tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73523687661843063312024-02-21T06:34:59.813-06:00The Gardener of Good and EvilLorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-56299256732089632252010-04-16T05:15:00.006-05:002010-04-16T05:54:51.044-05:00Bloom Day, April 2010I'm alive, and so is my garden! In fact, I can safely say that my garden has never looked so good. After the last two years of drought, it amazes me how quickly everything filled in and bounced back. Even the roses are covered in flowers despite the fact that I barely fertilized and completely missed the window to cut everything back properly.<br /><br />Seriously, it's completely ridiculous how much is in bloom in my yard right now. I've been walking outside, looking around, and laughing with giddiness. The garden is the most spectacular it's ever looked in the three and a half years I've been working on it, and that's including the front yard, which I finally finished hardscaping and planting last month.<br /><br />So thanks to all the rain this winter, it's a jungle out there. Here's the rose Sunny Knockout being cuddled by artemesia "Silver King" and larkspur:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgU9JG8GnPBxSB6co6DCZ1Tl12zzSNHAoH3j7Kr2eK9XoIEzqNn8J0FBGWFK38tGPvVX8deXOVE5vO2vOJiUwwa18VM2iGD3YESDVSL1riOLy2VlbrMCdeubP-xVVSBZPVyN6ZapSrSqy/s1600/sunny-knockout-2_sm.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgU9JG8GnPBxSB6co6DCZ1Tl12zzSNHAoH3j7Kr2eK9XoIEzqNn8J0FBGWFK38tGPvVX8deXOVE5vO2vOJiUwwa18VM2iGD3YESDVSL1riOLy2VlbrMCdeubP-xVVSBZPVyN6ZapSrSqy/s400/sunny-knockout-2_sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677899258952242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here's the rose "Maggie" on the fence. Thanks to planting four other extremely thorny roses directly in front of it, sadly, I haven't managed to fight my way back to the fence in order to properly appreciate the fragrance. Which is sad, because the scent is strong and fabulous. I'm tempted to knock on my neighbors' door and ask if I can spend 5 minutes in their backyard just because there's nothing in the way on their side of the fence.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK82_KEXgnLCcHu3FzvFGOvYSp-09QAy2pySqK_Nnj-tDE4QkUYMnHH_mMR-6Hdp4KJKhMcybADARrtvKAl4sb1zwsUvZ712LS1hLZiU3fAYH7ugSDJCUITpT8WUWzKhF3RdMfC-9Ss1we/s1600/maggie.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK82_KEXgnLCcHu3FzvFGOvYSp-09QAy2pySqK_Nnj-tDE4QkUYMnHH_mMR-6Hdp4KJKhMcybADARrtvKAl4sb1zwsUvZ712LS1hLZiU3fAYH7ugSDJCUITpT8WUWzKhF3RdMfC-9Ss1we/s400/maggie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677897766727250" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here's rose "Gruss an Aachen" tempting me to take up watercolor painting again:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX12-c9EoPSQ_3xJU7epa52XugeptcxqUPOBP8sQL1pdxGHVCyoddTqCOJqfRoxVfdKS8nHkWOrcMu5UBlxh8gUS4qon-XSLilA3alEu15mc5M82XuYw_KlrgNUVv4hxKtNTO68LEd6Wn/s1600/gruss-an-aachen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX12-c9EoPSQ_3xJU7epa52XugeptcxqUPOBP8sQL1pdxGHVCyoddTqCOJqfRoxVfdKS8nHkWOrcMu5UBlxh8gUS4qon-XSLilA3alEu15mc5M82XuYw_KlrgNUVv4hxKtNTO68LEd6Wn/s400/gruss-an-aachen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677890403547330" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are a few blurry pictures of the back borders, which contain roses, artemesia, heartleaf skullcap,and a ton of salvia greggii, among other things. Please excuse the blurry pictures; it was starting to rain:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kv7YpsAOkMnwTa3JoB0_5uJuHDpTW9fQOwnnn7Sn8SwTfklwS2UVlAA-nNfbc_HBEkP9927sQdLLOTdBXEhlR-AEZBYEve2JzGtcsrJy_4I5N2HJM3808yzgZEZ-RA42m5GvUdIdf4Ym/s1600/front-angle.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kv7YpsAOkMnwTa3JoB0_5uJuHDpTW9fQOwnnn7Sn8SwTfklwS2UVlAA-nNfbc_HBEkP9927sQdLLOTdBXEhlR-AEZBYEve2JzGtcsrJy_4I5N2HJM3808yzgZEZ-RA42m5GvUdIdf4Ym/s400/front-angle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677884308769666" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65axIWFYlYgdYkQ5EAQaeiPAF5UOOSijmkEX2o0Nd4xrmQWCUJYm4qzpOInfCRZuezLWW88nR8LBNyE7vyyYdmXZ6E9k3ZkxPyjSwRp0w1oEnqjMb8iOCcOQ20zb4eszmnw6QOV7MC_vf/s1600/birdbath-view.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65axIWFYlYgdYkQ5EAQaeiPAF5UOOSijmkEX2o0Nd4xrmQWCUJYm4qzpOInfCRZuezLWW88nR8LBNyE7vyyYdmXZ6E9k3ZkxPyjSwRp0w1oEnqjMb8iOCcOQ20zb4eszmnw6QOV7MC_vf/s400/birdbath-view.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677415481869858" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN6_FiHieVTMHwYaTcqamm665tG8fHYAdhooAKCZRUbcs3q_t8cFcX3ZsGmITyKSedyc0Stlf-huMBGnJwiOG23FUoKUC28XYSAASx6xFzvL4YaIFaF-PZEkRUxabm0bXuqAnbCYlOzMM/s1600/agave-&-rose-border.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN6_FiHieVTMHwYaTcqamm665tG8fHYAdhooAKCZRUbcs3q_t8cFcX3ZsGmITyKSedyc0Stlf-huMBGnJwiOG23FUoKUC28XYSAASx6xFzvL4YaIFaF-PZEkRUxabm0bXuqAnbCYlOzMM/s400/agave-&-rose-border.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677405132780322" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here's catmint drowning a "Bright Edges" yucca. The cat is particularly fond of this combo for some reason:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFXtOgIbfqb4djtP7R9pI5WJ77r3ecrLTL-z3GUkfNwXNrh-O8m_GybnlC0utqpi5yORttMh10rj79PTHk35EqFXCi52ekHCvD7N6drnxdh4333orbkGfvAnp7sTy-pY70NYCDeN17elt/s1600/catmint-&-yucca-bt-edges_sm.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFXtOgIbfqb4djtP7R9pI5WJ77r3ecrLTL-z3GUkfNwXNrh-O8m_GybnlC0utqpi5yORttMh10rj79PTHk35EqFXCi52ekHCvD7N6drnxdh4333orbkGfvAnp7sTy-pY70NYCDeN17elt/s400/catmint-&-yucca-bt-edges_sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677424957426610" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The cat, with a "Mutabilis" rose in the background. The stock tank is planted with bamboo muhly, which should fill in enough by fall to screen the seating area behind it from the street.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLvGWpP1PpsHBEAyRAk0hjKET_rIf-SmPpWKEmRte_nHwuh66YuniP9Cdx4wc8H7EULqlPY1sG9ugpFgmAtOeUDQNnD6VcpbrAweb3z7kOBX2gJz50iQYonHND9VX46v827kpiY_LbDna/s1600/Killer-and-mutabilis.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLvGWpP1PpsHBEAyRAk0hjKET_rIf-SmPpWKEmRte_nHwuh66YuniP9Cdx4wc8H7EULqlPY1sG9ugpFgmAtOeUDQNnD6VcpbrAweb3z7kOBX2gJz50iQYonHND9VX46v827kpiY_LbDna/s400/Killer-and-mutabilis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460679618379449458" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And yet another rose blooming is Blush Noisette. I love the graceful form of the bush and it's gorgeously fragrant, especially in the summer heat:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWZehish_SBoFZPvmu9mZGqTS3sr6PP9gGXaTC565SJi9KlNAyHtWByalz98J6K8cv6I_qyUKb9P_FUnPL_FbmeGJtNaNck8KzY1Yc2bEystViJbnP_e0F0On0uSij_Dis4aoqItr_3Zj/s1600/blush-noisette.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWZehish_SBoFZPvmu9mZGqTS3sr6PP9gGXaTC565SJi9KlNAyHtWByalz98J6K8cv6I_qyUKb9P_FUnPL_FbmeGJtNaNck8KzY1Yc2bEystViJbnP_e0F0On0uSij_Dis4aoqItr_3Zj/s400/blush-noisette.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677421957339106" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One of the most fragrant roses in my garden, with the prettiest blooms is the English rose, Abraham Darby. The color of the flowers varies quite a lot from flower to flower:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLJ5SJm19n1pdvaLSTPuhLesgfohThyvVztZ7PxH5GN5pNQ-fBc8vlnc2mtJiNjWgz-Bu0Og11kDU0py8hbITZSzt-CxzJs3NhwGF9rB7N6EH88SoMTF0iTLF05z6m1ZONHz4Hv_FJ1H-/s1600/abraham-darby-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLJ5SJm19n1pdvaLSTPuhLesgfohThyvVztZ7PxH5GN5pNQ-fBc8vlnc2mtJiNjWgz-Bu0Og11kDU0py8hbITZSzt-CxzJs3NhwGF9rB7N6EH88SoMTF0iTLF05z6m1ZONHz4Hv_FJ1H-/s400/abraham-darby-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460677402883191762" /></a><br /><br /><br />Right now nearly every rose in my yard is blooming with such abandon that I spend every spare moment outside wandering around smelling the flowers and staring. A complete list:<br /><br />Marie Pavie<br />Thomas Affleck<br />Mutabilis<br />Republic of Texas<br />Star of the Republic<br />Mme Berkeley<br />Felicia<br />Gruss an Aachen<br />Belinda's Dream<br />Maggie<br />Souvenir de la Malmaison<br />Duchesse de Brabant<br />Louis Philippe<br />Zephirine Drouhin<br />Archduke Charles<br />Blush Noisette<br />Buff Beauty<br />Abraham Darby<br />Eugene de Beauharnais<br />Mme Alfred Carriere<br />Sunny Knockout<br />Pink Knockout<br />Pink Double Knockout<br />Rainbow Knockout<br />Double Knockout<br /><br /><br />Also blooming:<br /><br />salvia greggii<br />yellow and orange bulbine<br />ice plant<br />'Homestead Purple' verbena<br />moss verbena<br />"Walker's Low" catmint<br />passalong peach iris from Annie In Austin<br />pansies<br />snapdragons<br />various ornamental cabbages<br />clover<br />bluebonnets<br /><br /><br />This is my favorite Bloom Day ever.Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-3451422121042290332009-11-09T06:09:00.009-06:002009-11-10T23:21:42.648-06:00San Antonio Botanical Garden: color, texture, & light<div>On Saturday, a bunch of us Austin garden bloggers voluntarily woke up at an early hour and drove through picturesque fog down to San Antonio for the day, where we visited <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~madronenursery/">Madrone Nursery</a>, the <a href="http://www.sabot.org/">San Antonio Botanical Garden</a>, and the <a href="http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/">Antique Rose Emporium</a>. Here are some of my pictures from the San Antonio Botanical garden, where everything was lush and green and butterflies were everywhere:</div><div><br /></div>White Floss Silk Tree (Chorisia insignis):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2kToiaYXfc5lntHK71pEP5FkDzI1gFsRcAcABr-i-XWygaEOl1b0-ZH9gMk5m970s9GboULDQup3ThVqCNf2Q4jKcDm7t1zE3KL7obRZA-jEseQ8fr7CArwlz9nVLeVub71PwA4B4LMB/s1600-h/white-floss-silk-trea.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2kToiaYXfc5lntHK71pEP5FkDzI1gFsRcAcABr-i-XWygaEOl1b0-ZH9gMk5m970s9GboULDQup3ThVqCNf2Q4jKcDm7t1zE3KL7obRZA-jEseQ8fr7CArwlz9nVLeVub71PwA4B4LMB/s400/white-floss-silk-trea.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402076348066721682" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uQ-rNo5ZyH68EZ6f0W5eNFuao26zvwGmZ8UhsuwlN0cZRxXcvVCxSmR4CFwVY4hWLFvfrB_qbu8YW0mJ8OhlvhLyX8uX7LDtDO_i-dyg8MdI3ataSWV4nMNd53UQWy1mF2mSFL685xSD/s1600-h/sotol.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uQ-rNo5ZyH68EZ6f0W5eNFuao26zvwGmZ8UhsuwlN0cZRxXcvVCxSmR4CFwVY4hWLFvfrB_qbu8YW0mJ8OhlvhLyX8uX7LDtDO_i-dyg8MdI3ataSWV4nMNd53UQWy1mF2mSFL685xSD/s400/sotol.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402076342028719970" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8j1QrcnDOMeY2BOLciwgS591bIqV5bivYcycATiP_tWS7UN0GzEs_GqwXrhXBPvzFOZlSFfpM9_iwf9PCyv89XJKcA5xmlWQUlrOJvAPitHBSjoeJjhF6ZnEUOCoTOpAFTFz61LlRe3V/s400/weird-cactus.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402076346105860834" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A shady rill. I have no idea why the water was flowing here when the rest of the water features were dry:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HG7C5ARNsubNXpJ4Er2iKFCaqC5uNESrhz_WvO12HwKk2NUep7Bq3Wq1TBHTvKdKAwQo03SAai493aSNtBGPSBah08-fwLBtC3pt5ZcCMyqxHM6GWEs9lgMvpsEUEKZ-4BhJcRZQwuif/s1600-h/rill.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HG7C5ARNsubNXpJ4Er2iKFCaqC5uNESrhz_WvO12HwKk2NUep7Bq3Wq1TBHTvKdKAwQo03SAai493aSNtBGPSBah08-fwLBtC3pt5ZcCMyqxHM6GWEs9lgMvpsEUEKZ-4BhJcRZQwuif/s400/rill.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402076337090289890" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Purple & green & texture:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQomD74jxWa-yOBpKVUAOQX_NHd7eywjP-WMsxfz_RgZfadW43AEtz3TmcGyyjfOeNvPJd08GChkpEyyhcmREJCyVlqyTuH2N0C9pQ5i29NFLVctfbmdZU4wPZN_A8WkoGz9yxtMIG1SIl/s1600-h/purple-&-green.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQomD74jxWa-yOBpKVUAOQX_NHd7eywjP-WMsxfz_RgZfadW43AEtz3TmcGyyjfOeNvPJd08GChkpEyyhcmREJCyVlqyTuH2N0C9pQ5i29NFLVctfbmdZU4wPZN_A8WkoGz9yxtMIG1SIl/s400/purple-&-green.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402076331737728194" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Light in a courtyard:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpMDRQZswPhzP7D85-6XuxXxD1tmXKN6nCcSQ057EIdph1LNnEji-JyPkBuZJyyaNbdYgwkH9nqktLD-kn07OPqQsfwCM1MIuLuJVpfLeHHJ7kDkGXRyMq5eVgWXlUWDJc9H_T92POrdy/s1600-h/papyrus.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpMDRQZswPhzP7D85-6XuxXxD1tmXKN6nCcSQ057EIdph1LNnEji-JyPkBuZJyyaNbdYgwkH9nqktLD-kn07OPqQsfwCM1MIuLuJVpfLeHHJ7kDkGXRyMq5eVgWXlUWDJc9H_T92POrdy/s400/papyrus.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075973838034162" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Violet-blue & orange:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfZRYeFksSmlN_rVkP_-WF2t8cuR8c8vDGmnx-zLtHQiuHlNUuJYzBfHEQKc7hWDAXI6iqxVnlZ74vvEdrL4_XWKJUHFKf4PIWMZG3NizKyChniH3cIvUgLBfnwsjHicdME_daO0dQYP0/s1600-h/monarch.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfZRYeFksSmlN_rVkP_-WF2t8cuR8c8vDGmnx-zLtHQiuHlNUuJYzBfHEQKc7hWDAXI6iqxVnlZ74vvEdrL4_XWKJUHFKf4PIWMZG3NizKyChniH3cIvUgLBfnwsjHicdME_daO0dQYP0/s400/monarch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075976865820066" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Spiky contrast:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqWIpQblcF0St1s7v4NmqoUfxtEMmomNGXbIWPIsTz5DK1yiok_DLUXdgKdfemYAYRq21XoDNt-na_q6begxUGVOjs_WoeWxzOBJR7jf-vTS8slEL_4DZ824IzkT2ZUV4rupVcwhOI2cy/s1600-h/palms-contrast.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqWIpQblcF0St1s7v4NmqoUfxtEMmomNGXbIWPIsTz5DK1yiok_DLUXdgKdfemYAYRq21XoDNt-na_q6begxUGVOjs_WoeWxzOBJR7jf-vTS8slEL_4DZ824IzkT2ZUV4rupVcwhOI2cy/s400/palms-contrast.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075970855363682" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Dwarf canna "Madame Angele Martin":</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGaVkz5atCWWUqaGum0IBE6cGLNYqPRx5-tIcHt2bt_GRJossphqBcJ727Iu_dAW_HYD1LpHhx8RWTy0nNvOc5_UdDAdCIDWZYL5v5RHR25vrEnTrlKWkRHOsMn9fv-S_2ZnXX1eIhDFl/s1600-h/madame-angele-martin.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGaVkz5atCWWUqaGum0IBE6cGLNYqPRx5-tIcHt2bt_GRJossphqBcJ727Iu_dAW_HYD1LpHhx8RWTy0nNvOc5_UdDAdCIDWZYL5v5RHR25vrEnTrlKWkRHOsMn9fv-S_2ZnXX1eIhDFl/s400/madame-angele-martin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075967442856898" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Fall color:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvmh51QMS4Xcik9f24MVNSoNRT4aHUT2io14a9EPFSLbTcyrL9DcwMfhXclODdfJSwt9j7GGs2ucswCffATQahkWSUYObbbgz-wDeDd63dkIs0cDSIdfLdudmopASpV4X7U5e5_gjbe9h/s1600-h/fall-color.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvmh51QMS4Xcik9f24MVNSoNRT4aHUT2io14a9EPFSLbTcyrL9DcwMfhXclODdfJSwt9j7GGs2ucswCffATQahkWSUYObbbgz-wDeDd63dkIs0cDSIdfLdudmopASpV4X7U5e5_gjbe9h/s400/fall-color.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075964829380962" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The fist of an angry cactus:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYFFfXmIk-LNAOepYZrpEU1wZYTHRw2XbOp2hhZc_6Fyv98AIE9GKT3mhxGOsRw4B8plO29PcHffEQnLtk6yKz6jmB1xh-vtWRYr4PDGyB4IXSzulLBuvKI5RGISDOtB-JsKAFfMObdQ9/s1600-h/fist-of-angry-god.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYFFfXmIk-LNAOepYZrpEU1wZYTHRw2XbOp2hhZc_6Fyv98AIE9GKT3mhxGOsRw4B8plO29PcHffEQnLtk6yKz6jmB1xh-vtWRYr4PDGyB4IXSzulLBuvKI5RGISDOtB-JsKAFfMObdQ9/s400/fist-of-angry-god.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075567918898882" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvSdRxe2YOEGJZlFXFITCnAKaXqRjexOhKrEkCTavmE7A7M1kFn78maoFLxyds-j3jcErmvMIg7D0ZYdNdVh5bNGw-OqzinFrA5I7pYE_oAWLvp7USpy1OcZAHjETtSH4mEbpFBW3_0a0/s1600-h/light.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvSdRxe2YOEGJZlFXFITCnAKaXqRjexOhKrEkCTavmE7A7M1kFn78maoFLxyds-j3jcErmvMIg7D0ZYdNdVh5bNGw-OqzinFrA5I7pYE_oAWLvp7USpy1OcZAHjETtSH4mEbpFBW3_0a0/s400/light.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075561723412610" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ3l20Oi2mk0yiUnlQv-VmwqK4W8Vx8IUH7vP_oXbGrNBWwV5b3q86XlnPPvfAlus9nf4JdBDmnMJs-kY9_ETpRL5_QAZ9RUvRUuulp9M3Rrv5Laqn6lCxPrFfyF18eBWPgPpHQeyy6V2/s1600-h/cannas.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ3l20Oi2mk0yiUnlQv-VmwqK4W8Vx8IUH7vP_oXbGrNBWwV5b3q86XlnPPvfAlus9nf4JdBDmnMJs-kY9_ETpRL5_QAZ9RUvRUuulp9M3Rrv5Laqn6lCxPrFfyF18eBWPgPpHQeyy6V2/s400/cannas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075558099966306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk43-_-A7M7WBTKUfYumG_cck1KPZAE7dqjO1ANBCKDMsCDG03RcsEsSPG5UsW4DLLBwrtNRfJV4HvLm2ekUpK1-DvNK0Tq-wwSvWKVRYV3-9v0zxv4HtG2I6-9gn12qr0rcrw8U1t921c/s1600-h/agave-bloom.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk43-_-A7M7WBTKUfYumG_cck1KPZAE7dqjO1ANBCKDMsCDG03RcsEsSPG5UsW4DLLBwrtNRfJV4HvLm2ekUpK1-DvNK0Tq-wwSvWKVRYV3-9v0zxv4HtG2I6-9gn12qr0rcrw8U1t921c/s400/agave-bloom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402075551981265458" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And as Blogger is messing up formatting even worse than usual, I'm going to give up on lining my text up with my pictures and let everyone else do the talking. So far, we have reviews from:<br /><br />Pam @ <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=4936">Digging</a><br />Jenny @ <a href="http://wwwrockrose.blogspot.com/2009/11/garden-bloggers-visit-to-san-antonio.html">Rock Rose</a><br />Rachel @ <a href="http://www.waterlilies.org/inbloom/2009/11/austin-garden-blogger-field-tr.html">In Bloom</a><br />Amy @ <a href="http://goawayimgardening.blogspot.com/2009/11/austin-bloggers-day-out.html">Go Away, I'm Gardening</a><br /></div><div>Diana @ <a href="http://sharingnaturesgarden.blogspot.com/2009/11/little-blogger-road-trip.html">Sharing Nature's Garden</a></div><div>Caroline @ <a href="http://shovelreadygarden.blogspot.com/2009/11/austin-garden-bloggers-field-trip-to.html">The Shovel-Ready Garden</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I am amazed that I spent only three dollars on plants the entire day, which is some kind of personal record in self-restraint and frugality. When I mentioned this to my roommates after I staggered in the door, one did a double-take, pointed, and yelled, "Who are you, and what did you do with Lori?!!"</div><div><br /></div><div>What can I say? I like to think that I've come to terms with the fact that I can cram only so many plants into my yard.</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-59481962136091913052009-10-26T05:16:00.006-05:002009-10-26T05:37:56.145-05:00my milkshake datura brings all the boys bees to the yardSo while I haven't been actively blogging for months-- aside from complaining about the drought and heat on Twitter-- I have been taking pictures of the interesting things that have been happening around my yard. For instance, I knew that the datura in my yard was a favorite plant of bees and moths and other insects, but a certain morning back in August was like stumbling into a bee bacchanal:<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><img left><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T3RMdnWan0c&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T3RMdnWan0c&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></img left></object>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-75213836235824314252009-09-22T23:06:00.002-05:002009-10-26T06:08:58.671-05:00Snails in SmurflandThe rain means the reappearance of two things: snails and strange mushrooms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcKhKSNps7hyphenhyphenp84WiBbrZrkMYed7UwEcZx4kNxHFo4qVjB8NYECGDpTAu3TuL7S9oqRiJOLtyc4I7aeI04aCcS7C0ymZn5qrTAHCTskxZH3M707V-gTrTlZi668f7Ah9HFnrpuoJiwJwZ/s1600-h/darling-escargot.