Happy GBBD!!!!

 Happy GBBD!!!

I thought I'd start out with the Passion Vine.  They are blooming on the fence like crazy.  They are absolutely stunning.  This particular one is the Ruby Glow.  

 The Shrimp Plant are an often overlooked but very pretty flower.  We have them in yellow too though I prefer the orange.

 I was going to take a photo of the ice plant and the Tecoma (Yellow Bells, aka Esperanza), in the front bed but I thought it all looked so pretty together I took a shot of it all to share.  

 I thought this shot looked prettier as a whole than as individuals so I thought I'd include this one of the other side of the above bed.  It is of the Thryallis, Bougainvillea, Brazilian Pavonia and Indigo Spires peeking in the background. 

 The Palo Verdes are still blooming.   They remind me of Scottsdale.

 The Yellow Yuccas are blooming away in the desert bed as well. 

 Alongside the Yuccas is the Trailing Rosemary which is blooming right now- hard not to like a Rosemary.

 The Russian Sage in that bed are in full bloom as well- I like how they are so muted. 

 The Agastache is a tried and true favorite of mine (and the hummingbirds).

 The Mexican Flame Vine are bursting with color all over the fence...

 ...along with the Antigonon. 

 The 'Grassie Lassie' Aloes are blooming and enjoying this cooler weather.

 The Podranea Vine are a subtle yet beautiful vine. 

 The often overlooked yet bursting with color as if screaming for attention, the Purple Heart are blooming alongside the silver Dykia's. 

And last but not least, the Madame Galen's are blooming away.  I have found people either love or hate this vine.  It can get a little large.... but in the right place I think it is stunning.

Thank you May Dreams Garden for hosting.  Please visit her blog at May Dreams Gardens and look at all the other GBBD blogs!!

Happy GBBD June 2012!

Happy GBBD June 2012!

 I have to admit, today was rushed.  I didn't realize it was the 15th and I have had about 3 seconds to take pictures lately so I grabbed the camera and snapped some shots - hope you enjoy!  Sorry if it seems a little thrown together but all shots were shot this morning between customers, but I got it done!!!

Above- I started out at the front gate and went from there, the Kalanchoe in the front planter is blooming- love that little guy!!!

The front outside bed has Globe Mallow going nuts with color- one of my favorites- easy tough little plant. 

 The Cholla is blooming in the front bed as well, as is the Mexican Bird of Paradise (below).

 The Shrimp Plant and the Thyrallis are blooming away in the front sign beds.  

 As is the Brazilian Pavonia.  The Birds of Paradise next to the fence are bursting with color- both plantings of it- love that stuff!!!  

 The little Blackfoot Daisy are happy as can be in the "desert bed" along with the Palo Verde- those little yellow blooms are like saucers!  You can see them from far away!

 The Tecoma and the American Beautyberry are doing their thing in the side bed. 

 The Antigonon is covering the fence and blooming away- such subtle sweet little blooms.

 And next to the Antigonon is the Mexican Flame Vine, a personal favorite and hard one to beat- such vibrant color!!!!  

 The Rock Rose Pavonia and Cigar Plant are happy and blooming in the side bed as well, I featured more on this bed this time as it always seems to get skipped.

 The Turk's Cap out front is coming into bloom again and this little guy below was watching me today as I was pruning the Pavonia- had to let you all see him- he was so funny- he kept hopping from leaf to leaf following me.  Just glad he didn't hop on me!!!! I know he is small but I still didn't want a spider on me.....  His green eyes were cool though.

 And just a shot of the front pot by the door- I am happy with the planting- everything is filling in and doing well.

Hope everyone had/has a great GBBD!!!!  Thanks to May at May Dreams Gardens for hosting.

It's Like Christmas!

I know I have said it before but every time a truck pulls in here to unload I feel like it is Christmas time. I love seeing the new plants. Now, of course this means I have a whole new batch of things to learn about- what likes sun, what likes shade, what needs to be watered daily, what needs to wait, how tall this will grow, etc... I could go on and on, but I love it and am not complaining. Who knew when I stopped the "corporate world" and entered the "garden world" that I would enjoy it so much. I knew I would like it, but never did I imagine how much. Today I got something called a Shrimp Plant. How cool is that???? Who knew there was a plant called a Shrimp Plant, and well, if you have seen it, you understand the name- it looks like big jumbo shrimp hanging off this plant. Hysterical. We do not grow that one here so it was a total new thing for me to learn along with a few others we got in. I love unloading and seeing all the new things, deciding what is going to go where; what blends best next to what; what is a good compliment to line it up next to. Then comes my second favorite part, picking what I want to go plant.

Right now we are in the process of building some beds so I am planning my next two gardens but I have it all set in my head. I can't wait. I make my daily rounds and see how everyone is doing, snap a few pictures of the butterflies, dragonflies, bees, praying mantis, beetles, lizards, grass hoppers, lady bugs, you name it, I take their picture. I still have not captured the hummingbird- I have lots of shots of a blur but nothing you can make out what it is. As of late I have seen this one dragonfly that is red. He is so cool looking and he follows me. It is so funny. He literally follows me but when I snap his picture I get nothing. Just a red blur. One person told me it was a hummingbird dragonfly.... hummmm..... I know I am new to all this but I am not sure I am buying that one.... but who knows- maybe they exist.

Ever heard of one?

I am going to post a picture of the Shrimp Plant- it might be common to a lot of people but to me I just thought it was one of the coolest things! I will also post my little ladybug I found today. She just sat there while I snapped. I get those all the time but normally they are on me and pictures of a ladybug on me aren't that exciting so I finally got one on a plant. She was hanging out on an expired Salvia bloom. Hope you enjoy!