Purple coneflowers ( Echinacea purpurea) are back, just in time for the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling.
When more than 30 garden bloggers are coming to visit your garden in a matter of days, you begin to look at your little Eden with a calculating eye. You want it to look well dressed and ready for company.
Texas bluebonnet ( Lupinus texensis) in traditional blue and—surprise!—pink
It isn’t enough to plop on your best blue bonnet. You want to make sure you try out the pink bonnet too. And if at all possible, wear both.
Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’
Of course, you’ll need a little lipstick too.
You don’t want to doodle around too long, or you won’t have time to get ready.
Softleaf yucca ( Yucca recurvifolia) anchors a bed of Autumn sage ( Salvia greggii) and purple coneflower ( Echincea purpurea).
You’ll want to get things in tip-top shape so no one says, “Oh, yuck-a.”
Remember to put out plenty of bottles so no one goes thirsty.
‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave accented by bulbine, columbine, and iris flowers
As they quench their thirst, your guests will say, “Ahhhh-gahv-ay.”
Columbine ( Aquilegia chrysantha var. Hinckleyana)
If you’ve prepared properly, your open house will be a rocketing success. And as your guests depart, you can say in all sincerity, “Colum-back again soon.”
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Very punny!
I do like word play. —Pam
Comment by Rachel @ in bloom — March 26, 2008 @ 7:21 am
Pam,
Fabulous sense of humor, beautiful setting, and a gracious hostess;
what more could garden bloggers want?
Gail
I’m sure I’ll find out soon. ;-) Looking forward to it! —Pam
Comment by Gail — March 26, 2008 @ 7:36 am
Things are looking lovely there in all their spring finery. I’m looking forward to hearing about all the fun!
Thanks, Linda. I’m certain you will. —Pam
Comment by Linda — March 26, 2008 @ 9:03 am
Looks like you’ll be busy. I can’t wait!
Me either! —Pam
Comment by Mr. McGregor's Daughter — March 26, 2008 @ 9:38 am
Clever and beautiful, what more could one ask for? Oh yes, that thirst quencher, it is getting so close now, hooray!
Frances
I’m also asking for perfect weather, but this being Texas…we’ll see. —Pam
Comment by Frances — March 26, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Ohhhh, as I’ve whined about on numerous occasions, I wish I were going to be one of those visitors! Your garden is looking GOOD, Pam!
Thanks, Kylee. But don’t feel too bad about not being able to come. Where one garden blogger goes, we all go, virtually at least. —Pam
Comment by Kylee Baumle — March 26, 2008 @ 10:06 am
It’s good to know you’re not “Penick-ing” at the thought of thirty visitors.
Of course in reality, Pam, you started getting ready for this back in 2000 before you even moved in to your house, drawing up plans for the wonderful garden you’d inhabit ;-]
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Who says I’m not Penick-ing? But thanks for the encouragement, Annie. —Pam
Comment by Annie in Austin — March 26, 2008 @ 10:19 am
Lovely garden…and the blue bottle “tree” is quite unique. :)
Thanks, Nancy. But the bottle tree is a folk art staple in Southern gardens, so I can’t claim any originality there. —Pam
Comment by Nancy Bond — March 26, 2008 @ 10:42 am
Your garden is lovely already. I’m so jealous and envious of the ladies who are able to attend. May I copy your bottle tree? Love that cobalt blue in a garden.
Don’t forget the guys, Jane Marie. They are fewer than the ladies, but we’re still expecting five or so garden-blogging men. And of course you may copy the bottle tree. Mine was inspired by numerous others in Southern gardens I’ve known over the years. —Pam
Comment by Jane Marie — March 26, 2008 @ 10:45 am
Carol and I have been doing temperature comparisons: home climate vs. Austin. It’s going to be a trick dressing warm enough for the departure airport and cool enough for the arrival airport. I am one of the few out-of-towners who has been there before, and I know there’s a lot to look forward to.
I’d advise layers, even if you weren’t coming to Austin from a cold climate. Spring weather here can be rapidly changeable, from 80s or 90s one day to 40s the next. Of course, I’m fervently wishing for overcast skies (for good picture taking) and 72 degrees. —Pam
Comment by Kathy — March 26, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Very punny. And, Annie, I think you almost topped Pam in the comments. This is just the sense of humor I need right now as I try to get my own garden in shape for our Spring Flingers.
I’m sure you and Annie can identify with my Penick-y feeling, since some of the stay-over Spring Flingers will be visiting your gardens too. —Pam
Comment by mss @ Zanthan Gardens — March 26, 2008 @ 11:40 am
That bottle tree looks beautiful… I’m wondering if it has a function other than aesthetics?
Hi, Daisy. In my garden it’s mostly for the color, but it’s also a nod to the folk art tradition in the South. Click here for my explanation in a previous post of the historical meaning of bottle trees. —Pam
Comment by Daisy — March 26, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Pam, your garden looks ready for its closeup! I wish I could join the garden bloggers- maybe next year. Have a great time.
Shirley
Thanks, Shirley! —Pam
Comment by shirley EdenMaker — March 26, 2008 @ 11:49 am
Are there really pink bluebonnets, or was that just a trick? By the way, I love your cobalt blue bottle garden. I keep saying I’m going to make one of those, as so many things in my garden are that exact color. You’ll do great. Wish I could come! But other restraints keep me from it this year. Perhaps next year!