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcKhKSNps7hyphenhyphenp84WiBbrZrkMYed7UwEcZx4kNxHFo4qVjB8NYECGDpTAu3TuL7S9oqRiJOLtyc4I7aeI04aCcS7C0ymZn5qrTAHCTskxZH3M707V-gTrTlZi668f7Ah9HFnrpuoJiwJwZ/s320/darling-escargot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396863795930734466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOObYdOdntYqn3QJSHkapXQJ_sC7XHPIzw4_caV-ojF686BL4JVjZxduBVQn2yiAh2GvAzLq9K2t2YjfY5FQgjfRvh5mbh3N3q0a0RC2CKFuCZ8B4IBAYUnqrGK80baVZcdz5QHtARd6z5/s1600-h/smurfland.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOObYdOdntYqn3QJSHkapXQJ_sC7XHPIzw4_caV-ojF686BL4JVjZxduBVQn2yiAh2GvAzLq9K2t2YjfY5FQgjfRvh5mbh3N3q0a0RC2CKFuCZ8B4IBAYUnqrGK80baVZcdz5QHtARd6z5/s320/smurfland.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396863794553135778" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-82385687378960443512009-09-15T23:58:00.003-05:002009-10-26T07:18:19.147-05:00a quiet evening on Lady Bird LakeMore on my Flickr <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardenerofgoodandevil/sets/72157622666007728/">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o4M7tlQXwjaZS9U8WeJJsdheKwmZWkWKe8e0CtcJsbb9Dmp-WV340HeZKWWsSHTyAahdRmGqLJ6TGYIAsT8lKTyUzOCJhyphenhyphensYKCJAVAuV8s9fg2EQ1OB0JwrmF9VfgGEg9gXo_1oFMNzJ/s1600-h/town-lake-sunset.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o4M7tlQXwjaZS9U8WeJJsdheKwmZWkWKe8e0CtcJsbb9Dmp-WV340HeZKWWsSHTyAahdRmGqLJ6TGYIAsT8lKTyUzOCJhyphenhyphensYKCJAVAuV8s9fg2EQ1OB0JwrmF9VfgGEg9gXo_1oFMNzJ/s400/town-lake-sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396881778981774498" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-40604035881903052842009-09-13T23:11:00.000-05:002009-10-26T07:15:39.591-05:00dramatic clouds and amazing weatherMore on my Flickr <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardenerofgoodandevil/sets/72157622247501631/">here</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8usxpr0O_Z7-gdAKFH-PgTGdFvpfKMY5GMOxiIbH402nIc796em8EcMQknI-dmm3SFgLb_dhNUjkNJbGTwLFJwofWIY70UX74BTPHqYEO-awUTXfxx6LpSOA1sH0_YJt9lIKjBR36Kbw/s1600-h/fun-with-photoshop.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8usxpr0O_Z7-gdAKFH-PgTGdFvpfKMY5GMOxiIbH402nIc796em8EcMQknI-dmm3SFgLb_dhNUjkNJbGTwLFJwofWIY70UX74BTPHqYEO-awUTXfxx6LpSOA1sH0_YJt9lIKjBR36Kbw/s400/fun-with-photoshop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396880866455759666" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-31000409222540863392009-08-04T23:55:00.007-05:002009-08-06T07:07:54.835-05:00Escape from the Death Star!So, I'm a bad Austinite. I've lived here for five years, but I'm taking my sweet time hitting all of those destinations that most tourists see within their first week here. One of those destinations happened to be Barton Springs Pool. <div><br /></div><div>I had no special plans to ever visit, but late this afternoon I didn't have the courage to open the door and stick any part of my body outside to gauge the temperature, so I checked <a href="http://www.thefuckingweather.com/">The Fucking Weather</a> instead, which shrieked, "102?! IT'S FUCKING HOT. (I need gloves to touch the steering wheel!)" Yeah, no kidding. So I could kiss my plans of working outside goodbye. Again. And then I paused to hurl invective with as much passion but entirely less creativity than Stephen Fry.<div><br /></div><div>Sadly, this summer I've reached and fallen headfirst over the tipping point where I don't even care about gardening. I've put my grand plans on hold and have resolved to just hunker down under the AC with my laptop and wireless connection until October and let Teh Internetz distract me (I'll admit it: my recent Adam Lambert obsession has been very helpful in this regard). Every now and then, I'll force myself off the couch to turn on a soaker hose long enough to keep my trees from dying. </div><div><br /></div><div>But today, I just couldn't take my Austin Summer Coping Routine any longer. I had to get outside before I went nuts. And it turned out that Barton Springs Pool is open until 10 in the summer, perfect for people like me who are practically flammable. Also, did I mention that the pool is always 68F? Let me tell you, it seems even colder when the air is still nearly a hundred degrees when you wade in there. Also, while I knew the pool was fed by a natural spring, I had no idea that it was so slimy. This was particularly challenging considering that I'm a giant wuss and wanted to work my way into the water at my own (glacial) pace, but it was a constant stuggle to keep from falling down as the slimy rock floor of the pool sloped unpredictably. Eventually, I just gave up and went with it. The swearing involved was therapeutic, and I enjoyed feeling smug about paddling around in a bikini while some dude was doing laps in a full wetsuit.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pool at night. Witness the vampires of Austin. And the smart people, since apparently admission is free after 9 PM.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMvwr3vXMHM5s1-ZbD0WPYesYQ_DnP4x1Eo7TvPKpF_5JzsthuhqhjsINZzV_2CkDHdEjUHqwKWL8HtYCN36Zp8Cei3H1hfvoqIRSpkvywpiGaRmv46leOfhopNMulxMIgZoD5rZ5XH5X/s1600-h/night.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMvwr3vXMHM5s1-ZbD0WPYesYQ_DnP4x1Eo7TvPKpF_5JzsthuhqhjsINZzV_2CkDHdEjUHqwKWL8HtYCN36Zp8Cei3H1hfvoqIRSpkvywpiGaRmv46leOfhopNMulxMIgZoD5rZ5XH5X/s400/night.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366447579079834402" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once I was throughly chilled, I found that it's incredibly satisfying to sit on a towel on the hill and watch people swim. The hot air actually feels wonderful when you're sitting there in a wet swimsuit watching some chick in a lime green 'fro jump off the diving board.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PR7u_D4GAAp10uzrngv5APLmsoX0NqVLNYLOQdNYsRa-0eEGpbMG-6LOW5xChHderQ_1bB0D_CLJDAWlpp2NEbUwhP8rM4QSfE0k5duDl8MH7CJzrS6W88KifgP7JUvNW9Ii6ideJ9tg/s1600-h/green-fro.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PR7u_D4GAAp10uzrngv5APLmsoX0NqVLNYLOQdNYsRa-0eEGpbMG-6LOW5xChHderQ_1bB0D_CLJDAWlpp2NEbUwhP8rM4QSfE0k5duDl8MH7CJzrS6W88KifgP7JUvNW9Ii6ideJ9tg/s400/green-fro.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366447571723259826" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also keeping Austin weird was some random guy who stood up on the hill and gave an impromptu yodeling demonstration, to enthusiastic applause. Sadly, it was too dark to get a picture, but public opinion said he was good. For a yodeler. I lounged around for half an hour drying off and testing out the night settings on my camera. I got a lot of pictures of ghosts hovering above the diving board and spectral presences haunting the pool.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7QskG8rCdENQ3c560yAgACY0ePgns846N482Io-odo4PxfuDrzH58qRUw4ZGPCMX-1UX28qnwAJPLZjqyNaFPuGGb39L5bRXlIDkYD5kf20_2dlBH_JAuiJxwsyL32iu4r68kGLqVI8r/s1600-h/divers.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7QskG8rCdENQ3c560yAgACY0ePgns846N482Io-odo4PxfuDrzH58qRUw4ZGPCMX-1UX28qnwAJPLZjqyNaFPuGGb39L5bRXlIDkYD5kf20_2dlBH_JAuiJxwsyL32iu4r68kGLqVI8r/s400/divers.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366447569145070578" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On the way out, my friend overheard a lifeguard telling someone about how they'd found a giant riding lawnmower in the pool last Thursday. It's nice to see that, by comparison, I'm keeping my cool and dealing with this hellish summer rather well.</div></div></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-18113738179713902372009-05-21T15:48:00.003-05:002009-05-21T15:53:19.585-05:00overachieving agaveI've long-admired the dramatic placement of this agave in front of a house in my neighborhood. Sometime this winter, it sent out a bloom stalk that seems to be trying its best to imitate the vine in Jack & the Beanstalk. It's now over two stories tall.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Dlut6hjQE4nUcySdaYVVTYJ7ROyfbbwwmgTekwqpXuaG6-1F7ATyZUfnbT_WTWCYWqtmD-fqSRqKFDSeDHyJGq-WMTaepLjQADSBMrMCYJMZ2xAaG3OvXST3OyW-fErhYlNB4LoUhsn3/s1600-h/huge-agave.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Dlut6hjQE4nUcySdaYVVTYJ7ROyfbbwwmgTekwqpXuaG6-1F7ATyZUfnbT_WTWCYWqtmD-fqSRqKFDSeDHyJGq-WMTaepLjQADSBMrMCYJMZ2xAaG3OvXST3OyW-fErhYlNB4LoUhsn3/s400/huge-agave.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338382271015337522" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When those flowers open, it's gonna be legendary.</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-48865814626803214142009-05-14T20:30:00.002-05:002009-05-15T06:45:02.217-05:00Gardens on Tour 2009: Rockcliff RoadSo, while my roommate tears up the front yard with a giant Bobcat in a desperate bid to rip out a giant stump so I can get on with my grand gardening ambitions and we can all get on with our lives, I'm sitting on the front porch with my laptop observing how in the timeless conflict of man versus nature, it's looking like once again nature is going to kick my ass.<br /><br />To distract myself, I figured I'd might as well post about the second garden we visited on Saturday, the giant garden on Rockcliff Road. While sweating my butt off out here and feeling the dirt grit between my sweaty toes, my strongest recollection of Rockcliff Road is that I'm pretty sure it wasn't a do-it-yourself project, and right now I would kill to be able to present my grand vision and let someone else make it happen. But until I win the lottery and/or develop superpowers, I guess I'll just have to live vicariously. And speaking of vicariously, heck, half the time I was at Rockcliff Road I wasn't sure if I was in Austin or freakin' Rivendell. Seriously:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNANW5-079A5TE4W3vN4CF3cxOTicZ8n0wj-ei3iwEGmgyAIFmeK-XKze2aUXhBTSRcCIsLkmx-lSX_QuFEls7fX-NSZDALV1lpwcKv0mphGw-cK9e4ZG472qBE3Cu6iqmaq5GlwqLKEvO/s1600-h/winecups.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNANW5-079A5TE4W3vN4CF3cxOTicZ8n0wj-ei3iwEGmgyAIFmeK-XKze2aUXhBTSRcCIsLkmx-lSX_QuFEls7fX-NSZDALV1lpwcKv0mphGw-cK9e4ZG472qBE3Cu6iqmaq5GlwqLKEvO/s400/winecups.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803710089693954" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Gorgeous:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdFyirYBxrjspWiLUbwWgcJl5l1ruzQvPM8WJ2iq7kx8WaBlbBDxQjxhRP2oq2VESQUkT4i_ze-4tR97SSa5W1p_4uKaceVaULkvNaXN5s3Ot66vIqtKCu1K-yOZp5Q3LeAbW79cq-hRx/s1600-h/waterfall.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdFyirYBxrjspWiLUbwWgcJl5l1ruzQvPM8WJ2iq7kx8WaBlbBDxQjxhRP2oq2VESQUkT4i_ze-4tR97SSa5W1p_4uKaceVaULkvNaXN5s3Ot66vIqtKCu1K-yOZp5Q3LeAbW79cq-hRx/s400/waterfall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803706596181138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Still gorgeous:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqNa0UU44jDFrGyNM0_PMIARHmcRoPVMonnuLE1BN0gmMx3n3U0kifBKXHIz7UrAlPwtreC_KYR3a69A710j1d0S08-Wfz4r5jCIorIOfRZk-8jInEWRyg6Op-awOjjGLCL0v-wYDJ70z/s1600-h/smaller-grotto.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqNa0UU44jDFrGyNM0_PMIARHmcRoPVMonnuLE1BN0gmMx3n3U0kifBKXHIz7UrAlPwtreC_KYR3a69A710j1d0S08-Wfz4r5jCIorIOfRZk-8jInEWRyg6Op-awOjjGLCL0v-wYDJ70z/s400/smaller-grotto.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803485220631426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hey, gorgeous:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoZaVji7iZoMwya506jk5sILwtnN5jeUsirCZqgwtey3DsNkNNVM8FH2bui0obJenzu50WnoUyemVr-bB2we9SLwHuuSKcgcmHU3zLTqS6cUBENzcidnrfYzejTzopBG_z-bLd7aZiNkY/s1600-h/rock-bridge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoZaVji7iZoMwya506jk5sILwtnN5jeUsirCZqgwtey3DsNkNNVM8FH2bui0obJenzu50WnoUyemVr-bB2we9SLwHuuSKcgcmHU3zLTqS6cUBENzcidnrfYzejTzopBG_z-bLd7aZiNkY/s400/rock-bridge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803481490772450" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Insert another laudatory adjective here:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0pqG7rbC0SNL1vSoRjw0JO-Mh5CsEHQw2hw2fEBI0o9PYS95a0ei5H_rCmIjlSg3RgfHIqzWNQLIgiD7jEenDZoM0AFpdqzkw6Qz1jnyAmW2bPkGbmH8kMS3TQbcLFekEqWCRY5CX1uv/s1600-h/rivendell.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0pqG7rbC0SNL1vSoRjw0JO-Mh5CsEHQw2hw2fEBI0o9PYS95a0ei5H_rCmIjlSg3RgfHIqzWNQLIgiD7jEenDZoM0AFpdqzkw6Qz1jnyAmW2bPkGbmH8kMS3TQbcLFekEqWCRY5CX1uv/s400/rivendell.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803055664880082" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I give up. It's gorgeous, and I could never do this myself. Someone recently mentioned that I won't ever win the lottery unless I buy a lottery ticket. Maybe I should do that.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvY3S2hfjEUPdNUyUNT9LZumEq9V5KDUnWiQKNkCCYjR_uUQtCWOHqGc5s9HJkvqH4eiQvLTYy3cjgVpDLa3PmAeKMkvIDN7kSMvcU_xebowzRvOt0FPngd7m6FC4GBdpaxv3oV3Vte-w/s1600-h/pond.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvY3S2hfjEUPdNUyUNT9LZumEq9V5KDUnWiQKNkCCYjR_uUQtCWOHqGc5s9HJkvqH4eiQvLTYy3cjgVpDLa3PmAeKMkvIDN7kSMvcU_xebowzRvOt0FPngd7m6FC4GBdpaxv3oV3Vte-w/s400/pond.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803053510886978" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Last spring I tried to build a pond in my yard. I gave up trying to dig such a big hole through caliche and massive tree roots, and the liner's now sitting in my garage. I feel it mocking me from walls away.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, here's the view from the bottom pond looking up towards the house. It's steeper than it looks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqlKi3ovfzeaPA5t7_nTxy2tBZr4kH_nV-igM_EeNFx6FEpVBRq-khiJAkAyY7LWBVbnfBYK1zUlbQb4cIX62AU80WBqaCfI_eElKUOn9N9gcyurgdXbtxGxYE0oyEQWBx6Zl7-QUxsOZ/s1600-h/uphill.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqlKi3ovfzeaPA5t7_nTxy2tBZr4kH_nV-igM_EeNFx6FEpVBRq-khiJAkAyY7LWBVbnfBYK1zUlbQb4cIX62AU80WBqaCfI_eElKUOn9N9gcyurgdXbtxGxYE0oyEQWBx6Zl7-QUxsOZ/s400/uphill.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803491797595698" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the view from the bottom pond looking down, quite a drop. Clearly, man won the man versus nature battle here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cF6RBFDLR76JbzUhKuqg_WF5_N7wyefGPoYWCLxI0JGc8Eahs-Hr8Hjyw7XvJMD0eIAwgb0B8WhkSZu41GzmrSqTDmZdD5V8oQZRVKRtxLgcKh_Md-a7MX9XUgD5DXee2db5ngEX9Gx4/s1600-h/downhill.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cF6RBFDLR76JbzUhKuqg_WF5_N7wyefGPoYWCLxI0JGc8Eahs-Hr8Hjyw7XvJMD0eIAwgb0B8WhkSZu41GzmrSqTDmZdD5V8oQZRVKRtxLgcKh_Md-a7MX9XUgD5DXee2db5ngEX9Gx4/s400/downhill.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335802692135080338" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's my favorite thing about the entire place, the grotto. I've gotta confess that I'm a sucker for both grottos and follies. I have an entire folder full of pictures on my hard drive. Even better, I had no idea there was going to be a grotto here-- I'd just heard about the ponds.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNIZEu57CNe9te2vYA7TTMDGk0z9HmFdv7xMOHiB6bkMgudRn7ckIw9ED4I1eSlQXfXWjrETFwfNUUIIxFBzxhUU6vPCmqZv7Cd_UWeKPjVjxq01hBZoGmBJb1EkLIuYeP2BAIELbx55u/s1600-h/grotto.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNIZEu57CNe9te2vYA7TTMDGk0z9HmFdv7xMOHiB6bkMgudRn7ckIw9ED4I1eSlQXfXWjrETFwfNUUIIxFBzxhUU6vPCmqZv7Cd_UWeKPjVjxq01hBZoGmBJb1EkLIuYeP2BAIELbx55u/s400/grotto.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335802696880955154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I loved the "floating" stones and the bench that runs along the back of the grotto. I wish I'd taken a picture looking out and down the levels of waterfalls.</div><div><br /></div><div>And here I pause to recommend everyone run over to Tom Spencer's blog, where he's posted some gorgeous pictures of the grotto <a href="http://www.soulofthegarden.com/dailymuse0509.html">here</a> (scroll down to May 10).<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIjE1XOZui9xzBCkr7g7OyvuJk1fHnclg7lyKf3vryvRbkYDRlQesPbce4KsWAQ7K9Q6ihX4vsG1d_E447rGvww_DQFfOHEHxehq7UTlGeSeEfe1CpP1W3jmeSQl2bvJE9IT3dqlx8kRO/s1600-h/grotto-stepping-stones.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIjE1XOZui9xzBCkr7g7OyvuJk1fHnclg7lyKf3vryvRbkYDRlQesPbce4KsWAQ7K9Q6ihX4vsG1d_E447rGvww_DQFfOHEHxehq7UTlGeSeEfe1CpP1W3jmeSQl2bvJE9IT3dqlx8kRO/s400/grotto-stepping-stones.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335802698691781810" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There's a second source for the ponds, to the right of the grotto and echoing its shape. I like how the arches of the water sources echo Roman aqueducts:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FsWgPHXV1ljYh2mrXUYKgYaw-Alu5s_Nl-eZmkC1CWlVZKjox_cLRYd2mZH1ouxqc0y9DkP9Y_Ws9R_1898RJ9oXxfTKk-MZmhVMvXBTtYcxmMT4RxtDE2j2_xh5FuZ7gna4QisAWoVP/s1600-h/2nd-grotto.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FsWgPHXV1ljYh2mrXUYKgYaw-Alu5s_Nl-eZmkC1CWlVZKjox_cLRYd2mZH1ouxqc0y9DkP9Y_Ws9R_1898RJ9oXxfTKk-MZmhVMvXBTtYcxmMT4RxtDE2j2_xh5FuZ7gna4QisAWoVP/s400/2nd-grotto.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335802687820647202" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Around the side of the house, a sunken area. I was a bit confused by this since there was no furniture or apparent purpose to the space until someone said it was a dog-washing area. Judging from the size of the dog door nearby, I'm guessing that some pretty big dogs live here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm3Srg26Dmu2u5egT4Wpui3utrgObBg50_63r_Nr4qbkw7t1yaSxVbbCZKgZXPy18modb2ra4L08DPR9-KziEbml5q-2L0tLuVtLR5AHbkUvQ_1_dGaIYhcPTIlv4mqPkZ5z4lKY1Qf2o/s1600-h/low-terrace.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm3Srg26Dmu2u5egT4Wpui3utrgObBg50_63r_Nr4qbkw7t1yaSxVbbCZKgZXPy18modb2ra4L08DPR9-KziEbml5q-2L0tLuVtLR5AHbkUvQ_1_dGaIYhcPTIlv4mqPkZ5z4lKY1Qf2o/s400/low-terrace.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803051089900866" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A close-up of the stonework. I liked the precision fit:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOWZaEOszBa0abuh6ZYZA2N5f-2XdWKWE_0BGFzhmV6b1N68T1uHQ-cftA_vyMneGMvjx0ABxmdYp8MZD__3nnSvaZGN8pTW-fjkCDkNogzd-llZdcD_j7E3qk_ZhZdwmOjyZHBjToJY1/s1600-h/pavers.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOWZaEOszBa0abuh6ZYZA2N5f-2XdWKWE_0BGFzhmV6b1N68T1uHQ-cftA_vyMneGMvjx0ABxmdYp8MZD__3nnSvaZGN8pTW-fjkCDkNogzd-llZdcD_j7E3qk_ZhZdwmOjyZHBjToJY1/s400/pavers.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803053982730386" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The view from the sunken area. I'm guessing the vines will cover the wire grid roof in a few years, but I liked how it looked as it was. And the lawn. I hadn't seen the unmowed look in person till I went on this tour. The garden at Buckeye Trail also used unmowed grass to great effect.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PFkzywjfgbIPbJ74wIJ1SrOSUDiPPawakIKwif3lLoDcwwMXIdVrA_-aVKz6b-H1bY1IlKiKPmXUWygITzSbGwcjCiwQrft690vz9u_J9B7HboYtQUbVzmOApWhVMT09VEJ2SVCzEpe_/s1600-h/woodpile.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PFkzywjfgbIPbJ74wIJ1SrOSUDiPPawakIKwif3lLoDcwwMXIdVrA_-aVKz6b-H1bY1IlKiKPmXUWygITzSbGwcjCiwQrft690vz9u_J9B7HboYtQUbVzmOApWhVMT09VEJ2SVCzEpe_/s400/woodpile.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803711708076834" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>At the front of the house, another water feature echoes the steps down into the front courtyard:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYgl9d3UiHCr5CB8lBBuT4PBoO2h6OCk7di19Ic4hHM-qZXus_WU170R_u0UmHvoUV_H5vPDSANNu2tIvuZHc53ZDK4iD9vwNBHCBSPSRl6ZjvVdGllEPv6URHYZnSig_UMgzxncx7u7S/s1600-h/steps.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYgl9d3UiHCr5CB8lBBuT4PBoO2h6OCk7di19Ic4hHM-qZXus_WU170R_u0UmHvoUV_H5vPDSANNu2tIvuZHc53ZDK4iD9vwNBHCBSPSRl6ZjvVdGllEPv6URHYZnSig_UMgzxncx7u7S/s400/steps.