2nd garden–2010

November 12, 2010 Aren’t you glad for orange in the garden? I know I am whenever I look at the Mexican flame vine (Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides) in full bloom, attracting tiger swallowtails who refuse the paparazzi’s plea for a pose. And I’m glad for orange when I stroll past my cigar ...

November 10, 2010 At twilight last evening, these late bloomers caught my eye. This is ‘Twinkle Pink’ cuphea, which flowers in summer but looks best in fall, when temperatures cool off. ‘Twinkle Pink’ is one of several cupheas in my garden, as reliable as cigar plant (C. ignea) in overwintering ...

November 09, 2010 An update on the ‘Black Pearl’ ornamental pepper, an annual that loves the heat here in Austin: it’s still looking good during fall’s cooler weather. Most of the black “pearls”— i.e., peppers—have turned red by now, lending a more festive look to the gothic black leaves (a ...

November 05, 2010 I spent yesterday in the garden, digging holes for new plants, delighted not to break a sweat in the perfect fall weather (mosquitoes didn’t bother me either–yea!). Beforehand I snapped some photos of the fall garden and new fence. Pictured above, fragrant-leaved Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida) ...

November 03, 2010 With a strong north wind blowing yesterday, I was almost chilly at Barton Springs Nursery. What delight to be almost chilly! And to pick up a bunch of cool new plants to try in my garden! Here’s what I got. In back, there’s ‘Don’s Dwarf’ wax myrtle, ...

November 01, 2010 The new-baby garden is growing by leaps and bounds. My garden is two years old now. A year ago, I marked Tecolote Hill’s 1st birthday with a series of before-and-after pictures, which helped me see what I’d accomplished and what I wanted to do next. (You can ...

November 01, 2010 The new-baby garden is growing by leaps and bounds. My garden is two years old now. A year ago, I marked Tecolote Hill’s 1st birthday with a series of before-and-after pictures, which helped me see what I’d accomplished and what I wanted to do next. (You can ...

October 16, 2010 I hope you’ll join me today for Foliage Follow-Up, the day after Bloom Day when we celebrate leaves, bark, seedheads, etc.—plant characteristics often overlooked in favor of flowers. Share your favorite foliage for October, and then leave a link here in the comments so we can find ...

October 11, 2010 Afternoon is the golden time in my garden. Morning light only briefly touches it. Agaves, yuccas, bamboos, and grasses are clustered on the west end of my garden because it gets the most sun, and they look illuminated from within as the setting sun shines through their ...

October 10, 2010 Like Narcissus falling in love with his own reflection, this tardy oxblood lily (Rhodophiala bifida) seems to be admiring itself in the blue gazing ball. Oh, it’s lovely but so vain! Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) is in full bloom in the hillside garden. The stock-tank pond ...

October 05, 2010 ‘Twinkle Pink’ cuphea October’s cooler, less-humid weather signals the beginning of the second big gardening season in central Texas. At independent nurseries and plant sales, the aisles are packed with tempting new arrivals. And even though it can be hard to tear oneself away from one’s own ...

October 04, 2010 A glowing chandelier of dangling flowers seems to hang over my biggest softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia) at dusk. The creamy white bells are at peak bloom. This is the second bloom spike this growing season; the other occurred in early summer. Two other softleaf yuccas, planted more ...

October 02, 2010 In the garden yesterday, what caught my eye: burgundy-leaved pond lily (Crinum)… …’Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia)… …which has become a veritable Moby of a whale since I moved it to my new garden two years ago… …and ruby grass (Melinis nerviglumis ‘Pink Crystals’) in bloom. Happy ...

October 02, 2010 In the garden yesterday, what caught my eye: burgundy-leaved pond lily (Crinum)… …’Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia)… …which has become a veritable Moby of a whale since I moved it to my new garden two years ago… …and ruby grass (Melinis nerviglumis ‘Pink Crystals’) in bloom. Happy ...

October 01, 2010 Having a little fun in the garden today. I hope you are too. All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited ...

September 30, 2010 About two weeks after the big show of oxblood lilies (though a few of mine are still flowering), the spider lilies (Lycoris radiata) have unfurled their frilly, red parasols. I’ve carried these bulbs with me through three moves in Austin. They were planted in the garden of ...