Snowflakes in Texas!
Look at these beautiful snowflakes coming up here in Austin. Coming up? Not down? That’s right. I’m talking about Leucojum aestivum, snowflakes, an easy, naturalizing bulb for the South. Mine aren’t so far along as Yolanda Elizabet’s in the Netherlands, but I’m happy to see them nonetheless. I planted 10 bulbs from The Southern Bulb Co. last October, so this will be my first spring to enjoy them.
Sunday was a perfect spring day, only it isn’t spring yet. It sure did feel like it though, with sunshine, clear skies, and a high of 69 degrees. I spent all day out in the garden, transplanting a few Mexican feathergrass seedlings, digging up several other plants, and planting three ‘Will Fleming’ yaupon hollies along the driveway. Fun!
Under the cedar elm, the native spiderworts are also showing early spring growth. Their green, strappy leaves really brighten up the rain garden at this time of year, reemerging where the Turk’s cap ruled during the summer. They take turns nicely.
This aloe doesn’t change with the seasons. In its purple pot, it provides a shot of color all year round, though it does spend a handful of freezing nights each winter in the garage.
Those occasional freezes aren’t behind us yet. But it won’t be long now.
Added later: I just found “yet another Austin garden blog”—the wryly named The Sun is Killing Me, by Seattle transplant Lee17. Click here for her introduction, which ruefully, yet ultimately optimistically, points out the differences between northwestern and southwestern gardening.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
We had a beautiful spring-like day yesterday too Pam. Our daffodils are up about a half inch but
nothing else that I have seen. I will check today to see if the warm temps yesterday coaxed
anything out of the ground.
I love that Aloe. I have one like it. It is growing on the side of a strawberry jar. It bloomed
last year. I brought it inside this winter. I am beginning to get that feeling that I would like
to take all my plants outside. A little too early for that though.
I know the feeling. Days like this make you feel as if spring is really here. But Austin often gets a good freeze around this time and even into late February. —Pam
Those spring snowflakes are something I long to try, being a reminder of the plants that grew at my childhood home. I always loved the little green dots around the edges of the petals. Have you ever tried the autumn ones? They are predicting a warm day today here, we were out of town this weekend and a day of gardening is planned, if possible. Yea!
I didn’t know about the autumn ones, Frances. I’ll have to look for them. Enjoy your day of gardening. —Pam
My summer snowflakes are up to. They like the trace of rain we got last week.
We got more than a trace here in north-central Austin. There was half an inch in the rain gauge before I emptied it during the light freezes, and it rained a little on those days too. —Pam
“up, too.” and “They liked…”
Unless, you were wondering what they were up to…My mind thinks faster than my gnarled fingers can type.
Boy, do I know the feeling. —Pam
Yes more freezes yet to come, but after this weekend its hard to believe. Altho its been awfully dry lately. Thats a good
idea having a purple pot like that it does add color.
I do enjoy my colorful, glazed pots. And the nice thing is, these Vietnamese-made pots are tough enough to stay outside all winter, at least here in central Texas. —Pam
Snowflakes in Texas is very much like *when hell freezes over* kind of thingy, isn’t it? 😉 But these snowflakes are not impossible. Right now my snowdrops are in flower and later on they will be followed by snowflakes too. We had a wonderfully mild weekend with lots of sunshine so that I got a lot of work done in the garden. I love this time of year, the garden is so full of promise and the days are getting longer too!
Enjoy your snowflakes, they are great to have in the garden!
Snow isn’t quite that rare in Austin. A measurable amount falls about every seven years or so. Enjoy your mild winter in the garden, YE. —Pam
Loved seeing your bulb peeking out from the leaves. And what a great photo. Enjoy your Will Fleming Yaupons — they are among my favorites — I love that shape in the garden…so tall and delicate, yet not. I don’t have snowflakes in my bulb repertoire — I’ll have to try them.
Hi, Diana. I’ve been looking for a good spot to use a few ‘Will Flemings,’ and now I’m excited to be trying them out. They have a great shape to contrast with all the blowsy salvias and other native perennials, and they look terrific next to hulking agaves too. —Pam
I know you got a Canon this summer, can you tell me what lens you’re using for your close-ups? They are amazing…
Thanks, Diana! I’m using the super-macro setting on my Canon Powershot S3 IS. —Pam
I enjoyed vicariously early-Spring gardening with you. I can’t wait to do it for real.
Me too. I’m thrilled that you’ll be joining us at the Spring Fling, MMD! —Pam
I love that view of the aloe, it’s perfect and the colors are so lovely together.
Thank you, Robin. —Pam
I spent most of Sunday in the garden as well. I actually cut back some of the roses which kept snagging me as I walked past. I know it’s too early, but I was tired of them the way they were. Can’t wait to see the new blog. I’m headed there next.~~Dee
I’ve been tempted to cut back the roses, but I’ve restrained myself so far. But it’s hard. I’m starting to get that pre-spring anxious feeling—all the things I’ve got to get done before summer!—like northern gardeners get before winter. —Pam
Another Austin garden blogger?? I’ll have to check it out.
69 and sunny does sound like a “perfect spring day”. We were only 30 degrees cooler than that, so it wasn’t too bad. You could almost take your coat off!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Yes, another. It’s pretty amazing to me too. Austin has some momentum with its garden-blogging scene. —Pam
Ah, to have a gardening day would be such a treat. 69f sounds fine to me. It’s great to see the snowflakes coming up rather than falling down. Your aloe looks fantastic in the purple pot!
Thanks, Kate. Today was our last really warm day for a little while—it got up to 74 or so. But the cold returns tonight. —Pam
Snowflakes are my “Spring’s Here!” plant too! Mine are not doing anything interesting at the moment, though. We’re having typical January weather — humid, which of course means fungal problems. It’s 10pm here and still nearly 25 C (76 F) and 80% humidity. Ugh. I am also waiting for the bane of Sydney gardeners to turn up. They’re called Queensland fruit fly. Conditions are perfect for them…
That sounds like Houston and Austin summer weather. Hot and humid, even at night. Never heard of the Queensland fruit flies, but they sound pesky. Thanks for visiting, Chookie. It’s always fun to hear from Aussie gardeners, with your opposite seasons. —Pam
You have such a wonderful way of pairing up plants and pots, Pam. I love that aloe in the purple pot.
Snowflakes from you, daffodil foliage from Lisa… and after all that work this fall, I have NOTHING?! 🙁
(Well, I am green with envy, at least! lol.)
At least there’s something green up there! Spring will be here—and there—soon. Hang in there. 🙂 —Pam
It’s nice to see something other than snow, and picture you out planting in your garden…enjoying 69º weather no less! Now that makes me envious! I’ll look forward to seeing your ‘snowflakes’ blooming in Austin 🙂
So will I, Kerri, as this is the first year I’ve tried snowflakes. My kids would like white, cold snowflakes, however, not the green kind. —Pam