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803489559734402" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A seating area in the front courtyard. Gee, I wish my stump would do that:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09DKENdNAIMolhgQ9rx6MmKx3d0ikt3hiEmaCveMs18NqHh_MBijGyiPfnG17so8pg73NS10zKEDPFpNJeVtSsGi2Q4TLqsusZUN4hSUCWCQZkCjR9B5rCZm2TcAb99jFdp38cg-VdqI0/s1600-h/front-seating-area.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09DKENdNAIMolhgQ9rx6MmKx3d0ikt3hiEmaCveMs18NqHh_MBijGyiPfnG17so8pg73NS10zKEDPFpNJeVtSsGi2Q4TLqsusZUN4hSUCWCQZkCjR9B5rCZm2TcAb99jFdp38cg-VdqI0/s400/front-seating-area.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335802694851474194" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A close-up of the inside of the fireplace. I loved the smoke patterns. The herringbone brick also reminded me of part of the driveway that looked old, and upon closer inspection it appeared that the builders had used a couple of different colors of bricks to imitate the wear and tear of age. I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture, because I loved the effect.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-35JTHo9fCDPHMjQxW1Y0a2aPRfNODGG4cncuf2IdZteQY2ajLWEqN2QpW5jzkFLt51VPeC5f5m51TjSEpwcOldeK6crtpVTDpvn91pjqLePkMGnajlP4it4fraEwt1yv1ecskUtsdSg7/s1600-h/smoke-pattern.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-35JTHo9fCDPHMjQxW1Y0a2aPRfNODGG4cncuf2IdZteQY2ajLWEqN2QpW5jzkFLt51VPeC5f5m51TjSEpwcOldeK6crtpVTDpvn91pjqLePkMGnajlP4it4fraEwt1yv1ecskUtsdSg7/s400/smoke-pattern.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335803488592711138" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, this garden too felt very secluded, but in a different way than the garden on Academy Drive. Here there was actually quite a bit of acreage surrounding the house, which was set a ways back from the road, and the surrounding woods blocked any view of neighbors. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, being a person who grew up in the country and prefers to not have people looking into my yard, I was surprised that I didn't connect with the naturalistic, woodsy garden here the same way I did with some of the others on the tour, and I had a hard time putting my finger on why. It was obviously gorgeous. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think part of it was that, with the exception of the grotto, I felt more exposed in that garden than I prefer. I didn't feel like there were really any private spaces to explore or hole up in, and I really like that sense of discovery and I like the intimacy of having smaller spaces in a larger whole. Heck, even when I would play in the woods as a kid, I'd compulsively build treehouses and places to hide and secretly survey my domain. You could see pretty much the whole back garden from inside the grotto and I assume from the house, and pretty much the whole front garden from the driveway, and the spaces weren't really broken up significantly into different areas, except between the front patio and front yard, exaggerated by the lack of greenery within the hardscaped areas of the patio. There also wasn't a whole lot of comfortable seating throughout the garden, and I tend to not really relax in seating areas unless my back is to some kind of wall, since I never hear people come up behind me.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I guess that, as a whole, while I loved certain aspects of the Rockcliff Road garden, overall my impression was that it felt more like a place to wander around in than a place to relax. I'm curious to know if anyone else had a similar emotional reaction to this garden, or if it's just a personal quirk.<br /></div></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-74108369001488827412009-05-12T23:36:00.006-05:002009-05-13T01:09:39.511-05:00Gardens on Tour 2009: Academy Dr.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e3MsF_29LfMmI64k90XlqbCDk8ImDk98FFCcG91_bpqZ6DR_ELJx-xjNiLXfAKL9YB0nE8ZqQUgaCJUt71onjasmEKW-px0ySoO1gjheCMh6-BAbAuHbaKg8KzRhUjQuUM15e6u3EuuL/s1600-h/a-severed-head.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e3MsF_29LfMmI64k90XlqbCDk8ImDk98FFCcG91_bpqZ6DR_ELJx-xjNiLXfAKL9YB0nE8ZqQUgaCJUt71onjasmEKW-px0ySoO1gjheCMh6-BAbAuHbaKg8KzRhUjQuUM15e6u3EuuL/s400/a-severed-head.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335163865642632738" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On Saturday morning, I woke up at an ungodly early hour to go to the Wildflower Center-sponsored <a href="http://www.wildflower.org/gardentour/">Gardens on Tour</a>. Our touring group consisted of Diana from <a href="http://sharingnaturesgarden.blogspot.com/">Sharing Nature's Garden</a> (who should be sainted for offering to drive), Pam from <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/">Digging</a>, and me and my friend Nancy, who's in town from even dryer Arizona for the week.<br /><br /><div>Our first stop was in a neighborhood within walking distance of one of my favorite restaurants in Austin, Home Slice. A few times a year, I'll drag a friend to Home Slice for an impromptu hipsterfication tour, which consists of first eating a pizza and then attempting to walk it off by exploring the neighborhoods on the east side of South Congress, which are a nice mix of old cozy bungalows, many of which are being fixed up, added on to, and landscaped with funky xeric plants as the property values skyrocket and ownership changes hands. There are also quite a few teardowns that are being replaced with more modern-looking houses that actually blend pretty well with the fixed-up bungalows. This property on Academy Drive was a particularly nice example of fixing up an old property and putting a modern spin on it.<br /><br />Here's the requisite shot of the area next to the road with the giant agave. The wall behind it has a sliding panel on tracks that can be used to close the driveway and add privacy, which I thought was a cool concept, and the plantings in front keep the facade inviting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE2kLpFhi93g7uhhUuouKTNPvCY_povLTensg4b6VQJ_E84_3GvNtllmv48dUjoWEkrj-saievJgAMwSXvNvRtxw-9vaFMLJEK2Q0jYN_KzujJOu8FMRwgQyvPJV2SNCxt2b-ULaeJnHz/s1600-h/agave.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE2kLpFhi93g7uhhUuouKTNPvCY_povLTensg4b6VQJ_E84_3GvNtllmv48dUjoWEkrj-saievJgAMwSXvNvRtxw-9vaFMLJEK2Q0jYN_KzujJOu8FMRwgQyvPJV2SNCxt2b-ULaeJnHz/s400/agave.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335163867650983730" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the view from just inside the wall on the driveway. The parking area is off to the left, unpictured, with a shade sail suspended over it, so well-integrated into the landscape that I didn't even notice it at first. I also liked how the flowers draping over the retaining wall at the left center of the picture match the color of the decorative window screens. I have no idea where to find screens like this, but I am tempted. They add a lot of personality to the place and I think there'd be more incentive to play with color when you have something you can swap out at whim.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq64kSL-s1bVEJrTnBWFDr9LDBfOKhB9l9pdH6wSRxogzwJSEDMdY0rmhDFyQLlrD-kzBS8nrqQRU4oQyD3YcyMGLehtwWaepFs2qsNZCseW97vAa-j7zrXAOSFAHIhaA1xt-g66ZDVAZT/s1600-h/academy-front.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq64kSL-s1bVEJrTnBWFDr9LDBfOKhB9l9pdH6wSRxogzwJSEDMdY0rmhDFyQLlrD-kzBS8nrqQRU4oQyD3YcyMGLehtwWaepFs2qsNZCseW97vAa-j7zrXAOSFAHIhaA1xt-g66ZDVAZT/s400/academy-front.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335163869783988130" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To the left of the last photo, the materials of the retaining wall change. I like how organic the rocks and rusted metal are, within the framework of a sharp, minimalist design.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTW4fEZrMld2NKcknZNJGqhGpw7bxD6IFnfeaXC-Xkj-hB1BOZGOWRGHqVXvGJIQAwsEhUsSBAXpvhF1chGsn3lDhcojGbnwBB9iDy6iZHjKnoY-vn4aY_mWjXML5PIqPTPhrBnObeuDK/s1600-h/retaining-walls.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTW4fEZrMld2NKcknZNJGqhGpw7bxD6IFnfeaXC-Xkj-hB1BOZGOWRGHqVXvGJIQAwsEhUsSBAXpvhF1chGsn3lDhcojGbnwBB9iDy6iZHjKnoY-vn4aY_mWjXML5PIqPTPhrBnObeuDK/s400/retaining-walls.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335164477950949826" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The property was landscaped to be lush but low-maintenance, and the gravel mulch around the house and flowerbeds was broken up with a series of vignettes. Here we have a succulent combination with some fun details on the deck extension at the front of the house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2mhbbDGCg4ktjgTiFMDJtYK3pfQQS9SzZt1tWm7p1iLcOAcBW6kwBvxoPOcc2j4HCmDGU1luyDpwhROpJgIhnrgITz9qbwtiDZfWbvCWXW2SCJwYBJc_SzvrAUY-98jy_ebLlBY2iLBW/s1600-h/vignette.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2mhbbDGCg4ktjgTiFMDJtYK3pfQQS9SzZt1tWm7p1iLcOAcBW6kwBvxoPOcc2j4HCmDGU1luyDpwhROpJgIhnrgITz9qbwtiDZfWbvCWXW2SCJwYBJc_SzvrAUY-98jy_ebLlBY2iLBW/s400/vignette.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335164486987034418" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A stone stack under some bushes. I love the shades of blue in the smaller stones:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQABsKUHqqRcx0etkeFkVEp7NHeab1WG206q9K4CCHBBnCttepznJtRzKzRnlDYe1HMaq2QccXtKXI362bNMxIhDINqDVmXQml8ORYqDmQMLZNrBnkNPrzlxFo-ICoEjtZWWvoYqbDFduK/s1600-h/stone-pile.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQABsKUHqqRcx0etkeFkVEp7NHeab1WG206q9K4CCHBBnCttepznJtRzKzRnlDYe1HMaq2QccXtKXI362bNMxIhDINqDVmXQml8ORYqDmQMLZNrBnkNPrzlxFo-ICoEjtZWWvoYqbDFduK/s400/stone-pile.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335164478539447602" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A really lovely focal point. I like how that light panel doubles as a fun nightlight.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFQDnjtdmxQ41867C13FGA9EDFpXsN8RFJLSKNHC3WZZvsvKPejEobp35a0JIKFtKfmpDIw3W0hyphenhyphenN0qD_cyDSdr9G82fzcrSzV8_IHTsM38TERWgVpGxpWpLXn-NWtedcTkAmNpm0N2Sw/s1600-h/kitchenette.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFQDnjtdmxQ41867C13FGA9EDFpXsN8RFJLSKNHC3WZZvsvKPejEobp35a0JIKFtKfmpDIw3W0hyphenhyphenN0qD_cyDSdr9G82fzcrSzV8_IHTsM38TERWgVpGxpWpLXn-NWtedcTkAmNpm0N2Sw/s400/kitchenette.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335164475865224898" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Close-up of the various plants. I've got to say that foxtail fern is really growing on me after seeing it used so effectively in this garden. I'd previously thought of it only as a container plant, which is how I always saw it in Wisconsin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdhZ8ipc4Wd7yQGaNskeS2SfhtE2XV5otN7j98ZXGaTWbazyXWpMxuQZEpoTmZoFrvN4a-kaAhXLjdwXIr_X_wZNYbyAXNeVs-MLVk3eErdX80VQhqcse8xxf1B15akuV608BkagusmTn/s1600-h/vignette-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdhZ8ipc4Wd7yQGaNskeS2SfhtE2XV5otN7j98ZXGaTWbazyXWpMxuQZEpoTmZoFrvN4a-kaAhXLjdwXIr_X_wZNYbyAXNeVs-MLVk3eErdX80VQhqcse8xxf1B15akuV608BkagusmTn/s400/vignette-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335164483401061458" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A hedge of inland sea oats runs along the fence beside the sidewalk from front to back. It's going to look amazing in the fall when the arching seedheads mature, but right now it's still lovely, lush, and green.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasADeyWCsMqR4-yrQn4vcgGgWmRlAAPnOJCP15yemvQMIiFBtJPv-RPWyKU-nJiSZO4FymKxcdwuc1jLeUiT8AW9gvMcWRNYD4gfXWF58-PvXl6vFVYzt_T77xxJUygQzyk0-NkqByPqD/s1600-h/inland-sea-oats.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasADeyWCsMqR4-yrQn4vcgGgWmRlAAPnOJCP15yemvQMIiFBtJPv-RPWyKU-nJiSZO4FymKxcdwuc1jLeUiT8AW9gvMcWRNYD4gfXWF58-PvXl6vFVYzt_T77xxJUygQzyk0-NkqByPqD/s400/inland-sea-oats.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335163871129303618" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>How could I post about this place without showing a close-up of the fountain? It's up in the raised "V" area near the front porch. Here it is:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBltqhTaNYHfLZgZdvlsn3Akpo8yHrIhsiTuHzFcDODw7PLDl-G6CNFasO1FG3QYsEOirKOwd_JHTfm6mTGtZokr1Hq57xzM0vkMeiXP5axx6Rlb9pdQ9mRjzbGYjrIxr-vPf4xrsA0vn1/s1600-h/fountain-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBltqhTaNYHfLZgZdvlsn3Akpo8yHrIhsiTuHzFcDODw7PLDl-G6CNFasO1FG3QYsEOirKOwd_JHTfm6mTGtZokr1Hq57xzM0vkMeiXP5axx6Rlb9pdQ9mRjzbGYjrIxr-vPf4xrsA0vn1/s400/fountain-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335163874041635810" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Since I spent the entire evening sweating my butt off doing yard work (and I've gotta admit that I spent quite a bit of that time pondering Lee's <a href="http://the-grackle.blogspot.com/2009/05/yardwork-vs-gardening.html">thoughts on the subject</a>), I wonder just how much of a pain this fountain is to mow around. Don't get me wrong, I love the natural vs. minimalist style and how it's so well-integrated with the lawn, but I wonder if they need to use a hand skimmer to get grass clippings out of the water before they clog the fountain pump or wield pruners to keep a straight edge along the rectangular sections. I know that if this were my property, it would be one of those nit-picky things that would keep me from sitting still on the front porch for longer than a minute at a time.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In retrospect, the strongest impression I have of this garden if of quietness and privacy. The South Congress area is a lively part of town, but walking into this garden, you completely forget about the cafes and shopping and people-watching scene just a few blocks away. And thanks to both the walls around the garden and the plantings and the layout of the house and office in the back, you don't even notice the neighbors. It's very cozy and calming, two things that can be in short supply living so close together in the city.</div><br /><br />FYI, Pam's got a post on this garden with even more pictures and plant IDs <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=2815">here</a>.</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-55524710015434893492009-04-22T08:47:00.002-05:002009-04-24T07:46:47.188-05:00spring's gone sproing.Let us all take a moment to mourn the passing of the best weather Austin's had so far this year. On Monday it was in the low 80's and gloriously unhumid (as opposed, I suppose, to inhumid), and the last in a stretch of perfect days. After I checked the forecast, I went out and took a whole bunch of pictures of all the spring flowers before the heat nuked them. This is the best the show's going to get until fall, so I figured I'd might as well wallow.<div><br /></div><div>So, on Monday, first of all, we have my twobonnets, the twin results of many, many bluebonnet seeds strewn throughout the yard. I'm hoping that the lack of germination is directly related to the drought, and hope that maybe there'll be more of a show next year.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvz8uXvFptfve7TLkKQNCFbL64mHwVvWgXTusQPbDKALPHbepb9qjIrBjusbIbbzpqjvb243bErivKZ_GM4eN4lWNGgimbMQsjW7vS5YIHDRarCm0aqeJKQDLLlWaC6vxHJNrir0btx89G/s1600-h/twobonnets.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvz8uXvFptfve7TLkKQNCFbL64mHwVvWgXTusQPbDKALPHbepb9qjIrBjusbIbbzpqjvb243bErivKZ_GM4eN4lWNGgimbMQsjW7vS5YIHDRarCm0aqeJKQDLLlWaC6vxHJNrir0btx89G/s400/twobonnets.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837817243890482" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Souvenir de la Malmaison in the afternoon. I swear that it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture of this rose. And the scent, which I used to be unimpressed by, has really grown on me this year.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Abmhyphenhyphen8SGoZFVe48mYxqlcPe5IkYd9UrdgXCVdNiz2OQ-IHwUfpWP5XmziwqGUiX-AV2LutsOANlc4ar_GtOCIOd0bAdNtWI5uouDjefugaRRTOwxc8h_bAS1cxV8oFAO9uJt7tWFVOuK/s1600-h/souvenir-de-la-malmaison.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Abmhyphenhyphen8SGoZFVe48mYxqlcPe5IkYd9UrdgXCVdNiz2OQ-IHwUfpWP5XmziwqGUiX-AV2LutsOANlc4ar_GtOCIOd0bAdNtWI5uouDjefugaRRTOwxc8h_bAS1cxV8oFAO9uJt7tWFVOuK/s400/souvenir-de-la-malmaison.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837608036715586" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Louis Philippe has filled out a lot in the last few months. I cut it back really hard in February, and I think that helped a lot. The flowers aren't as showy in this much shade, but I'm impressed that it's doing so well with so little sun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-U8lTSJYJL3n2EyHBatNvrW9Jx0Xmtqq0YZ3l5Lpple5nPmYmoBFxMeeCqZgaTwxA28zEasgdBOGLPb5jjZFm1h998ASwR2CjjbgrpYd72DFANk7pY5k-Tf7EQKBFvxSEhN0dRNs4nQh/s1600-h/louis-philippe.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-U8lTSJYJL3n2EyHBatNvrW9Jx0Xmtqq0YZ3l5Lpple5nPmYmoBFxMeeCqZgaTwxA28zEasgdBOGLPb5jjZFm1h998ASwR2CjjbgrpYd72DFANk7pY5k-Tf7EQKBFvxSEhN0dRNs4nQh/s400/louis-philippe.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837603468934482" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Gruss an Aachen, guaranteed for flower porn. See all those subtle shadings of color? Those disappear the minute it gets above 90F, so I'm enjoying them while I can. And I'm showing remarkable restraint in only posting two of the pictures I took. I took a LOT of pictures.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMyMdLgiAe-3K-gj_m-SODLRQCK82FxHUAFGY_OrSORzsP2C9xYWalwAa0ONedjYz7UeHhjX_jQnhdaS8caA_OmfVlAdUZMCiCzU5BCi8ZatFlsHsSe1CglSf5HTuead8sduE0z-1K3lc/s1600-h/gruss-an-aachen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMyMdLgiAe-3K-gj_m-SODLRQCK82FxHUAFGY_OrSORzsP2C9xYWalwAa0ONedjYz7UeHhjX_jQnhdaS8caA_OmfVlAdUZMCiCzU5BCi8ZatFlsHsSe1CglSf5HTuead8sduE0z-1K3lc/s400/gruss-an-aachen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837599204573650" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJvR2SmeMGYWcfRPB0-khSMCzgjNGiRIofhtinTrRklPPYZ9lbPUYJZP6ScCstcxRn1hZEbY-fh6oxYVRfnVDkrn1dqqno4OBiXr0dmPiSG9uMuNGoKKloCcDF3VRkx-INujf1L0IQyND/s1600-h/gruss-an-aachen-3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJvR2SmeMGYWcfRPB0-khSMCzgjNGiRIofhtinTrRklPPYZ9lbPUYJZP6ScCstcxRn1hZEbY-fh6oxYVRfnVDkrn1dqqno4OBiXr0dmPiSG9uMuNGoKKloCcDF3VRkx-INujf1L0IQyND/s400/gruss-an-aachen-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837111994530802" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Duchesse de Brabant, at peak bloom, and smelling freaking incredible. I do have to admit that it's really hard to photograph this rose and do it justice. I should probably try lying on the ground and aiming the camera skyward, as all the flowers nod.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMigaKsLsV0mq25oRJFiBIIzeDhrTkOiTfatJngC7ArW8cxL4qkzTu5TjArtbTwft40FyxUxDe9tuiGqhvwSZUc5uBzP-Kx-jfQ_K6g04BwObUlc7aRdz-M3o-DWU6UJY7dKdblkqx2BY/s1600-h/duchesse-de-brabant.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMigaKsLsV0mq25oRJFiBIIzeDhrTkOiTfatJngC7ArW8cxL4qkzTu5TjArtbTwft40FyxUxDe9tuiGqhvwSZUc5uBzP-Kx-jfQ_K6g04BwObUlc7aRdz-M3o-DWU6UJY7dKdblkqx2BY/s400/duchesse-de-brabant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837112202283570" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And at last, long after I'd given up hope since I planted the bulbs so late, daffodil Thalia started blooming on Monday. Lousy timing for Thalia, but at least I have some consolation that my pricey impulse buy of a ton of bulbs off the Lowe's bargain table wasn't totally in vain. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that they'll be back-- earlier-- next year. I love the flowers' elegant form. I've heard that they're fragrant, but I was in a hurry when I took the pictures and forgot to smell them.<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6oE2kCjIfB4WtIyxzcGJd_rCKzosqTnb4LGA_3xM07uvSo-DKW-sHQ0nBVKrwlai2PSdGNX0KzxGZY-T558ndikxNqo7T1DkOwXR6b2ggrYx4n5Nf8okA83V1OKihCxrUB51yx41IPAI/s1600-h/daffodil-Thalia.