Fall is Coming!

Fall is coming!  I promise, it is.  I don't know about other parts of the country but here in Texas, namely Austin, it is hot, hot and did I mention it is hot?  I for one am ready for fall and the cooler temps.  I thought I would share a few photos of things that have been blooming in the nursery lately - hope you enjoy!

 The bees don't seem to mind the heat.  They are all over the place which is wonderful.  In this shot they are on the Russian Sage, which is a personal favorite of mine.  I love the colors.

 Aaahhh, the Panicum 'Northwind'.  I know I am not supposed to have favorites, but.... this is one of my favorite grasses.

 The Passion Vine are always a hit- the showy blooms are so intricate and delicate.  I have so many photos of these blooms- just can't get enough of them.

 We do a few specialty Hibiscus, this is one of them.  The blooms are huge and the flowers bright- definite showstoppers.  

 This is my favorite Portulaca.  I mean look at it!  What's not to love???

This one is a hard one to photograph as it isn't the showiest of plants and blooms but the fragrance- if only there were a way to capture the fragrance.  The Almond Verbena- intoxicating.  

 This is turning into a post of my favorite things I am noticing....  this is my all time favorite annual- such a bright pop of color and fun texture and bloom.  We have a few different Celosia, but I am partial to this one.

 The Neobuxbaumia and their crown of blooms- what's not to love?!?

And I will end with some 'Topsy Turvy' Echeveria blooms and a photo of a hummingbird.  

Funny story about this little guy.... I was chasing him for what seemed like hours to get a good shot of him as he zipped around the nursery, and then he stopped and sat on this line right next to me and just hung out for about 5 minutes.  Just sitting there.  He was so close- it was so neat.  I could have reached out and touched him.   It was truly one of the most exciting things to experience.  

 I have been really bad about blogging lately and for that I apologize.  I promise to make an effort to be better and post more often.  I have been posting a lot on Instagram - it is just so easy to just take the photo and pop it up there it has me spoiled.  Anyway, hope you enjoy!   

Blooms!!

It's that time of year and everywhere you look at the nursery there are blooms!  It is wonderful.  I love this time of the year- it's hot but not too hot and the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are everywhere.  Hope you enjoy the photos!!

Have a wonderful May!  Still having a hard time believing it's May and we are almost halfway through!!!

GBBD October 2017

Happy GBBD October 2017!

I still can't believe it is October.  Crazy.  Time is flying by entirely too fast.  It is finally fall here in Austin, Texas and also finally starting to feel like it.  Lots of things blooming and looking great lately- hope you enjoy!

 Gregg's Mistflower

Pink Bottlebrush

 The succulents are showing off with the cooler weather and turning new fun colors!

 The Monarch's are out and about- not a bloom but not to be missed either!!

The Lion's Tail are blooming and the hummingbirds are happy about it!

The Yellow Yucca are blooming.  

Hope you all enjoyed the photos!  It's a fun time of year and I am enjoying the cooler weather.  If you haven't visited May Dreams Gardens visit it to see blooms all over the world!!!

SaveSave

I Just Can't Get Enough of the Hummingbirds!!!!

 There are two things that I can say without a doubt that the hummingbirds go nuts for- the Agastache (or at least this variety) and the 'Amistad' Salvia.

 I FINALLY got some photos of the little guy on the Agastache.  He at one point was buzzing right by my head- it was hilarious.

 There were two fighting over this particular plant and it seems he took this plant and the other got the 'Amistad'.  I wonder how they decide.

 This was not the clearest of photos but I liked it just the same.

 These next three photos I love.  I could not pick the best one for me- I like each for different reasons, so you get to see all three.

 If only the photos were scratch and sniff.  The fragrance of this Agastache is wonderful!!!

Look at his little feet!  Love it.  Ended with this one. 

 Here is the gang on the 4th celebrating the only way they know how…by lounging….

Must be nice.  What a life!!!!!

Salvia Wars

First of all, I do not know what this is- a moth of sorts it looks like.  Can anyone identify?  Either way, he was very fascinating to me so I ran and got the camera.

 He was all over the salvia.

 I thought it was so cool how I could see his proboscis.

 I was totally mesmerized watching him.

Here is a shot of his back side.  He was all about the salvia.  Well, apparently someone didn't like that much..... out of the blue came this hummingbird who proceeded to chase him.  It was bizarre to watch.  They were going so fast- I tried to get a shot of the chase, but was unable. 

 Here is the hummingbird after chasing him off, going to the salvia.

Either I got the hummingbird or the moth (?) but never both in focus on the same frame.  

The hummingbird would swoop down and chase him, then go to the salvia for a while, then go hang out on the branch and watch for a minute then go right back to chasing him off.  It was so fun to watch.  

 Here he is on his lookout.  He would get so close to me I could have touched him.  It was so fun.

 See- like here- only the hummingbird was in focus.

 Hope you enjoy the shots.

Little Visitors

I have had some new visitors to the nursery the last few days- the Painted Bunting amongst my favorites.  I saw this bird and thought it was the female Painted Bunting, but after looking her up, she isn't as green as it seems the female is, so I have no idea what type of bird she is but she is really sweet looking.  A bird expert I am not nor do I pretend to be.  I got a few photos of her through the glass- she was right outside where the Painted Bunting male likes to hang out in the afternoons.  I have not been able to get more shots of him though I am not giving up.  

The hummingbirds are still out in full force- they live in the oak tree at the front of the nursery.  They swoop down and are in love with the black and blue salvia- they "try" other things but always go back to the salvia.  

I have all sorts of grasshoppers, walking sticks, preying mantis but this little grasshopper I thought was neat as his coloring was unique, at least to me.

And here is my little surprise that is growing like a weed- a watermelon- who knew.  Can you see it?  It is at the bottom next to the rocks.  I have no idea what variety it is, Felipe planted when we built the bed and it is huge and taking over.  I think it looks really neat with the agave I have it with and growing below the Beautyberry I must admit.  I have not been able to get a good shot of it all together though- the sun is never right and it looks really washed out.  I am still trying to get a good shot of that bed but it is filling out and looking really good.  I think the Pavonia is the happiest of all in there next to this watermelon- wonder how it will taste... and there are about 8 more in there but none quite this large yet.

Here's the Pavonia:

I Swear I Am Not Turning This Into A Hummingbird Blog...but...

Ok, can't help it, more hummingbird shots!  But this one of the hummingbird with this bug?!?!?!  Love it!!!!  I was so excited Wednesday after capturing some shots of the hummingbirds that I have basically been stalking all year, and thought FINALLY!  I captured them!!!  Well, then I got even MORE shots.  I was and am so excited.  It was unreal.  They were so close to me- they were not bothered that I was standing out there at all. They definitely seem to have their preferences though plant wise- the White Salvia and the Black and Blue Salvia.  They venture to other things but inevitably come back to these two.  

I was having so much fun with them buzzing around me.  They could care less if I walk up closer to them or stand right in the middle of the Salvia to get the shot.  There seem to be two groups of two that fly together.  I have yet to capture that- them in air playing Avatar but I also haven't tried, maybe I will go for that next.  

Today someone told me that they are more than likely fighting.   Interesting.  I am going to keep watching and see.  I knew they were territorial but these two sets that keep together seem fine with each other- perhaps a male and a female?  I don't know a lot about hummingbirds and am still reeling that I have even been able to get any shots of them that are not total blurs that I don't hardly know what to do with myself.  

Enjoy!!