May 2009 Bloom Day

Here we are with the temperatures already rising- having to help plants who might be struggling. I'm hoping for some thunderstorms late this week to help everything along as I just planted some passalongs from Diane. Thanks Diane! But this is the time when Texas gardeners are thankful for having some choices of Texas-tough plants that can take our daytime temperatures...and also our high nighttime tsummer temperatures. With the nights so hot, plants don't get a chance to rest like they do up north. They just keep chugging along and eventually burn themselves up from continuous consumption of sugars.

OK, enough with the botany talk. Lots of colors filling in the garden right now. Let's check it out.
Lamb's ear and Dallas Red lantana are mixing together well.





















Society garlic, orange bulbine, and daylilies are all lending their color. My poppy seeds didn't seem to work for me this year. After consulting with MSS, I think the mulch may have been the problem.

But some Iceland poppies bought as small plants are popping up a bloom every now and then.





















Bicolor and butterfly iris are sporting their tiny blooms for me right now and lending their lush grass-like foliage. These do so well down here, even in droughts. Esperanza is just starting to send out multiple yellow blooms.

And what's this? Grapes of Gomphrena just starting to send it's little blooms out. So sunny, they look so cute just sitting right in the neck of the stems.




















Portulaca and pomegranate are both blooming. The portulaca came back from seed from last year and is coming up in nooks and crannies in the walkway. I don't mind. It's gorgeous and drought tolerant.

And my wildflower/septic field has really taken off in the past few weeks.













Finally, lovely pearl milkweed vine with green flowers, a beautiful subtle vine growing on my crossvine trellis. I'm happy to let it share the space, as the flowers are mesmerizing.


Happy bloom day!