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6oE2kCjIfB4WtIyxzcGJd_rCKzosqTnb4LGA_3xM07uvSo-DKW-sHQ0nBVKrwlai2PSdGNX0KzxGZY-T558ndikxNqo7T1DkOwXR6b2ggrYx4n5Nf8okA83V1OKihCxrUB51yx41IPAI/s400/daffodil-Thalia.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837108545863010" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Belinda's Dream is in full bloom, too. This is another rose I have a hard time photographing from close-up. The flowers on this plant always seem to show insect damage and a good amount of wear and tear, but I know a lot of people go crazy for the hybrid tea-like blooms. I have mixed feelings about this rose, but that's a subject for a separate post.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnNuPuejSr3YdAWKfGZYz7z-LYygCQL1kE1QpwWjFdj5NNmXmZCiBygCuU1fiVR9DKT6MPuiXr_MO8XVcbbZR1I4rfOAxua8Q-W5WO1GtyvRKVX_1YTTe-IozKn4E_9j5GkU3yzq1y1Vw/s1600-h/Belinda's-Dream-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnNuPuejSr3YdAWKfGZYz7z-LYygCQL1kE1QpwWjFdj5NNmXmZCiBygCuU1fiVR9DKT6MPuiXr_MO8XVcbbZR1I4rfOAxua8Q-W5WO1GtyvRKVX_1YTTe-IozKn4E_9j5GkU3yzq1y1Vw/s400/Belinda's-Dream-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837105852139330" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And for comparison purposes to the last few years, the requisite long shots of the garden:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSRafGty4heSmH9PqQZb-g_lTJuzS4e9rBWPXCycrWS_wUs_IyVmQ5SZhSGvc5SSAriDcij7Lph_B5znwIw3ql5JZB7PLT-MPlasxRrVPX-IFwtPzcG96L1wBtGb4TrWCdagLRIM_7mlV/s1600-h/long-shot.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSRafGty4heSmH9PqQZb-g_lTJuzS4e9rBWPXCycrWS_wUs_IyVmQ5SZhSGvc5SSAriDcij7Lph_B5znwIw3ql5JZB7PLT-MPlasxRrVPX-IFwtPzcG96L1wBtGb4TrWCdagLRIM_7mlV/s400/long-shot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837605511491570" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnay_gJeQlsE4AgmmhBeRpxLlCp20ad4J0BdhHfYHMKxqErlOF2WVmReb1WXV3DIvW_hj1So-dqcDvo3pqMVeTMDeRDvK-rqDOf1xdZrq4FvEWa5p4GL7tua1Hb7jI6RwpRQKmBrkMuP-L/s1600-h/across-the-yard.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnay_gJeQlsE4AgmmhBeRpxLlCp20ad4J0BdhHfYHMKxqErlOF2WVmReb1WXV3DIvW_hj1So-dqcDvo3pqMVeTMDeRDvK-rqDOf1xdZrq4FvEWa5p4GL7tua1Hb7jI6RwpRQKmBrkMuP-L/s400/across-the-yard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837106673367170" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7byA2XiIxaFqcphaHSsMlOT6fCrhAggdlXA5fSpn8fjRni-qmHYvY7NudTwiSYAYCDV9z6fUtfGTtmBwPhyphenhyphenNXyhaW3i0KIlOU6p8T2PyzyqpdpLc_eA-oePXVOvOhv3tyDdGUlKzun6z/s1600-h/peak-border.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7byA2XiIxaFqcphaHSsMlOT6fCrhAggdlXA5fSpn8fjRni-qmHYvY7NudTwiSYAYCDV9z6fUtfGTtmBwPhyphenhyphenNXyhaW3i0KIlOU6p8T2PyzyqpdpLc_eA-oePXVOvOhv3tyDdGUlKzun6z/s400/peak-border.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327837606951014594" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am also thrilled to announce that soon I will finally have a hammock to lounge in in the garden. The fine folks at <a href="http://www.teakwickerandmore.com/">Teak, Wicker & More</a>, an online store that sells a huge variety of <a href="http://www.teakwickerandmore.com/Patio-Furniture-C10412.html">patio furniture</a>, contacted me about reviewing one of their products on this blog. After much deliberation and nearly crashing my poor computer with the number of tabs open in my browser, I decided that what I really needed was <a href="http://www.teakwickerandmore.com/Hatteras-Hammocks-L-ST-HH1056.html">this hammock stand</a>. I have long been of the opinion that the peak of decadence is lounging in a hammock surrounded by flowers, and now I have the perfect excuse. For testing purposes, of course. I aim to be thorough.<br /><br />Until then, I'll be out in the garden, trying to get as much done as possible before it's too hot to move.<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-34083859250017749632009-04-15T07:34:00.007-05:002009-04-15T08:22:33.543-05:00Garden Blogger's Bloom Day - AprilAh, April, my favorite month of the year! And it's especially nice this month since we finally got some rain here in Austin, which led to insanely fast growth of everything in the garden and me finally getting a much-needed break from watering everything. <div><br /></div><div>In other news, I can now say that I garden with one hand tied behind my back. </div><div><br /></div><div>Still Life With Wrist Brace:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYBC7ZRa-mRvvzN1KuLzsQ7mPNYubR12uTFTogBwdNnZ84BqckxLo-9N8VIkcCH-5feXK3S73W75_40CU0F3aW0gEge301BCGk4-0mSOQyE0gw6uPs0Rsytr-d_zTtUKtxyVJa75BiPWg/s1600-h/still-life-with-shopping-ba.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYBC7ZRa-mRvvzN1KuLzsQ7mPNYubR12uTFTogBwdNnZ84BqckxLo-9N8VIkcCH-5feXK3S73W75_40CU0F3aW0gEge301BCGk4-0mSOQyE0gw6uPs0Rsytr-d_zTtUKtxyVJa75BiPWg/s400/still-life-with-shopping-ba.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324898726092930306" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yup, I managed to sprain my wrist pretty spectacularly. Sadly, the bag is pretty much there just to keep the brace clean-- I'm under strict orders to keep that hand immobile, which is especially annoying because it's my dominant hand...and it's April in my garden and I have important things to do, *&&^$^$!!!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So if I can't work in the garden, at least I have something to look at. Now that it's April, the roses have started blooming! I got around to my pruning pretty much on Valentine's Day and was a little worried that would mean that everything would bloom late and be victims of a heat wave. Right now, the weather is perfect for the show. In a bit of serendipity, I noticed something a little odd when Maggie started blooming last week. Did the flowers spontaneously change color? Nope, that's Belinda's Dream up there at the top of the fence, rather than in front of Maggie where she's supposed to be. Er, oops?<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz27UWuQfHVSnwMvgqtBwVVVKmazXW8MCAUyZIkGnQ_l6iifQf6rT9lAc1Py3EaP2nAb8UAlREbIRUS6YQZVSQpMqTa_VInbFb2xtY_TU5sjVneZJxDUkbcCRbOAoK3ViLobqb16UAGsr/s1600-h/oops.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz27UWuQfHVSnwMvgqtBwVVVKmazXW8MCAUyZIkGnQ_l6iifQf6rT9lAc1Py3EaP2nAb8UAlREbIRUS6YQZVSQpMqTa_VInbFb2xtY_TU5sjVneZJxDUkbcCRbOAoK3ViLobqb16UAGsr/s400/oops.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324897087801097650" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And on to the flower porn...</div><div><br /></div><div>Marie Pavie:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwV3_m6sFrSDjx8A2hDjul3e4PuXhUuGzQxhm8q2kQJix9lKQETOzGWb36KESRixAtxECDIuD9zL234VGgg6tFWctcLJX4sQ3j4cUWlgh7YpNovW2ixnifm8s7TDGuylMdsVauQdLGjUl/s1600-h/marie-pavie.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwV3_m6sFrSDjx8A2hDjul3e4PuXhUuGzQxhm8q2kQJix9lKQETOzGWb36KESRixAtxECDIuD9zL234VGgg6tFWctcLJX4sQ3j4cUWlgh7YpNovW2ixnifm8s7TDGuylMdsVauQdLGjUl/s400/marie-pavie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896675651118034" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thomas Affleck, in a picture that finally accurately captures his color:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWpLtHIltatMiK_mBKCGPRZgL3HchlNHpJLgmDYysjWOhuScFQs0tWEmaMdFDZ_iKO3cWFHzQMtgzp62c5wejSQxFIrRC3U-QRlFpTfA0YVcw_cVt6xjG0SX8F5GJMLILXrl9TY2tzCYT/s1600-h/thomas-affleck.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWpLtHIltatMiK_mBKCGPRZgL3HchlNHpJLgmDYysjWOhuScFQs0tWEmaMdFDZ_iKO3cWFHzQMtgzp62c5wejSQxFIrRC3U-QRlFpTfA0YVcw_cVt6xjG0SX8F5GJMLILXrl9TY2tzCYT/s400/thomas-affleck.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324897090889321586" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Madame Alfred Carriere, climbing up a mesquite tree and absolutely smothered in sweet-smelling blooms:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimF70dhyphenhyphen6rKfawKam6H5zTsGOMpxcsGXhuPo0eRU6b3iQabGm6NHgZiEiBl_dl9TalG7cNRWnTFA2R9nB6L1SJDEmobWFokCpLQBdldzU3VhAg9f93KPfmRGLiaMceAFbrONGY7CMX36XG/s1600-h/madame-alfred-carriere_sm.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimF70dhyphenhyphen6rKfawKam6H5zTsGOMpxcsGXhuPo0eRU6b3iQabGm6NHgZiEiBl_dl9TalG7cNRWnTFA2R9nB6L1SJDEmobWFokCpLQBdldzU3VhAg9f93KPfmRGLiaMceAFbrONGY7CMX36XG/s400/madame-alfred-carriere_sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896674133571282" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Gruss an Aachen:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5a_c3V4WpxMEem-Mb3tZ2nQyKyVIL2JKNZ1Apt1k2j4po9Oy_tMXZHX1teocakELpj93sNTn-7AbBtmpHlR3uU0YSFujBmKyGyLjXP4JkdYNwIxExxOs_u5IOsQYb3SatnUUnNQZw_vT/s1600-h/gruss-an-aachen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5a_c3V4WpxMEem-Mb3tZ2nQyKyVIL2JKNZ1Apt1k2j4po9Oy_tMXZHX1teocakELpj93sNTn-7AbBtmpHlR3uU0YSFujBmKyGyLjXP4JkdYNwIxExxOs_u5IOsQYb3SatnUUnNQZw_vT/s400/gruss-an-aachen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896665876963858" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Archduke Charles, showing off its color-changing flowers:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexnrL_i5WV1QSgraR0RuWq198utDjdZ57jvCh34rFSxeBztEvxeRYOpoviJTT0W9b1v9MIrUEm9LDH3VgapOGeuMsPJ_iDieQNJXsPzpo5QEYsqewZeFCovvtrTOu6sgsh2c1K4XUfIWC/s1600-h/archduke-charles.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexnrL_i5WV1QSgraR0RuWq198utDjdZ57jvCh34rFSxeBztEvxeRYOpoviJTT0W9b1v9MIrUEm9LDH3VgapOGeuMsPJ_iDieQNJXsPzpo5QEYsqewZeFCovvtrTOu6sgsh2c1K4XUfIWC/s400/archduke-charles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896229028597570" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>From foreground to background: Duchesse de Brabant, Louis Philippe, and Blushing Knockout:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2oDIROqL_r70abhINVMWRPTjsvHJb9lX35tMGhMS5XrO4SkNB9fPQH9dsef1oOhZM4DnKZrkmxZl-0PeShOPx1TivNzyPjTFk1sAoYEj3b9nHxkBZSDFiAUOAbjKC5PpiY012-2y7I2Y/s1600-h/duchesse-louis-knockout.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2oDIROqL_r70abhINVMWRPTjsvHJb9lX35tMGhMS5XrO4SkNB9fPQH9dsef1oOhZM4DnKZrkmxZl-0PeShOPx1TivNzyPjTFk1sAoYEj3b9nHxkBZSDFiAUOAbjKC5PpiY012-2y7I2Y/s400/duchesse-louis-knockout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896231819037970" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Double Knockout:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrpjBbSXQKe4tsOym8EYcwES4d35yt0n7UzyIVRQABPaER7xny4GMoYku8Rc_e6wuyLfHZrPpmzFNM8dStajsJ5P2f1AmvkpUEgqO9fnK32CX3D3l3q27ZFQAhZY9fOs7F6b3A3yO7LJf/s1600-h/double-knockout.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrpjBbSXQKe4tsOym8EYcwES4d35yt0n7UzyIVRQABPaER7xny4GMoYku8Rc_e6wuyLfHZrPpmzFNM8dStajsJ5P2f1AmvkpUEgqO9fnK32CX3D3l3q27ZFQAhZY9fOs7F6b3A3yO7LJf/s400/double-knockout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896231754093314" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Full list of roses in bloom:<br /></div><div><br />Rainbow Knockout<br />Pink Knockout<br />Pink Double Knockout<br />Double Knockout<br />Blushing Knockout<br />Marie Pavie<br />Martha Gonzales<br />Belinda's Dream<br />Maggie<br />Souvenir de la Malmaison<br />Duchesse de Brabant<br />Louis Philippe<br />Archduke Charles<br />Madame Alfred Carriere</div><div>Gruss an Aachen<br />Perle d'Or<br />Thomas Affleck<br />Mutabilis<br /><br /><br />Also in bloom is my tough and trusty favorite, ice plant:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlRz0-qh7UaeeniCI_MbFwmCIP4VUiSUCVOx86JtZt472T3TCBCYKBlaQ29YGj4TiWLGBDvWH0yvsOt4i7EE0GzkRWLwtyMUQe-si44DCMRDw5fA20tgC1CZ9vXZEMn6Qf1FS4cypMtlw/s1600-h/ice-plant.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlRz0-qh7UaeeniCI_MbFwmCIP4VUiSUCVOx86JtZt472T3TCBCYKBlaQ29YGj4TiWLGBDvWH0yvsOt4i7EE0GzkRWLwtyMUQe-si44DCMRDw5fA20tgC1CZ9vXZEMn6Qf1FS4cypMtlw/s400/ice-plant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896672878974722" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And a more unusual addition to the garden, here's the bloom of a native manfreda. The flowers smell like black tea:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudJM2Q4QqVxiDFj9oprpe1-H0lRHQOiLaY0pvc1f37jE2HFVITr6QN-Eoyi3ny2CO1wXRiL9ZdwQtcl7YxXGDPXXO8NI4j2_m9hexY7M28513_IriRtkzLlWA02u-dCbDDafhPeSctIZT/s1600-h/native-manfreda-bloom.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudJM2Q4QqVxiDFj9oprpe1-H0lRHQOiLaY0pvc1f37jE2HFVITr6QN-Eoyi3ny2CO1wXRiL9ZdwQtcl7YxXGDPXXO8NI4j2_m9hexY7M28513_IriRtkzLlWA02u-dCbDDafhPeSctIZT/s400/native-manfreda-bloom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324897089548999458" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, for the first time, the hardy aloe is blooming. I'm not sure of the variety-- I got them bareroot at The Natural Gardener. They seem quite happy in part-shade:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi0WJbAGsz2-3JazyKRJ4-lQBfKI-cbuZ9Mmu0nZ9jF4bdiNI4z7VtkBUyd9MzQHdYrtIwWxs5h5dHBXyxqJeITqstL9IK70d7CuCfZ2uk-aTpxX4x5_MrdSRDx4lDGe8STx_mSacFKIy/s1600-h/hardy-aloe.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi0WJbAGsz2-3JazyKRJ4-lQBfKI-cbuZ9Mmu0nZ9jF4bdiNI4z7VtkBUyd9MzQHdYrtIwWxs5h5dHBXyxqJeITqstL9IK70d7CuCfZ2uk-aTpxX4x5_MrdSRDx4lDGe8STx_mSacFKIy/s400/hardy-aloe.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896672572373410" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, finally, after 2 years, the back border is finally filling in to the point where I don't see mulch and I see much, much less of those ugly landscaping bricks. This makes me very, very happy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbkLWk_1e27s9DoEBzNooAU1KZyVUizzEkDm7pGP-wu3Fb8R52381J7Hw5w7UJ-lw1WbPS-vvJT-9vInqrzCWtrie1qebbM97A11LJwIAcCRu0uQjLoWjoAnPKs9A3Vr7xOAIe0GETMPL/s1600-h/filled-in.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbkLWk_1e27s9DoEBzNooAU1KZyVUizzEkDm7pGP-wu3Fb8R52381J7Hw5w7UJ-lw1WbPS-vvJT-9vInqrzCWtrie1qebbM97A11LJwIAcCRu0uQjLoWjoAnPKs9A3Vr7xOAIe0GETMPL/s400/filled-in.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896239873195682" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And as a surprise for Bloom Day, the datura opened its first bloom. I thought I'd yanked out all of the datura last fall, but this one came back from some roots I missed and I decided to let it stay for old times' sake. It's freaking huge:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OYxu3cGxSrynvjVJfQmTLxMR0GDxULoy3SAFsv0hl8E5uDLwcQRVhRjwe2pNKZAGlqnYuW1bFQgsOo_AD_w61JZIgubmx3YAKJco1ySeeZYV5Xi1K2BAds52X_hj-LJgRoNgsEWXHkkk/s1600-h/datura-size-comparison.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OYxu3cGxSrynvjVJfQmTLxMR0GDxULoy3SAFsv0hl8E5uDLwcQRVhRjwe2pNKZAGlqnYuW1bFQgsOo_AD_w61JZIgubmx3YAKJco1ySeeZYV5Xi1K2BAds52X_hj-LJgRoNgsEWXHkkk/s400/datura-size-comparison.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896228675932946" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also blooming: Canna "Australia" planted against the house, pink Himalayan indigo, caryopteris, catmint, thyme, yaupon hollies, bulbine, verbenas, Mexican feathergrass, salvia greggii, Marilyn's Choice abutilon, narcissus tazetta (planted very late), broccoli, snapdragons, and the last of the pansies. The bluebonnets are winding down and will be done within the next week or so, sadly, but they've had a good run.</div><div><br /></div><div>Have a great Bloom Day, everyone! Check out <a href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/2009/04/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-april-2009.html">Carol's post</a> at May Dreams Gardens to see everyone's GBBD posts.</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-28297585201580105982009-02-15T23:55:00.001-06:002009-02-16T07:25:47.386-06:00Garden Blogger's Bloom Day - FebruaryI really had to hunt to find some actual blooms for this month's Bloom Day. Luckily, the first flower that popped to mind was the bulbine, both bicolor and yellow, blooming in a fairly sheltered sunny spot. They're flowering more than I've ever seen them flower right now. Once the mesquite tree leafs out, the bulbine/agave bed will be in filtered shade, and the show will pretty much be over until next winter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHedmlzSQkBeNeR98sbGiziOnqoPqGKGEKLHStzV0oR-WLcm2qKHA6F28H9bniCm79ysds6msnH9dWgrWds5mL1hc8rJVmYOaTUDSfMEyvxiiteBQ-o2idBCSh6-aBCXYIlyhPTWIx99u/s1600-h/yellow-bulbine.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHedmlzSQkBeNeR98sbGiziOnqoPqGKGEKLHStzV0oR-WLcm2qKHA6F28H9bniCm79ysds6msnH9dWgrWds5mL1hc8rJVmYOaTUDSfMEyvxiiteBQ-o2idBCSh6-aBCXYIlyhPTWIx99u/s400/yellow-bulbine.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303380229913039170" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Due to the lack of flowers, foliage has been keeping things interesting. Here are a few leaves of the Tropicana canna, which I've been covering during freezes since I planted it so late in the fall. I had green and yellow variagated Pretoria cannas right next to the Tropicana, but alas, the ROUS ate them in the dead of night.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVPi-T3tNTt0IXA_xU48FumDtRxFGZve9aXo1OorZ3aUPJAOWmxeQQmPxVvIRRD2_2-gVBKQbYDBa5fs4DH8rdy-dya0bEg55YPvwiLuH2Ii1_3nC2_BJgBz0-uD-VcDs1iTpAIMgCJP2/s1600-h/tropicana-canna.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVPi-T3tNTt0IXA_xU48FumDtRxFGZve9aXo1OorZ3aUPJAOWmxeQQmPxVvIRRD2_2-gVBKQbYDBa5fs4DH8rdy-dya0bEg55YPvwiLuH2Ii1_3nC2_BJgBz0-uD-VcDs1iTpAIMgCJP2/s400/tropicana-canna.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303380229828879842" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And speaking of foliage, I thought the colors and textures of this cold-burned agave were kinda cool.<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV342MgM7l1xGu2VAswHPBClGyHQVFC5XIIfbmMGY-yBp93fFr51bCoK7_38GOdfoLOSBPKswyeirSIoc5SKyWaZzi2y52QHBj2Tp2vd-gfefuEwAd8GXT_SpV-Aegni12J5_ctqInJxm/s1600-h/burned-agave.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV342MgM7l1xGu2VAswHPBClGyHQVFC5XIIfbmMGY-yBp93fFr51bCoK7_38GOdfoLOSBPKswyeirSIoc5SKyWaZzi2y52QHBj2Tp2vd-gfefuEwAd8GXT_SpV-Aegni12J5_ctqInJxm/s400/burned-agave.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303378633974712098" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Every year, I plant some blue pansies. These are this year's selection.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wsuBWzSNfuhl9O-KHQeNlEhh0LhceYtV1b-KuWxX3Mw38Ma7v_lBlGEJbmHkY5nSEFkDbfctI1kI6J5-JZefHHHJFENLsk4jKhxZ3ZBugP6isbb4tDrtLybfwW3Xs_PyFz0xAADCLpfz/s1600-h/blue-yellow-pansies.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wsuBWzSNfuhl9O-KHQeNlEhh0LhceYtV1b-KuWxX3Mw38Ma7v_lBlGEJbmHkY5nSEFkDbfctI1kI6J5-JZefHHHJFENLsk4jKhxZ3ZBugP6isbb4tDrtLybfwW3Xs_PyFz0xAADCLpfz/s400/blue-yellow-pansies.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303378630007511906" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After last week's rain, the wildflower seeds I sowed in the side yard are finally, finally taking off. Here's the first to bloom, white alyssum.<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwWdvYI9vBjiGHydHrgJn0cqfdCKUw8h-UhDJRVjbhm1ujKF_a3ggmfonCsPhs0zzfm1V3baQEuFtcxUKJyIjRU7S3ZKueCx7pT-1QivAb_VqUKpyAyu_9o19Pkl_LzqwLPQXLbiQgsQ5/s1600-h/alyssum.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwWdvYI9vBjiGHydHrgJn0cqfdCKUw8h-UhDJRVjbhm1ujKF_a3ggmfonCsPhs0zzfm1V3baQEuFtcxUKJyIjRU7S3ZKueCx7pT-1QivAb_VqUKpyAyu_9o19Pkl_LzqwLPQXLbiQgsQ5/s400/alyssum.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303378628769821058" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The only rose in the garden right now with blooms is the Rainbow Knockout, and even those are well past their prime. Instead, the Rainbow Knockouts are really shining right now with their bright red hips.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-rd0Zrbz1vc-Afq6JhtBuFu4eCZDE_YDfxEzOaQ8cjkynUHTWpZbOvRXpGbyyYTM3gAcpt0klidn6-maCn7ryL8DTih8CMtRfkE-s4r2va4pksedr7F1gCN8peIFPA556ZyHzMGHK8de/s1600-h/rainbow-knockout-hips.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 367px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-rd0Zrbz1vc-Afq6JhtBuFu4eCZDE_YDfxEzOaQ8cjkynUHTWpZbOvRXpGbyyYTM3gAcpt0klidn6-maCn7ryL8DTih8CMtRfkE-s4r2va4pksedr7F1gCN8peIFPA556ZyHzMGHK8de/s400/rainbow-knockout-hips.