I Smell Grape Kool-Aid

The Mountain Laurels are blooming all over town.

What is it about them that smells like grape Kool-Aid?  It is so bizarre.

They are so pretty- purple everywhere.  I think the prettiest one I have seen is over by Hyde Park Grill on West Gate Blvd. Of COURSE I did not take a photo of it but it is stunning.  There are several as pretty but that one really stands out.  

They are loaded with bees and butterflies at the nursery working those flowers over!

Spring I think might really be here.... though they were hinting to perhaps a quick freeze one day this week.  Who knows.  They also said 60% chance of rain last week and we saw about 3 drops....

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.

Had To Share

The Billbergia are doing their thing!  SO PRETTY!!!!

I have loved these forever. 

How do they get such vibrant colors I always wonder.

Simply stunning.

I posted them on our Facebook page as well this morning.

I mean with a bloom like that, it's just too pretty not to post!

Happy Saturday!

One of These Things is Not Like the Other...

I received the above photo from my brother who lives outside Nashville, TN yesterday.  He said he wanted to share a photo with me of what he woke up to....

 and then I replied to him with this photo....  

He said he didn't know what was worse, the obvious display of sunshine or the oranges in the background of the photo...  

We love to tease each other about the weather.  He's not such a fan of the cold you see, so he makes for an easy target when I wake up to 78 degree days with highs in the low 80's in January/February.

THOUGH I will say, I love Tennessee and love to visit, but a Texas girl I am and will stay.  (and visit him in the spring, summer and fall).

I Don't Think I'll Ever Get Used to It

I have lived in Texas all my life (outside of a few college years) and I can just say

I don't think I will ever get used to the weather here.

The Kalanchoe blooms are all similar but all striking.  There are so many different varieties of them and I love them all!!!

Yesterday, and for the last week for that matter, we have been in the high 70's, basically 80 degrees, and not more than a week ago, we were freezing.  Only in Texas is all I can say.

The above is the Potato Vine I was trying to photograph at my house on Bloom Day that wasn't blooming- they are blooming like mad at the nursery.  (and at the house now as well).

I went out to the nursery this past weekend sadly for only about 30 minutes, but did manage to snap a few shots of things that looked pretty to me so I thought I'd share.  I felt it only right since my bloom day post was so bare......

The photo above is probably my latest favorite.  When it came in I liked the foliage of it but now that it is blooming- WOW!!!   I feel like I always say "this is my favorite" but I can't help it.  We get these new things in and I just go nuts over them.  I mean- look at that bloom!!!  How can you NOT go nuts over that???  It's a Grevillea 'Long John'.

The Pyracantha never disappoints- I love the pop of red.

More photos to come- I was short on time and therefore sadly did not get much "photo time".

Someone was feeling overlooked after the GBBD post so I thought I'd share a picture of my other little nut hanging out by the window with her new favorite pillow.

Spring is almost here- that much I know, and I for one can't wait!!

Happy GBBD 2013!!

Well I couldn't start the new year missing the first 2013 GBBD!!   

Unfortunately, I am at home so posting what I have in bloom here at the house, which is not much...

 The Cyclamen are in full bloom all out front and in the back and are beautiful.  I love the red, at least for here at the house.  It is such a vibrant pop of color and I think stunning when planted in mass.

There is nothing else in bloom here- the other day our Potato Vine was blooming but of course when I went outside to snap a shot of it, could not find a single bloom nor could I find one on the Globe Mallow or the Lavender.  So alas, all I have in bloom is the Cyclamen.  

I couldn't just end the post with one photo so you have the pleasure of seeing Ellie in all her glory.  This is not how she typically looks, she is a very sweet lovable kitten, I just caught her yawning and thought it was funny so thought I'd post it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful GBBD and please visit the host of GBBD at  http://www.maydreamsgardens.com   and see all the others that have posted. 

Let It Rain!!!

Finally I think for once when the news says we are going to have substantial rain here in Austin, it might actually happen.  It has been trickling since last night with a few showers here and there.

AAAHHHHH the glorious sound of rain.

You my friend have been missed.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and has a fantastic 2013!!!