Flowers of middle spring in my Austin garden
After Texas mountain laurels and plums have dropped their fragrant blossoms, after bluebonnets and other early wildflowers have gone to messy seed, but before heat-loving salvias and skullcap and Turk’s cap get going, we enter what I call middle spring in Central Texas. It’s lush and flowery, still fresh and bright green, and abundant with roses, irises, and yucca flowers. Case in point, the ‘Peggy Martin’ climbing rose is awash in hot-pink blossoms dangling from the coyote fence along the back garden.
Fragrance may be lacking, but color and quantity are not. It’s a great rose to enjoy from across the garden — or from underneath, as I am wont to do.
Glorious!
Not to mention, this rose needs little from me but an occasional watering during the heat of summer and occasionally tying its long canes to the fence to keep it tidy and ensure lots of flowers next spring. Thankfully, ‘Peggy Martin’ is thornless and easy to manage.
‘Rooguchi’ clematis, which I bought from Plant Delights years ago, is twining its way up a potted squid agave and dangling purple flowers like ballerina skirts.
A hardy red amaryllis, a passalong from Austin gardener Tom Ellison, has opened fiery blossoms atop tall stems, blooming even in a good deal of shade.
Another happy middle-spring moment is when ‘Frazzle Dazzle’ dyckia lights up with golden flowers. Atop the gray moptop of foliage, quirky bloom spikes stand erect, lasting about a week or so.
I like their color echo with the ceramic table.
Below the deck, gold spuria irises are awash with flowers. I swear they have been moving themselves backward into more and more shade with each passing year. They’re nearly under a just-leafing-out American beautyberry, which grows beneath a large crape myrtle.
The golden irises are gorgeous with touches of cinnamon. Spurias resent being moved and divided, unlike bearded irises, so I just let them do their thing.
In a sunnier spot, a ‘Bright Edge’ yucca is sending up a tall bloom spike. Its striped leaves make a color echo for the irises.
One more admiring look before these fade away
Tall verbena — volunteers that have popped up here and there from my original plants — are attracting eager butterflies.
Red admirals were fluttering all over them a few days ago.
They let me get pretty close for photos.
Gray hairstreak butterflies joined in the nectaring too. I’m happy to see plenty of pollinators in my middle spring garden!
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Lovely swaths of color, Pam! It’s definitely spring!
Thanks, Kris. It’s a wonderful time of year in a hot-climate garden.
Happy Springtime, Pam. The flowers and butterflies are joy itself.
They are, aren’t they? Happy spring to you too!
I love every inch of your spring garden, Pam! So different from my zone 6 garden though. I haven’t even cut back my beautyberry yet as the robins and cardinals are still eating the berries! And to see Verbena b in full bloom already is shocking! Some of our local nurseries aren’t even open yet! I’m currently working on my Fall/Spring clean-up because I leave everything for the critters until the very last minute.
Thank you, Lisa! Yes, our zone 8b (or 9 now, they tell us, though I don’t buy it because of recent winters) gets an early jump on spring. Everything has to grow and bloom fast before the heat slows things down.
‘Frazzle Dazzle’ dyckia is so cool; I love the blooming plant, the pot it grows in, the jewel of a stand (!) and the charming road-runner in the background! Perfect.
Thanks! It was happy chance that created that combo. The bracket that the white pot was hanging from broke, but the pot survived the fall, and I set it on the pedestal — temporarily I thought. The roadrunner needed a home, and voila!
Isn’t it interesting the way that plants move themselves about? (love Frazzle Dazzle on that table!)
They definitely know where they want to be — and where they don’t. And thanks!
Everything is looking just lovely!
Thanks, Maggie!
Oh, your garden is looking beautiful!
Thank you, Tracy!
I happened across Digging while looking for information about heartleaf skullcap and I am so glad I did. My garden in Georgetown has suffered like so many these past two years and I am trying to get it back in shape. I look forward to seeing more ideas.
Welcome to Digging, Glenna! I hope you find lots to interest you here.