A few butterflies have been attracted to the red blooms of the Kalanchoe, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. This member of the Sedum family blooms from January through late spring.
It looks like the Bougainvillea are going to be show-stoppers this year. Although we've decided to trim and train this one up onto the roof, I can't bear to begin the process until after the flowers are fading. 
Blaze, a climbing rose, has begun blooming. One of these years, I'm going to learn how and when to prune this baby.
Spicy Jatropha buds - Buds today, blooms tomorrow . . .
Spineless Cactus
Blaze, a climbing rose, has begun blooming. One of these years, I'm going to learn how and when to prune this baby.
Spicy Jatropha buds - Buds today, blooms tomorrow . . .
Spineless Cactus
We once had a prickly pear cactus - beautiful blooms, but oh, how treacherous to work around!
A close-up of its red and yellow blooms is below.
Surely hummingbirds will arrive soon to feast on the bottlebrush! It must be awfully sweet stuff.
This Mealycup Sage, Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue' , has especially vibranty blossoms right now - sometimes later blooms seem to be paler in color. 
Trailing white lantana is exploding with blossoms. I love the contrast of the white flower next to the dark green 
leaf.
Look at how delicate and perfect each individual flower is!
leaf.Look at how delicate and perfect each individual flower is!
But I don't know who I'm trying to kid - because in reality, this thistle is what is REALLY blooming in my garden right now! My Book Club met at my home last night - how embarrassed was I when one of my friends told me I should remove that weed near the front door . . . . Just look at all the seeds . . . . I'll really have a problem next year if I don't get out there - and quickly!
To see more of what is blooming in gardens around the world, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
7 comments:
Very Interesting Pictures. A blooming flowers will bring perfect beauty to everyone.
You had me going there for a little bit, but I did get a chuckle out of this post. I am sure by next month's GBBD you will have more to show. I have too many cool season weeds, too.
Jan
Always Growing
Hi Mary Beth,
GREAT site! We recently moved to McAllen, and I can never seem to prune my plants at the right time.
Any idea when to prune the following plants?
--Jatropha integerrima (could never figure out what this was until I saw your blog!)
--Hibiscus
--Ixora
If you can email me, my email is jmartinez3344@yahoo.com...or I can just recheck your blog too, if that's easier for you!
Thanks!
JAN - Even though the thistle seem to be overwhelming all of my planting beds (and lawn, as well) - all of the other pictures were taken last week. I do, indeed, live in Paradise - it remains warm enough that something is blooming each and every month.
MR/MS MARTINEZ, Welcome to the Valley! You are wise to be thinking about pruning - I only prune my Jatropha to limb it up and keep it in a tree form (multi-trunked, but a tree form) Hibiscus should be cut back to 2 or 3 feet right now. Ixora is a very slow grower for me (my heavy clay may be the reason for that) - so I only trim to keep it the size I want (usually to keep it at or below a window sill).
Mary Beth,
Greatly appreciate the information! I didn't realize hibiscus needed to be cut back that low, but I'll certainly do it. Those things get out of control pretty quickly!
Can't tell you how excited I am to finally figure out our one plant was a Jatropha...it took 2 years to figure it out, and it only happened because of you.
Thanks,
Mrs. Martinez
McAllen
I was getting really sick looking at your gorgeous flowers when all I have is the odd one here and there. Your garden does look really healthy judging by the blooms on your plants. I just seem to have too many bugs eating everything in sight.
Great photo. I am amazed the the vibrant green shade of your Indian Fig pricly pear. Mine always has a more gray color, probably because of the intense sunlight. Also, love that Spicy Jatropha. I had one several years ago, until a freak deep freeze did it in. I've never found another one.
Aiyana
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