Spring garden stroll
After the big rain of last week (3.75 inches recorded in my garden), accompanied by an instant freshening and greening up outdoors, I feel it’s time for a garden stroll. The annual garden-burying live oak leaf drop is over, but you’ll have to ignore remnant leaves and strings of oak pollen hanging from the trees (I try to!). Focus on the ‘Tangerine Beauty’ crossvine draping the cedar-post fence instead.
My most exciting blooms? Dyckia! An orange bloom spike is towering above the silvery leaves of Dyckia fosteriana on the back deck. Add in the purple pot (and a few copper live oak leaves), and you have a scrumptious combo of color.
A closer look
The Lilliputian unnamed dyckia I bought at Peckerwood Garden‘s plant sale last year is blooming also—in cheery yellow. The spiky plant itself is dwarfed by the Yucca rostrata next to it.
But its bloom spike isn’t shy, towering about 2-1/2 feet above the ground-hugging leaves.
A longer view down the sunny hillside path reveals a full view of the Yucca rostrata. Loree at Danger Garden recently gave her Y. rostrata a trim, revealing the trunk. Should I do the same, I wonder?
A closer view of the hot, dry bed bordering the path reveals a tumble of yellow hymenoxys (Tetraneuris scaposa) blossoms, Mexican feathergrass, Opuntia pads, and Agave lophantha‘s sword-like leaves.
The Indian mallow (Abutilon palmeri) I brought home in my suitcase from Tucson came through our mild winter just fine. I’m eagerly anticipating summer flowers.
Red columbine—this must be a passalong from another Austin blogger, as I don’t recall buying a red one—is sporting rocket-shaped flowers on dainty stems in the shade of a Texas persimmon.
Our native spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) is also making a good show here, attracting friendly honeybees.
I love this reliable spring beauty, and the contrast of the purple blossoms with the fresh, green, strappy foliage.
I purchased my first Chinese ground orchid (Bletilla striata) after admiring it in other Austin gardens over the years. Diana Kirby introduced me to South Austin nursery It’s About Thyme last week, where I picked up one for me and one for my mom.
Just for fun, my “Needle-Nosed Fliers” yard art! In the background you can see the Koosh-ball form of the Yucca rostrata and the yellow bloom spike of the Peckerwood dyckia.
I didn’t have to replace any plants in the succulent wall after our mild winter. Still, the cardinals have been nipping at the ghost plant and other fleshy-leaved succulents lately. (Please don’t ask how I keep soil in the blocks that stick out; read my how-to post, and all shall be revealed.)
I’ll end the tour with the view from the upper patio—there’s good old Moby, my beloved ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (Agave ovatifolia)—which is also the view from my office window. It’s awfully hard to be tied to a desk at this time of year, don’t you find?
All material © 2006-2013 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Love those Bletilla…I’m always tempted by them…and yes…it is SO HARD to be inside right now!
And yet, here I am. Maybe a garden stroll break is in order. —Pam
I enjoy all the tours of your garden and this one is a delight with the delicate blooms and colors of spring freshened by the rain.
There were so many leaves this year, still picking them out of the agaves too. The rain washed away most of the yellow pollen dust but it seems I can’t sit outside without first brushing leaves and oak pollen strands away.
Every horizontal (and some vertical) surface in my garden is dusted with yellow oak pollen and festooned with pollen strands and caterpillar silk. Another good rain would be nice about now. —Pam
Wonderful tour of your beautiful garden. I love your yard art. Those red columbines are gorgeous! I’ve recently tried to track them down here in SA. They are difficult to find. Seems everyone carries the yellow variety, but not the red.
PS I gave you a “shout out” today on my blog. Just wanted to say thank you for your blog and for introducing me to so many new plants.
I’ll try to remember to save you some seeds, Steph, although I understand that columbines hybridize quite readily and may not grow to be the color you expect. Hey, thanks for that nice shout-out too! —Pam
I don’t think I’d trim up your Y. rostrata Pam, it looks so wonderful as is! All the leaves look blue, where as on mine some of the older ones were turning brown.
That’s a good point, Loree. Maybe I’ll wait until the leaves look as if they want to come off. Plus, I think mine is not quite as tall as yours yet. —Pam
What did you think of It’s About Thyme? I’ve never made it down there and always been curious. I’d love to find something a little closer to town with a native/xeric selection that can rival the Natural Gardener’s.
