Rain-washed garden
March 25, 2009
The first Bath’s pink dianthus (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Bath’s Pink’) flower opened today, under heavy skies that finally let loose this evening. We only ended up with an eighth of an inch, but I am entirely grateful for it, and for the fact that we did not receive the softball-sized hail that was reported just to the northwest of us.
And here’s an update on the ‘Macho Mocha’ mangave bloom stalk. It’s grown at least an inch and maybe two since yesterday. Macho power! It remains to be seen whether it will reach 8 feet. Stay tuned.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Like you, I’m grateful for any rain at all, but we only got about 3/8 inch. We didn’t however get any hail, thank goodness. I did have my hoops up and tarps on, just in case.
I just love when yuccas and agaves bloom. I have thirteen different kinds, all native, and get so anxious waiting for them to bloom. I can’t wait to see this one. Hope you post it up as soon as it does.
I sure will, Bob, and may post daily updates until that exciting day. I’m glad you didn’t get hailed on either. —Pam
I love bath Pink and it smells divine~~Wow on the super growth! Hail is never fun. glad you escaped it. gail
I noticed the dianthus’s sweet smell as I took the photo. Yum. —Pam
We got a little bit more than that (my backyard was briefly a lake), but we didn’t get any of the hail, for which my garden and I are very grateful!
I think I lost a couple of Zinnias, though. This year’s annual seedlings were in the way of water pouring off the roof ever since I moved the Ligustrum away from the front door so that it’d stop eating my visitors.
Visitor-eating ligustrum must be stopped, so I’d say the zinnias were a worthy sacrifice. 😉 —Pam
Pam~~ It must be exasperating hearing how we Pacific Northwesterners complain about the incessant rain. It really is a blessing. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Love your Dianthus. One of my favorites!
Grace, I think every gardener complains about what they have too much of. I’m no exception, though of course it’s the blazing sun I complain about. Maybe you can send us some of your rain sometime, and I’ll send you some sunny days, OK? —Pam
How exciting for the rain and to watch the blossom stalk grow. How long do those blooms last? I have seen them many times when I am in TX or AZ. I love to see the hummingbirds work them. There are usually big bugs on them too when I have seen them.
I don’t know how long the bloom will last, Lisa, but I will be sure to report. —Pam
Pam, I love Dianthus. The clove scent is just heavenly. I bought one last year that reminds me of Old Spice. I need to check to find the name. Please keep us updated on the Macho Mocha Mangave.
I had to go back out this morning to take a whiff of the dianthus. Mm, lovely. —Pam
Cottage pinks smell so sweet and spicy! I love the long bloom time. Your dianthus are, of course, ahead of mine. I can’t believe that mangave grew so much in such a short time! Glad to see you got rain.
Cameron
I’m happy that the dianthus are blooming, Cameron. This is my first year to try them. —Pam
Glad you and your garden didn’t get pelted with hail-y softballs.
Love the dianthus, bought a few myself last weekend as I could not resist their wonderful fragrance.
I adore Bath’s pink’s lovely blue-green foliage too. —Pam
Pam, It was a crazy evening last night. We were directly in the path of the hail-storm. Youngest granddaughter and I were out covering tomato plants before it hit. Thankfully we did not receive too much damage. It seems March is going out much like it came in…though, with more moisture.
I’m glad to hear your garden and home didn’t get badly damaged, Jenny. The pics of the busted-up car lot in the paper this morning were kind of scary. —Pam
You know, I was in the nursery at Home Depot not too long ago, looking at some dianthus. And a woman shopper asked me if I realized they draw ants to them. I have never heard of this. Wonder if it has any merit? I have some and haven’t noticed ants around them specifically. But then, the season is young!
Brenda
Hmm. I have so many ants in the garden at all times that I’m not sure I’d notice a few more, unless they were fire ants. I notice those. 😉 —Pam
I really need to try some Dianthus! I’ve never grown any believe it or not. We had buckets of rain at Mueller last night, but luckily no hail.
Lucky you to get so much rain. I’ve admired the Bath’s pink dianthus over at Soul of the Garden for years. I finally made room for some in my new garden. —Pam
No hail downtown either. But very little rain. Some is definitely better than nothing though. The garden is nice and damp-smelling this morning.
I’m enjoying the return of cool weather too. —Pam
Well, I went outside to check the name of the Dianthus that reminded me of Old Spice….guess what the name is… right. “Old Spice” should have known.
Too funny! You have a good sense of smell. —Pam
Do you think Great Outdoors would have one of these (mucho macho)? I include all of s. Austin in my shopping area, as Wimberley is only 45 minutes away.
I think it’s very likely, Becky. Try the Natural Gardener too if Great Outdoors doesn’t carry it. —Pam
Glad to know your area was okay, Pam, and that you got a little rain. Our neighborhood had people driving down the street with video cameras out the window as soon as the storm was over. Thank heavens Philo’s car was inside the garage! Mine is covered with indentations. Friends were driving on 183 and lost back windows and windshields.
The lovely African aloe passalong you gave me had put up a bloom stalk and was opening the flowers…I was going to send you a photo! But that hail was more than 2 inches in diameter so today the flower stalk is gone and the aloe has holes punched into its leaves. I’ll have to post photos – it’s interesting in a creepy way.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I’m sorry to hear about the damaging hail in your neighborhood, Annie. Right when everything is blooming or about to bloom too. Of course, plants will recover, but the car will remain dented, and that’s even more aggravating.
That aloe is blooming in my old garden right now. It’s a tough plant, and I’m sure it will recover. The hailstorm a year or two ago did a number on my agaves and other fleshy plants, but they recovered, and so will yours. Your “creepy” comment made me smile though—my mom never liked that aloe and called it “snakey looking.” I’m sure she would agree with creepy as well. —Pam
No hail out here in Oak Hill, either, but lots of bluster. Not much rain yesterday – just .18 but today we had a good, regular rain and have a cumulative .42 for the two days. I’m so grateful and the garden is happy. I can’t however, fathom how it can have warmed up by 6 degrees on the way home from school which is only 5 minutes away from home. It was 59 when I got in line at 2, and now it’s 75! Crazy.
The thermometer went sproing over here too. I went to school for pick-up in a jacket and had to shed it as soon as I got out of the car again. —Pam
How THRILLING it will be to see that Mangave’s bloom spike in its full glory! WOW!
My Agave vilmoriniana is stretching up to the sky – the stalk is a good 6ft + right now, and I didn’t even notice it until last week – the blooms grow so FAST!!! Like you, I’m a little sad to see it go – mine will certainly die after it blooms, but the drama of something going out in a blaze of glory is very appealing to me.
We are sisters in bloom spokes this summer! High five!
XOXOivette
I love those octopus agaves and wish I could see pics of yours in bloom. I hope you get your new blog up and running soon, Germi. —Pam
Can’t wait to see if it reaches those heights. I’m glad you didn’t get the hail. We had some a week ago and it shredded some of my tulips. It didn’t hurt much else. Glad you’re getting rain.~~Dee
I guess you’re probably snowed under right now, Dee? I need to pop over to RDR to find out. —Pam