April come she will
“. . . when streams are ripe and swelled with rain.” Thanks to Simon and Garfunkel for the imagery (and the music). Local streams like Shoal Creek and Bull Creek—recently so dry and rocky—are indeed ripe and swollen, and Austin’s gardens are too. Here’s a little early April bounty from my garden.
‘Marie Pavie’ roses and buds
This bluish purple iris blooms later than dark-purple ‘Amethyst,’ and at the same time as yellow damianita, which makes a nice blue-and-yellow combo for the sunny border along the driveway. It hasn’t been as dependable for me as ‘Amethyst.’ In fact, it didn’t bloom at all last year. But it’s very pretty when conditions are favorable. I don’t know its name, but I’ve been calling it Tina’s iris after the friend who gave it to me. I’m going to rename it Shoshana’s iris, after Tina’s young daughter who passed away last spring.
Gulf Coast penstemon under the vitex tree. I used to have several clumps in the back garden under the Mexican plum, but I moved them to this partially shaded bed in the front garden last fall. Along with columbine, they provide early spring flowers before the coneflowers take over.
‘Valentine’ is showing its fire-engine-red flounces.
Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy this early spring day. Yes, it’s Monday, but it’s a Monday in April, so how bad could it be?
I’m not familiar with penstemon; it’s very pretty. Love the “Valentine,” too. You seem to do very well with roses.
Most penstemons make good rock-garden plants. But Gulf Coast penstemon will grow in clay and takes part shade. It seeds out readily too, so the next time I find volunteers I’ll share some with you.
I never tried roses until I learned about tough-as-nails antique roses from the Antique Rose Emporium. I’ve only tried ones that they’ve recommended to me when I asked for drought-tolerant, no-spraying-required varieties. So I don’t know if it’s me so much as the roses, but thanks. —Pam
I love the photos on your website. I have the same (unknown) irises in my front yard garden in North Austin. They are here from the previous home owner who had them crowded around the mailbox, overgrown and not flowering. I divided and moved them to another area of the yard. The one plant that is doing extremely well was a volunteer which showed up several feet away from the original planting. I have approximately 15 buds and blooms on that one plant. It is extremely beautiful.
I have a few more of these irises near my red hot poker plants, and the combo of purple and orange/yellow is also very pretty.
Thanks for stopping by, Val. Wow, 15 flowers on one plant is amazing. I’ll bet they do look good with your red hot pokers. My mom grows those as well. —Pam
Pam,
Your photographs are beautiful. I think you could publish your blog as a book.
BTW, I wonder if the rose I took a photo of today at Red Barn Garden Center is the same as your ‘Marie Pavie’ rose. The pic I posted in my blog today looks very similar. I need to go back and ask the folks at Red Barn what the name is.
Thanks again for your lovely site.
Dawn in NW Austin
Hi, Dawn! Thanks for the compliment on my photos. I really appreciate it.
I just visited your blog and left my guess about the identity of your mystery roses. I’m happy to see another Austin garden blogger out there. Perhaps you’ll join the rest of us on our next get-together? —Pam