Garden bloggers, unite!
Warm (but not too warm) weather and a little rain are working wonders in the garden. The roses have set dozens of buds, and ‘Carefree Beauty’ has just exploded into bloom. The bluebonnets (above) and columbines are flowering, the trees are green, and as my neighbor pointed out this morning, even the pecans are leafing, a sure sign that frost danger is well over in Austin. Truly, it’s a good time to be hosting the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling.
Several Spring Fling hosts and guests are anticipating the big day with posts about garden style as personal expression, setting expectations for an unconventional meadow-style garden in the heart of downtown, garden-tour etiquette, and even a pretty route to drive while you’re in town. Heaven knows that the Spring Fling is nearly all I’ve talked about for months. Well, bear with me because all our planning (many thanks, Bonnie, MSS, and Diana!) is about to pay off, as we welcome 38 garden bloggers from across the country and, of course, Austin to tour gardens, talk blogging, and socialize on Saturday.
Garden bloggers, unite! Let’s Fling! Here are some spring images from my garden to put you in the right frame of mind.
A diagonal view across the front garden, from driveway entrance to street. The bold shapes of agaves and manfreda and defined paths hold this loose, cottage-garden design together.
A closer look shows how the columbines echo the yellow stripes on the variegated agave and the yellow bench.
‘Carefree Beauty’ is my first rose to bloom this spring.
Peek-a-boo
Like the pecans, my new ‘Muskogee’ crepe myrtle is slow to leaf out, but it’s finally decided that spring is here. Behind it glow the white flowers of the Anacacho orchid (Bauhinia congesta ) tree.
As daintily colored as an Easter egg, Gulf Coast penstemon (Penstemon tenuis ) blooms at the crepe myrtle’s feet.
A passalong from MSS, Engelmann’s daisy (Engelmannia peristenia ) adds its sunny, yellow face to the iris border.
I can thank MSS for the variegated agave too, which I’m showing off in an elevated, gravelly stock-tank bed. The iconic Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis ) blooms beside it…
…in traditional blue…
…and new-fangled (and accidental) pink.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Well, I have been playing catch up after a long bout with a pulled muscle in the buttocks. Kept me from shoveling though! Now that I am on the mend, I have planted two southern wax myrtles, a pineapple guava, a fig tree, a persimmon, a new sycamore, and transplanted a pear. Everything is starting to bloom but I will miss the possumhaw berries and the redbuds. I cannot wait to see all the gardens. Let the flings begin.
The location of your pulled muscle reminds me (I can’t help it) of Forrest Gump. 🙂 You have certainly been busy with spring planting since you recovered. I look forward to meeting you, Ron, at the Spring Fling. —Pam
You’ve got so many lovely flowers in your garden already! It’s hard to believe it’s spring – looks more like summer to me! I fell in love with that penstemon… /Katarina
Our summers don’t look quite this fresh, Katarina. Heat and drought take their toll by July. While gardens remain lush, even jungly, they have a more weathered look to them by summer. —Pam
Oh Pam, your garden is truly ready. I am sure all of the gardens in Austin are in tip top shape and all are just awaiting
the Spring Flingers. Keep on showing those pictures. I am sitting here in front of my computer itchin’ and twitchin’
because I would like to be able to stroll down your path to actually see all of those lovely blooms. I will just have
to be satisfied with pictures…and lots of them… YOU HEAR THAT ALL YOU SPRING FLINGERS!!! And yes I meant to shout and stomp my feet for attention that I want copious amounts of pictures. Don’t make me scream again. Uhh, err, Thank you.
Where does a blogger ever go without his or her camera, Lisa? No worries—I feel sure the weekend will be well documented. Wish you could be here to Fling with us. —Pam
I’ve got my hat & my sunscreen – I am so ready!
You sound ready! At this point, weather forecasts are calling for about 80 degrees and sunny skies on Saturday. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. —Pam
Lisa, I am buying more memory cards for my camera, bringing extra batteries, let’s see what else, sunglasses, flip flops, hat, bug wipes? All the gardens will be stupendous, all the bloggers will be so nice, all the food will be so delicious, and hopefully we can squeeze some plants in our suitcase to bring home from the nursery. Whew! How to wait for the next four days?