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303380225358069026" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My absolute favorite thing in the garden right now, Pandora's Box pansies from Barton Springs Nursery. I couldn't help myself-- I got an entire flat and planted them all around the backyard. I only wish I had some luck with pansies reseeding. These are my favorites of all time. Look at those colors!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIBG6_QCY23HjvbBwLSdAC6frYNSxctaVpyvVxTucUwz2uCiigT3KfRyeOsTBTFFk8E9vaOvxeRbjBdGXEDVxz8ERl3QMNnYMNWTlswSCboxhPG_C49qd8Ja4MwaxTX8eaHJ7pMkIQUvr/s1600-h/pandora's-box.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIBG6_QCY23HjvbBwLSdAC6frYNSxctaVpyvVxTucUwz2uCiigT3KfRyeOsTBTFFk8E9vaOvxeRbjBdGXEDVxz8ERl3QMNnYMNWTlswSCboxhPG_C49qd8Ja4MwaxTX8eaHJ7pMkIQUvr/s400/pandora's-box.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303380226986551170" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The first bloom of 2009 on the Homestead Purple verbena. Usually, the Homestead varieties of verbena are the first to really go crazy blooming in the spring, followed by the magenta blooms of an ice plant I picked up at Walmart years ago. The front bed should be covered in these purple blooms in a week or so.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnMUwQtkfUgyCX0lJC2iAiSDjNnBGNU0os2GPOd3KiEJvzg10PYYZ8ProTN4qTTuxDHMEd556zFsH1C1AbX5emf6d_vvwpjfB6yVh5SzlpVVd-7CZff3xzKAQAwe_OvYZVcNS5mOWiXST/s1600-h/homestead-purple-verbena.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnMUwQtkfUgyCX0lJC2iAiSDjNnBGNU0os2GPOd3KiEJvzg10PYYZ8ProTN4qTTuxDHMEd556zFsH1C1AbX5emf6d_vvwpjfB6yVh5SzlpVVd-7CZff3xzKAQAwe_OvYZVcNS5mOWiXST/s400/homestead-purple-verbena.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303380221556830690" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, some daffodils! Here's the first bloom on Narcissus tazetta 'Grand Primo.' The blooms aren't as showy as Ziva, but boy, oh boy, do they smell better.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQy7qPpTZBWXDehBd38ZnKNvDnxsKVviL5O7gotIO5YWOlJMI9a3ec635SJTpLAqVD9UQosb9s78yBHNGu4DtzEh-1ZhX9WndLP7VMcq4ajPVOGZCfSjbsxrn_q3824MlEB_EEAhgviClD/s1600-h/grand-primo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQy7qPpTZBWXDehBd38ZnKNvDnxsKVviL5O7gotIO5YWOlJMI9a3ec635SJTpLAqVD9UQosb9s78yBHNGu4DtzEh-1ZhX9WndLP7VMcq4ajPVOGZCfSjbsxrn_q3824MlEB_EEAhgviClD/s400/grand-primo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303378633903811538" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A promise of things to come...the bluebonnets are starting to take off! Maybe next month we'll have some more blue in the garden.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O7fwVDgstvlYpnzIqjr0uVGxrCt6rB7z7A-2Fn78084NZRlBfoXAaydmazj-EbA_OfQjHu4lt_G745ZurHxHXr8PWvp9ooelEGzdje25D_RrJs3EzSN3mY6cw_sgbNuIT6D2c9zrRerQ/s1600-h/bluebonnet.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O7fwVDgstvlYpnzIqjr0uVGxrCt6rB7z7A-2Fn78084NZRlBfoXAaydmazj-EbA_OfQjHu4lt_G745ZurHxHXr8PWvp9ooelEGzdje25D_RrJs3EzSN3mY6cw_sgbNuIT6D2c9zrRerQ/s400/bluebonnet.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303378634274707170" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Carol at <a href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/">May Dreams Gardens</a> for coming up with Bloom Day. And check <a href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/2009/02/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-february-2009.html">here</a> for a list of more February Bloom Day posts!</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-18139710844525963182009-02-11T18:31:00.002-06:002009-02-11T18:34:57.741-06:00Moat Shark!<div><br /></div><div>Thanks to last night's thunderstorm, I am now convinced of the effectiveness of the front yard's half-dug swale, which is now a moat:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ0UGNjmJpk1xrQDOsr27Nt09EJFPupSHMOPKSDX3ZccPWSvkTqKipGSs9So85jAUj3lnwd7trb5F1Ae5CjC7KegkXjIO5Up5kBbKa7tCO-pDE420lZkWZ79pgKfb3C5bk5qd_8rhceQd/s1600-h/moat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ0UGNjmJpk1xrQDOsr27Nt09EJFPupSHMOPKSDX3ZccPWSvkTqKipGSs9So85jAUj3lnwd7trb5F1Ae5CjC7KegkXjIO5Up5kBbKa7tCO-pDE420lZkWZ79pgKfb3C5bk5qd_8rhceQd/s400/moat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301702142785600946" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And when it comes to my own personal moat, I have two words for y'all: MOAT SHARK!<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmIM8dTGIFcnrN5aAx5Jh0M6eu-XGD61YnZ0MTdadVSvtiz65Renqu1qcJA_CH1o4sOSDsvCnhguPTOvhJj1ZDvE2Rvfs9SiEWmsOShG1YGwVz6Ua-O6jN3WmtJ6zrWBPyliUB1rDVv-1/s1600-h/moatshark.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmIM8dTGIFcnrN5aAx5Jh0M6eu-XGD61YnZ0MTdadVSvtiz65Renqu1qcJA_CH1o4sOSDsvCnhguPTOvhJj1ZDvE2Rvfs9SiEWmsOShG1YGwVz6Ua-O6jN3WmtJ6zrWBPyliUB1rDVv-1/s400/moatshark.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301702142779691410" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Somehow, I'm not quite hearing the theme from Jaws.</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-71083084474354614822009-01-23T03:46:00.004-06:002009-01-23T04:54:00.836-06:00Narcissus tazetta 'Ziva'<div>Back in, oh, October, when I was loading up on winter-blooming bulbs for naturalizing, Ziva kept coming up again and again as the showiest and most reliable paperwhite for the Austin area. I bought eight bulbs, stuck them in the ground, and crossed my fingers that they would survive the enthusiasm of the mystery ROUS that's been digging up my backyard under the cover of night. Well, let me tell you, my back garden for the last few weeks has been filled with the sweet stench of success!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Living up to its reputation, Ziva is gorgeous and easy to grow. While the other narcissus varieties I planted have taken their sweet time deciding whether they want to deal with Texas, Ziva's green leaves practically leapt from the soil.</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKym-OLLc4EFJV2HF2Nx_uIYmmeWFK5Bi766bzzT-y5vldTzCITg7__dGAvAgzxhYwhXlLLxEY0AeJ7BvcV5JTGQK0GizZIf2CR6_aHfPRPoOzPR9eQghn98KKQs73mmPUraJFouhtout/s1600-h/ziva.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKym-OLLc4EFJV2HF2Nx_uIYmmeWFK5Bi766bzzT-y5vldTzCITg7__dGAvAgzxhYwhXlLLxEY0AeJ7BvcV5JTGQK0GizZIf2CR6_aHfPRPoOzPR9eQghn98KKQs73mmPUraJFouhtout/s400/ziva.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294423603993482834" /></a><br /><br />But, good god, once they sprung into flower, they smelled like ass! The musky reek of Ziva reminded me of horses and livestock. At twenty paces, the smell slapped me in the face and demanded satisfaction with a pistol duel at dawn.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As pretty and harmless as they looked all lined up in a row, planting 8 bulbs was overkill on the scent front, and what with Ziva's naturalizing tendencies, next year should be rife with what we from Wisconsin dairy country ironically call "fresh country air." (Or as the t-shirts say: "Wisconsin: Smell Our Dairy Air.")<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There's an ironic sort of happy ending to this olfactory horror story, though. You may have noticed me saying "smelled," rather than "smells," and this is not because Ziva has finished blooming or is suddenly wafting BOD Man's Really Ripped Abs Fragrance on the breeze.</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32B1_azHVxplMZRV6UrCd__tzAhVMmGku5WJHPtw0PR7Khvujo44LiNXClmghxyMbd6VtWRsPaMFepPruO5HhkBywCIDh8uqWhWHY7n2hPrg0PjkKiUWGtf9QXqOXmyAB27ZIy-k2qZrk/s1600-h/ziva-3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32B1_azHVxplMZRV6UrCd__tzAhVMmGku5WJHPtw0PR7Khvujo44LiNXClmghxyMbd6VtWRsPaMFepPruO5HhkBywCIDh8uqWhWHY7n2hPrg0PjkKiUWGtf9QXqOXmyAB27ZIy-k2qZrk/s400/ziva-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294423606017360834" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Now that cedar season has hit, I can't smell a damn thing, and thankfully, that that includes Ziva's fresh dairy air.<br /></div></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-25515487338995930192009-01-15T15:13:00.005-06:002009-01-15T15:28:52.910-06:00January Bloom DayHere in south Austin, we got our first real freeze on Tuesday night. But fear not, ye alle, for there's still some color to be found in my garden.<br /><br />First up, Marilyn's Choice abutilon, which is hands-down the best abutilon I've tried:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgpIXpn5douu7m9Ar8goj7bpJJ1n_nI8XPRy0SI47wjo_t7BrxvTo5fBfD8GYF81HvEc9jrQ3JoVgrqLKSqZw0OupG_PqEcHVx0GHF23w534VM7r8Cr0NV1uMdxQdvy8ZrDbhV8ZRRmB1/s1600-h/abutilon_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgpIXpn5douu7m9Ar8goj7bpJJ1n_nI8XPRy0SI47wjo_t7BrxvTo5fBfD8GYF81HvEc9jrQ3JoVgrqLKSqZw0OupG_PqEcHVx0GHF23w534VM7r8Cr0NV1uMdxQdvy8ZrDbhV8ZRRmB1/s400/abutilon_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291632374328596306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Second up, we have winter-blooming germander, which I am shocked to report I did not kill in the 12 months since I planted it. It doesn't look spectacular like the one along Lady Bird Lake, but it's alive, so I'm proud:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOC1J8G56Za1YFVSvgOpJq1B5LflypBJ-DNOkNqUnrW7xHLTEeR1whJfsK3pLy1Jd5Tan3QujosynW4iHC9EOl4eQRzEszQ-zegcdz3S4bhtlwdFm_Lf06N_a5EcSCgvukvUF3LRHQcLv5/s1600-h/winter-blooming-germander.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOC1J8G56Za1YFVSvgOpJq1B5LflypBJ-DNOkNqUnrW7xHLTEeR1whJfsK3pLy1Jd5Tan3QujosynW4iHC9EOl4eQRzEszQ-zegcdz3S4bhtlwdFm_Lf06N_a5EcSCgvukvUF3LRHQcLv5/s400/winter-blooming-germander.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291632378578347522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next up, some surprise bright-red hips on the Rainbow Knockout, the only one of my 5 varieties of Knockout to develop hips. This is one Knockout that definitely looks its best and grows the most in cooler weather. In the summer, it looks like a pox-ridden and jaundiced version of its winter self.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zFjWryOxNWwbnpPhZjQw5vQSSJMy8JMh2Fmf_eW2-Q4lRCxb4jAJHmvaAfknbWaKwzUxOgNyXaqmJuL-zJQGPLBbKBeOghQ4dnUxfTCoKcQVbYxZAF2dLm3q55ire4Qoei_NhS_4wJFl/s1600-h/rainbow-knockout-hips.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zFjWryOxNWwbnpPhZjQw5vQSSJMy8JMh2Fmf_eW2-Q4lRCxb4jAJHmvaAfknbWaKwzUxOgNyXaqmJuL-zJQGPLBbKBeOghQ4dnUxfTCoKcQVbYxZAF2dLm3q55ire4Qoei_NhS_4wJFl/s400/rainbow-knockout-hips.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291632376449763522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And blooming like crazy on the east-side fence is a whole bunch of white potato vine.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHVW0RnpW2yCGFOlQZSUEBkkbb1-30VBuTzz0PRxdJu-8Cz5AdUJB22w0vHCKjAWcbA3J2ZCRHKqWpcCwLj6HKAhapHUZ1t70x_F0l-AJ9hFpTG_-5nb8Kcbjb29whCbLj9sJ-1JJDAar/s1600-h/white-potato-vine.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHVW0RnpW2yCGFOlQZSUEBkkbb1-30VBuTzz0PRxdJu-8Cz5AdUJB22w0vHCKjAWcbA3J2ZCRHKqWpcCwLj6HKAhapHUZ1t70x_F0l-AJ9hFpTG_-5nb8Kcbjb29whCbLj9sJ-1JJDAar/s400/white-potato-vine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291632773947845490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And here's the last of Narcissus tazetta 'Ziva,' stinking up the late afternoon garden: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPAJu0YfiT3TA5T7NpTiI7L6SRB2xt3BRJZDNNxeLwSNF6aop4bZLHYN_tAmI1FTDYWw-d1j4yDtHvJq774EBRNZXGuPeShby47gUd4twsRyNJ_4AKG28647UEMYDFqVN6G3wMHAEbsDO/s1600-h/ziva.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPAJu0YfiT3TA5T7NpTiI7L6SRB2xt3BRJZDNNxeLwSNF6aop4bZLHYN_tAmI1FTDYWw-d1j4yDtHvJq774EBRNZXGuPeShby47gUd4twsRyNJ_4AKG28647UEMYDFqVN6G3wMHAEbsDO/s400/ziva.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291632770380624690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No flowers here, but I'm amused by how the leaves on the far right of canna 'Australia' survived the freeze and look fresh and glossy. Actually, everything right along the house looks pretty good, which only proves how incredibly fond of insulation homebuilders were in the 1970's:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfliAJSuA0g22FdWmpIED1BpCH18GzeY3fu_NsgLMbndSFE9px5TIXuRjMHNc7myDpXE6QyAgL-FRo4fi_LWr8AgLUKltrjPz9bOLc49xq3LyRMKyeIhJtaSp1fLRIxY8UizmVAm4gNla/s1600-h/canna-australia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfliAJSuA0g22FdWmpIED1BpCH18GzeY3fu_NsgLMbndSFE9px5TIXuRjMHNc7myDpXE6QyAgL-FRo4fi_LWr8AgLUKltrjPz9bOLc49xq3LyRMKyeIhJtaSp1fLRIxY8UizmVAm4gNla/s400/canna-australia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291632371830669954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And saving the best for last, I cut a bunch of late-blooming roses to bring in as a GBBD insurance policy. Here's Gruss an Aachen in my extremely classy vase:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UVVfLwt29_AzMZUY5cnUmN0JfB4K-6IUwKCMriAMVorJdD76UBKuUtotH2Acc5942oDr-jqr1twLWvvCBAu1t-SETO5dHUwfeoNshHBVaGP1AqXrhriwEtYHZ3mABGxqSAHnOHqkI8C0/s1600-h/gruss-an-aachen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UVVfLwt29_AzMZUY5cnUmN0JfB4K-6IUwKCMriAMVorJdD76UBKuUtotH2Acc5942oDr-jqr1twLWvvCBAu1t-SETO5dHUwfeoNshHBVaGP1AqXrhriwEtYHZ3mABGxqSAHnOHqkI8C0/s400/gruss-an-aachen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291632772501273250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Stay warm, everyone!Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-71019439131161026592008-11-16T23:34:00.005-06:002008-11-17T04:54:29.460-06:00November Bloom DayWell, there are still plenty of cheerful colors in the garden, like this lantana that's trying to turn into a giant bush that devours everything in its path. Actually, come to think of it, this lantana needs a new location, and it might be entertaining to pit it against a purple potato vine. Botanical Death Match!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisMxnyYUanLndo7O6aPuOZISI6LwgVXqFwh71QPeVtl_FlVJwKBrjeBCkhHNIWTag4ZU9BmL1P6LcuixVV1YeUnmxJFonGnjwGZiL-s5Rne2kKPH8UhqUihlN0GDGLVgDgeGi4btiqxpr/s1600-h/bush-lantana.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisMxnyYUanLndo7O6aPuOZISI6LwgVXqFwh71QPeVtl_FlVJwKBrjeBCkhHNIWTag4ZU9BmL1P6LcuixVV1YeUnmxJFonGnjwGZiL-s5Rne2kKPH8UhqUihlN0GDGLVgDgeGi4btiqxpr/s400/bush-lantana.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569069068730434" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Definitely losing this year's sad Lawn vs. Summer Death Match is my back lawn. But this picture is actually supposed to be of the salvias, verbenas, and roses putting on a grand fall show.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF-TeLnNok70qvq0Ns74ldHzClIIp7kvial1oq4twHojCQ6umdVWGmkbvccYEOGJtCKrTyUXwAhsTXp7P3pzOsaDhdOlJqzaYemkTD-GN9cQvv_5eRe1xcXVn8I4WH0HGolTUSeAcAmYZ/s1600-h/back-border.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF-TeLnNok70qvq0Ns74ldHzClIIp7kvial1oq4twHojCQ6umdVWGmkbvccYEOGJtCKrTyUXwAhsTXp7P3pzOsaDhdOlJqzaYemkTD-GN9cQvv_5eRe1xcXVn8I4WH0HGolTUSeAcAmYZ/s400/back-border.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569066129363986" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The show this month is definitely the roses, so without delay, here's Louis Philippe, in one of the only decent pictures I've managed to take of him. My camera is really bad with reds and pinks, but this is a more accurate representation of the color than I've managed to capture so far.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH78Ypx2G9-ge3-xWcCBcbhM7gIgQSlo3tbcsjXDhzWrAEZLr7raqARMxzxTcQ5O-9XoW4Q1PWQ6h8UEfSsfPWHhhHd-frLPdfRucsXdCNE3PwJRAE4OjJHKMCFogFK5GAUgFrqpGapxX6/s1600-h/louis-philippe-miscanthus.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH78Ypx2G9-ge3-xWcCBcbhM7gIgQSlo3tbcsjXDhzWrAEZLr7raqARMxzxTcQ5O-9XoW4Q1PWQ6h8UEfSsfPWHhhHd-frLPdfRucsXdCNE3PwJRAE4OjJHKMCFogFK5GAUgFrqpGapxX6/s400/louis-philippe-miscanthus.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569785460998146" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also frustrated in my attempts to take a decent picture of Duchesse de Brabant in full bloom. This captures the effect, although blurry. I'm kind of liking the blurred effect.<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJjCRDJh4iW2mKRRe3m9To9Jm5qx5Zw59D7QoOAicEfAM633zmjmW64YTsj8GLNKKsY8JdAoYiUQ0J0ASDq9BsQ9q9JhNiKGpIMh3Rp35Ll6LHckyr-UQ4NBQ4YvNlxYL4vTNP6T6gL4R/s1600-h/duchesse-de-brabant-lg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJjCRDJh4iW2mKRRe3m9To9Jm5qx5Zw59D7QoOAicEfAM633zmjmW64YTsj8GLNKKsY8JdAoYiUQ0J0ASDq9BsQ9q9JhNiKGpIMh3Rp35Ll6LHckyr-UQ4NBQ4YvNlxYL4vTNP6T6gL4R/s400/duchesse-de-brabant-lg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569309916596258" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Duchesse de Brabant, close-up:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvumOU4X4DD9Sv52o6QIxmkbRSobegDftbHIljbOIZmn7tRDl8WKMCK_C0NqjO0ng3quNoMplMgH4ZBFfSbnaP4C8uPGEc3QBEtSx31H0Df4FCcoCSYNXQWlIbJsOyVhDwuTF63_xhe-7A/s1600-h/duchess-de-brabant.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvumOU4X4DD9Sv52o6QIxmkbRSobegDftbHIljbOIZmn7tRDl8WKMCK_C0NqjO0ng3quNoMplMgH4ZBFfSbnaP4C8uPGEc3QBEtSx31H0Df4FCcoCSYNXQWlIbJsOyVhDwuTF63_xhe-7A/s400/duchess-de-brabant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569775892305842" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Souvenir de la Malmaison. I'm thinking of relocating this one...for the third time. It's too far back in the border to smell easily (I am slowly learning my lesson there), and in some lights, the very light pink looks dirty next to the more saturated Belinda's Dream and Knockout Rose.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD95vgcmBPs01dM3eYppKQ1-1B_3Kg0ydtqwctBWL3upMVhVeINCd7yRLL_UAFX8yDpCYioM99jdBT7HSQZ4ca9cM-e5fmw8tvfKv7XMQldcg-kYdPKrsfNTXNM8dOCXCwtAyTAGynjfhs/s1600-h/souvenir-de-la-malmaison.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD95vgcmBPs01dM3eYppKQ1-1B_3Kg0ydtqwctBWL3upMVhVeINCd7yRLL_UAFX8yDpCYioM99jdBT7HSQZ4ca9cM-e5fmw8tvfKv7XMQldcg-kYdPKrsfNTXNM8dOCXCwtAyTAGynjfhs/s400/souvenir-de-la-malmaison.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569321266571442" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Republic of Texas blooms in the catmint. I love how these colors work together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTulEQYByoOFNioRJc5bsxdSRMbpZiefRcLZCyyKsGwTrgm3iw3TOKnlUlfKglQFiAU2gqQEkZaT9gaphqDS22iuwiIjsquVP6xowNc5CPcAOM4X0uLcE7tJY8GNoG9AbUZUgmxYcbXtAF/s1600-h/republic-of-tx-&-catmint.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTulEQYByoOFNioRJc5bsxdSRMbpZiefRcLZCyyKsGwTrgm3iw3TOKnlUlfKglQFiAU2gqQEkZaT9gaphqDS22iuwiIjsquVP6xowNc5CPcAOM4X0uLcE7tJY8GNoG9AbUZUgmxYcbXtAF/s400/republic-of-tx-&-catmint.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569313070166994" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Blush Noisette. It's been growing fast since I got it, and has been covered almost constantly in these little blooms. And the scent is both strong and fabulous. I'm counting on this one to perfume the backyard in a year or so. It's going to get a sunny spot to stretch its legs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ReWm9YYC5Lls-GwyUtDztJgqI5W9Y2hoaWF8-DiYTMToYyBR52Tm-MLr6MHeCReap92wh5XBo5G1btcSKqGYO4-ufQYU3wuDmHR2jB9hRR76b9kpIsQ8_IASTkI5kSs0KWCt3RbXvCwl/s1600-h/blush-noisette.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ReWm9YYC5Lls-GwyUtDztJgqI5W9Y2hoaWF8-DiYTMToYyBR52Tm-MLr6MHeCReap92wh5XBo5G1btcSKqGYO4-ufQYU3wuDmHR2jB9hRR76b9kpIsQ8_IASTkI5kSs0KWCt3RbXvCwl/s400/blush-noisette.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569072575349554" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Archduke Charles, finally blooming now that I've both watered it and unearthed it from a thicket of wild sunflowers:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0a-s5hkwpMpf7sRRl0lEsM_oHFlTvMJs6bUwTlo4RxEz19EdbKU3MJaYXiWxwAHWOYNmGRFL1vJJYkmuRUUDw3xb9lM0cGZVFilBXonH0bVF-WPnD3tHSRV35kFMwXAJI9ToRgMFa9BV/s1600-h/archduke-charles.