Spring spring spring! sings the wren
‘Radsunny’ Knock Out rose
Full-throated song fills the garden each morning. No, it isn’t me, though spring sings in my heart.
We’re serenaded by our resident Carolina wrens, who surely vie with roosters for their “get out of bed, the day’s a-wasting” lung power.
And I know why the uncaged bird sings: glorious spring is here! This beautiful native, Anacacho orchid tree (Bauhinia lunarioides), has burst into pure-white bloom in the sunny hillside garden.
Crepe-papery blossoms cluster along the branches, which are releafing after the hard freezes of last winter.
From the other direction, looking up the hill, you see my nod to the East Side Patch: a Mexican gazing ball cradled in the arms of a cedar (juniper) stump.
I’m excited about the opening of the first ‘Buff Beauty’ roses.
Oh yes, they smell even better than they look.
And the Aloe saponaria, which have held aloft their candelabra-like flower stalks for weeks, are in full, firecracker bloom.
They are singing their own triumphant spring song!
Are you?
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I AM singing a spring song, and dancing a jog…well, maybe not that energetic. But I am loving the warm weather. Or I was until it hit 41 here this morning. Dreamt that my tropicals in pots out back had ice on them!
The white tree is so pretty with the colorful background. I like your gazing ball too. It looks like it is the same color as some of your agaves. The wrens here have already made a nest. They nest early. They are being all secretive now. Can’t wait to see those first youngens zipping around the garden.
Your Buff Beauty looks very happy, Pam. This being Texas, I think I need a yellow rose like your Knock-Out.
Caroline, the ‘Radsunny’ Knock Out is dependable and has a sweet, lemony fragrance, unlike many of the Knock Outs. Annie in Austin has had success with ‘Julia Child,’ which is a deeper, more-buttery (of course) yellow. —Pam
I’m singing a song of thanks and praise for your blog. What wonderful sights and thoughts to start the morning with. The picture of the wren is primo.
This being Portland, I’m loving your Aloe saponaria, with roses a good month-and-more in our future.
You captured that wren’s mood very well! And the roses…soon up here, too. But the Anacaho Orchid tree – I need to start specifying that dwarf tree into my El Paso designs, as they survived this Feb just fine there.
I’m curious to know how big they get in the desert, David. They can get to 12 to 15 feet here, but the nice thing is that they retain an airy habit, so the shade is not too dense. —Pam
We have some song happy birds around here too, what a wonderful sound! Pam, your blue shed is such a great focal point.
I love your orchid tree. I thought about getting one last year, but put the decision off. Seeing yours in bloom helps me understand where it might look good. Thanks.
Soooo…that spiky plant in the foreground of your last Anacacho orchid tree picture. Is that you’re Yucca rostrata? If so it appears to be growing fast! And looks beautiful. Spring is getting a very slow start here in Portland, but the birds are definitely feeling it even if the plants are a little less exuberant.
Yep, that’s one of my ‘Sapphire Skies’ Yucca rostrata, and it is growing quickly. The other is in a stock tank and is growing more slowly. —Pam
Beautiful blooming orchid tree. Everything in your garden looks wonderful. I’m jealous of your wrens. We have always had them nesting here but a few weeks ago they disappeared and in moved a Cooper’s hawk. Now we seem to have no birds. Such is nature. And I am jealous of your 1/2″ rain. Nothing to measure here.
Your garden is lovely, as usual. I put in a red Knockout. The wind yesterday shattered every bloom. More to come, though. Love the yellow one. And, that Anacacho Orchid…wonder if deer like them. It’s gorgeous!
Hard to figure out what to do lately….95 for high here, on Friday…30 this morning!…ugh Hope that’s the last freeze for the season.
Did you really freeze last night? Yowza! As for the orchid tree, the City of Austin’s Grow Green guide says it is very deer-resistant. But I’d cage it for a while anyway. —Pam
Aloe saponaria – I am going to start looking for this plant. LOVE the candelabras!
Aren’t they pretty? I’ll send you some divisions. —Pam
Beautiful spring pictures. Loving that you captured the Wren. Especially love your roses…so soft and sweet!!
I wish I could include the roses’ fragrance on my post, Cindy. And the feel of the petals! —Pam
i love your wren. just watched a marsh wren building its nest this weekend. their song is buzzy, burry, melodic, all over the place. would love to hear your carolina sing! the candelabras are such studs! your garden is totally springing into action!
Here’s a link to a Carolina wren’s song. Laguna, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog. I can’t leave a comment on your posts without a Google account, so I just lurk, but I get much inspiration from it! —Pam
Oh Pam….I always marvel at your photos but this time of year they are special. Love your white bauhinia; if I thought I could have success growing it in a large container, I would chance it. Any thoughts?? Fran
I don’t see why that wouldn’t work, Fran. In its native region it grows in craggy canyons. So it doesn’t require a huge root zone, but it does need alkaline soil. Here’s more about Anacacho orchid tree from the Wildflower Center. —Pam
OOOH! Everything is so pretty, but I really like that globe mallow. I’m afraid it would be too wet for it here, but I might try some seed anyway.