New-baby garden mash-up
In the new-baby garden this May 3rd, it’s a mash-up of spring hangers-on and summer debutantes, of inherited plants from the previous owners and transplants I brought over from my old garden last fall. And of course new plants I purchased for the new garden are doing their thing too. Pictured above, transplanted winecup flowers dance on long stems over a blue-green sempervivum echeveria I recently bought.
I love the symmetrical detail, cool color, and fleshy texture of the echeveria.
Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata ), a Texas native wildflower, glows against the blue-green leaves of a ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave.
When I purchased this columbine for the new garden, I thought it was the standard ‘Hinckley’s.’ But I don’t remember those having any white on them. Beautiful though, isn’t it?
Another inherited plant, this pretty green heuchera, has sent up a bloom stalk.
The flowers are autumnal in color, but I like the way they show up against the white bark of the Texas persimmon behind it.
I transplanted a clump of majestic sage (Salvia guaranitica ) from my old garden last fall. This salvia blooms even in shade (in fact, it prefers afternoon shade in our climate) and attracts hummingbirds. Easily divided, it’s a good passalong plant.
Hello! I spotted this handsome fellow on the back wall of the house. I’ve not encountered a single anole in the new garden (and how I miss them!), but seeing this lizard was a pleasant surprise. Does anyone know what it is? Thanks to MSS for her ID of this Texas spiny lizard.
The ‘Macho Mocha’ mangave flower spike continues to grow. It’s well over six feet now and will soon be in the Texas persimmon branches.
My daughter’s English peas have a few flowers, despite the recent heat and humidity. We know we probably won’t see any peas due to the lateness of our sowing, but she’s enjoyed the plants’ growth anyway.
And here’s something I’m particularly enjoying—a little bit of Dee’s garden growing here. Last summer my mom and I visited Dee and her lovely garden, and she sent me home with a division of her phlox and, of course, some red dirt. It was too hot to plant until fall, so I kept it on the shady side of my house and remembered to water it occasionally. The tips browned, but it hung on, and then we decided to move, so I couldn’t plant it that fall after all. In October I moved the pot, along with dozens and dozens of transplants, to the new garden, and finally by January or February I’d created a bed where it could be planted. And now the three divisions are growing nicely. I can’t wait to see them flower this summer, reminding me of Dee’s garden each time I admire them.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Pam, The baby garden is moving beautifully into toddlerhood! The winecups are wonderful. They were so lovely in your garden last year that one had to be planted in mine~~we’ll see if it survives the deluge we’re having~~heavy rains always test plants with sharp drainage needs! The sempervivums are wonderful and good news that lizards are happy there! How much taller will the mangave stalk grow…This plant is better then any bean seeds poor Jack traded for his cow;-) gail
I read that the mangave stalk tops out at about eight feet, Gail. Almost there! —Pam
It looks like everything is growing nicely. It seems like it takes forever for some things to fill in, at least for me in my new garden. I am always telling people “It will be really nice when it fills in!”
Yes, and then I go and dig up half the garden and replant it, and then it has to start all over! —Pam
I believe it’s a Texas spiny lizard. I have tons of them that like to hang out in the wood pile next to the compost heap and eat roaches. I have a few anoles, too, but the Texas spiny lizards outnumber them in my yard.
Thanks for the ID, MSS. I’m glad to know that anoles can co-exist with the Texas spiny lizards. —Pam
Hi Pam, what a treat to see so many things in bloom there. The lizard has such beautiful markings, more like scales than the smoother anole. I had a pet horned toad as a child that looked similar, only with a pointy hood around his head. We have the winecups too, after falling for them in The Woodlands. How sweet to have some red dirt phlox too. I will have to look more closely at the native heuchera now in bloom, for that reddish stem. I wanted to tell you that Totally Tempted cuphea is at my favorite local nursery and I snapped some up after seeing your trialing photos. It promises to be a great asset, love those colors.
Frances
That cuphea is aptly named, isn’t it? Look for my first report on the Proven Winners plant trial early this week, including a few notes on how ‘Totally Tempted’ has done so far. —Pam
Pam, I have lots of that type of lizard in my yard as well. I have to admit, I appreciate their value as bug eaters, but I don’t think they’re cute like I do the anoles! In fact, when my cat brought me a live one as a present and ceremoniously dumped it in the living room, where it immediately ran behind the bookcase, I couldn’t relax until I had managed to chase it back outside. If he had presented an anole that way, I wouldn’t have thought much about it and let it find its way outdoors again on its own time. Perhaps you’ll see the anoles soon in your garden.
I hope so, Robin. I may have to kidnap a few from the old garden and bring them over. —Pam
So much going on in your garden, Pam. It is beautiful. The Mangave looks especially happy in his new home. Wow! He is huge! So nice to have pass-along plants…you always think of that person when you look at them growing in the garden. Dee’s Phlox and red dirt are looking very happy and healthy.
Yes, passalongs are especially treasured for bringing the giver to mind. —Pam
Okay, now I have more plants on my list. I looked at the agaves and such at Home Depot yesterday. But they were sorely lacking.
Brenda
You need to make a trip to Austin for some agaves, Brenda. Have you been to Peckerwood to see which ones grow well in east Texas? —Pam
I like that spiny lizard … he has such cool markings! The baby garden’s looking good.
Thanks, Cindy. —Pam
My wife and I were lucky to get to see a spiny lizard dart out from the wood pile and take a cricket away from a ground wasp and dart back in. I just know he was thinking “Yeah, just bring em to Papa”.
I sure wish that mangave would hurry up and bloom, I can hardly wait.
Your lizard sounds resourceful, Bob. I am anxious to see the mangave bloom too. —Pam
Your Baby is beginning to mature Pam. I too love the sempervivums. I have one that is two years old, at least I have had it that long. It has several little ones this year. I might have to repot it. I love their texture and color. It is fun watching the Macho grow. It is TALL. Your spiny lizard is a handsome dude. I wonder if it will go into your plants like the anoles did? I will watch for more pictures of him.
I read online that the spiny lizards are aboreal, so I’ll have to start looking up for him. —Pam
What fun! I like the combination of old and new (and borrowed and blue, I guess :->) in my own garden. And what a great lizard!
I was so happy to see the lizard. I like seeing wildlife in the garden, especially bug-eating wildlife. —Pam
Yay, I love seeing pictures from the new garden! Your new lizard friend reminds me – the apartment complex where I currently lives has lots of the little anoles, and this weekend we saw a new reptile – a texas garter snake. I’m always amazed when I see wildlife in our (fairly sterile) apartment courtyard.
That’s great, Ann. It sounds like the apartment management is doing a good job of keeping harmful chemical use down, which helps wildlife. —Pam
Cool winecups. Although they’re from different families, they remind me of some of our California clarkias, down to the feathered petal edges. Cool lizard, too. I just had to take one out of the house that the cat just brought in, though that was one of our local alligator lizards. If you squint a little at the pink flowers and brown lizards you might have a hard time telling Austin apart from San Diego…
Yes, there are some similarities in the local flora and fauna, I suppose. San Diego has lovely summers though, doesn’t it? Now that would be a dream come true. —Pam
Go, Mangave, GO!!!
It’s going! —Pam
Kuddos to you for the Texas Spiny Lizard sighting! He loves the habitat you provide for him and wishes to thank you:)
Well, he’s very welcome! I hope to see him again soon. —Pam
What a striking lizard! I was ecstatic to catch a glimpse of a small striped garter snake in my garden last summer. It felt like my garden had reached some sort of “maturity”. I keep hoping to spot him again, but no luck yet.