Twilight magic in icy pink & blue

Twilight magic in icy pink & blue

April 21, 2010 Purchased for its cool blue foliage, the pale pink flowers of ‘Bath’s Pink’ dianthus were unexpected. For some reason, I thought they’d be hot pink. But at twilight, paired with blue, pale pink is magical. ‘Bath’s Pink’ looks smashing with the Texas bluebonnets. Its icy blue foliage ...
Twilight magic in icy pink & blue

Twilight magic in icy pink & blue

April 21, 2010 Purchased for its cool blue foliage, the pale pink flowers of ‘Bath’s Pink’ dianthus were unexpected. For some reason, I thought they’d be hot pink. But at twilight, paired with blue, pale pink is magical. ‘Bath’s Pink’ looks smashing with the Texas bluebonnets. Its icy blue foliage ...
New plants for New Year's Eve

New plants for New Year’s Eve

December 31, 2009 A new year is upon us, a fresh start, a chance to cast off the disappointments of 2009 and look ahead with hope for economic turnaround, world peace, and…more time in the garden! What better way to celebrate than with a few new goodies for the garden? ...
New plants for New Year's Eve

New plants for New Year's Eve

December 31, 2009 A new year is upon us, a fresh start, a chance to cast off the disappointments of 2009 and look ahead with hope for economic turnaround, world peace, and…more time in the garden! What better way to celebrate than with a few new goodies for the garden? ...
Color inspiration

Color inspiration

December 29, 2009 Driving around west Hyde Park I came across this adorable bungalow and front garden filled with native and adapted plants. I love it! Look at the front door—fabulous color! I’m feeling inspired to paint my future garden house (in actuality, a pool-pump shed disguised as a garden ...
Christmas wishes for my gardening friends

Christmas wishes for my gardening friends

December 25, 2009 Wishing you a warm, flower-brightened Christmas Day with family and friends… …and the promise of good things to come in 2010. Thank you for being here, for reading and for all your wonderful comments! Merry Christmas! All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction ...
Vivid winter colors of Miscanthus Adagio

Vivid winter colors of Miscanthus Adagio

December 24, 2009 Perhaps it would be better suited to the harvest displays of late November. But in my Austin garden, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’ revs up its vivid fall color and feathery blooms at Christmastime. Three small plants are growing in the new side garden. In size they are not ...
Nuts & berries

Nuts & berries

December 18, 2009 Walking through the garden I came across several still-life arrangements of pyracantha berries and buckeyes from the Mexican buckeye tree. Who collected and arranged them so deliberately? No squirrel or raccoon, that’s for sure. My daughter and her friends like to make collections from the garden for ...
Nuts & berries

Nuts & berries

December 18, 2009 Walking through the garden I came across several still-life arrangements of pyracantha berries and buckeyes from the Mexican buckeye tree. Who collected and arranged them so deliberately? No squirrel or raccoon, that’s for sure. My daughter and her friends like to make collections from the garden for ...
Still raiding the old garden

Still raiding the old garden

December 17, 2009 Tuesday I hired a landscaping crew to help me with a big fall cut-back in my former garden at the Unsold House. The house has been rented out since August, and except for a few drive-bys I hadn’t really seen how the garden was holding up on ...
Celebrate foliage! Foliage Follow-Up to Bloom Day

Celebrate foliage! Foliage Follow-Up to Bloom Day

December 16, 2009 Jellybean plant, one of the increasing number of succulents in my garden Yesterday garden bloggers across the globe posted pics of their flowers as part of Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, started by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Bloom Day is not only a fun meme but a ...
Chilly Austin Bloom Day

Chilly Austin Bloom Day

December 15, 2009 Bloom Day pickings in my garden are pretty slim on this chilly, gray day with a north wind. But even after a couple of early hard freezes, dependable ‘Radrazz’ Knock Out rose is still hanging onto a few blossoms. Another warm day might convince ‘Radrazz’ to open ...
Front yard design dilemma: Putting ideas to paper

Front yard design dilemma: Putting ideas to paper

December 13, 2009 Last week I posted about the problems I want to address with a design for my new-old house’s entry. Many of you responded with suggestions, great ideas, your own experience with similar problems, and encouragement. All the ideas got me feeling creative and energized about doing some ...
Peek-a-boo gate with bottle tree view

Peek-a-boo gate with bottle tree view

December 12, 2009 A glimpse of garden through a gate is tantalizing, making you want to see what’s hidden on the other side. Even if an expensive custom gate is beyond your means, you can add interest to a typical suburban board gate like mine with a peek-a-boo cut-out. One ...
Japanese maple says it's still autumn

Japanese maple says it’s still autumn

December 11, 2009 Is it just me, or do you see an elfin face too? Hi, there! Although our Christmas tree is up, colored lights glow on our neighbors’ houses, and a few holiday cards line the mantle, the Japanese maple knows that autumn isn’t over yet. Hold on, it ...
Japanese maple says it's still autumn

Japanese maple says it's still autumn

December 11, 2009 Is it just me, or do you see an elfin face too? Hi, there! Although our Christmas tree is up, colored lights glow on our neighbors’ houses, and a few holiday cards line the mantle, the Japanese maple knows that autumn isn’t over yet. Hold on, it ...