Texas bluebonnet

As I strolled through the front garden this evening, I was surprised to see a volunteer bluebonnet poking its head up amid the tall echinacea stems. April Fools? No, it was for real. I’d planted a couple of bluebonnets near that spot several years ago, and for the next two years one or two seedlings would sprout. But one spring, no more bluebonnets. After all this time, a straggler has made a welcome appearance.

Bluebonnets are cheerful flowers, and it made my day to see one in the garden. Especially as I’m seeing so few on the roadsides this year because of the drought. I visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center yesterday, and even their dependable bluebonnet patch (for photo ops with children) was much smaller and sparser.

The Belinda’s Dream rose has begun to catch up with the others in blooms. Here are a couple of pictures of full flowers.

The dark pink Carefree Beauty rose

As promised, a photo of the Anacacho orchid tree in flower. The bees love the flowers, and the tree has a green-and-white, lacy openness in the springtime.