Just right—perfect spring weather
Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana ) flowering white against a blue, blue sky.
After our up-and-down temperatures earlier in the week, the forecasters promise us perfect spring weather through the weekend, with highs in the low 70s F (low 20s C) and maybe even a sprinkling of rain, which we could really use. Bird song, blue skies, and a budding garden enticed me outside for a morning investigation. I hope you’ll join me for a look.
Summer snowflakes (Leucojum aestivum )
‘Amethyst Flame’ iris bud, wrapped tightly in purple satin
It won’t be long until they’re all in bloom.
Purple trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis ) likes chilly weather and is still blooming in the sheltered back garden.
Gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida ), which didn’t flower last year, is setting buds. I’ve moved it out of the stock-tank planter, which was probably too shady for it, into a sunnier bed.
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens ) is lighting up the fence with its buttery yellow flowers and scenting the patio and back porch.
After planting a variegated agave with yellow stripes in the new foundation bed, complemented by a yellow-flowering Jerusalem sage and yellow-green bamboo muhly, I decided to go whole hog and spray paint my formerly white bench yellow. Spray-paint colors are limited, and the lemon yellow turned out a little more “acid” than the mellow yellow I wanted, but I do like the pop of color at that end of the garden now.
In the back garden, there’s more blue and purple, aided by the cobalt blue of the bottle tree and the pots on the right. The lighter blue pot on the left contains a ‘Blue Elf’ aloe, blooming with orangey coral flowers on long, asparagus-like stalks.
More blue
This sparrow and her mate are stuffing the bottle birdhouse with pieces of bamboo muhly grass, making a cozy nest for their brood.
I hope you enjoyed this slice of spring from Austin.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I live in Tyler. I don’t have the blooms you have yet. But I have Eastern bluebirds nesting in the back birdhouse, where they vacation every year. They are resplendent with their cobalt blue feathers. I enjoyed your tour! And I’ll be back.
Brenda Kula
Hi, Brenda from Tyler. You are so lucky to have bluebirds nesting in your yard. Such cute little birds, and so brightly colored! Thanks for dropping by. —Pam
Are you kidding??? It is wonderful to see all of these beautiful spring beauties from the purple satin to the acid yellow bench. 🙂 I bet that yellow will fade to what you want in no time.
I hope so. But if it doesn’t I’m not worried about bright color. 😉 —Pam
Pam, your pictures just keep getting better and better. But with that blue, blue sky, what wouldn’t look good? I love your little bird house pot and the birds using it. The iris in bud are as beautiful to me as the open blooms, somehow that means they will be gone all too soon, but the buds offer so much promise.
Frances at Faire Garden
It’s looking great over there. Love the mexican plum what pretty blooms it has!
Thanks, Priscilla. I’ll bet it’s looking like spring in San Antonio too, huh? By the way, have you thought about joining us for the Garden Blogger Spring Fling, since you’re so close? —Pam
I love, love, love the yellow bench. You can never have too much yellow with blue. Great!
Thanks, I’m glad you like it, Jane Marie. Yellow and blue are a classic combo. I’ll have to make sure I have some blue in that agave bed. Maybe bluebonnets this spring. —Pam
Hey, the sun is shining in my garden, too. Though it is below freezing and they are saying we are getting more wintry mix tonight, but right now THE SUN IS SHINING. I just stopped by here to get my daily dose of “spring” and to make myself even more antsy to get to Austin to see your garden in person.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens (Hey, the Sun Is Shining Here, Too!)
Sunshine can make even a cold day feel happy. I’m glad you’re getting some sun, Carol. —Pam
That bottle tree is so stunning in the garden and adds a lot of interest. I bet lights stuck in the bottles would be pretty at Christmastime. Carolina Jasmine is wonderful and you can’t beat the scent. Such pretty photos today and thanks for sharing. I could feel the warmth in your garden today with more on the way!!
Thanks for your comments, Anna. It was definitely a nice, warm day in Austin. I wish we could store these days up for summer. —Pam
Lovely!
Thanks, Elizabeth. Won’t be long until you’re here to bask in the sunshine yourself. The Spring Fling is only a month away. —Pam
Your bottle tree is great! So fun and such color in your garden. I really can’t wait to see it all together in context! I’ve gotta go out and check my Mexican Plum, now!
Diana, didn’t you see my garden when you, Bonnie, and MSS came over to help plan the Spring Fling? Or maybe it was too cold and rainy that day. Of course, things were pretty dormant then. —Pam
Catching up on all of your posts since getting back from vacation. I can’t believe how much farther along your plants are in coming up than mine. Of course, your garden is just all around fuller than mine anyway. But my trees aren’t even breaking out yet in flowers. Lovely pictures.
Welcome back, Bonnie. I think my garden must be in the absolute warmest spot in Austin. It’s usually a degree or so warmer than the temps at Camp Mabry, which are always warmer than the official temps at Bergstrom Airport. That’s probably why my garden’s a little farther along than yours. —Pam
With the snow blowing every which way, it was good to see the Iris in bud and the Carolina Jessamine looking beautiful. I loved the Gopher Plant – my favourite rodent.
Your bottle tree and glazed blue pots are gorgeous!
Thanks, Kate. I like the gopher plant too—but I don’t know if I’d like actual gophers! —Pam
Wow! Spring! Even the birds are nesting! I played in the dirt today, but it was in the kitchen. It helped but I’m so ready for warm sunshine! Enjoy yours!
I am, Robin. I’ve got to store up days like these in memory to get me through the summer. —Pam
oh, your garden is far ahead. ‘Bottle tree’ and cobalt blue containers look amazing. Beautiful pictures.
Thanks, Ewa. Since I built my bottle tree, I’m finding that I like that deep blue in the garden more than ever. —Pam
Thanks again. I needed a little taste of spring.
I’m glad it’s leap year – I’d hate to think it was -12 F in March.
No, we wouldn’t want that, for sure. (I hope it warms up a degree or two by tomorrow.) —Pam
Wow, I really love your spring! I can almost smell the beautiful flowers…thank you!
Thanks! I wish I could send the scents through the blog, Lisa. —Pam
Hi Pam, I think I remember you saying where you gathered your bottle tree bottles, would you mind telling us again?
Nevermind, I found the info under ‘How I Did It’…. I will also use your great tips on planting a stock tank. Thanks!
Oh good. As you probably read, most of them were hand-me-downs from MSS at Zanthan Gardens. I’m glad you found the stock-tank info useful. Have fun making your own. Let me know if you post about it. —Pam
It’s totally spring in your garden, Pam – love that euphorbia, and as the owner of a yellow Adirondack chair must say your yellow bench is perfect! An ‘Amethyst Flame’ iris opened here too, making me remember and appreciate your generosity in sharing this little beauty last year.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I remembered your yellow chair as I was painting mine. The nice thing about yellow is you just can’t be unhappy sitting in a chair painted that hue. And I’m happy to know that your iris opened today too. —Pam
I had no idea about the garden bloggers spring fling. I would love to go but just can’t! I have something planned for the 5th of April. That’s so sad I would love to meet the other bloggers around here. I’ve never been to the lady bird johnson wildflower center. I’ll have to see how things go because I would really like to come. I might be able to attend the day activities but I have something planned at 5pm. I’m just starting a new job tomorrow and I would have to also see about working that day too. I’ll keep in touch on if I’ll be able to attend.
I don’t know how you’ve missed all the hoopla about the Spring Fling, Priscilla, but I hope you can make it for at least some of the activities, since you’re so close in San Antonio. Good luck with your new job. —Pam