Spiderwort, Blue Elf aloe, and other spring blooms
Spring is in earnest now. Every time I stroll through the garden I see something new blooming, and around town the redbuds and Texas mountain laurels are at peak bloom. Mexican plums and Bradford pears are past peak, and the Texas bluebonnets are just starting. The joyous ride of spring is underway!
In my own garden, in the shade of a still-dormant crepe myrtle, native spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) is sending up tall stems of lavender flowers, which the bees adore. The wavy arms of squid agave (A. bracteosa) give an illusion of movement in the background.
This surprised me yesterday: a single summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum). I’d forgotten I’d ever planted it and have no idea if it was a bring-along from my old garden, which has lain dormant since then, or whether I bought a few recently. No idea! I’m enjoying its nodding flower and wondering what other spring surprises await discovery.
Here’s a different view of the replanted culvert-pipe planter and new purple pot, which I showed in a recent post. They stand out nicely against the coyote fence (rough cedar posts wired together). The dusky purple Chinese fringeflower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Sizzling Pink’) bloomed earlier, and its fuchsia flowers are faded and nearly done.
‘Blue Elf’ aloe was in bud during the last freeze (as usual), but the flowers survived to bloom another day — this day, in fact. I adore this flowering aloe, and so do the early hummingbirds when they arrive. Last summer it was looking very crowded and had an ugly bare spot right in the middle, and I knew it was time for thinning. I dug it out, pulled it into smaller pieces, each with a bit of root, and replanted in a freshened mix of gravelly soil. It’s filled in nicely since then and looks a lot healthier.
Here’s another spring surprise: my false red yucca (Beschorneria septentrionalis), which I bought from Peckerwood Garden three years ago, is about to bloom for the first time! I will be sure to post more pics when the big event occurs.
Cosmo wishes you a happy spring — or nearly spring, depending on where you live!
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Cosmo looks like he is made of snow. A snow dog. Luckily this is all the snow you have had in your garden. Your first photo is very poetic. Happy Spring.
Like dirty snow, at the moment, Lisa. He’s going to get a bath and haircut tomorrow. —-Pam
Pretty stroll through the garden. Glad you posted about the Beschorneria, I might go to one of the spring open garden days and sale at Peckerwood and was trying to remember that very plant!
I can’t wait to see how the flower looks when it opens, Shirley. Something new! —Pam
I’m going to have to run home and see if my spiderwort has started blooming yet. I checked a couple of days ago and it hadn’t started yet. It’s become one of my favorite spring bloomers.
Mine too, Margo. It’s so dependable, and the bees love it. —Pam
Isn’t it nice to see the spring pretties? My spiderwort is also blooming and my first iris opened today. I love your summer snowflake–so sweet.
Some of my iris are in bud. I’ve been checking them every day. It’s that time of year when something new is blooming every day. —Pam
Thanks to a passalong from you I have blue elf blooming too and saw the first hummingbird visit yesterday. The new pot works well with the loropetalum.
I’m envious that you’ve spotted a hummer already, Jenny! I’ll have to keep a sharp eye out. —Pam
Thanks for several great reminders – I’ve got one aloe bloom spike but no flowers yet…I think! I’m going out in a moment to hang a hummer feeder and to check for spiderwort and iris buds among others. Since I’m hiding from oak pollen (stuff is already blowing in from areas ahead of us seasonally unfortunately) I’ll miss some of the sweetest early blooms if I don’t actively watch for them. Keeping track via local posts is one of the best ways to focus those efforts!
I expect there will be plenty of reports among Austin bloggers in the next few weeks. —Pam
Good job with the aloe, it is certainly rewarding you for the TLC.
It’s pretty easy to please, Marian. Gotta love plants like that! —Pam
Thanks to all the recent rains in the Austin area, I have things in my garden in bud & bloom that haven’t been seen in YEARS. Let’s hope we can keep up the steady stream of rain & moisture throughout the summer!
Perhaps that’s why the summer snowflake decided to bloom, Nance. It would be a blessing indeed if the rains kept up all summer. But I’m not holding my breath — ha! —Pam