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0a-s5hkwpMpf7sRRl0lEsM_oHFlTvMJs6bUwTlo4RxEz19EdbKU3MJaYXiWxwAHWOYNmGRFL1vJJYkmuRUUDw3xb9lM0cGZVFilBXonH0bVF-WPnD3tHSRV35kFMwXAJI9ToRgMFa9BV/s400/archduke-charles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569067941390402" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Just opened, Archduke Charles. I'm surprised that more people don't grow this rose. The flowers have a great fruity fragrance, the bush is extremely full and healthy (I neglected it all summer and it still looks great), and the color-changing flowers are kind of fun. Out of all the Chinas I've grown, this one is my favorite.<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Bxdb1JXByB8zJMrNF4l3lESBCFskN0jxB3jtMIJLlQxKguN7X8cVgXoHJtQWMLPAy-ytZSbOslldoAbdCpX6MGyQmPYTfm_7biKYrF_2xx7tWbFgI24JPEQjOCf0rP_NkQk6pp3Pmyof/s1600-h/archduke-charles-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Bxdb1JXByB8zJMrNF4l3lESBCFskN0jxB3jtMIJLlQxKguN7X8cVgXoHJtQWMLPAy-ytZSbOslldoAbdCpX6MGyQmPYTfm_7biKYrF_2xx7tWbFgI24JPEQjOCf0rP_NkQk6pp3Pmyof/s400/archduke-charles-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269569055963694114" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Other roses blooming right now:<br />Thomas Affleck<br />assorted Knockouts<br />Zephirine Drouhin, with the third bloom I've gotten in two years<br />Perle d'Or<br />Marie Pavie<br />Maggie<br />Belinda's Dream</div><div>Mutabilis<br /><br />Just finished blooming:<br />Gruss an Aachen<br />Martha Gonzales<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This Bloom Day finally had cool weather, and lately I've been outside working on projects every chance I've gotten. I have big plans, so I suspect that this will remain the case until spring. I can't wait to see what everything looks like next November Bloom Day!</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. Other Death Match candidates? Horseherb vs mint. </div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-29827586963996853722008-11-10T05:30:00.025-06:002008-11-14T07:52:27.170-06:00Peckerwood!Last Friday, a bunch of us Austin garden bloggers drove over to Hempstead for a private tour of <a href="http://www.peckerwoodgarden.com/">Peckerwood Gardens</a>, John Fairey's botanical and artistic experiment-in-progress. It wasn't what I was expecting-- which was a sort of contemporary-looking xeriscape garden that would lend itself to putting my brand-new Canon PowerShot SD1100 through its paces-- and this was not a bad thing.<br /><br />We were met at the entrance to the garden by John Fairey himself, whom I liked immediately. There are certain people who seem to radiate intelligence, curiosity, and good humor, and he was one. After giving us a rundown on the history of the garden and the purpose of the land contouring for drainage and microclimate creation, we were introduced to Chris Camacho, one of the two gardeners who maintain the space, and he was our guide for the rest of the tour.<br /><br />On this tour, I learned a boggling amount about trees. A large amount of space at Peckerwood is dedicated to trying out tree species from around the world to see how they'll do in Central Texas. In particular, there were quite a few varieties of oak and magnolia. Chris explained that the largest variety of species is found in Mesoamerica, and since those species tend to be acclimated to extreme conditions, they do well in Central Texas. At this point, Chris was rattling off botanical names like a Valley Girl, like, says "like," which was pretty awesome. I, er, may have kind of developed a geek crush on him. I blame that for not taking any pictures of the trees. I was kind of engrossed.<br /><br />Eventually, we got to the part of the garden with the xeriscape plants, and my camera distracted me instead. And it disappointed me-- it turns out that the Canon Powershot SD1100 display is completely useless in sunlight, even if you shade it with your hand. So for most of these pictures, I was just guessing where the macro was focusing. And since I like my macro options, this camera is going back to Circuit City. Which sucks even more when you consider that the color balance and clarity of these blind-focused pictures was really impressive compared to my old Nikon, and there wasn't much I had to do in ImageReady other than resizing everything.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9L8-2pPkSWRCPtc5u7ikOFeewzfgVBnIwuAH_6VDcUVOAHtG8SbrUbME08B8yTbaaow-b27v8AS_BW4djh9vrCjxqRZgjv5fk_7PdNbu8E6jlklKaBqr9c4-DUuQliN4mYueWLDOPjhV/s1600-h/sotols.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9L8-2pPkSWRCPtc5u7ikOFeewzfgVBnIwuAH_6VDcUVOAHtG8SbrUbME08B8yTbaaow-b27v8AS_BW4djh9vrCjxqRZgjv5fk_7PdNbu8E6jlklKaBqr9c4-DUuQliN4mYueWLDOPjhV/s400/sotols.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266991861464341698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNJ2EqyO5l-Xi_5zOsKQ0LNlkrV-7Fu0jjAyXr0PTQBUxYFLgu01iO7gL8LHoQZZNbWaomm7Erx6qt1gIE6L3T8L0jkQfhJz0IE8l5NJFGBBTbjwcE6fS892BtZo6cSWEa24xm8ZpuG4o/s1600-h/sharkskin-agave.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNJ2EqyO5l-Xi_5zOsKQ0LNlkrV-7Fu0jjAyXr0PTQBUxYFLgu01iO7gL8LHoQZZNbWaomm7Erx6qt1gIE6L3T8L0jkQfhJz0IE8l5NJFGBBTbjwcE6fS892BtZo6cSWEa24xm8ZpuG4o/s400/sharkskin-agave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266991541568553282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u4CdqcqQqwijWmCWSoN_SPvQe1Bmu0sdqBzY9_OXVPoMdfI4uEVfv3qudIxPLn_Zj_k9cTLd527qGKz8ywJ9jcFi0OtHdp7vq88kV-GZKGQj6Bpn1di6b3B5bcYfKa05poAF08xXeK43/s1600-h/plasticy-tropical.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u4CdqcqQqwijWmCWSoN_SPvQe1Bmu0sdqBzY9_OXVPoMdfI4uEVfv3qudIxPLn_Zj_k9cTLd527qGKz8ywJ9jcFi0OtHdp7vq88kV-GZKGQj6Bpn1di6b3B5bcYfKa05poAF08xXeK43/s400/plasticy-tropical.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266991530725427666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2tzKa5bhmBQK-SpGmVa22P_2J9gsE4Q5BFUpPCe9boHNTTjJspNRlYaGgxqui4hEQf4Qf8Q5aM1ZEa-YMDQBkss5Vehag5GtuipT4sok830uooHs_E-dU_UZUXcMlaOpOfXnvVj6Q2-x/s1600-h/gulf-muhly-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2tzKa5bhmBQK-SpGmVa22P_2J9gsE4Q5BFUpPCe9boHNTTjJspNRlYaGgxqui4hEQf4Qf8Q5aM1ZEa-YMDQBkss5Vehag5GtuipT4sok830uooHs_E-dU_UZUXcMlaOpOfXnvVj6Q2-x/s400/gulf-muhly-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990452903518818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Eventually, the path through the xeriscape garden took us into the woods. One of the things I really liked about this section of the garden was how shady it was. I love the sculptural functions of cactus and agave in the garden, but I worry that my yard doesn't get enough sun for them to do well. But here's evidence that part-shade and cactus can work well together, as long as there's good drainage.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqwgG-dDFNExfH2PZajYvFitVbir16f-gEChqMXK04E3AlnfLGY1stQun_g1b6Xn39Dk_kCj56Wi89gopJ9LDGCKUbzBZP1pFJIvzdt86DTD_P885QEYgsCSbSgf58G3zCEaygJhU7FGa/s1600-h/part-shade-agave.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqwgG-dDFNExfH2PZajYvFitVbir16f-gEChqMXK04E3AlnfLGY1stQun_g1b6Xn39Dk_kCj56Wi89gopJ9LDGCKUbzBZP1pFJIvzdt86DTD_P885QEYgsCSbSgf58G3zCEaygJhU7FGa/s400/part-shade-agave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990971963074914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVRtigfu5IY5_1FEkTGPTmmMLoBAf28R_YXY_4qZyxnFspr9xn_ynbA3_J6xFs9govMXWAQJb_vnuHY6MRgMT0GF5X4f0rKGsuVdTwZhL9QBkjNUo76jNeUeADbf-yqNZiED_DtIUSlDl/s1600-h/shade-cactus-garden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVRtigfu5IY5_1FEkTGPTmmMLoBAf28R_YXY_4qZyxnFspr9xn_ynbA3_J6xFs9govMXWAQJb_vnuHY6MRgMT0GF5X4f0rKGsuVdTwZhL9QBkjNUo76jNeUeADbf-yqNZiED_DtIUSlDl/s400/shade-cactus-garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266991531506040098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVvBUDqE09FfrBVrOjq2E6pt4f66vdqsEHUM3rHNAGMq-f-85OBbOvhc1cGrATIC8Llsoq7Z7x44UbvBDC1FI-3rvrXpoLyt0w18tRg6kk1OKlBHj5TUpXBrWvx3ID5jurMupXSJajvoI/s1600-h/under-the-sea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVvBUDqE09FfrBVrOjq2E6pt4f66vdqsEHUM3rHNAGMq-f-85OBbOvhc1cGrATIC8Llsoq7Z7x44UbvBDC1FI-3rvrXpoLyt0w18tRg6kk1OKlBHj5TUpXBrWvx3ID5jurMupXSJajvoI/s400/under-the-sea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266991872372197506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-An1SKUzsQVNbPdAjWkn4hrdgRRylBc014y6CdZp9on3x6CvvahiO76TVU2gYBUTob15u7OFJ_NN9MlduHBJoChpz2eeUIPcuIpc31ia8NQ3hm1MinRVwgSh_OWXblQ-FNqa-Welzv2F/s1600-h/sharkskin-row.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-An1SKUzsQVNbPdAjWkn4hrdgRRylBc014y6CdZp9on3x6CvvahiO76TVU2gYBUTob15u7OFJ_NN9MlduHBJoChpz2eeUIPcuIpc31ia8NQ3hm1MinRVwgSh_OWXblQ-FNqa-Welzv2F/s400/sharkskin-row.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266991857543032242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJY1hhZGyFSuaKyoBpbych4Js6EOqhLz-lVsMb6Lmo_rrkA3jL2cv_lR_5FIHKbhZ7NzEon3ZwdoyfEln80jMzhkKfGLVCGRqvAxEAVRqk_Dn5n4u0W1Exlxg9fJCs9S5iLOUQljstd1g/s1600-h/metal-backdrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJY1hhZGyFSuaKyoBpbych4Js6EOqhLz-lVsMb6Lmo_rrkA3jL2cv_lR_5FIHKbhZ7NzEon3ZwdoyfEln80jMzhkKfGLVCGRqvAxEAVRqk_Dn5n4u0W1Exlxg9fJCs9S5iLOUQljstd1g/s400/metal-backdrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990965222289794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A fountain I adored, a set of faces on each side of the wall setting off John's house from the rest of the garden. I've always liked Green Man garden art, and these more abstract versions were really compelling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9UxuY5GuNeeP8ZhMpYMG1LjAuKyB6PHwwn4NSqVDohu6g1clXSVlhTRisUiEo14yl-FI7uhctj2GUUd4I49nB3_cxNfX2N9K1BRwBQvceaeESEVQgZvVZ0oUjGNClHMG0IpO6Wa408yY/s1600-h/other-fountain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9UxuY5GuNeeP8ZhMpYMG1LjAuKyB6PHwwn4NSqVDohu6g1clXSVlhTRisUiEo14yl-FI7uhctj2GUUd4I49nB3_cxNfX2N9K1BRwBQvceaeESEVQgZvVZ0oUjGNClHMG0IpO6Wa408yY/s400/other-fountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990967856505938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgLjFwC-lvxkilv5upEuKQGDl2a2DMvLqtYNlx0w7-90EhZXz3bY-I7GTR9h5TSVya4z_nzqKe5FnGXXL0BrpJkGSJzcMIMQbmmbI6Tnm_UVwJwMgH5wT7sxJ9roPcuF6Np51sQhkOCDV/s1600-h/awesome-fountain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgLjFwC-lvxkilv5upEuKQGDl2a2DMvLqtYNlx0w7-90EhZXz3bY-I7GTR9h5TSVya4z_nzqKe5FnGXXL0BrpJkGSJzcMIMQbmmbI6Tnm_UVwJwMgH5wT7sxJ9roPcuF6Np51sQhkOCDV/s400/awesome-fountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990432159101538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And here I got a little obsessed with a pergola/trellis design that, along with the fountain wall, divided the public and private areas of the garden. I liked both how the lines worked with the geometry of the landscape and I liked how it looked like something that I, in a daydream of wielding weapons of mass construction, could build myself.<br /><br />On a side note: Doesn't this look like an excellent place to hang a hammock? I feel my garden won't be complete until I have a good home for a hammock. (And here my inner 12-year-old is gleefully chanting, "Peckerwood, hammock, Peckerwood!" Why I feel the need to share this, I do not know.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JvGUMGaBPgfoaO4Fbo_L1G32Xeof8puPIhj-FPXJkI8LicsHxzHHwYVRVklRJHQcdo045gQAKscrbhJ7awMHhVpj6xBqCn3GJCWI7SpmQ42O3sJUzuzVr7CVO9HMvQD8YmQFUXavStB8/s1600-h/pergola-tunnel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JvGUMGaBPgfoaO4Fbo_L1G32Xeof8puPIhj-FPXJkI8LicsHxzHHwYVRVklRJHQcdo045gQAKscrbhJ7awMHhVpj6xBqCn3GJCWI7SpmQ42O3sJUzuzVr7CVO9HMvQD8YmQFUXavStB8/s400/pergola-tunnel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266991529263441250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFpV6hsZ5FP7ui2LPbytZVwcURqMN7jPXqjUAQEi9GO7H7-mCfd3R6WI6l-V2z6HlsWt3lil1tmCPl_aDnYWA0oouetpsLEiTSF-8ClpWpfQ6uFkR8HodlYvRTzzbVcvUnf1GBhHxARjb/s1600-h/pergola-details.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFpV6hsZ5FP7ui2LPbytZVwcURqMN7jPXqjUAQEi9GO7H7-mCfd3R6WI6l-V2z6HlsWt3lil1tmCPl_aDnYWA0oouetpsLEiTSF-8ClpWpfQ6uFkR8HodlYvRTzzbVcvUnf1GBhHxARjb/s400/pergola-details.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990980710659058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaV1VkeDagBr-nQ8rAg9och9VBO342O_LvxT8UcW9X89Jg_CRQIe8V1U0rgGQYWtfJ3NjSG3tPq6fFAjq1T13tp3RtZ90i3j7SQsNkKrlQnB0JsY6sEKVqEAFzaCM_NcedtYwPfxOz8u4/s1600-h/cactus-window.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaV1VkeDagBr-nQ8rAg9och9VBO342O_LvxT8UcW9X89Jg_CRQIe8V1U0rgGQYWtfJ3NjSG3tPq6fFAjq1T13tp3RtZ90i3j7SQsNkKrlQnB0JsY6sEKVqEAFzaCM_NcedtYwPfxOz8u4/s400/cactus-window.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990440531619154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Why not make this digression into immaturity official? Ladies and Gentlemen: The Peckerwood Shrine To Your Inner 12-Year-Old!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBL0S6cKDHCTG2-nlyb2JnQAnCAQBjdv6yoU17o5SVPXLPXCC0IsglHYFTVDuqkU3jERIIMiacPN3VNNNdvf2w4ncxuwXGslv_1cYzEPW7nsUGw3oCYAg3S8L9D4PvtDyN_u_qEteISY48/s1600-h/peckerwood.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBL0S6cKDHCTG2-nlyb2JnQAnCAQBjdv6yoU17o5SVPXLPXCC0IsglHYFTVDuqkU3jERIIMiacPN3VNNNdvf2w4ncxuwXGslv_1cYzEPW7nsUGw3oCYAg3S8L9D4PvtDyN_u_qEteISY48/s400/peckerwood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990982742274242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So yeah, I got punchy for a while at that point, which lasted until Chris finally broached a related subject on my mind-- why would anyone name a garden "Peckerwood?" Sadly, I wasn't really listening to the answer, which had something to do with a book, because I was looking around at all of the the big trees with bushes at the base and trying to keep a straight face (I warned you-- 12!). But I did get a chance to ask Chris a burning question at the end of his Peckerwood etymology: Does it ever stop being funny?<br /><br />"No!" he said, and laughed. In retrospect, I wish I'd asked a followup: How long did you have to practice in front of the mirror before you could say it in a serious voice? Ah, well. It's not like I have a reputation for journalistic integrity to uphold here, or anything.<br /><br />Anyway, I enjoyed how this place and its people had a sense of humor. Here's some visual wit-- check out how the fan shape of the sculpture echoes the palm fronds and the fan shape of the pine needles in the trees.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9J1IYdNrdN-yKwlUaLbRVrmp98fJWEC0mB-xV9nkscWuz9WEbfLuyv2ugOGaPG_nJwkKdEVVLfJ1zXWXeMlcdb3_Cdu7SlGOmJZES6bwcQHKCwSg-_O1sOzurSmEUp3ULzbx845FsL58q/s1600-h/fan-theme.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9J1IYdNrdN-yKwlUaLbRVrmp98fJWEC0mB-xV9nkscWuz9WEbfLuyv2ugOGaPG_nJwkKdEVVLfJ1zXWXeMlcdb3_Cdu7SlGOmJZES6bwcQHKCwSg-_O1sOzurSmEUp3ULzbx845FsL58q/s400/fan-theme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990453616668306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lots of lush undergrowth in the woods. Not really funny unless you're trying really hard to not make a bad hardwood forest joke.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_v2Va5zeNLSxhHlRx-7PYNXUj3vnhm5EHghj2z7wFqzdK9TCgcuKoM4pJe7dc4LzsQcuAaRixylUxJCIzg9BTo5H7GEo6Sa7NQ0w0IA5D1-ZsK-Lr51Y1oOzI8G74awIhVrgugYeVRoV/s1600-h/shade-garden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_v2Va5zeNLSxhHlRx-7PYNXUj3vnhm5EHghj2z7wFqzdK9TCgcuKoM4pJe7dc4LzsQcuAaRixylUxJCIzg9BTo5H7GEo6Sa7NQ0w0IA5D1-ZsK-Lr51Y1oOzI8G74awIhVrgugYeVRoV/s400/shade-garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266991540649670178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On a more serious note, one of the things this place got me thinking about was the passage of time. Gardeners in particular know that what they do entails a lot of waiting for things to grow and there's no guarantee that they'll do what you want them to do. It was amazing to me that most of the garden was leveled by a tornado in 1983, and most of what you see is from after that. It took an awful lot of waiting-- most of the span of my lifetime, really-- for the landscape to evolve into the mature trees and sense of permanence you get today in the heart of the garden. I tend to be impatient, waiting for my garden to look the way I see it in my mind's eye, but that's something I can work towards and look forward to, while also enjoying the process and the hard work, which have their own benefits.<br /><br />In these days when it seems like people are constantly relocating, I envy John Fairey for being able to work so intensively at one site for such a sustained period of time. Many of us, I suspect, don't get to see what a tree we planted looks like thirty years later. Oaks are generally long-lived trees, and there was one particular oak at Peckerwood that I took a liking to. I find myself wanting to get ambitious, mark dates on the calendar, maybe ten and thirty years from now, to return to the garden and see how that oak is doing. I find it absurdly comforting to think of it existing there, like Yeats' golden bird, with the potential to outlive us all.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoFIMTwyTeHotuAHJoRZhnoaspWCwjtJalGHzr2iF9YJyZ4uknKOFvetzG7YfWAP01y00sGhkLUv8dANi-mipvFqOFJQhGCu6N3up1AA23IXIa9WmxVK8fhFa9doxSYP2KL-fHiZXvtVk/s1600-h/camella.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoFIMTwyTeHotuAHJoRZhnoaspWCwjtJalGHzr2iF9YJyZ4uknKOFvetzG7YfWAP01y00sGhkLUv8dANi-mipvFqOFJQhGCu6N3up1AA23IXIa9WmxVK8fhFa9doxSYP2KL-fHiZXvtVk/s400/camella.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990445030100626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Many thanks to Diana of <a href="http://sharingnaturesgarden.blogspot.com/">Sharing Nature's Garden</a> for organizing this tour! I doubt I would have ever visited Peckerwood if I couldn't do it in the company of fellow gardeners.<br /><br />Here are links to everyone else's posts about our safari:<br />Diana @ <a href="http://sharingnaturesgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/peckerwood-party.html">Sharing Nature's Garden</a><br />Pam @ <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=1460">Digging</a><br />MSS @ <a href="http://www.zanthan.com/gardens/gardenlog/?p=2400">Zanthan Gardens</a><br />Vertie @ <a href="http://vertaustin.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-peckerwood-view.html">Vert</a><br />Cheryl @ <a href="http://consciousgardening.blogspot.com/2008/11/who-you-callen-peckerwood.html">Conscious Gardener</a><br />Libby @ <a href="http://auroraprimavera.blogspot.com/2008/11/quercus-maximus.html">Aurora Primavera</a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-14424522546837294922008-10-30T20:59:00.008-05:002008-10-30T21:55:34.508-05:00The Natural Gardener: Fall Butterfly GardenThis afternoon, I trekked out The Natural Gardener to acquire both quality dirt and some better ideas for attracting butterflies to my garden. It's butterfly migration season in Austin, and all week I've been watching butterflies of all kinds fly in confused-looking patterns through my yard, completely ignoring the many verbena, lantana, and salvia varieties I'd planted for them. They even shunned the Gregg's mistflower I'd transplanted with the certainty that it would be definite butterfly kegger material.<br /><br />So I figured that if I was missing something in my planting scheme, the butterfly garden at The Natural Gardener would clue me in. The garden features quite a few fall-blooming butterfly plants, including milkweed, fall aster, pentas, dalea, lantana, firebush, and several different varieties of mistflower.<br /><br />The entrance to the butterfly garden, with a nice little pond. (Note to self, add a wildlife water source to your garden already!