February Weather...

We've had some roller coaster weather here, lately. 

First, it's warm and spring-like. 

Then, wham!  

The bottom falls out, and it's freezing...literally. 

There are still some pansies blooming. 

They're not so crazy about the cold. 

They sometime get set back. 

But, the violas seem not to mind. 

                               

Their smiling little faces just keep popping up.  

Sometimes they droop a bit, huddling together maybe, to conserve the heat. 

But some warm sun and they perk right up. 

We're about to have another blast of cold. 

Rain is what we need. 

At least, we're getting closer to spring, every day. 

Hope you're safe and warm. 

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~

Blending Blooms and Foliage...Again...

Again, I'm combining 

Garden Bloggers' Bloomday

and 

Foliage Follow-up.

We've had some 'interesting' weather, lately.

87F one day, and down to freezing the next morning.

I'm hoping all this excitement is over.

I got out before the cold hit, to take photos.

Glad I did.  Some of the blooms were nipped.

See here's what we have.

The Crossvine is blooming.

Oh...this isn't mine.  This is our neighbor Elli's.

This is mine.

But, hey....two blooms are more than it's ever given us.

And, I have iris blooming.  

Thought this was supposed to be peach.

But, I'll take this pretty purple.

And, there are several white ones still blooming.

This Snapdragon volunteers each year.

Not where I would plant it. but it's pretty.

It's in a pot with pansies.

The little yellow violas have perked up.

Gulf Coast Penstemon

A newly planted Mystic Spires Salvia.

Our one rose...a red Knockout.

A Spiderwort I thought was gone.

Primrose Jasmine.

Jerusalem sage.

This is full of buds.  Love these Dr. Seuss-like blooms.

Now, for some foliage.

Mexican Feathergrass.

Agave Lophantha

Prickly Pear putting on new pads.

Yucca 'Color Guard'

The small Golden Barrel Cactus.

The large Golden Barrel Cactus.

Yep...that damage was fatal.

I think is was more the six hours under water, during the flood,

more than the cold.

And last, but not least...

new leaves and those lovely catkins (a.k.a. Brown Squigglies),

on the Live Oaks.

We've had the leaf drop...twice.

And, there is yellow pollen all over everything.

Next these little green things will turn brown,

and cover the ground, the outside furniture, the plants...

THE DOG.

It's a mess. 

But, I still love the trees.

There is more here....especially foliage.

But, that's it for this time.

Be sure to visit Carol, at

May Dreams Garden

for Bloomday, and

Pam at Digging.
for Foliage Follow-up.

***********
'Til later...
Take care...
~~Linda~~

February 2012 Bloomday...I Got Nothin'.....

Well....nothin' but pansies.

And, I've already shown you these.

They're still going strong.  They like these warm days and cool nights.

There were some blooms on some new Autumn Sage, salvia greggii, 

that was newly planted in the Island Bed.  

But, the deer ate them.  Yes, deer will eat Autumn Sage blooms.

So, that's it.

Oh, wait!

The Primrose Jasmine is blooming....all over the neighborhood. 

Much more blooms than last year.

We have lots of green, though.  Rain makes such a big difference, this year.

What's blooming for you?

Happy Bloomday...

~~Linda~~

Holding Patterns....

This container is a copper liner for a window box.  I found it years ago, at a flea market.  

It's had many incarnations.  Right now, it's holding some dusty miller, 

that was used on the Christmas dinner table.   I know these will get too large for this, but for now, 

they're looking good.

Also looking good, are the pansies.  This one is in a nice container my friend Jann gave us.

This pot held plumbago, purslane, and a lantana last summer.

The pansies took over, when everything froze.

Pansies have such pretty faces.

Even the white ones have cute faces.  They're just a bit quieter.

This pink one is quiet, too.  Such a delicate little thing.

Violas are probably my favorite.  They have a lot of personality in a smaller face.

These are in a wooden planter box.

This was that planter last winter.  None of these plants made it through the hot, hot summer.

This blue water globe...a Christmas gift from our daughter's family...really pops in the lettuce bowl.

This pot has had several different things planted in it.

But, none have done as well as this lettuce.  

As you see, I like containers.  They can add some color, even when there are no blooms.

Anything that will hold soil can hold a plant.  This old wheelbarrow holds some agave lophantha.

That little one on the left is constantly being pulled up by the deer.  I just keep sticking it back in.

Here's another A. lophantha in this lovely planter.  This planter's first life was as a firepit.

As with the wheelbarrow...holes were punched in the bottom for drainage.

 Some people find containers too hard to keep watered.

I find them to be extra interest in the garden...no matter what season it is.

We have them all around the place.  If I had to guess...there will be more.

Do you like containers? 

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~