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!   

February GBBD 2017

Happy February GBBD 2017!  I say it all the time but where does the time go?

The weather here has been just plain crazy.  Hot, cold, freezing, meeting all kinds of records for coldest then hottest days of the year on record- just typical Texas weather.... 

The Aloe marlothii is blooming which to me is always a magnificent bloom spike. 

 The echeveria are enjoying the cooler temperatures and showing off all their colors.

 The Agave 'Blue Glow' is using the sunshine to show off it's beautiful edges.

   The succulents have been blooming away which is always fun to watch.  

  Things are blooming which is nice cause it gives the bees and butterflies things to visit. 

Hope you have a wonderful Garden Blogger Bloom Day- make sure and visit May Dreams Gardens which has links to gardens all over!

January Garden Blogger Bloom Day Post

I can not believe it is time for the January Garden Blogger Bloom Day Post!  Where does the time go? 

I will post a few photos of things I have taken pictures of lately.  Hope you enjoy. 

The Aloes are blooming away like crazy.

 The Kalanchoes, though not a bloom, I thought looked neat so I took a photo.

 Another Aloe bloom- this is the 'Grassy Lassie'- one of my favorites of the Aloes.

 Who doesn't love an Echeveria bloom?

 The Pines are looking beautiful in the sunlight.

The Arbutus have the most beautiful blooms- so intricate.  Little pink showers of blooms.   

It is January 2017.  I can almost not believe it.  Short but sweet post- hope you enjoyed! Be sure to visit May Dreams Gardens to see all the gardens all over!!

The Succulents Are Showing Off!

The succulents have been blooming like crazy lately!!  The Aloes have been right there with them competing for attention.    All these blooms are just in time to celebrate Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!!  Hosted each month by May Dreams Gardens, gardeners from all over post what is new and blooming in their garden.  It's a fun way to see what's going on all over. 

 I love the little delicate blooms - the photo above they are getting ready to open.  Walking through the succulent house is different every day right now and I love it- blooms left and right.  

The sedum are blooming as well.  Love the bright yellow flowers on these little guys.  

The Spider Aloe has a big tall bloom which is really impressive.  The weather in Austin has never been predictable and these last few weeks have not contradicted that.  It has been close to and some days 80 degrees as of late.  80.  In February.  You just never know.  I for one am not going to lie, I have enjoyed the cooler mornings and evenings.  

The Lantana are blooming right now and the bees and the butterflies could not be happier.  I love watching everything working over the blooms.  Can't help it- makes me smile!!!

Living Walls / Vertical Gardening

  

Living Walls / Vertical gardening.. seems to be all the rage lately here in Austin, Texas.  Not everyone is doing it, but a lot of people are talking about it.  What a wonderful way to have all your succulents, echeveria and sedum in one place!  

I think they are simply stunning.  The combinations are endless.  You can make them virtually any size you want, any shape and any design. 

 Depending on your particular climate you could have them indoors, outdoors or in sun rooms.  

I have seen them in a variety of places, area and cities and never get bored of looking at them.  Here are some photos of ones we have visited recently.

Just amazing!!!

 

Hope you enjoyed the photos!!!

The Cooler Weather is Coming....Right???????

 I lost count on the days that they say "cooler weather is coming" and it doesn't show... BUT it has been really nice out there.  The mornings are cooler and the afternoons not as hot.  Hey, I'll take it.  The days have been really beautiful.  

I snapped a few photos of this and that- hope you enjoy.  

Above is the 'Lord Baltimore' Hibiscus- such a big bloom- love the pop of red.

If only this could be scratch and sniff.... the Almond Verbena are so fragrant- love the scent.  I have one by the door to the office purely for selfish reasons so I can smell it all day long as I go in and out of the office.  

 I love how these look like little heads of lettuce.

 Again with the red, I just love red in a garden.

 The 'Sticks of Fire' have started showing color, see, the mornings ARE cooler.... if it'd just stay like that.....

The butterflies are all over the place.  Above on the Lantana, they don't have a clear favorite right now bouncing around from bloom to bloom, me chasing them with my camera....

Once it DOES cool down,

 I will fill up posts with the succulents and echeveria doing their cooler weather color changes!!!!

Spring has Sprung!

It's official, it's spring!!  There are blooms everywhere!  

The Echeveria are loaded with buds and blooms, the Red Buds are packed with hot pink flowers, the 'Knife Blade' Acacia have their little yellow puffs, the Aloes are blooming,  the fruit trees, the Coral Honeysuckle, I could go on and on and on.  I have already posted about the Texas Mountain Laurels which are EVERYWHERE in Austin covered in blooms.  I must admit, this is the prettiest spring in Austin I have seen since I moved here.  

Just about everything is blooming away and the bees could not be happier.  

The succulent house is packed with Echeveria,  Kalanchoes, Sedum and Aloes almost all exploding with blooms enjoying the spring weather.

The Red Buds are buzzing with bees - do you see them?  

When you walk the Red Buds you can hear the bees hard at work- it sounds like the trees are buzzing.

 The 'Knife Blade' Acacia look so happy with their yellow blooms- they resemble little happy faces.

The Aloe bloom is getting bigger every day reaching up for the sky.

Peaches anyone?

The Coral Honeysuckle are like little pink neon lights they are so bright.  

I have had so much fun this past week- what a transformation.  The recent rains have certainly made several plants (and people) very happy.  

I can't remember a more beautiful spring!!