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2_6v6YO8oF9_lKHPdcNe3kqLwJ00Mth_-iodDkge5wqWS5lzEXONqLjufxH2t5gojgpUnvV3VYFsU2cfKrcUgJLEcfzoxyXaYw8t8P9ivX_dV-Ud4ZGILP5X_TdpGJDcR_d8Tn8o8iqX/s1600-h/garden-entrance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2_6v6YO8oF9_lKHPdcNe3kqLwJ00Mth_-iodDkge5wqWS5lzEXONqLjufxH2t5gojgpUnvV3VYFsU2cfKrcUgJLEcfzoxyXaYw8t8P9ivX_dV-Ud4ZGILP5X_TdpGJDcR_d8Tn8o8iqX/s400/garden-entrance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263131910854200722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The right fork. I wish I'd taken a closer look so I could ID that yellow flower on the right.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhmZ77kyImiLcDzXH1IFjW_ytapi0U6Cw-LOR_f2UXdxr6HOUZHq59xvaiiAy90AlnEjQkMcbDKJT4cnf10gYBuEzh41NRpVif97XbSZOaIvdOH2c36PTuPtT-vXSYyPlFo3p4LT2OlVD/s1600-h/right-fork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhmZ77kyImiLcDzXH1IFjW_ytapi0U6Cw-LOR_f2UXdxr6HOUZHq59xvaiiAy90AlnEjQkMcbDKJT4cnf10gYBuEzh41NRpVif97XbSZOaIvdOH2c36PTuPtT-vXSYyPlFo3p4LT2OlVD/s400/right-fork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263131981281519970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Farther down the path, firebush, with orange milkweed in the background. I didn't see many butterflies on the red-flowering firebush, and the milkweed seemed only slightly more popular:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc2BgYWrgvAb2SFEmReZ6WLeY-DFBZ_u0U0-LnIS33pZCX733FlViJWz8K_CfDjgx3x-zqvy4DzqnKovqzcodxMYNLWgfB-dwL3M5ugMB6AaFoVdHZ2J5ICCeozZ0vpbHcFaMwPadBC_6/s1600-h/firebush.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc2BgYWrgvAb2SFEmReZ6WLeY-DFBZ_u0U0-LnIS33pZCX733FlViJWz8K_CfDjgx3x-zqvy4DzqnKovqzcodxMYNLWgfB-dwL3M5ugMB6AaFoVdHZ2J5ICCeozZ0vpbHcFaMwPadBC_6/s400/firebush.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263132967091879026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Taking the left fork instead, here are firebush and mistflower, clashing like the butterfly-attracting titans they are! I'm trying to keep to a cool color scheme in my backyard, but I told myself that if I had to plant a garish firebush in the middle of all of the pink and blue to feed some butterflies, I'd grit my teeth and do it. In a neglected corner. But where the bleep are the butterflies?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtW8ybRGnw6lIPf7AfUcCnvpQerVZK80Q9ZHNPGq41FugwJaFavm_fYgiN-FK0PS_v89tHl817D9bPvuf-uSyFy6TrmQF0RB8KkX1Ig38zdLbKJKYArsv15EabM65_gEzGgCqX43d9-E5/s1600-h/firebush-&-mistflower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtW8ybRGnw6lIPf7AfUcCnvpQerVZK80Q9ZHNPGq41FugwJaFavm_fYgiN-FK0PS_v89tHl817D9bPvuf-uSyFy6TrmQF0RB8KkX1Ig38zdLbKJKYArsv15EabM65_gEzGgCqX43d9-E5/s400/firebush-&-mistflower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263132446540687842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jackpot! Here's where all of the butterflies are hanging out, the blue mistflower! Hmm...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs52Kg3j6IuFrdx2gfHOlR-r9czRCnzutGJ9tKy7uSHKhOHbUDlSB_0fzSx5NjZKFyblkq_ej53kM9KI81ua8EDQ91ezzwr_0pCy_Z9DXQTFeQ3F-27IPt9Cz-rJhMdFCJzRzAZcNGdHsC/s1600-h/butterfly-mistflower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs52Kg3j6IuFrdx2gfHOlR-r9czRCnzutGJ9tKy7uSHKhOHbUDlSB_0fzSx5NjZKFyblkq_ej53kM9KI81ua8EDQ91ezzwr_0pCy_Z9DXQTFeQ3F-27IPt9Cz-rJhMdFCJzRzAZcNGdHsC/s400/butterfly-mistflower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263132432723783554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Upon closer inspection, it became apparent this was a completely different variety of mistflower than the one I've planted all over my yard. This plant forms a huge, tall, dense bush rather than a groundcover under 18 inches. Browsing through the perennials in the nursery looking for a match, this plant was revealed to be the fragrant native mistflower.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45lJOkYgRlZoVGhBK1Mpde54aXSIooL2xxEnBUxoVtHzAkeqgecRI1i1rwtvzjtW1GkF7GE1KzwiMG1Q-yozwm7h1A2IxwzruGinBvmh20WyTyl50MS5zNDVmXmxOs0-1IO8U4bLXYZVk/s1600-h/butterflies-on-mistflower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45lJOkYgRlZoVGhBK1Mpde54aXSIooL2xxEnBUxoVtHzAkeqgecRI1i1rwtvzjtW1GkF7GE1KzwiMG1Q-yozwm7h1A2IxwzruGinBvmh20WyTyl50MS5zNDVmXmxOs0-1IO8U4bLXYZVk/s400/butterflies-on-mistflower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263132431604118866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />This planting of native mistflower was completely covered in butterflies, with butterflies flying a few feet around and above it. I only wish my camera was better so I could have properly captured the spectacle. If you look closely, you can see a blur right above the mistflower that's actually a butterfly in flight. They were a busy bunch, and it took some patience to get a picture where they were in focus.<br /><br /><br />I also noticed that despite there being both native and Gregg's mistflower in the butterfly garden, the butterflies were ignoring the Gregg's here too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And last of all, a planting of native fall aster behind a stone bench:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJrAXEKfncorWhfSp7Mhi3yjqqYPG0tLnqfUt_bbwkgtUP0Gt3w6vy77_-V_c3DNSLLwKLGLrBP077Tr6_smcl7fFkVfHlG6VM0CIo9ezPgaedx6u7WQaFG9zfxr6SLQL9EJyGMeaQW0C/s1600-h/bunny-bench.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJrAXEKfncorWhfSp7Mhi3yjqqYPG0tLnqfUt_bbwkgtUP0Gt3w6vy77_-V_c3DNSLLwKLGLrBP077Tr6_smcl7fFkVfHlG6VM0CIo9ezPgaedx6u7WQaFG9zfxr6SLQL9EJyGMeaQW0C/s400/bunny-bench.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263132423307138146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I grabbed a pot of the white fragrant native mistflower on the way out, and I'm hoping I can make enough room for it to fill in and thrill a decent population of butterflies by next fall. If you have a chance to stop by the butterfly garden over the next week or so, I recommend it. I don't think I've ever seen so many butterflies in one place before, and it made my day.Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-77748670116627522432008-10-27T18:56:00.000-05:002008-10-30T21:57:54.525-05:00Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, it gets ridiculously better...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDtTc88oCKjNdct1jbBfhi6-xJxLcbgKK5uV6O-VJp5ZpkVy6yNU2H_OWR_oTWIXwtyXZdbLw6wpSGLEIXY7XI53s103Hj5Pm2KUVY8zcvW6_lKCPNtEa9dd_7-_dlNzYD_EGC938iu0w/s1600-h/gruss-an-aachen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDtTc88oCKjNdct1jbBfhi6-xJxLcbgKK5uV6O-VJp5ZpkVy6yNU2H_OWR_oTWIXwtyXZdbLw6wpSGLEIXY7XI53s103Hj5Pm2KUVY8zcvW6_lKCPNtEa9dd_7-_dlNzYD_EGC938iu0w/s400/gruss-an-aachen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263146672642663490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And this concludes the Gruss an Aachen flower porn, I swear!Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-82743504525460887262008-10-20T17:21:00.004-05:002008-10-21T17:28:28.168-05:00I take it back: Gruss an Aachen is fragrant, after all!I don't know what it is about this weather, if I can blame the temperature or perhaps humidity, but suddenly roses that have had no scent to my nose are perfume powerhouses. <div><br /></div><div>Take Gruss an Aachen. I've read more than once that it has a strong scent, but I've only occasionally been able to pick up a faint fragrance early in the morning. Until Sunday, and the last two days it's been strongly, wonderfully scented, and blooming its gorgeous heart out. <br /><br />I can't believe what a transformation this rose has undergone since I moved it from the backyard. I can't believe that I almost yanked it out to put it out of its pathetic, twiggy, blackspotted misery!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziukSYKdWTPhCp_3bxyDmc4seEk5E6a2Ep_TPLYcRQBF0T2wsQ9qeOlDZV6oiO_oPCmzQp-7mE5j4W8xEuHdnlpaal3BLN5NDnjwlhcxbFNZt-qX0YGS5S_gz9pGBnHsqnaz1FHdisnnx/s1600-h/gruss-an-aachen-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziukSYKdWTPhCp_3bxyDmc4seEk5E6a2Ep_TPLYcRQBF0T2wsQ9qeOlDZV6oiO_oPCmzQp-7mE5j4W8xEuHdnlpaal3BLN5NDnjwlhcxbFNZt-qX0YGS5S_gz9pGBnHsqnaz1FHdisnnx/s400/gruss-an-aachen-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259736504386829890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKJU1vVq42Nfk7BzzR01N6jADxqefLihRdS7smJXagPoHeIf79Arh4DBNCYiFet8NoUztja_hCt_f9ovU-gh0Ehg1_b9r_EnnfREwyyOvoCs3YlRR0t3DX-3RpbCuIS0u7ZwDkQrW94xR/s1600-h/gruss-an-aachen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKJU1vVq42Nfk7BzzR01N6jADxqefLihRdS7smJXagPoHeIf79Arh4DBNCYiFet8NoUztja_hCt_f9ovU-gh0Ehg1_b9r_EnnfREwyyOvoCs3YlRR0t3DX-3RpbCuIS0u7ZwDkQrW94xR/s400/gruss-an-aachen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259736507871130706" /></a><br /></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-69752246811331809292008-10-04T23:24:00.004-05:002008-11-03T04:36:23.101-06:00The Garden Conservatory's Open Days TourAfter visiting James David and Gary Peese's amazing garden during Spring Fling, I couldn't miss a chance to see it again and drag some more friends along with me during <a href="http://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays/events.pl?ID=108&SortBy=&State=">The Garden Conservatory's Open Days Tour</a>. Just like my first time visiting this garden, I spent more time searching out interesting niches and talking to people than I did taking pictures. No matter, the garden was crowded with visitors and the light was terrible for photography, though I did have some decent pictures turn out in the shade. <br /><br />And ironically, once again I somehow escaped taking a picture of the dramatic lawn. Someday I'm going to compile a list of links to everyone's Spring Fling pictures of that lawn, and it's going to be awesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWPqxDq59m_WUmANUrR11BHjuH2QDNphwOxd9P1QqimChy3cUN3ZUxkrjUxdbK5cGJKwuXdqqhWk3RwpKCkCgh0dlaXogpYNKqLo7kZMzRDxJzwufVGX-Ef-Ot8z8LgY1lteW9cP47k2e/s1600-h/succulent-pots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWPqxDq59m_WUmANUrR11BHjuH2QDNphwOxd9P1QqimChy3cUN3ZUxkrjUxdbK5cGJKwuXdqqhWk3RwpKCkCgh0dlaXogpYNKqLo7kZMzRDxJzwufVGX-Ef-Ot8z8LgY1lteW9cP47k2e/s400/succulent-pots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264375777685942450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2p4VhtaG0SrNfvxwd1PWh2VUebFKN5LbJEuHnxLVfy-VKH_1EW5EiNI2JkUm1kaKJ-JO5EqdrNX0hiXEyRMoglgEuWNVXTx1yFZfVobILBHXeKdLsOKR7nz6cKEQzsUvc9J1qjMkCAx9K/s1600-h/goldfish-niche.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2p4VhtaG0SrNfvxwd1PWh2VUebFKN5LbJEuHnxLVfy-VKH_1EW5EiNI2JkUm1kaKJ-JO5EqdrNX0hiXEyRMoglgEuWNVXTx1yFZfVobILBHXeKdLsOKR7nz6cKEQzsUvc9J1qjMkCAx9K/s400/goldfish-niche.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264375625852776210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoN7I6reaR2xd9bJrGmj_QdxGYF3Cfv8VBbkOll55HmaaZUZeRr2fqZp98dtpcr9M0qpG9oQyxepR23dFYTgB2bAIyFCAc98b6NSAAijBedCHZttA4A9b2KaFUy0mQCwG9_qDt6QFLbgy/s1600-h/wall-with-gourds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoN7I6reaR2xd9bJrGmj_QdxGYF3Cfv8VBbkOll55HmaaZUZeRr2fqZp98dtpcr9M0qpG9oQyxepR23dFYTgB2bAIyFCAc98b6NSAAijBedCHZttA4A9b2KaFUy0mQCwG9_qDt6QFLbgy/s400/wall-with-gourds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264375787865829058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv45t-tX8HQiEZgmV8_tpKW-cWrDqNYGgyvrCRnxi1FKd-3EVV3ACWol0azcAsG-ZQAlERuEzvWorWSH-pYLamE56cwn5_1CSZcQgGk5hBPR_DoFSax7ASYEa9SSaj7iWZBXaHIiCITSRV/s1600-h/sunflowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv45t-tX8HQiEZgmV8_tpKW-cWrDqNYGgyvrCRnxi1FKd-3EVV3ACWol0azcAsG-ZQAlERuEzvWorWSH-pYLamE56cwn5_1CSZcQgGk5hBPR_DoFSax7ASYEa9SSaj7iWZBXaHIiCITSRV/s400/sunflowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264375782948724658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSJSqMNHeTGGHimaUSXFnFcX9II4m9DSC9sYC8bssOZljmszVYWAg60lUnzWPZVKu4oEfoPSd7N0wTdGbvcZT1aWtGgP9B5yb6V3X08ZhPwQaUgYPVsMLc4qABAOVJXlOeNPyeT1RsiFq/s1600-h/gate-to-backyard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSJSqMNHeTGGHimaUSXFnFcX9II4m9DSC9sYC8bssOZljmszVYWAg60lUnzWPZVKu4oEfoPSd7N0wTdGbvcZT1aWtGgP9B5yb6V3X08ZhPwQaUgYPVsMLc4qABAOVJXlOeNPyeT1RsiFq/s400/gate-to-backyard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264375624754192994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrNeV4OlwuXmkbhpZoVAC24fV3OFK89j1LWHFq0ChPDni90Qks-y1ZQlJYtvd4WDoGyKc8BtZj8WxskC_1fk6berabsYRcC-QrBD_FQPM5qMqQ-J7V8dwU0jctx6KrbAgTib0tI_43D2M/s1600-h/david-peese-front-door.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrNeV4OlwuXmkbhpZoVAC24fV3OFK89j1LWHFq0ChPDni90Qks-y1ZQlJYtvd4WDoGyKc8BtZj8WxskC_1fk6berabsYRcC-QrBD_FQPM5qMqQ-J7V8dwU0jctx6KrbAgTib0tI_43D2M/s400/david-peese-front-door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264375621477178690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoJx69VanEexL65_TvzyWKnvDlvgXuTs5DiZP9x389ki9Ife_ccxSOVqEflRtS4hMGZzZaWEAcf0k2ch-IVlGY3AZ-zOLf9HMpIjYxUiiaxF0Q2prGUUlmLOSAxWdC0zDiRqM9WHduDbh/s1600-h/david_water-trough.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoJx69VanEexL65_TvzyWKnvDlvgXuTs5DiZP9x389ki9Ife_ccxSOVqEflRtS4hMGZzZaWEAcf0k2ch-IVlGY3AZ-zOLf9HMpIjYxUiiaxF0Q2prGUUlmLOSAxWdC0zDiRqM9WHduDbh/s400/david_water-trough.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264375611446835970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYXqjk2bacSPcE_IoJ8BDaKkX2V0yNfpxW5H09KbL2rJNWwBWCHAWCyUNsfyu3xEaC3wPKKImsYH3BhVFfXZUaHnVdVFtYuhEbAN7Oqw343O8F9bPblf0rybMvzlHW3ruKE0n0CaPJivu/s1600-h/david_steps-&-agaves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYXqjk2bacSPcE_IoJ8BDaKkX2V0yNfpxW5H09KbL2rJNWwBWCHAWCyUNsfyu3xEaC3wPKKImsYH3BhVFfXZUaHnVdVFtYuhEbAN7Oqw343O8F9bPblf0rybMvzlHW3ruKE0n0CaPJivu/s400/david_steps-&-agaves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264375603189529794" border="0" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-5995358143846670752008-09-15T06:32:00.005-05:002008-09-15T07:19:10.968-05:00Bloom Day, September 2008In September, the big show from the datura has wound down, and the sweet almond verbena is between bloom cycles as well. The show right now is divided between the new front bed, which has finally filled in, and the roses, which are having a good fall flush.<br /><br />The new front bed, Still Life With Car:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-owYl0FrkWWAHLfltPEF02H_02cTqzjTU4dCPutRqecZV5slQBAXPc0TY_wKJoPtNGrR1EBw9VC6B9jzhOjypVZkJ5xCy4nnWTxXXIlN6sbmgfaS1lmS8W9OMzubCFSV_TL6iqcvZyuq/s1600-h/front-bed.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-owYl0FrkWWAHLfltPEF02H_02cTqzjTU4dCPutRqecZV5slQBAXPc0TY_wKJoPtNGrR1EBw9VC6B9jzhOjypVZkJ5xCy4nnWTxXXIlN6sbmgfaS1lmS8W9OMzubCFSV_TL6iqcvZyuq/s400/front-bed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246210096119013314" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's Duchesse de Brabant. This bloom in particular had an intense tea fragrance:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunkn405WC3rssM8uiDskU8C_qyuGzvNDquSQqDL2BjP08WeA22chAMuHALBhZPxZ-nq_010qVSrMOk_QRibWgUQ8qzKJIYtEo3cCVWjOMeIIdNw8nlxjj41tstP6jjmD6iQbSHGnSTtbW/s1600-h/duchesse.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunkn405WC3rssM8uiDskU8C_qyuGzvNDquSQqDL2BjP08WeA22chAMuHALBhZPxZ-nq_010qVSrMOk_QRibWgUQ8qzKJIYtEo3cCVWjOMeIIdNw8nlxjj41tstP6jjmD6iQbSHGnSTtbW/s400/duchesse.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246210091881088370" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Gruss An Aachen, just begging for someone with watercolor painting skills:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNknQXapwx2EIo-WPzQakkOcW3A9ImOZK1UGE4aYn9Q_KoEsVOTjrDGWIQI0mbXdn4f4ZnDkzPwHSqeRu4P5oCAtszR2e8xTN3yhv-miDmeW4LlfN8Ub_26d57floFwFTdLIXPLmvPyzv/s1600-h/gruss-an-aachen-sm.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNknQXapwx2EIo-WPzQakkOcW3A9ImOZK1UGE4aYn9Q_KoEsVOTjrDGWIQI0mbXdn4f4ZnDkzPwHSqeRu4P5oCAtszR2e8xTN3yhv-miDmeW4LlfN8Ub_26d57floFwFTdLIXPLmvPyzv/s400/gruss-an-aachen-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246210098895206098" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've gotta say that now that since I moved Gruss An Aachen to better dirt and more direct sun late last winter, this rose has been almost blackspot free and remarkably free-blooming. It does get a lot of extra water from the leaky hose connection when I water the rest of the yard, though, which is probably a factor in its spectacular performance.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the backyard rose bed, out of focus, I'm afraid. Blooming from nearest to farthest are Marie Pavie, Double Knockout, Belinda's Dream, Souvenier de la Malmaison, Maggie, Duchesse de Brabant, and finally, a very faint pink speck in the in the back, Louis Philippe:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Foob-tKtETp-4tUnMaTd2Do5Mtc3KMCEBpKpO-a3qgACmcaT233-TZ8dX0jH44Zha8AOlxasFJHHkp_8vSI4P4fLzlmksHcXEkV-QP8h2XClZNXs671pXsMo1FrWZtOMDPy7s92Q4bSy/s1600-h/roses-aren't-red.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Foob-tKtETp-4tUnMaTd2Do5Mtc3KMCEBpKpO-a3qgACmcaT233-TZ8dX0jH44Zha8AOlxasFJHHkp_8vSI4P4fLzlmksHcXEkV-QP8h2XClZNXs671pXsMo1FrWZtOMDPy7s92Q4bSy/s400/roses-aren't-red.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246210103793040050" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And as a note to anyone planning to plant Maggie, a wonderfully-scented bourbon: Make sure you plant this rose where you can actually get to it to smell the flowers. Planting several roses and an agave right in front of it is most definitely NOT a bright idea. At least my neighbors have been enjoying the flowers from their side of the fence, so all is not lost.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As I write this, there's a definite chill to the morning breeze, and I'm looking forward to getting back to digging large holes in my yard for "fun." Six new roses have just been acquired (nearly all in shades of peach, which was unintentional), and I can tell already that my pickaxe is going to get a workout. It's gonna be awesome.</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-85657386007470926892008-08-21T15:56:00.008-05:002008-10-31T04:25:06.733-05:00Browsing at The Natural GardenerThe Natural Gardener is a great nursery with an organic focus, specializing in native, well-adapted, and drought-tolerant plants. I also enjoy wandering through their many display gardens and planted niches, many of which have been added over the past year or so. Here are some pictures from today's visit.<br /><br />The butterfly garden:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQhbinoe6N988Ykn-NI2mg_96t9mDTTsvRuhuVjblesoPSHKnpXcI3vPj3G8DIya2ldYJbkEkRLYbEFpUoR5krIweZvKjGD1BbWTqFxagn_qCD-wZ0R4MT2pvKJg5QjXC-Fqj09FN3NHS/s1600-h/wide-view.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQhbinoe6N988Ykn-NI2mg_96t9mDTTsvRuhuVjblesoPSHKnpXcI3vPj3G8DIya2ldYJbkEkRLYbEFpUoR5krIweZvKjGD1BbWTqFxagn_qCD-wZ0R4MT2pvKJg5QjXC-Fqj09FN3NHS/s400/wide-view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263241396957565042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iy5o69cQqmaRjX5Yhgw1uSk0DdWD5hUVAAnAmR-NbuW-ApN9sUfLqadotaw_7hN025EsSBwUqOtlXPdSbhT0SYG80HLN84fdDMAkMYV71j9o9nClpgk1feOa0F6Z20A-RsxcmitI9g_9/s1600-h/waterfall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iy5o69cQqmaRjX5Yhgw1uSk0DdWD5hUVAAnAmR-NbuW-ApN9sUfLqadotaw_7hN025EsSBwUqOtlXPdSbhT0SYG80HLN84fdDMAkMYV71j9o9nClpgk1feOa0F6Z20A-RsxcmitI9g_9/s400/waterfall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263241398537342498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYIDSzXWdAp87EYx9xTTNVo9PYseGvEzaMq15MAnCgGCLi0kDPS7n7xBbwnlUlWEn-Mxot5K37AkMttDRUlhDEfzON7kKJpIafp_AqyzzDl6be36x5nPEklxH5BSz2yk_e9wyu3iQNayt/s1600-h/round-the-bend.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYIDSzXWdAp87EYx9xTTNVo9PYseGvEzaMq15MAnCgGCLi0kDPS7n7xBbwnlUlWEn-Mxot5K37AkMttDRUlhDEfzON7kKJpIafp_AqyzzDl6be36x5nPEklxH5BSz2yk_e9wyu3iQNayt/s400/round-the-bend.