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!!

Happy March GBBD!

It's March and spring is almost here.  Things are blooming like crazy around here and it is wonderful. 

 The Crossvine are blooming away...

 the Abutilon....

 the Purple Plums....

 the Gopher Plants...

 the Pedlianthus, this one is a little more rare than your typical one, as noted most predominatly by the blooms.  Aside from the blooms the plants themselves are very similar but this one is more tropical/cold sensitive and the blooms are different.  I love it!

 The Acanthus are getting ready to bloom- such a unique bloom stalk. 

 The Globe Mallow are blooming away, tried and true favorite of mine.

And last but not least, the Salvia are a big hit this week with bees, butterflies and the Hummingbird Months alike.  Hope everyone enjoyed the photos.  Please visit May Dreams Gardens to see what is blooming in different gardens from all over!!  Thanks for hosting!

Spring Has Sprung!!

Happy GBBD!!!

Spring has sprung here in Austin.  Everything is blooming and so pretty- hard to decide what to ooh and aah over!   The above photo is a little Kalanchoe that is completely striking with it's array of blooms!  Hope you are enjoying GBBD- thank you to May Dreams Gardens for hosting.  If you have not, go to her site and you will find links to visit all the amazing gardens all over!!

 The Graptoveria 'Ghost Plant' never disappoints.  

 The bloom spike on the Aloe marlothii is massive and shooting up towards the sky. 

 The Potato Vine is blooming away.

 The citrus- oh my gosh the citrus.  If I could just make this photo scratch and sniff.... They are all in full bloom and the fragrance is intoxicating!

 The Saguaro is showing off as usual.  He doesn't have to do much to impress.  

 The Gopher Plants are blooming away. 

 The Carolina Jessamine are in full bloom and stunning!

 And last but not least is the 'Helen Borcher' Flowering Peach- as a fan of pink I adore this particular bloom and the tree as a whole is incredible and in full bloom. 

Hope everyone is having a great GBBD!

Little of This and A Little of That

The Gopher Plant in the front container has been booming like this for weeks now.  Every day it gets prettier and prettier.  The bees love this little guy so he's a great pollinator to have in your garden/yard- I have several people that tell me they plant these as well as Mystic Spires to attract them for pollination in their gardens.  Gosh! I feel like I haven't posted in forever!!

 Hard to not love the Mountain Laurel bloom.  I have heard a lot of people say they haven't seen em blooming yet, but they are blooming like CRAZY all over my neighborhood.  Some are loaded with blooms- I love it!  Down on South Lamar in front of the Odd Duck Restaurant there is a really pretty one but I keep forgetting to stop and photograph it.

 The Spanish Lavender….aaahhhh the Spanish Lavender.  This is probably my favorite bloom.  I know, I have lots of favorites but I really really like this one.  I think it wins….

 The Harry Lauder Walking Stick is loaded with blooms.  Such a crazy fun little guy.  

 The Senecio is so easy and so fun to grow.  I love it's color combo with the other succulents too.  It's like an amplifier of sorts for the colors.

The Arizona Cypress are hard to beat.  My personal favorite is the 'Blue Ice', I prefer their color but all are nice.  So there you have it, a little of this and a little of that.  I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted.  Promise to be better!!!!

Mixed Bag

Here is kind of a mixed bag of things I have been taking pictures of lately- hope you enjoy!

The above is a bloom spike from one of the agaves I have in a display pot- though I love the bloom it makes me sad cause I know it is the end of the road for the little guy.  I might pull him out and redo the pot and just pop him in the ground.  Who knows.  I can't decide.

 The Japanese Maples are so dainty- I just love them.  Such a pretty color and nice contrast I think.

 These little guys have not disappointed.  The Flowering Quince are full of flowers and the bees are very excited I might add.

 I never ever tire of the Spanish Lavender.  Of all the Lavender, it is and probably always will be my favorite.  I love the rich purple and the lavender together. 

And last but not least the Gopher Plant.  They are covered in blooms and covered in bees.  I am just happy the bees are hard at work and that we have plenty of blooms for them.

Just a little bit of this and that.  Hope you enjoy!  

Happy March GBBD 2013!!

Happy GBBD!!

It is warming up here in Austin.  It has been in the high 70's and low to mid 80's this week.  Everything is really responding to the warmer days too- things are budded up and blooming, butterflies and bees are flying around and birds are chirping- it is wonderful!!

The Gopher Plants have been a big hit with both the bees and butterflies all week.

 The Dyckia are blooming- I love how such a spiky plant throws off such a nice dainty bloom.

The Wisteria are budded up and getting ready to bloom- I LOVE the smell of Wisteria- reminds me of when I was little; we had it growing all along the fence line by the pool.

 The Mountain Laurels are still blooming, some say grape soda, I think it smells like Purple Kool-Aid, same smell I guess, I just haven't had grape soda.

 The Japanese Maples are all leafed out and stunning.

The Mexican Sycamores are budded up and ready to leaf out.

 The Bulbine have been loaded with bees all week.

And last but not least, the Mystic Spires are starting to bloom in the front bed.  A sure sign spring is here.  Please visit May Dreams Gardens and see what is blooming all over!!

Hope you have a great GBBD!!!

Walking Around...

 I had such a nice time Saturday and yesterday walking around the nursery!

The "Blue Glow' Agaves were soaking up the sun.  These are such a great little Agave.  I have one in a planter that is beautiful paired with a few sedum that looks fantastic if I do say so myself.  Of course I did not get a shot of that... but maybe I will today and post it on the next post.

I haven't been out there much lately but starting to get back to my normal routine- oh how I have missed it!!  I had such a good time yesterday checking on everything and getting to spend some real time out there.  Up till now, it's been an hour here or an hour there, so I was really excited yesterday to spend basically half the day out there looking at everything and seeing how everything is "waking up"!!  The Gopher Plants are starting to bloom and the bees are all over the place- what a nice sight to see them hard at work!

 This little Cactus was screaming for attention- he wanted to be included- can't wait for the entire thing to be full of blooms!!!

The Aloe Vera is reaching up to the sky and about to open up.

The Agarita are blooming away- I have to admit, this is the only time I find them intriguing...They are prickly little guys and no matter how careful I think I am being around them, I always get nipped!

The Lion's tail are starting to bloom in the large Agave pot.  They are a long time favorite of mine.

 Just thought I'd share a few shots of things the past few days that stood out to me that I thought looked pretty!  (along with the little House Finch I posted about yesterday who was so sweet!!!) 

Hope you enjoyed them!!  Glad to be back!!  Have I mentioned that???