Frances
I hope you won’t need the bug wipes, Frances, but it won’t hurt to have them. You sound like a seasoned traveler. Can’t wait to meet you! —Pam
Pam, It looks as though you picked the perfect time to host the Spring Fling.You are all going to have so much fun and thanks for giving all the non-attenders a tour of your garden today. While you’re uniting all the garden bloggers I hope you get a group photo to share with the rest of us as well.I can feel your anticipation and just know it is going to turn out just as planned.
Meems at Hoe&Shovel
I do hope so, Meems. Thanks for the good wishes! And yes, we’re planning to have a group photo made at the lunch. —Pam
I’m so ready too. I can hardly believe I get to go. Lisa, I feel your pain. Lotsa pics, I promise.
I love Carefree Beauty, although she isn’t the earliest one of mine to bloom. That would be Cl. Old Blush.~~Dee
Often it’s ‘Valentine’ who is the early rose in my garden, but not this year. —Pam
Oh, those Bluebonnets! Pink ones, too! Gorgeous! Looks like you guys are well ready for the weekend. I’ll be there with you in thought!
Thanks, Kylee. —Pam
Pam, you have a fantastic garden. Everything seems to be in bloom and it looks so neat. I love the big varigated Agave. The plants are different to mine, very interesting.
Thanks, Trudi. The differences are what makes reading garden blogs so fun, don’t you think? —Pam
Pam,
Really it looks so lovely, I love pairing the columbine with the agave and the pink bluebonnets are sweet. Frances has a good point, more memory cards for the camera!
gail
Always a good idea for a blogger. See you soon, Gail. —Pam
Pam: Your echo combinations leave me with great anticipation for the weekend. I love those stock tank planters which look so right in your garden. Carly Simon is singing ‘Anticipation’ in my ear right now…
Mine too. Do you have the volume turned up really loud? 😉 —Pam
Beautiful! Wish I could be there. I look forward to “seeing” it all on everyone’s blog.
Thanks for stopping by, Rurality. —Pam
You have a beautiful garden, and wonderful photos! I particularly love your macro shots. They are fabulous!
Thanks for the kind words—and right back at you, Chey. 🙂 —Pam
THANK YOU for posting that. We have bluebonnets all over, and I couldn’t figure out what they were! Thanks! And have a wonderful spring fling. Wish we could join you!
Melinda, since you’re in California, you probably have another type of lupine. Many look like the Texas bluebonnet, but Lupinus texensis is found wild only in Texas. Thanks for your good wishes on the Spring Fling. Wish you could have joined us. —Pam
Roses, columbine, bluebonnets and more in bloom. A floral feast for a winter-weary, impatient-with-a-slow-spring kind of gardener. I’ll be down there in a few days…
Carol, May Dreams Gardens (where finally a daffodil is blooming)
It is a floral feast in Austin right now. You’re coming at a good time. —Pam
I have just toured many of the Austin blogs and I can see what a colorful and beautiful array will be spread before us.
Looking forward!
Us too! —Pam
Looks like you are more than ready for the Spring Fling Pam. How wonderful that 38 bloggers are coming to this important event.:-) I’ll be there in spirit!
Thanks, YE. I am ready for the fun to begin. —Pam
Thanks for sharing all the beautiful photos of your garden. Warmer weather can’t come soon enough to my corner of the world 🙂 That yellow columbine is so lovely.
I hope you get some warm, spring weather soon, Amy. —Pam
Congratulations on the event! The garden sure is ready. LOVE the passion flower and the stock tanks btw. Maybe I’ll get down there next year. Thanks for showing us Austin springtime 🙂
Thanks, Lynn. Hope to meet you at a future Spring Fling. —Pam
Wish I could be there too! Maybe next year everyone should come to Blithewold… Have a fabulous weekend!
We wish you could be here too, Kris. I do hope to visit Blithewold one day. You’ve shown me how lovely it is, not to mention all the great folks behind the scenes. —Pam
Hi Pam!
You have allready summer, when we in Sweden show our first spring picks you maby have aoutum in you garden;)
Very fine pick.I like your Lapinus. We have some and I think it is so “English” to have them in the garden.
Regards Ken
Ha, yes, spring comes early to Austin, which doesn’t get much of a winter. And our summer, hot and humid as it is, will last well past your autumn (into October). Spring and fall are our showiest gardening seasons here. Thanks for visiting. —Pam