I Still Can't Believe It's November!!!

I still can't believe it is November.  Where has the time gone?  I wanted to show a few blooms and things that have been looking pretty as of late.  The Lion's Tail is one of my favorite blooms.  I think it is so funny they call it a Lion's Tail when to me it looks like a lions head!  The little blooms are so unique yet be careful, they are a little spiky too.  The hummingbirds love this plant as well which came as a surprise to me to see them on it. 

 Another good ol' stand by is the American Beautyberry.  This time of year the berries turn this vibrant purple and if the birds don't get all the berries when the leaves drop in the winter you have these beautiful sticks of purple berries!   I had a comment recently on our Facebook page that someone found the berries in the raccoon poop!  Who knew raccoons liked this too?!?!

The Peruvian Cereus bloom never ceases to stop me in my tracks.  This plant needs to be protected/brought in in the winter time here in Austin but is well worth it.  The blooms are amazing.  They are huge- not sure if you can tell but they are huge.  This photo was taken by my husband on his iPhone.  Great shot I thought!!  Especially from a phone!!

I never get tired of seeing these little guys and I always have to stop and look at them.  They are just so animated and so cute.  I saw a few babies running around yesterday.  I went to grab the camera but they had moved on.

 This little fuzzy Kalanchoe sent up a bloom spike.  I think I ended up liking the spike more than the bloom itself....

And alas, my little helper sleeping between two pots.

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!!!!

Cactus Love (and a few other things...)

A few shots of some of the cactus and such as of late that have stood out. 

 The 'Lady Slippers' Pedlianthus are blooming- these to me are such cool plants- they do these small petite little "blooms" which look like ladies slippers and then make this little pod. 

 The Peruvian Cereus are busy making their fruit.  In a few shots you can see them a few days later starting to ripen.  Another name for this is the Peruvian Apple.  

 What's not to love about this little guy?  The Santa Rita pad grew like a heart!  It isn't entirely uncommon but always really neat when it happens. 

 The San Pedro Cactus are growing like crazy.  They don't seem to mind the heat.

 A shot of the Peruvian Cereus fruit about a week later- they are really interesting tasting if you have not- almost kiwi like. 

This little guy was hanging out today- he was so funny making all these sounds. I dind't want to bother him too much so I snapped a few shots and let him be.

Hope all is well with everyone!!! 

Visit to the International Rose Test Garden, Portland, OR

This month we visited the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon.  It was beautiful.  Course, I love roses, so I am a little biased but it was amazing. I saw so many different colors and so many shapes and sizes.  It was incredible.

 The beds were everywhere- rows and rows of blooms.

 There were pockets of other flowers around as well- the bees were going to town on these- had to get a close up.  I left my camera at the hotel as we were planning on visiting here the following day and all I had was my iPhone - I thought the photos came out ok considering.  

 Look at the color!!!  

(see- iPhone.... not great color but you still see all the bloms!!)

 I was really impressed- we really enjoyed the visit and strolling around in the gardens. 

 This was the entrance- I love the way they incorporated the Lebanon Cedars.  They look like Dr. Seuss trees to me hahah  Love em!!!

 So pretty.  

 Every color imaginable. 

I love the rose hedges.

And last but not least- the garden plaque.  Love this- my mother has this in her garden; my grandmother was an avid gardner and pout this plaque in the garden and it has been there ever since.  The saying has always had a special place in my heart.  

Happy GBBD!

Happy June GBBD!  

A few photos of what's going on around here right now.  Hope you enjoy.  

Check out May Dreams Gardens to visit other GBBD posts.

 The Lantana are blooming like crazy and have been very popular this week with the bees, butterflies and these little hummingbird moth.  The hummingbird moths are so fun to watch- I got this picture at just the right time-  can see the pollen??  

He was completely unfazed by my being there.

This little guy was hanging out on the Yucca when I captured his picture.  

He appeared to be sunbathing. 

 The Mexican Olives are in full bloom right now, as is about everything else out here I might add, and are beautiful.  Honestly, these are one of my favorite trees aside from the Palo Verdes.

 The Greggs's Mistflower are blooming away and quite popular with the butterflies.  I have been watching these guys all day.  They are quite content.

Sal is his usual self- here he is hanging out in the Ajuga. 

Another fan of the Lantana- this guy has been bouncing around the nursery all day- finally I got him to slow down long enough to get a photo.

Hopefully everything is blooming where you are by now.  

The recent rains have been wonderful and the plants are really enjoying it!!!

Happy GBBD!!!!

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

It has been rainy here in Austin as of late and the rain has been wonderful!!

Here are a few shots of some of the blooms on various cactus plants that have been blooming like mad. Just too pretty not to post!!!

Please visit May Dreams Gardens to view gardens from all over and help celebrate GBBD!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

April Showers….Have Brought Out the Flowers!

The rain here lately has been wonderful for the gardens and landscapes here in Austin.  Everything is blooming, birds are chirping and bees are buzzing.
I love this time of year. 

Here are some photos I have snapped lately.

Blooms everywhere!!!!

The Crossvine are blooming like crazy on the fence.

 The Dianthus are happy as can be.

 Love the orange on these spike blooms of the Dyckia.

 It's snowing!!!  Ok, it's not, but it looks like little snowflakes.

Such bizarre blooms on this cactus but I love it.  

And my little cactus guys are blooming again.

There are blooms all over the place- I have spent the majority of my free time as of late stalking the hummingbirds to which I have been most unsuccessful.  This is as close as I got- to be fair… I have had very limited time to watch for them and sit in wait, but I did manage to get a few shots- though not impressive I know but they are here!!!  So happy!!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!!!  

And happy early GBBD to all of you!!!