Almost Feels Like Spring

Although the mornings are still quite cool here in the hill country, there are definitely signs of spring showing. Our new redbud tree started blooming several days ago. The golden leadball tree that we planted over the winter is also just starting to bud out. Narcissus and gladiolus bulbs are sprouting. The larkspurs that I direct seeded in November are almost ready to bloom, and the native columbines have just started to open their blooms. The Carolina jessamine outside my office is now covered with blooms, and butterflies are showing up on warm days. All sure signs that spring’s arrival is imminent.

We have made some additions to the front courtyard beds over the past few weeks which are worth mentioning (at least I am pretty excited about them). In the perennial bed on the west side of the yard I added two ‘The Fairy’ ^[1] roses near the center of the bed. I also planted horsetail reed, rock penstemon ^[2], pink gaura, ‘Husker Red’ penstemon ^[3], and four nerve daisy ^[4] in this bed.

In the north bed I added a Belinda’s Dream ^[5] and a Caldwell Pink ^[6] rose, and started to build a rock garden area in front of the Knock Out rose hedge. The rock garden plants installed so far include green santolina, Mexican sedum, sedum ‘Golden Acre’, sedum ‘Tricolor’, and a cactus of some sort (lost the label). We have added many interesting rocks to all of the beds for added interest.

Carolina Jessamine

Coral Honeysuckle

Vinca

Redbud Blooms

Native Columbine

Apricot Blooms

Plum Blooms

Apple Blooms

Rock Garden

Narcissus Sprouts

Eowen Under the Dolly

Eowen Attacking Dillon

Complete Flickr Set