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!!!

Little of This, Little of That

 The 'Color Guard' Yucca is starting to bloom- I love the blooms on the plants- always a fun surprise.  

 The Coral Bean are loaded with blooms making the hummingbirds very very happy.

 The Yarrow are in full bloom- everything is emerging and waking up if not woken up and starting to bloom.  My favorite time of year. 

 The caterpillars are abundant- I am constantly amazed at the markings on them.  So beautiful!!!

 The Goldenball lead trees are blooming like mad.  Such a simple small flower that delivers such a big pop of color. 

 The Passion Vines are blooming- I can't help it- had to post a photo.  Just too neat to pass up. (I posted a photo on the last post but that was a while ago ).

 The Lion's Tail are blooming- probably my favorite bloom- I don't know- hard to pick but definitely a top ten for me.  How do you not love that bloom?????

Everything is rocking along - hopefully in your neck of the woods as well.  I know some people had snow not that long ago…. the butterflies, bees and birds are everywhere at the nursery and I love it.  We have another little bunny that has taken up residence under the office.  He's so sweet.  I haven't gotten a photo of him yet but it's early yet….I keep stalking him and the hummingbirds.  Soon.  Soon I will have photos…...

Little of This and a Little of That

 The Swallowtail have been out in mass numbers all week.  They are all over the Mexican Flame Vines, the Mountain Laurels, the Dianthus in particular it seems.  They are so neat and seem HUGE this year- maybe it has just been so long since I have seen them, but they seem really large.

 The Spanish Daggers are blooming- such a pretty soft bloom for such an appropriately named plant... the dagger in it's name is no exaggeration.....

The Erythrina I have posted before but it is still just stunning and deserving of another shot. 

 The Horse Cripplers are blooming- such a pretty little pink flower for such a "mean" cactus!

 The Grandma's Yellow Roses are blooming away- I like the vibrant yellow of these.

The bees are everywhere working everything they see in sight- love it!

My little Agave 'Blue Glow' pot is rockin' and rollin' along.

Just a few random shots of the week I thought I'd share.  The weather here has been nuts- earlier in the week we had days in the high 80's and this weekend and tonight, mornings of low 30's. You just never know- just have to roll with it- all part of living in Texas.

GBBD February 2013

Happy GBBD February 2013!!

This isn't probably the best shot of this bloom, but I loved it up against the blue sky.

Here is another shot of it a little closer up- it is the Erythrina, Coral Bean, is such a vibrant rich red.  I think they are show stoppers.

 Here is a shot a little closer up.  I just LOVE them!!!!  

 The Apple trees are all in bud and starting to bloom- spring is close, no question on that.  Just wondering if it is here or we will get a little cold snap before it actually arrives....  

The Aloes are starting to bloom.  I can't wait for this on in particular to open- it makes a HUGE bloom. Photos of course to follow.

The Barrel Cactus arrived yesterday - love these!!!!  I know they aren't blooms but they are too pretty not to post.  I didn't get a lot of bloom photos for the post, but didn't want to NOT post today so here's what I do have photos of. 

Hope everyone has a great GBBD and be sure to check out  May Dreams Gardens , the host of GBBD.

A Few Beauties on This First Monday of August

A few things of note on this first day of August - can you believe it is August!!??!!  The Erythrina x bidwillii Coral Bean look beautiful- I have seen these grow into trees which are magnificent but here in Austin they are more of a perennial.  They are really pretty and have a rich colored red bloom. 

The Donkey Ears are getting really big!! The Silver Pony Foot is cascading along the sides just as I had envisioned.  I am happy with the way this turned out.

Here is a closer shot:

The Mexican Olive trees are blooming away.

 I think this a sweet subtle flower.  It just looks dainty and soft to me.  Very wispy yet elegant.
I decided to end this post with the Skeleton Leaf Goldeneye bloom- a small little flower that is tough as nails.  These are little Texas natives that bloom all summer regardless of how much heat is thrown at it.  They are a happy bright little flower that I think deserved a little attention today!

Have a great Monday!!!!