Brenda
Those are really pink bluebonnets, Brenda. I hear there are white ones now too. —Pam
Comment by Brenda Kula — March 26, 2008 @ 11:54 am
No one is going to say Oh yuck-a. LOL. Thanks for the bee-you-ti-full photos, Pam. Can’t wait to meet you and the others in person.~~Dee
I look forward to seeing you next week, Dee. —Pam
Comment by Dee/reddirtramblings — March 26, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
I can just see Captain Jack Sparrow sitting on the fence, remarking to Mrs. Sparrow, “This woman is such a twit…er, I mean wit!”
Funny, funny post Pam. I love it :)
The Spring Flingers will love your garden…there’s no doubt about it.
You must be getting so excited!
Ha! Glad you enjoyed the puns, Kerri. ;-) —Pam
Comment by kerri — March 26, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
I’m sure it will be a whale of a good time! All these teaser pictures…
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
It is indeed looking springy at Green Hall Gardens. Now if the roses would just start blooming. —Pam
Comment by Carol — March 26, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
I’m sure it will be a great time–no need to gussy up, Pam. Especially for us northerners… we’re so spring-starved in most places right now that we’d be drooling over your garden if it was only 1/10th of the beauty you keep showing us in pictures here. :)
Kim, we’re a little short on rainfall here, so bring on the drool. ;-) —Pam
Comment by Kim — March 26, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
sounds like you are more than ready to welcome all your visitors. Have a great time.
irena
Thanks, Irena. I’m getting there. —Pam
Comment by irena — March 26, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
Nicely executed. I’m impressed you could find that many word plays out there. And I KNOW the garden will look so amazing when everyone arrives. But keep your eye out, these garden bloggers can be an rowdy bunch and you might just find 1 or 2 digging up an agave pup and a columbine bunch!
I wonder if you are referring to yourself, Bonnie? ;-) Just don’t take the ‘Whale’s Tongue’! —Pam
Comment by Bonnie — March 26, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
Do I detect a little garden related stress here, Pam? It is of course a momentous occasion to have more than 30 garden bloggers visit you and your garden. But I see that you have everything worked out and will either wear your blue or your pink bonnet. May I make a suggestion? Wear the blue one as that goes so very well with the lipstick you’ve chosen. It looks like both you and your garden will be dressed to impress. But if you want to see the best dressed garden ever you’ll have to visit my blog. ;-)
Great post Pam, very punny!
Only a little, YE. But mostly I’m very excited about meeting all the Spring Flingers. I did just pop by your blog to see the best-dressed garden you visited. My, it is certainly decked out. A little too baroque for my taste, but interesting. I quite like the hornbeam-covered path. —Pam
Comment by Yolanda Elizabet — March 27, 2008 @ 3:57 am
Hi Pam, one more comment, but I have to say it, what a fantastic, wonderful garden you have.
Thanks, Trudi! And I’m always delighted to have “one more comment.” :-) —Pam
Comment by Trudi — March 27, 2008 @ 4:58 am
Whoohoo! Looks fabulous and I can hardly wait to enjoy the warm weather there in Austin. I’ll feel a bit guilty leaving all this work behind, but hey, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, right?
Robin at Bumblebee
Yes, she does. Looking forward to your visit! —Pam
Comment by Robin at Bumblebee — March 27, 2008 @ 7:12 am
The O. Henry Punoff is scheduled for May 17th. I think you and Annie should compete.
That sounds like a hoot. But Annie would wipe the floor with me. She’s so great with words. —Pam
Comment by Vertie — March 27, 2008 @ 8:38 am
Hope you give us a long rundown of the event when it’s over. Getting ready must be a tough roe to hoe. I know getting ready for a garden tour is like packing a year’s worth of gardening chores into one month with all the preparations necessary. Good luck,
Aiyana
Yours sounds like the voice of experience, Aiyana. Thanks for the good luck wishes. —Pam
Comment by Aiyana — March 27, 2008 @ 11:27 am
Pam thanks so much for showing me what I’m going to be missing. Think of poor little old me having to work outdoors in the garden center in the 56 degree April 1 temps in Chicago, whilst you are lollygagging around in the garden with 30 visitors. What’s wrong with that picture ?!
I’ve never seen a bottle tree that purty Pam, ours were made out of coke bottles :)
You’re gonna be busier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Keep your eyes on those plant snatchers, uh, I mean garden bloggers.
Of course, as a Southern Belle, being a hostess is a natural thang and one you no doubt excel at.
I command those roses to bloom, darn it !
Your Southern is coming out, Carolyn Gail. Thanks for the nice words, and thanks especially for commanding the roses to do their thing. —Pam
Comment by carolyngail — March 27, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
I love the shot of the purple coneflowers, Pam. I can’t imagine the pressure I would feel if that many gardeners were descending on my little plot of land. You are such a good sport and I’m glad you’re having fun with it.
Oh, it’s loads of fun already putting this together with Diana’s, MSS’s, and Bonnie’s help. We had a team meeting today and had a great time. More garden bloggers, more fun. I can’t wait. —Pam
Comment by Robin — March 27, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
Fabulous post and great pictures I just wish I could be one of the garden bloggers to visit!
Best Wishes!!
Carol
Terra Nova Design
I wish you could too, Carol. Thanks! —Pam
Comment by Carol — March 29, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
So gorgeous! Thanks so much for the wonderful garden tour!
You’re welcome, Amy. Thanks for dropping by. —Pam
Comment by Amy — March 30, 2008 @ 12:38 am
Your Flowers! Your Gardens! Your Birds! What can I say but WOW.
Thanks, Catherine. :-) —Pam
Comment by Catherine/My Garden Travels — March 30, 2008 @ 8:40 am