GBBD - Tax Day Edition

Carol of May Dreams Gardens has encouraged us to share what's blooming in our gardens on the 15th of each month. Visit her blog for links to gardens around the world.

This month my biggest concerns have been removing the grass from the planting beds and encouraging it to grow and spread in the lawn area. Never-the-less, in spite of me, there is an explosion of flowers here in Paradise.

At the front door you are greeted by this pink and orange bougainvillea. I know it needs a trimming but I can't bring myself to cut a single branch!

Up close, you can see the tiny white flowers, surrounded by the colorful bracts.

This Angel's Trumpet has more blooms on it this evening than I have ever seen - it must like its new home. They open during the night and close a bit during the day.

The delicate bloom of Angel's Trumpets. I moved this one to a protected spot of the garden - one where the wind can't shred the blossoms.

Mexican Mint Marigold - this carefree perennial comes back year after year.

Pato de Chiva or Goat's Hoof is just beginning to bloom. Soon it will be covered in white.

Blaze Rose - this is a climbing rose that I thought was supposed to be vigorous - but I've been disappointed and am considering replacing it next year. First I may add a vine or two around its iron support.

Although it's not a native, I love this Thyrallis (or yellow plumbago) that's growing in the Native Bed - maybe I should rename it the Mainly Native Bed. The plants are a bit leggy but they bloom on new wood so can be pruned at any time of the year.

Remember my "Lasagna Garden Bed"? Here it is one year later! I haven't planted the back section yet. It sits in front of a line of Ixora. I know a taller plant would have been a better choice for this spot than the Ixora - but I can't bring myself to move them. What pretty orange blooms they have! The cosmos in this mixed bed are all volunteers from last year.

Cat's Whiskers, Orthosiphon aristatus, up-close

Wild Olive, Cordia boissieri is also known around here as Anacahuita.

Soft-tip Yucca, Yucca gloriosa

I picked this colorful basket up at one of the big box stores. It wasn't identified - just had a generic plant tag. But this mystery plant looks nearly irridescent. It's the first thing I notice when I step into this area.

White trailing lantana. It seems to shine in the moonlight.

The amaryllis seem to like their new home. They are so tough they'll grow anywhere! In a few years, they will have filled this entire area.

All of the Crown of Thorns are blooming - This is
the large flowering variety, Euphorbia splendens var. milii. We also grow the dwarf variety, 'Mini Bell'.

This Bottlebrush, Callistemon cirtinus is the hummingbird hangout. This is the protected side of the hedge; the wind has already blown many of the blooms off the other side. I hope to find some 'Little John' Bottlebrush in Austin this weekend. Even though it grows well here, no one seems to carry it.

Our spineless cactus has these delicate flowers. They never open but I think they are so beautiful!

Here's a close-up. They are only and inch or two long but chocked full of detail.

And yet another bloom from the spineless cactus - this one is fresher - it's pistal is still attached.

Buttercups are everywhere. I think they're so pretty - but feel compelled to pull many of them out so they don't take over.

Other things blooming in Paradise are Vinca, Nasturtiums, Night Blooming Cactus, Shrimp Plants, Kalanchoe, and Firebush has some buds.