I found it small but worth a visit, Juliet. The price on the Bletillas was lower than what I saw at BSN or TGO later that day. Diana says It’s About Thyme propagates a lot of their own plants, which helps to keep prices low. Still, it has nowhere near the selection of Natural Gardener or even BSN. —Pam
Beautiful photos – as always! Thanks for the photo tour of your yard, it’s wonderful! I, too, am thankful that the annual leaf drop is over. Now just waiting for the pollen to end.
Me too, Susan. And the oak caterpillars. Then we’ll be on to crazy June bug season. —Pam
You bet it is difficult to stay indoors this time of year. A perfect spring day here today. Love seeing your Austin Blooms.
I’m so glad you’re getting some spring weather at last, Lisa. —Pam
Enjoyed the tour. I think your Austin garden is wonderful. So different from what we have around here in Tennessee.
I bet it is, Beth. I adore the lushness of your area too, though. I grew up in upstate South Carolina and still have a fondness for wooded, rolling countryside. —Pam
Thanks for the lovely tour. Isn’t it wonderful to be rid of those leaves and see fresh new growth. I love your blooming yellow dyckia and the tradescantia clump. I would not trim up the leaves on your Y. rostrata until they look really bad. They really serve a function to protect the stem although it would likely not get burnt in your garden.
I think I will wait on the Yucca trimming, Jenny. I’m not one to trim my woody lilies unnecessarily. —Pam
Glad to see your new book hasn’t sucked up ALL of your time and you get to spend some of it enjoying that beautiful garden. Thanks for the tour.
Thanks for joining me, Vicki. It’s really the design biz that takes most of my time at this time of year. But at least I can look out at my garden while I’m working on other people’s gardens. —Pam
Love the play on words of your “Needle-Nosed Fliers”, and it’s cute, besides. Lovely stroll.
Thanks, Ricki. I actually invited readers to name that piece of yard art, and Needle-Nosed Fliers was the hands-down winner. 🙂 —Pam
Is “whale tongue” an American agave? And does it send out pups like the American agave?
And Please don’t trim your yucca! At least wait till the lower leaves are old and brown before you trim them. Similar to how you would trim a cycad.
Caleb, no, the ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave is not an Agave americana. It’s Agave ovatifolia, and it’s a solitary, non-pupping agave that’s fairly cold-hardy—at least to Dallas and possibly zone 7. Thanks for the advice on trimming the yucca. —Pam
Pam, I love your Austin sign on the fence! Where did that come from? And I’ve planted red columbines in the past, but never successfully had one bloom. Interestingly, the burgundy columbine that I picked up last year at a big box is about to bloom! I figured it would be an annual, but perhaps it is happy. Your garden, despite oak pollen everywhere like the whole city right now, is gorgeous.
I’m going to be secretive about the Austin sign, Robin, because I’m hoping that not everyone in Austin will end up with one! So selfish of me, I know. How cool that your burgundy columbine came back. —Pam
Thank you for the tour around your garden. I enjoy seeing what is working for you in your garden. I am just north of Austin in Hutto. Although my front gardens tend to be more in the style of a cottage garden and the back has veggies, fruits and herbs. I am planning an area with a semi tropical low maintenance. I have a shopping list of plants based on what has worked for you. Thanks again for the inspiration.
My pleasure, Tamara. Have fun with your new garden space! —Pam
Thanks for the tour Pam… loved the photos. Inspires me to get a little more creative in my own garden.
Thanks for stopping by, Dan. —Pam
I tend to like red and orange flowers the best, but your blues and purples are so very pretty, too!
Have a wonderful day!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
Ooh, I love reds and oranges too, Lea. I’ll have more of those this summer, although yellow tends to be pretty common too. —Pam
I was having the same trouble staying at the desk a few days ago, but some cold weather this week is making it a little easier. If I lived in Austin, I think I would feel that way all the time! Love the orange and yellow Dyckias.
It was cold here today too, PP, but sometimes that’s the weather I’d rather be outside in. You always want what you have less of, I suppose. —Pam
I love all your pictures and plant combos – I always get so much inspiration and ideas. Isn’t it incredible what a picture can share?! The first photo is my favorite – WHAT A SCENE. It makes me want to take a seat, a deep breath, and just be….
I finally figured it out! Thanks for the traffic! I reaaaaallly need to get on FB!
You’re welcome! Your blog is such a resource of great how-to info. I’m always glad to point people to your posts. —Pam
GORGEOUS, as always!!
Can Spiderwort take a lot of shade, Pam? I see it in what seems like a lot of shade when we’re out hiking, but just wondering. I guess BCN sells it?
Now if I could just plant a swimming pool, dammit.
Yes, spiderwort will grow in shade or part sun, Mamaholt. No need to buy it. I’ll dig you some. It spreads easily, just so you know. —Pam