Not Just A Dream Garden
Tired of waiting for my pool to be built before starting to plant my back garden; I have begun. I started by laying some pavers so the mower won't murder any more plants.
The plants are still babies, but they are doing well thus far. I plan to add some pots in the arched gothic hangers; though I haven't decided what kind of hanging plants to put in them yet.
The Carolina Wrens seem to approve of all the interesting activity. Here she's checking out the feeder though she doesn't eat the sunflower seeds.
The Mockingbirds seem to find more insects in my back garden since I don't use herbicide there. (Must admit to using it in the front lawn to keep the HOA off my back, but that's a different blog entry).
My coral honeysuckle and lipstick salvia are still growing well in the new bed...
I had to plant a new passionflower since the local Tom Cat obliterated my old vine with his spraying. Hopefully this new plant will grow faster than Tom can spray.
Here are a few plants waiting to be popped into the ground this weekend if I'm feeling up to it...
If you look closely -- to the left of the bottle -- you'll see a green anole sunning himself above the young plants.
Here he is up close and personal...
Meanwhile in the front garden...MSS from Zanthan Gardens suggested that I should have shown off my lavender a bit more. So, here it is...
And here are the last of my Texas bluebonnets...
My winecups (Callirhoe involucrata), have finally come out to play...
And the red yucca is blooming this year...
And last but not least, I just had to share the photos below. Since I've been under-the-weather for several weeks my cat, Mariah, and I have had lazy competitions. As you can see she's taken it to an extreme with head-on-pillow inaction. I assure you she did not strain herself...
And yes, she is spoiled... :-)
One of my dreams is to have a screened-in lanai again so my two cats can enjoy visiting outside without getting eaten by the local wildlife, (a problem for cats in our area, unfortunately).
"A cat improves the garden wall in sunshine, and the hearth in foul weather." ~Judith Merkle Riley
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16 comments:
I officially love your lipstick salvia (I've also seen it called "hot lips salvia"), and I'm generally indifferent to salvia, especially salvia greggii. I'm going to have to break down and get some to put in my new sun perennial bed in the front yard.
I'm sure it was really hard to wait, but I do hope you get your pool soon as we're now having temps in the 90s--ugh! I like the combo of coral honeysuckle and lipstick salvia. And I'm surprised that you still have bluebonnets in bloom. Mine are all gone to seed.
Hi Rachel,
The lipstick salvia is one of my favorites here in Austin. I first saw it in Jill Nokes garden last year with the Austin Garden Bloggers and fell in love with the plant. It's very hardy up here in the Hill Country. No trouble at all. And my hummingbirds love it!
Hello Pam,
I should have been more clear with my time-line; sorry. The lavender and bluebonnet photos are from about 10 days ago. Though, if you drove by my house you could still see five small, 1-inch bloom-remnants stalwartly hanging at the tops of each bluebonnet stem. I hope they will reseed better this year since I'm moving the mulch aside.
So glad to see you posting again, sorry to hear you have been under the weather, hope your up and back to your old self soon!!
What a cornucopia of delight :)
I love your cat Mariah...WOW! And how fantastic to have that beautiful lizard sunning itself in your garden. Stunning colour of your passion flower and amazing blues in your Texas Blue Bonnets:)
Thanks Libby
I caught a bug when my parents visited that I'm still hoping to kick. Thank goodness for antibiotics. I'm happy to post when I can. :-)
Hello Wildlife Gardener!
Mariah is a sweetheart. She was very cosy that day. I loved seeing the lizard. It's so encouraging to observe more wildlife in the garden with only a few water sources, flowers and bushes added to the mix.
Yay, Dawn!! It seems we all fell in love with that salvia at Jill's ... mine was labeled 'Hot Lips' at the Natural Gardener and is also growing well. Your lavender does look wonderful and I'm jealous that you have a bloom on the red yucca. Maybe next year mine will do something other than poke me as I walk past!
I hope those antibiotics have done their work so you can enjoy your real-world garden.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I am sorry to hear that you have been unwell for some time. I am sure having Mariah's company has given you some solace.
Your garden is looking very good. I hope you get your pool soon. Maybe that will help with your recovery.
That anole looks like it is big. I wish we had them in our garden attaching themselves to various places. Always a fun thing to run into when out birding in TX.
I want to say that: No Just A Dream Garden!
It looks amazing and I am sure the pool will look amazing once it's placed.
Hope you are feeling better!
Hi, Dawn! Popped over to see how you are and if you had posted anything new for my delight. Hope you are well :)
I love the urn and birdbath. And I'm surprised to hear you still have bluebonnets as mine have been gone for awhile. Lucky you!
Dawn - so glad you're doing better again. It's harder to be sick in this nice weather, that's for sure. I'm piling on with everyone about your lipstick salvia - so pretty. And the lavender is lovely. Good luck with the garden - I don't blame you for starting - it's too hard to wait when you want dirt under your nails! Good luck.
Hi Annie,
It's strange how things grow so differently in various areas of Austin. I must admit I'm a bit jealous of anyone with dirt though. ;-) But maybe a lack of soil helps me grow some plants better than I would have. I'm still on some meds for the respiratory infection; though hopeful this will pass. It's been a very long bout.
Hi Lisa at Greenbow
Mariah always cheers me up, even when she's knocking things off the table & being a little monkey.
I'm still shopping for the 'right' company to put in the pool. I’ve talked with several friends who've put in pools and listened to their input.
The anole is very pretty. I was glad to see we have them here. He reminded me of our anoles in Florida. :-)
Thanks gardensofcasamartin
I'm hopeful that the project will exceed our expectations.
Greetings Wildlife Gardener
I'm still battling the bug & hanging in. ;-)
Hi Bonnie
My bluebonnet photo in question was about 10 days old. But the flowers around here do vary in duration according to location.
Thanks Diana
Patience is not one of my strengths. I've probably planted ahead when I should have waited, but at least I'm enjoying my garden a bit more now. :-)
~Dawn
I live in Japan.Several plants in your picture are same as a plant in my garden.Please see my garden.
http://iyasaka.blogspot.com/
Hello!
Thank you for visiting my blog. It's very nice to have someone drop by from Japan because that is one of my favorite countries that I have been to in real life. I like your blog very much and hope others will take the time to look and see what beautiful photos you have there as well.
Best Wishes,
Dawn
Hi Dawn:
Your photographs are beautiful. Looking at them makes me relive summer all over again!
Edith
Locust Grove, GA
http://thegoodbyegarden.blogspot.com/
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