Carol
Gloriosa Daisies
Gloriosa Daisies I love these gloriosa daisies (rudbeckia hirta). They have been blooming since late spring, and should continue blooming through the fall. They are short lived perennials here in Central Texas, and annuals in colder climates. Unlike some of the other more common rudbeckias, these are shorter and more upright so they don’t require […]
Everything is Growing
We were adopted by a very cute kitten a couple of weeks ago. We call him Button. Kitten Up Close Our fennel and parsley plants were literally covered with swallowtail and monarch caterpillars this spring, and I have already begun seeing many butterflies in the gardens. Swallowtails on Fennel More Swallowtails on Fennel There are […]
More Native Bloomers
This native wisteria is so much nicer than it’s Asian counterparts, especially in the Hill Country, I can’t understand why folks wouldn’t choose to plant these instead. The Wisteria frutescens produces fairly large lavender colored blooms simultaneously with it’s clean, deep green foliage. It is a repeat bloomer, and is easily managed and contained. Native […]
Growing and Blooming
We have almost sold out of our early spring vegetable plants and annual flowers, and what we aren’t selling I can’t resist planting in any nook or cranny I can find. We tried a couple of new varieties of violas this year that I was particularly pleased with; the Viola Bilbo Baggins (pictured first), and […]
Caterpillars and Roses
I took these pictures last week before the cold snap arrived. It is hard to believe that it was snowing just two days ago. All of my plants seem to have weathered the cold with little damage. I did cover the tomato plants with thermal row cover fabric, so they should be fine. We planted […]
Butterflies are Back
We planted carolina jessamine next to the dog pen fence outside our office window several years ago, and I continue to be pleased with how it is spreading on the fence. It is evergreen, and blooms from February through November (on and off). It thrives in the shade, and attracts many butterflies. When I saw […]
What’s Blooming This Week at Lost Valley Gardens
Here are some of the photos that I took this morning to journal how things are looking at the beginning of spring this year. I selected my favorites from a set of 38 photos. Click here if you want to view the whole set as a slideshow. I love the look of these lavender colored […]
Put Out My First Tomatoes of the Season
Yesterday seemed like the perfect day to put out my first tomato transplants of the spring. The soil in my raised beds was still cool and moist from the recent rains, and the forecast for the week is for mostly cloudy days in the low 70s and moderate nights in the mid 60s. More rain […]
Signs of Spring at Lost Valley Gardens
We had a high of 89 degrees yesterday, and just a few short weeks ago we were covered with ice. The transition to spring has been swift this year. I look forward to spring, but I also dread it because I know what will follow – a very long, hot, dry summer. According to Jim […]
In Memorium: Esther Wege
Sunset Thank you Mom for all that you did, and all that you were. Your fortitude and courage continue to be the example that I follow. I will carry you in my heart forever. I grieve your loss, but am comforted that you are now reunited with your beloved. I love you Mom. Flowers from […]
The Spiral Walking Meditation Garden Project
The photos below show different aspects of a spiral shaped garden that Ron worked on over the winter. I do not have any interesting background or trivia to share about this design at the moment (if I get some I will certainly add it), so without further ado, here are the photos. I believe that […]
Babies are Being Born Every Day in the Nursery
The seeds have been germinating for less than two weeks, and many of them are already well along. I keep planting a flat every day or so, so the production should continue throughout the growing season. I am pleased with production so far, especially considering that my old seedstarting mats aren’t working and I am […]
Photos of the Deck Project
Ron has been working on a deck project for a customer in Austin for the past couple of months. He recently completed the deck construction and I selected a few of his photos to share. The next steps in this project will be adding the planting beds and plants that will surround the deck perimeter. […]
New Gardening Blog
Welcome to the new Lost Valley Gardens Gardening Blog. I have decided to divide my current blog, Life Is An Ongoing Process, into two blogs; one for my personal passions, hobbies, and interests that are not gardening related, and this blog for my gardening related pursuits. I have imported all of my gardening related posts […]
What’s Going on at Lost Valley Gardens
Spring is just around the corner here in central Texas, and it is time to get the Lost Valley Gardens nursery and plant production operation back into action. Our landscaping business has been steady, even through the winter. Ron has been working on a deck for the past few months. That project continues to go […]
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