April Showers….Have Brought Out the Flowers!

The rain here lately has been wonderful for the gardens and landscapes here in Austin.  Everything is blooming, birds are chirping and bees are buzzing.
I love this time of year. 

Here are some photos I have snapped lately.

Blooms everywhere!!!!

The Crossvine are blooming like crazy on the fence.

 The Dianthus are happy as can be.

 Love the orange on these spike blooms of the Dyckia.

 It's snowing!!!  Ok, it's not, but it looks like little snowflakes.

Such bizarre blooms on this cactus but I love it.  

And my little cactus guys are blooming again.

There are blooms all over the place- I have spent the majority of my free time as of late stalking the hummingbirds to which I have been most unsuccessful.  This is as close as I got- to be fair… I have had very limited time to watch for them and sit in wait, but I did manage to get a few shots- though not impressive I know but they are here!!!  So happy!!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!!!  

And happy early GBBD to all of you!!!

Well I Do Declare, I Think Spring is Here

 I think it is safe to say, spring is here.  I for one could not be happier. 

 Everything is starting to wake up from dormancy, things are blooming, butterflies are all over the place, hummingbirds are out and bees are everywhere working over the flowers.  The Santa Rita Cactus are loaded with blooms.

 The Helen Borcher Peaches are blooming away.

 The Dianthus are so happy and dainty- a personal favorite.

 The Calandrinia are blooming- a long time love of mine.

 The Guara… did I mention everything is starting to bloom???

 The Acanthus spike is opening up- such a cool texture and bloom.

The China Snow are just about solid white with blooms.

 I love this time of year!!!!

And Then There was Rain!!

Yes, we got rain!  It was wonderful.

Parts of Austin got hail, but I think just about everyone got rain.

Today it is supposed to be a high of 60 and then slowly start creeping back up.

Spring has definitely sprung!

 The Dianthus in the front bed is blooming like crazy.

 The Spanish Lavender is blooming and fragrant as ever.

 The Bottlebrush are blooming away.

 The Lady Banks are doing their thing.

The China Snow Trees are solid white full of blooms.

Everything is so happy and showing off as if screaming- Look at me!!  Look at me!!

Then you have little Agaves trying to compete doing all they can do to show off next to the blooms- I love these little Squid Agaves- they look perfect in pots with little spillers.

Going to make one of those up today in a little pot.  

Just trying to decide which spiller to use!

Diving in the Dianthus

 The Swallowtails were having a heyday this week in the Dianthus. 

 They were all over it!  It was so fun to watch. 

 They looked like they were falling into the blooms!

  They could have cared less that I was right there with them- 

they were totally content in "Dianthus love".  

                                                      I got a couple of double shots too!!!

He was looking right at me- it was so funny!

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  I am personally loving this weather.  Things are blooming all over the place and everything is coming to life!