Blame It On the Rain!

Happy GBBD!!  

Everything is busting with color!  The Butterfly Iris are in full bloom- they are so striking.  The recents rains have been incredible and you cannot deny that the plants aren't a little excited about it all.

The Ocotillo are blooming away, not everyone's favorite plant, but a favorite of mine.

The Lady Slippers are subtle yet beautiful.  I took this photo the other day, but they still look just like this (only with even more blooms) so I thought I'd include the shot.  

Things are blooming everywhere you look, the Texas Sage are stunning and in full show off mode and the birds and butterflies have been having a ball.  

The Copper Canyon Daisy are just such happy flowers.  I love to water them and breathe in the sweet lemon smell.

 The Queen's Wreath are coming back and growing up along the fence- always been a favorite.

The Rose of Sharon are an old standby- they always remind me of Mom's house.

 The Pink Turk's Cap, another old standby that keeps on going.

 The Twisted Leaf Yucca are getting ready to open up.

 The Beautyberry Issai is blooming, I still love the good ol' American Beautyberry, but this one I think is just a softer more elegant one.  And who doesn't love the berries??

The Red Passion Vine is blooming away- a show stopper by any measure.

I have seen a dragonfly or two as well and the Hummingbirds deserve a special mention as they are going bezerk!! 

Here is one going at the Silks Dream Salvia.

Our little visitor yesterday- he brought his partner- they were hanging out around the tomato plants.  Here is a picture of both of them, though not great.

Hope everyone has a great GBBD!!
Make sure and check out May Dreams Gardens for all the other blogs celebrating GBBD today and see what is blooming all over!

Burrrr!

There is a definite chill in the air and it is FABULOUS!!!

A cold front rolled in yesterday and is supposed to stick around for a while.  It is so pretty outside right now and feels fantastic.

Before I get to any of the shots I got this morning, I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to J Peterson Garden Design , Rock Rose, and Sharing Nature's Garden for the write up's they did on the nursery!  

If you have not read their blog entries on us, please click on their link.

The 'Grassy Lassie' Aloe is stunning.  It has blooms all over it.  

The Possumhaw's berries are starting to turn- this is such a very cool tree.  The berries turn red (they have just started to turn, they will get more red) and then they drop their leaves so you have these sticks with berries.  They are similar to the American Beautyberry which does the same thing but those are purple and look more like little grape clusters (also very pretty).

The Ocotillo is mesmerizing to me.  I love the striations on the branches.  

The fruit of the Pineapple Guava. I have never tried it but I have heard many people find it tasty.  Maybe this year I will give it a go.

The Pyracantha berries are turning as well.  Like it or not fall is coming, or is here.... just ask the plants. ( I for one am ready! )