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263241175401474290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9-k7WaggDGP9CF9hPyACy4ymMqSxgmkoBeXTUXugZRCpAyfJhe9SqY0S-q2_zsk6BCDlXxhWlXbefJ_MDVggMz-zBn-RF19AWbuHXfE744FcVGvvcf_VIPicaav3pzyI0577nXASFEAV/s1600-h/garden-swing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9-k7WaggDGP9CF9hPyACy4ymMqSxgmkoBeXTUXugZRCpAyfJhe9SqY0S-q2_zsk6BCDlXxhWlXbefJ_MDVggMz-zBn-RF19AWbuHXfE744FcVGvvcf_VIPicaav3pzyI0577nXASFEAV/s400/garden-swing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240438070579090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8OKGE4THINh9OjBe1-Q3WCVx-3BBBIue5HWDPCuGUMlORsRq5zJAu18deeX6qYsxtoiLqHYuTJrkOoXNcjhXPh1pS4VH0jXBcCP46myDYdTwuxQnDr0lxs3tPHZh2p6x_WJyYgWEIKzw/s1600-h/bottle-tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8OKGE4THINh9OjBe1-Q3WCVx-3BBBIue5HWDPCuGUMlORsRq5zJAu18deeX6qYsxtoiLqHYuTJrkOoXNcjhXPh1pS4VH0jXBcCP46myDYdTwuxQnDr0lxs3tPHZh2p6x_WJyYgWEIKzw/s400/bottle-tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263239863454149426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYj56IB21JiSksNwifpizyxdoZMZ_dky46-JW9tq3d5EireRERGg1RqBWn2f7CYkf0aM-fx58OJf-vcZRBpQvXWMCjMZfUPMC3MkovRNWXGHeeBSVaqkKTX74cRXWqFoA-7rtSwclgSe2/s1600-h/bluebeard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYj56IB21JiSksNwifpizyxdoZMZ_dky46-JW9tq3d5EireRERGg1RqBWn2f7CYkf0aM-fx58OJf-vcZRBpQvXWMCjMZfUPMC3MkovRNWXGHeeBSVaqkKTX74cRXWqFoA-7rtSwclgSe2/s400/bluebeard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263239865279261970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXSqeFDU0_3BCMP4JQV_arxgSMVC6wTJN8ZMZg0HJrkTma_AE3vtO5zyZqllExo1IG0rNgrruQ19j_T9YZ5a05-zYpOdYjUJ3HOeI9qFuvaR_a1HKIY9Wa_8P07aQWa5Wo87h7wQ971SJ/s1600-h/butterfly-right.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXSqeFDU0_3BCMP4JQV_arxgSMVC6wTJN8ZMZg0HJrkTma_AE3vtO5zyZqllExo1IG0rNgrruQ19j_T9YZ5a05-zYpOdYjUJ3HOeI9qFuvaR_a1HKIY9Wa_8P07aQWa5Wo87h7wQ971SJ/s400/butterfly-right.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240152290644226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4VV8CRDCmAwIgrdcvGVinjRwdsqRFyKmn5mB3eEc5tLwMLjGFy-ynUwSFmzM81GAN6e2MicFrgqKbJOzQaaDXZaU_pcZ7xpyrWY50kbUGxvKBOEWTbm-5xDjMYQKI15LBRcQAMVvLzQc/s1600-h/butterfly-garden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4VV8CRDCmAwIgrdcvGVinjRwdsqRFyKmn5mB3eEc5tLwMLjGFy-ynUwSFmzM81GAN6e2MicFrgqKbJOzQaaDXZaU_pcZ7xpyrWY50kbUGxvKBOEWTbm-5xDjMYQKI15LBRcQAMVvLzQc/s400/butterfly-garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240152385158882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Drought-tolerant plantings around the new "southwestern stream" water feature:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B2IySMlNScJCZ1_Bx_8q-KtNjFE0vuolH-P3qsWCotdgTM-_6tiU0Kx9okSSkV4QOiOaXhrbrIW-QvPn82BFhg22jHmKrJWU_3FPzZMTsYu4qEfRt3JhuvPXdoCKVqw-KGBcOYwZ0Egd/s1600-h/water-plantings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B2IySMlNScJCZ1_Bx_8q-KtNjFE0vuolH-P3qsWCotdgTM-_6tiU0Kx9okSSkV4QOiOaXhrbrIW-QvPn82BFhg22jHmKrJWU_3FPzZMTsYu4qEfRt3JhuvPXdoCKVqw-KGBcOYwZ0Egd/s400/water-plantings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263241395448147874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZK8ynRg43elseA0TRLvw6wck9jxpKoEgYx-AYMFb1_GqYS7eZUbJExsT12VAPlazgE98LYoCvPf12bIqcMN-SOUW1tktkzdXWH9OdS2LZS9owHBDY1esprz_m7FNTxCUdsrvphWwc5JJ/s1600-h/water-perimeter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZK8ynRg43elseA0TRLvw6wck9jxpKoEgYx-AYMFb1_GqYS7eZUbJExsT12VAPlazgE98LYoCvPf12bIqcMN-SOUW1tktkzdXWH9OdS2LZS9owHBDY1esprz_m7FNTxCUdsrvphWwc5JJ/s400/water-perimeter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263241182709903250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7UW6xwlD6Wa-kk_fT-FNbsRbQnqkQa_eOjLf6PBERrJyF-YyYN8LBwpNxi3IGhBOFjMRb8aHQMHEdVMjoe7bJW-8JT4lbOfXh3GuXZXXnRmi1uab8zQ2lW5jFjTuiaya7wSUGg698pFA/s1600-h/water-feature.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7UW6xwlD6Wa-kk_fT-FNbsRbQnqkQa_eOjLf6PBERrJyF-YyYN8LBwpNxi3IGhBOFjMRb8aHQMHEdVMjoe7bJW-8JT4lbOfXh3GuXZXXnRmi1uab8zQ2lW5jFjTuiaya7wSUGg698pFA/s400/water-feature.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263241179754684242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHdyzOHUENncS2GypUuwaY3tuNNU-9_xvMpcsj8afI9gvZF-EZXz08FARSFOTn9XqsctEaa9fc3eFPAzFpM9jtDVPexoT7Nni8PStpayEPiQnc68S0uvC137vZT9eXZXHl3v7zuS09qJb/s1600-h/water-feature-outside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHdyzOHUENncS2GypUuwaY3tuNNU-9_xvMpcsj8afI9gvZF-EZXz08FARSFOTn9XqsctEaa9fc3eFPAzFpM9jtDVPexoT7Nni8PStpayEPiQnc68S0uvC137vZT9eXZXHl3v7zuS09qJb/s400/water-feature-outside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263241172941803634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRF_ydb_XDRO0p5A6Hyn729a54W2AgVjAM1XeqpSFPitT5gXh7KDtCvZiuvdow2ziL69PDLvZDz_nQHKnsoJyeP7y46gCYKNSzIF2NuhnGSrsITbOkKJeyrvzVnhlyVARCcQi2zz_Jkdp/s1600-h/water-feature-front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRF_ydb_XDRO0p5A6Hyn729a54W2AgVjAM1XeqpSFPitT5gXh7KDtCvZiuvdow2ziL69PDLvZDz_nQHKnsoJyeP7y46gCYKNSzIF2NuhnGSrsITbOkKJeyrvzVnhlyVARCcQi2zz_Jkdp/s400/water-feature-front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263241175782856386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Other panoramas:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjaRcAr-MyfWTw60eK_kli9wTirbW_WWloDciTk9bFybI3ZrbdGWoX_SEoO9WfH8L6PRDn7iTHCC5ywI22_7CAs0aOkpvcvIoQ9xWcE0A5CUbyejkEDl5oWlxJ7PWy19Wt20J6VmjAR24/s1600-h/right-of-grotto.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjaRcAr-MyfWTw60eK_kli9wTirbW_WWloDciTk9bFybI3ZrbdGWoX_SEoO9WfH8L6PRDn7iTHCC5ywI22_7CAs0aOkpvcvIoQ9xWcE0A5CUbyejkEDl5oWlxJ7PWy19Wt20J6VmjAR24/s400/right-of-grotto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240842047971474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzVjcLeghN4aT0kHan0l_GBtiuCzbAPJPFEX0zhHSaYxTD05RX38v6hh3IoyM47e5Gub_mc0eQGkZUuqt4N4lgMptgV9e-InkyHB71RIzKyxJdCexGqr-Px22ZBvOHDrTXJx5lM2EocCr/s1600-h/pots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzVjcLeghN4aT0kHan0l_GBtiuCzbAPJPFEX0zhHSaYxTD05RX38v6hh3IoyM47e5Gub_mc0eQGkZUuqt4N4lgMptgV9e-InkyHB71RIzKyxJdCexGqr-Px22ZBvOHDrTXJx5lM2EocCr/s400/pots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240828101561730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnvndHi3HJPkW_qEpuBLHT2tf37xmA9qaoFrqv-nOANxVkzgHaYotbqrIBk7JLt03mFoeXlV8I-cr8h4q_Ci7DiA-hmqlJu02AdJXZKV4ke9RX8GvZvsKPfzDPS2fqh5zTP_LHnFF1FxF/s1600-h/mystery-vine.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnvndHi3HJPkW_qEpuBLHT2tf37xmA9qaoFrqv-nOANxVkzgHaYotbqrIBk7JLt03mFoeXlV8I-cr8h4q_Ci7DiA-hmqlJu02AdJXZKV4ke9RX8GvZvsKPfzDPS2fqh5zTP_LHnFF1FxF/s400/mystery-vine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240792462673058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlNVgqTjWZ6g0wTkTnP14nPDPaQF5S7Z9no1wI1VxOXdAxyIzPlEInp5EWjnKwrThssmoj6OQtI8CYmQDbVaIi1XqdWh3yUApI60A5Ee97zMhlas0NCIW0VOEhcjAjaOWhjzKIFtxCJaz/s1600-h/driveway.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlNVgqTjWZ6g0wTkTnP14nPDPaQF5S7Z9no1wI1VxOXdAxyIzPlEInp5EWjnKwrThssmoj6OQtI8CYmQDbVaIi1XqdWh3yUApI60A5Ee97zMhlas0NCIW0VOEhcjAjaOWhjzKIFtxCJaz/s400/driveway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240161905304386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6AtO1-yORxRDyjK2vzZj_lcQRicwIdeGTtXliTzuRqtUHvn6QQoZF2uUoWnITAp_4YrUf701mCs_c3f16ZGHxSVbM0VFmcCAsFI3t3yhM6ZRTr47uzswAEkaa1lV6a2wtJawPevHxRyw/s1600-h/castor-bean.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6AtO1-yORxRDyjK2vzZj_lcQRicwIdeGTtXliTzuRqtUHvn6QQoZF2uUoWnITAp_4YrUf701mCs_c3f16ZGHxSVbM0VFmcCAsFI3t3yhM6ZRTr47uzswAEkaa1lV6a2wtJawPevHxRyw/s400/castor-bean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240162311410594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzJZFil6Ho7QeuLVSFhclhglitjZlTLy8Sm6oBY4Mmpl05uMZsDAEds8lK5Zqo1z1-vbSN-pnZnMaG5p5v5BkmnxEUSND-CZVbCiEuO7SII90WLy9AmYdQuewpIxs0VAQain3OxHKA4_l/s1600-h/angel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzJZFil6Ho7QeuLVSFhclhglitjZlTLy8Sm6oBY4Mmpl05uMZsDAEds8lK5Zqo1z1-vbSN-pnZnMaG5p5v5BkmnxEUSND-CZVbCiEuO7SII90WLy9AmYdQuewpIxs0VAQain3OxHKA4_l/s400/angel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263239861273899298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRKYphKasyqcWi4NT-r3fSXZsKDeSIbL2fJrSgwy6tvoBXa96wR-hMXeKZyRFbSR4AfUphsH_NkiJNZKjFoBvUM_Ojc6As8gUbjhTdyCMFhJKlwlelhGxYDWITByx1mZLTfRSmPxXHPkd/s1600-h/buddha.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRKYphKasyqcWi4NT-r3fSXZsKDeSIbL2fJrSgwy6tvoBXa96wR-hMXeKZyRFbSR4AfUphsH_NkiJNZKjFoBvUM_Ojc6As8gUbjhTdyCMFhJKlwlelhGxYDWITByx1mZLTfRSmPxXHPkd/s400/buddha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263240151690933202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And a cool idea-- limbing up a beautyberry bush into a small tree:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW3lPRLJPija71k6EhcyAwzhqdvoxUhkHqFS0y16lJvCC6AxKhxBLXVgpmfAFiOEBlPPWALQngIfrLKZi-Oy75AKcukHewUpxN25fAlxg-XZ4u1hvPDT3mBQb093Tr-fmlRg_oYijc7Fh/s1600-h/beautyberry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW3lPRLJPija71k6EhcyAwzhqdvoxUhkHqFS0y16lJvCC6AxKhxBLXVgpmfAFiOEBlPPWALQngIfrLKZi-Oy75AKcukHewUpxN25fAlxg-XZ4u1hvPDT3mBQb093Tr-fmlRg_oYijc7Fh/s400/beautyberry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263239861320386146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDJXtgnU_uo_YiJT3dI0x9PlrllKzDMWi8apHwOAuX2MHjCZvEd1RUrEkgvWopvOO_lQUBVMnpA50y03Bl2Sxx3DeVWIA-NRrc87Y4EtVrAM-MASLvnIFcwjRGuUKO4UvMnJsB-Ye-Ffq/s1600-h/beautyberry-tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDJXtgnU_uo_YiJT3dI0x9PlrllKzDMWi8apHwOAuX2MHjCZvEd1RUrEkgvWopvOO_lQUBVMnpA50y03Bl2Sxx3DeVWIA-NRrc87Y4EtVrAM-MASLvnIFcwjRGuUKO4UvMnJsB-Ye-Ffq/s400/beautyberry-tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263239860878649778" border="0" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352368766184306331.post-37439401738907892862008-08-18T07:18:00.009-05:002008-08-18T09:00:23.095-05:00Bloom Day, August 2008Well, there's no huge show going on right now, especially in the back yard, but in the sunny front yard, the new garden is filling in. <div><br /></div><div>For instance, the datura. There are six datura in the front yard, and right now, they're all blooming like crazy. The scent is amazing. Here's a long shot down the front porch, where the first three plants are. I have to admit that I didn't expect them to get this huge:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclMTffZ1Px56L-nzICfiMS7CrdtpBzN1mhoV1usEQrknZbIA5_MIjLiMVZ8jTj__frRL-hl3Vjx3HORlqXkPmAJz6DhN47vXRnd73ZG2Nvf2vteKOlYdE5hhd_sx7vhyphenhyphenNXsyARFQ5b7dq/s1600-h/datura-long-shot.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclMTffZ1Px56L-nzICfiMS7CrdtpBzN1mhoV1usEQrknZbIA5_MIjLiMVZ8jTj__frRL-hl3Vjx3HORlqXkPmAJz6DhN47vXRnd73ZG2Nvf2vteKOlYdE5hhd_sx7vhyphenhyphenNXsyARFQ5b7dq/s400/datura-long-shot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235848151792938834" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This datura is from Diana of <a href="http://sharingnaturesgarden.blogspot.com/">Sharing Nature's Garden</a>, and it started blooming just in time for Bloom Day. I'm guessing it's a different variety than the ones I got from Barton Springs Nursery, since it's much more compact and better-behaved, and I'd describe the scent as more melon than lemon. I quite like it. I'm going to have to save some seeds from this one to try in the backyard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ30khDWCEpzbESWUWaEAHTVKAZodXn59ZAru58s4JsigZrqynG3MyOXfJna8pKY3N8ge8o3KBT7jgvlhCR2ycQb3IwjmQ9CNopCIiZ9wP5KWkvkouI0lxyU7tX8rOVUWXOobi32pUujA/s1600-h/diana's-datura.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ30khDWCEpzbESWUWaEAHTVKAZodXn59ZAru58s4JsigZrqynG3MyOXfJna8pKY3N8ge8o3KBT7jgvlhCR2ycQb3IwjmQ9CNopCIiZ9wP5KWkvkouI0lxyU7tX8rOVUWXOobi32pUujA/s400/diana's-datura.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235848155593223218" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A comparison in flower sizes with the BSN datura:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJoj0f0j45hhhCwoVOdFcwGHpEGsy3ffB6QY_tuMQ-unGivJwXtMJe7iBhGEfN3PfPjQ5ceXQTNjYOJXwUQ30uWE6SFGOa4gIzZasfQkXsbxuvnqdr9zeu7W4Y4-pG22qU3zslegmcZUk/s1600-h/datura-with-hand.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJoj0f0j45hhhCwoVOdFcwGHpEGsy3ffB6QY_tuMQ-unGivJwXtMJe7iBhGEfN3PfPjQ5ceXQTNjYOJXwUQ30uWE6SFGOa4gIzZasfQkXsbxuvnqdr9zeu7W4Y4-pG22qU3zslegmcZUk/s400/datura-with-hand.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235848159214847250" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sweet Almond Verbena, formerly in a pot on the back deck. Can you believe this baby was only a foot and a half tall back in May? I'd estimate that it's at least six feet tall now; it's certainly taller than me. It's a more awkward-looking bush than I expected, but the flowers smell heavenly. I'm thinking about training it into a tree form:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5Xy_4fgqWm8UZ06b8YXMmQLRtvf0Z2KLoJg6nmjtACIDKyFt61R_QJ4ah4fAK7zBJUCMz_WBmFXF-jkAh5lTXvuuMl4jNszgqPkrDjcTJ8vRkycI4qf-LRDxwbNtqs25kFYulF5jLNAk/s1600-h/sweet-almond-verbena.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5Xy_4fgqWm8UZ06b8YXMmQLRtvf0Z2KLoJg6nmjtACIDKyFt61R_QJ4ah4fAK7zBJUCMz_WBmFXF-jkAh5lTXvuuMl4jNszgqPkrDjcTJ8vRkycI4qf-LRDxwbNtqs25kFYulF5jLNAk/s400/sweet-almond-verbena.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235848154574930946" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"Son of Bubba" desert willow. And yes, I bought it because of the name.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-8WwR75Y1Rmmok4u_tK9_v5OZ4n29-JwE0ApJQL0lQaRXcy3ouqmGmrwI1EzIg3NxOj-Fpt_A3dtdURju1XFKNBCtk02k_bMXPtJXowrK6873opO8btX9taaLdwrH2e3KD5_cblr9Hib/s1600-h/son-of-bubba-desert-willow.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-8WwR75Y1Rmmok4u_tK9_v5OZ4n29-JwE0ApJQL0lQaRXcy3ouqmGmrwI1EzIg3NxOj-Fpt_A3dtdURju1XFKNBCtk02k_bMXPtJXowrK6873opO8btX9taaLdwrH2e3KD5_cblr9Hib/s400/son-of-bubba-desert-willow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235847636131054898" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Pioneer rose "Thomas Affleck," being completely worry-free, as usual:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPE1vzeKhEk7GbbYrBZSJbAo7xVP2dPH0rqWj5frrceAfsy70mhWBJ8Yzk-F9rHi3LR5mlH8XHmre0As95XcUkOs79S4ldACXqpFH1yjAmrbaWj0EWANzO_SaRcGEmHthVpRvRRXmImVM/s1600-h/thomas-affleck.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPE1vzeKhEk7GbbYrBZSJbAo7xVP2dPH0rqWj5frrceAfsy70mhWBJ8Yzk-F9rHi3LR5mlH8XHmre0As95XcUkOs79S4ldACXqpFH1yjAmrbaWj0EWANzO_SaRcGEmHthVpRvRRXmImVM/s400/thomas-affleck.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235847650252817906" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The one section of the backyard that I've been watering faithfully in this heat. Sadly, the second flush of roses missed Bloom Day by about ten days and now it's just shades of green and grey with the occasional bit of purple foliage thrown in:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6jklCHCMTfWTODaroKbm_DdXzLKc1G5Zsg1eN5qMwbCioIqMa-UiytltQiuNOx2WYR9-lFZSHuxT8V8wwWlPaPjePdSzQuQ4v7K2g-IEXJS2zKx1EMn2DbcGLbVAHYnrxw5cv9QFwEKz/s1600-h/wide-shot.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6jklCHCMTfWTODaroKbm_DdXzLKc1G5Zsg1eN5qMwbCioIqMa-UiytltQiuNOx2WYR9-lFZSHuxT8V8wwWlPaPjePdSzQuQ4v7K2g-IEXJS2zKx1EMn2DbcGLbVAHYnrxw5cv9QFwEKz/s400/wide-shot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235847656646133282" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The half-completed front bed is filling in, although I'm gnashing my teeth over the inability of any trailing plants to actually grow to cover up those el cheapo landscape bricks without smothering everything within five square feet. Next year, I tell you, next year! I'm rooting many, many ice plants along the edge as we speak. Also, I feel the need to mention that I've gained a new respect for <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/">Pam's</a> ability to take stunning pictures of her front yard that don't feature her neighbors' cars:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUDA_JmvlkQF-nmktVvz7mVUsNwELvK3osqd6N0uTdHbWkaK-hSukgs60dHH5aTx_dM-jiZSdFAJ8BtF48kaTEOtx1a3V0jWx4viHKAxEyIty1HMwsRxalgWDWWDOklnqbPTWdF1Y0Qr7/s1600-h/front-bed.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUDA_JmvlkQF-nmktVvz7mVUsNwELvK3osqd6N0uTdHbWkaK-hSukgs60dHH5aTx_dM-jiZSdFAJ8BtF48kaTEOtx1a3V0jWx4viHKAxEyIty1HMwsRxalgWDWWDOklnqbPTWdF1Y0Qr7/s400/front-bed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235847175373202594" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A favorite combo (for me and the many neighborhood cats) of catmint, Russian sage, and Pink Knockout. Not terribly original, but I like it:<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PT6bLvbjXGwXpO0bWJU66BQnPbPjSJnGM6vvgfRjD8tCwc0TNfdv5mD5MxZaSg7ezsqr38kg5_mp451N3IsBlNVyyKE8-Eftmj_VnszJtwSPR_eL4cG3FCbt8bHpEdcWD2_rdb1x6fE-/s1600-h/knockout-russian-sage-catmi.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PT6bLvbjXGwXpO0bWJU66BQnPbPjSJnGM6vvgfRjD8tCwc0TNfdv5mD5MxZaSg7ezsqr38kg5_mp451N3IsBlNVyyKE8-Eftmj_VnszJtwSPR_eL4cG3FCbt8bHpEdcWD2_rdb1x6fE-/s400/knockout-russian-sage-catmi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235847185363801154" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Bulbine:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YUdeiHaO5k39nN0mTDATyKIuWq_jfZkkE6uslxVyl0ID2fekUN0tsyOuZt-szrTX52oaJt3PBKujkDMgcLJKaTB94mVt7G_bh1IE55_5Of79NW9b-WIW6Z1V0qEW9EFXyECfnVb54clG/s1600-h/bulbine.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YUdeiHaO5k39nN0mTDATyKIuWq_jfZkkE6uslxVyl0ID2fekUN0tsyOuZt-szrTX52oaJt3PBKujkDMgcLJKaTB94mVt7G_bh1IE55_5Of79NW9b-WIW6Z1V0qEW9EFXyECfnVb54clG/s400/bulbine.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235846880587000386" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Duchesse de Brabant, a bit past her peak:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEi1ZSeVyhXrg4pJMDz8LMPDwDSTTKKjkpyDE5ye6LarYoH81ZuQeVI8VRHMagXEARk4Z5KK_GGwlVmGzZjtW3UiAd2JNBsHL8zQzwsL7CzLYZy-kyn8e6UsfB0ziKaUb0fhi2jLmE5rd/s1600-h/duchess-de-toasted.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEi1ZSeVyhXrg4pJMDz8LMPDwDSTTKKjkpyDE5ye6LarYoH81ZuQeVI8VRHMagXEARk4Z5KK_GGwlVmGzZjtW3UiAd2JNBsHL8zQzwsL7CzLYZy-kyn8e6UsfB0ziKaUb0fhi2jLmE5rd/s400/duchess-de-toasted.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235846888341046210" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One tough plant! The common name is "Bluebeard," but I need to dig through my huge pile of plant tags to find the botanical name. This is the one thing that remained uncharred in a bed that I kept forgetting to water. And it was mostly in the shade of some volunteer sunflowers, and I'm pretty sure that this plant is supposed to want part-sun. Color me impressed, and I love the blue-purple hue. I'm going to have to get my hands on more of this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9scaRgFn0GvW4ksOXMq_BT_kkbgd0gX0xhyzuTz_YfECqbL1M80LA-S4XrN8jzsiprrnHvlPxgZlC4FD5_JVZ27FWD4Z-EQjfWhIPJahOcQdDpoLp2UufpaevF6IV5K4P1rzGThb9ckq/s1600-h/bluebeard.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9scaRgFn0GvW4ksOXMq_BT_kkbgd0gX0xhyzuTz_YfECqbL1M80LA-S4XrN8jzsiprrnHvlPxgZlC4FD5_JVZ27FWD4Z-EQjfWhIPJahOcQdDpoLp2UufpaevF6IV5K4P1rzGThb9ckq/s400/bluebeard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235846647257609970" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And as usual, moss verbena and blackfoot daisy are still going strong. I love both of these plants!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6zh5XLy0n2N-YMPsuWmdMNT8JAYdbht29u-ZFOJ6uejl6goTIWNDStUJdWtYBNfOCIcOCX3k-XaZmcOiPI6veSR3K-okVuKFEAoWZwOEO6yiBXoFpsqFJQSyw7i050GKBGd5GpjQmhvR/s1600-h/blackfoot-&-verbena.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6zh5XLy0n2N-YMPsuWmdMNT8JAYdbht29u-ZFOJ6uejl6goTIWNDStUJdWtYBNfOCIcOCX3k-XaZmcOiPI6veSR3K-okVuKFEAoWZwOEO6yiBXoFpsqFJQSyw7i050GKBGd5GpjQmhvR/s400/blackfoot-&-verbena.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235846414253366962" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And that's my Bloom Day. As <a href="http://kissofsun.blogspot.com/2008/08/sad-lament-of-late-summer-veggie-patch.html">another Austin garden blogger</a> commented, the macro lens IS my friend! ;D</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.com21