing great in all 4 places I have it there.

The Pink Turk's Cap is still doing well in the front bed next to the Brazilian Pavonia (which was not up to being photographed today as you can see in the background).

The Beach Vitex is doing well in the front side bed under the Palo Verde.  (which by the way was loaded with blooms yesterday but after the rain not a single one that was pretty enough to photograph).

 The Rock Rose is huge and full of blooms in the back bed.

The St. Elmos Firecracker Fern is blooming away as well.

The 'Mystic Spires' Salvia is still as blue as ever- this is such an easy plant to grow.  I have it in two places since it is one of my favorites.

 The Panicum Switch Grass is blooming away in the front outside bed.

 The Butterfly Bush in the front is doing well- I love the screaming purple.

The Black Prince Echeveria in the front planter is blooming and getting ready to open up, but since it had two bloom shoots I felt he deserved a spot!

Hope everyone in the area got some much needed rain.  From the looks of the radar, just about everyone got some.  YEA!!!!

Stop by May Dreams Garden and see all the other Bloom Day postings!

Monday Monday...

This is about how I feel today.  A little ruffled.  I saw this Shasta Daisy and had to laugh as it about sums up how I have felt and feel today.

We have now lost BOTH Cleo and Alex.  

I was blaming it on the raccoons but I think now I/we figured it out.... we found Cleo next to the tank.  I always noticed how she would swim around the tank at high speeds but never occurred to me she would jump out.  Well, she did.  Shonna found her on Saturday.   I think for now I am going to leave it just Huey and Duey.  They are perfectly content in the tank and love the lily pad and come up now when you go to feed them and are getting quite the little personality.  I think for now until we either get a lid or some type of a contraption for the top we are sticking with the two.

We had about 5 seconds of rain but I will take it.  Not complaining.  We got a bunch more at the house but out here just a splash but enough that the plants did seem to notice. 

The Echeveria seems really happy and bright green.  I moved some to the front steps, you can tell if I really like something if it has made it there.... I have it next to the Donkey Ears which I think are so very cool.  It makes for a nice combo I think.

The Chitalpas are in bloom.  I think these are such a dainty and pretty little flower.  The hummingbirds tend to go there to them but I can't tell if they really like them yet, as they seem to go for only a second then buzz off.
That's it for today- lots of weeding for me today.  The beds are looking happier and full of blooms.  I will take some photos when it gets a little later- too bright right now but they have really filled out and look great.
I haven't taken too many photos lately, well, that I want to share that is.... I have mainly just been practicing the manual mode on my camera and focusing on mastering that.  

My Newest Creation

I just finished this planter today- I kinda like the way it turned out if I do say so myself. I have already had a few compliments today! I put in a Black Prince Echeveria, Variegated Society Garlic, Kalanchoe Beharensis (which is my favorite- it was in the movie Man On Fire that is probably one of my favorite movies of all time), Ice Plant- Aptenia cordifolia, and then Crassula Silver Dollars.

I love mixing the different things up. I planted the front beds but they have a way to go until they get photographed. I will post pics of those soon.