Raise a glass to winecup & other spring beauties
The winecup (Callirhoe involucrata), one of Texas’ native wildflowers, is quieter in my garden this year, not sprawling as far as in previous springs nor producing as many flowers. And yet a close-up look (convenient since it’s planted atop a retaining wall) in the light of late afternoon is still magical.
Afternoon light also sets the ‘Empress of India’ nasturtium, a spring annual, ablaze with rich color.
Wright’s skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii), another Texas native, glows with cooler tones.
And South African gazania, though originating half a world away, gets along nicely with all of them. Unlike the natives, it did suffer some dieback during our deep freeze last winter, but it’s bouncing back with vigor.
A wider view shows that these small flowers do not dominate the composition. They are supporting players, adding color with the seasons, while the heavy-hitters—evergreen, structural ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia), gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida), and softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia)—anchor the scene year-round.
But with such structure in place, seasonal flowering plants are welcome indeed, imparting a sense of time and sustaining bees and butterflies.
Not to mention the gardener. Happy Earth Day!
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Lovely post! I’ve been debating getting some Callirhoe for the garden this year…and I think you’ve just sold me!
I love the delicate look of the flowers around your larger plants….
I had winecup in my garden when I lived in Massachusetts, and I loved it! I miss it now. Thanks for the great photos of it. Happy Earth Day to you too!
Certainly safe from harm nestled on up against that mammoth agave. Great textural difference with those two.
man..im soooo jealous! I have been trying to grow nasturtiums from seed this year…all i have is lots of leaves but no flower buds at all…sad…. beautiful nasturtium and winecups by the way!
Happy Earth Day! Love the backlighting on the winecup.
I love the contrast in the second last picture between the concrete form of the agave as a companion for the delicate-looking winecup flowers.
That whale in your back yard is gorgeous. Oh and yes the other flowers are pretty too. You have so much blooming in your garden. My garden is soggy right now. It always rains when the Peony tree starts to bloom.
The Whale’s Tongue is beautiful! Any special tips/tricks to caring for them?
Hi, Steve. Give it sharp drainage, occasional watering in the summer, little to no watering in the winter, and full sun to part sun. That’s it. No pruning, dividing, mulching, or deadheading required! —Pam
I love the wine cups. They peek out between the foliage of other things. We have both the one you describe here, and the tall, upright native Ozarks one. Both will withstand pretty desolate soil and still perform beautifully!
I love the winecup and gazania, but sadly, that African beauty just doesn’t work for me. So, I’ll enjoy it in your garden, along with all your other outstanding arrangements!
I bought wine cup last year and the rabbits loved to eat it! I moved it to the stream bank in full sun where the rabbits don’t like to go and it’s covering the ground quite nicely. I look forward to BLOOMS this year! 🙂
Beautiful photo of that winecup flower—the light is stunning! Your second garden is really flourishing, I see!