Spring is Near

Spring is near here in Austin, Tx.  We just finished a little run of freezing weather which was preceded by 78 degree days.  Texas weather.  Nothing like it.  I for one am happy it is over- we might have a little snap in the mid 30's but nothing like we just had.  It registered 21 at the nursery- that's cold for us.  I know our customers and friends from up north laugh at that, but for us, that is really cold.  Especially when we were enjoying such amazing weather days before.  

Posting a few photos I have taken the last few weeks- I admittedly have been bad about posting here and for that I apologize.  I am going to try to be better.  I have been posting on Instagram almost daily - it is just so easy.  @viverogrowers if you do Instagram.

Peach blossoms

 Tecoma, aka Yellow Bells, also Esperanza

 Kalanchoe bloom

 Wisteria bloom- wish this were scratch and sniff!!!!

 Kalanchoe

 Gopher Plant blooming

 Dwarf Bottlebrush

 Butterfly on Carolina Jessamine

 Succulent planter- took this right before I moved it inside last weekend.

Love this color combo of the sedum and the senecio.  

  Hope you enjoyed the pics!!

Blooms Around the Nursery

Hurricane Harvey has just left Houston and is on his way leaving yet another path of destruction.  It is so horrible and so sad what he leaves behind but to see all the people of Houston come together as they have along with people from all over has been overwhelming.  I am from Houston and have family and friends there whom have been affected in one way or another.  It is a helpless feeling to be here unable to do anything to help.  Restless energy has led me to post some pretty blooms that have been blooming lately.  Hope you enjoy.

 Succulent blooms always make me happy.

 The Coral Bean blooms are divine!

 Good ol' Yellow Bells.

 My all time favorite the Vitex.

 The Pride of Barbados are blooming like crazy.

 I love how delicate and subtle the Mexican Olive are.

And last but not least the Althea, Rose of Sharon.  

Be safe everyone and sending any and all affected by Harvey prayers and good wishes.

Blooms at the Nursery

Well, I missed GBBD, sorry, so thought I'd share the blooms at the nursery as of late.  

Hope you enjoy!!  

 The Althea are blooming like crazy.

 The butterflies are everywhere- sometimes I feel like my Instagram account is a butterfly watch.

 The Cereus are always neat I think- this one has three blooms on it.  

 I love the Greveillea 'Peaches and Cream' - such an unusual bloom.

 The Palo Verde trees are always pretty to me even without blooms- I love the green bark.

 This was a first for me- two on one.  I posted this on Facebook and a customer posted one on hers as well- guess it isn't that rare but I'd never seen it!

 The Pride of Barbados equals summer in Austin to me.  Love these blooms!

 The 'Sticks of Fire' are always fun- they change colors in the winter but are equally as impressive in the summer.

And last but not least, a Tecoma, this is the 'Lydia' which is a bit more compact and softer yellow.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!  

Ok, I realize there are other plants out there...

Ok, I realize there are other plants out there other than these Cereus that I have posted a few times but I just saw THIS.  A fruit!  Who knew.  See, still learning so much.  I thought it was a going to be a purple flower and got all excited and went to show Michael who informed me it is a fruit.  Who knew.  Pretty cool though.  

I went out to the nursery for a bit just to visit, I have missed it so much.  Everything looks so happy and is in bloom.  The Pride of Barbados that I planted have just exploded along the fence line.  I can't believe it!  I planted these just at a month ago and when I did they were really not that much to look at - look at them now!   I snapped a few photos of some things but will take more when I am more up to it.  I can say however, that you can totally tell it rained, if only a little.  The plants have really responded.  It is crazy (in a good way) how much they really seem to transform with a little bit of rain.  

I am worried my little succulent pot that I planted is getting too big for it's britches.  I guess I will have to put it in a bigger pot.  I really like this style of pot though.  I got it from the guy next door that sells pots.  I am not so much into this style of pottery but I did like this one as it was plain and straight lines and thought it looked good with the succulents.  

This is a close up of the Desert Rose bloom which I think is so pretty.  This is a new one for me and I really like it.

  I am undecided on the mix here.  I think it just needs a little more time.  The Tecoma have exploded as they tend to do, the Furcrea still looks really good and the Ice Plant is growing like mad. I guess it is just not done doing what it is supposed to do.  The Pink and White Salvia (at the back) was cut back, I think when that fills back out (and it is on it's way) I will like it more.  I am happy with each plant individually, the Hamelia looks good, the Queen Victoria, I just don't know... I guess it just needs a little more time to fill out.  Like I said, when I look at them individually I am happy, it is just as a whole I guess it isn't my favorite, at least right now.   I am going to give it a little more time then I might mix it up.