Spring is officially here....

and I missed posting about it by a day. Sigh....so there go the redbud and mountain laurel blossoms. But with the recent rains, there is much green to feast the eyes upon as you see more and more leaves sprigging forth in the treetops. There are snatches of color to be found in the formal planting beds around commercial establishments such as banks and hospitals, but I'm not a real fan of that type of garden. I like general order with some (or a lot) chaos thrown in - a more natural state of existence. That's probably why I love our stands of wildflower here in Texas so much, as did Lady Bird Johnson. If you have some time, visit her legacy to the nation, but most especially to Texans: http://www.wildflower.org/. But for now, the only new blooms spotted have been the sparsely planted yuccas.


My visit to the garden center last weekend yielded us with a variety of salvias, columbine, plumbago and hibiscus. Some tulips and gladiola have broken the surface, and other seedlings that I have no idea what they are but assure myself everyday they are NOT weeds. The clover patch is brimming with delicate yellow florets and the bees are loving it. Perhaps I'll think on setting up a hive someday.


Update on the snails: all that appeared have been relocated to the creek that runs through a small park down the street from here. The boys wanted to do the salt trick on them, but I said, "No, Carolyn would not approve." So Layton and his girlfriend spent Sunday doing that for me and had a good time in the process. I will also avail myself of their services this weekend when I rent a tiller of some nature for aerating the heavily thatched lawn. The leaves have been raked, and along with the twigs and mini-branches from the ash, have been recycled into a neighbors compost bin. She says I am welcome anytime to enjoy its 'fruits' for feeding the lawn and mulching the gardens. Her name is Clara and I think that is lovely way to meet one's neighbor, and I believe a nice little friendship could develop across the backyard fence.

Coming Feature: Unpacking long, lost treasures

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain.....

A welcome sound after two months with nothing more than an occasional foggy mist. After dropping off Layton and a friend at the movie theater, I was driving along a highway that hadn't been traveled in quite sometime, and the song 'Drift Away' began playing on the radio. That's just what I was doing - remembering how this stretch of road was literally "out in the country" only a few short years ago. It has now been encompassed with suburban sprawl in all its glory - bleck. Our beautiful Hill Country with its gently rolling hills, and sudden, dramatic canyon lookouts, coursing rivers and creeks is looking more and more like the hills of greater LA everyday. I've been looking for some 'before and after' pics to illustrate, but having trouble finding exact locales. It makes me sad - and so usually does rain .

But it was welcome this night. First, we were greeted with a cacophony of thunder and a glorious lightshow. Safe at home again, the rains continued all night into the morning hours slowing to a mesmerizing drizzle. The grounds and flowerbeds were soaking it up fast, not knowing for sure when the next would come. Saturday dawned overcast, but as I stepped out my door, the first thing I noticed was some little green sprouts poking out of the thin strip of dirt on the right - my iris were awakening!


To my left the larger bed had been well soaked, but was basically undisturbed by the downpour. The bulbs here will take longer to show themselves, but along the edges teeny tiny sprigs of alyssum were spreading along the length of the sidewalk. One of the boys had expressed concern that the rains would wash the seeds away, but I knew they were tucked safe in the soil. We also have some unwelcomed guests.... snails! I'm sure the saturated ground has brought them out. A little research with Google has me thinking these are carnivorous and not of danger to my precious roots and plants, but I know nothing about these creatures. Carolyn, can you help?


On the way to take Logan to work this dullish morning, I noticed the redbud flowers were now all over yards and in the streets, along with a ton of tree leaves of various design. The rakes will have their work cut out for them next week. As we drove on, I wondered if the delivery of this much needed water did not account for all the additional color I was seeing today....... the yellow of Carolina jessamine and white of Bradford pears. Each couple of days I see more and more signs of glorious Spring.



And today, as the sun shines, I went to work on a small patch of ground to the right of the driveway at the corner with the house. It was weedy with hardpacked dirt, and not only grew rocks for me, but a great big huge slab of limestone three inches down. Started to leave it but decided I couldn't let anything so massive impede the roots of the flowers and plants I plan to install there. So I'm off to the garden center - I don't want to have to wait any for my bulbs and seeds to bloom. I want, oh - I mean 'need', some bedding plants that already have some blossoms on them. Until then, take care and thank you for visiting me today.

Waking to the smell of grape bubblegum...

is such a delight! One of the first signs of glorious Spring in South Texas is the mountain laurel, and I am priviledged to have moved to a property where the neighbors to the right have provided me with a view of some young shrubs. This morning they were bursting with these luscious purple clusters that have the uncanny fragrance of grape bubblegum, especially since they indeed look like real grapes from afar. If there are a number of these shrubs/trees in the area, the air is quite pervasive with their distinctive scent.

Another pleasant sighting and the second indication that Spring is sprouting is the budding-out of our native Texas redbud trees. The flora does not last any time at all so you have to appreciate them quickly. The flowers range from a light pink to a light lavender, the most common being a deep, sincere pink. I want a lavender one for my yard.... I want purples and blues in my landscape, interspersed with some yellows and whites. I want an Oriental/tropical water garden also, but more on that later. I want, I want...... am I becoming a gardener, or what?

These harbingers of Spring are certainly inviting and very welcome, but Native Texans do not truly believe it has arrived until the leaves of the indigenious and very plentiful mesquite have started to emerge. The Indians of long ago always warned the settlers not to get too excited about the initial sightings of this 'false' Spring - if the mesquite has not leafed out there was most assuredly the possibility of another freeze in the works. And its been proven year after year. No worries at this time though - ol' Phil up there in PA was correct in his prediction - for South Texas anyway.

Our new home's environs (pic below taken by realtor in the immense heat of last August) is presenting itself as a grand palette for me to exercise some creativity. The lawn needs aerating and additional topsoil, which because of the degree of sloped elevation lends itself to erosion. It is with deep consternation to discover this yard also grows rocks, the majority being good old Texas caliche. Although in the pic the St. Augustine is showing severe neglect, it is well established in several areas. Along with the unwanted hackberry, it drinks up the water starving everything else in the area. So - as we are still under severe drought conditions with heavy restrictions on our water usage from the aquifer, our plans are to introduce a more conservation-minded grass - bermuda or zoysia, perhaps. If anyone has other suggestions, please let me hear from you.


I have never had nor do I care for the Arizona ash (2 in the front; 2 in back), but will learn to deal with their surfaced roots and 'thatch-potential' leaves. There are a number of mature live oak along the back west fence that provide wonderful shade. Unfortunately too, we have quite a bit of hackberry growing up through our basketweave fence, some being of substantial girth. They will be eventually dealt with when we are able to replace the whole fence with one of a little more sensibility.

Coming Features: (1) plans for the front flowerbed; (2) unpacking long, lost treasures