Spring marvels and cleanup

April 17, 2019

April unfurls new marvels to appreciate each day, like the glaucous berries of ‘Marvel’ mahonia that appeared after its yellow flowers faded in late winter. I’ve been trialing ‘Marvel’ mahonia from Southern Living Plant Collection since fall 2017. A handsome evergreen, it’s thriving in a tall container in deep shade.

Louisiana iris in the stock-tank pond sends up multiple molten flowers on long stems. This one has captured a catkin of oak pollen, part of the blizzard of pollen I’ve been sweeping up for the past couple of weeks.

The pond is freshly cleaned out for spring, buckets of last year’s rotting leaves hauled out and the plants cut back and/or divided. I’m glad to have that chore done.

What I’d like to do is lounge about like this Texas spiny lizard, untroubled by drifts of oak catkins on the back steps, or plants that need pruning, or weeds that need pulling. An example to strive for!

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Digging Deeper

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All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

12 responses to “Spring marvels and cleanup”

  1. Jenny says:

    There is always something to marvel at in the garden. I’m sure you are as happy as I am that this is your chosen hobby

    • Pam/Digging says:

      Likewise, Jenny! Now let’s just hope the threatened hail does not make an appearance tonight.

  2. LOVE the mahonia pick! I need to search out that variety for my shady garden. Were the yellow flowers showier than the other types?

    • Pam/Digging says:

      Yes! ‘Marvel’ is much showier than my Chinese mahonia and ‘Soft Caress’.

  3. Nell says:

    Pretty alert lounge lizard — not exactly lolling about! Maybe it’s just the effect of being on camera…

    Those Mahonia berries are much showier than I’d expect, but I’m not really familiar with them other than via photos — and even then, mostly from bloom days. Their icy visual effect, if it’s long-lasting, could be a real plus in your climate as the heat builds.

  4. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    What a handsome lizard. He obviously appreciates all you do in the garden.

  5. Laurie Golding says:

    Ok, Pam – You’ve inspired me to check my patio pot garden and start planning cleanup and replacement of failed plants. I was pleased to see how many have wintered over beautifully, but of course I’m didn’t make it, even though we had such a mild and pleasant winter In Austin this year. As always I enjoy your blog, and these Facebook postings, and it was so fun to see you both – it’s been too long!

  6. I still have the pond cleaning to “look forward to”…yuck.

    And no berries on my ‘Marvel’!