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.

Enough said . . .

Gotta love annuals

This little clump of three volunteer nasturtiums have elicited more interest and questions than anything in my garden. Until recently, I had never had any success with this little annual. I've always planted them from seed but would get a weak stand - and often the few seedlings I had would die before they had a chance to really grow and bloom. Although nasturtiums bloom in the spring, you need to plant them in the Fall - and now I always follow my friend Jean Anne's rule: Plant your seed before Halloween or forget about it until next year. The seed is extra hard, so a good overnight soaking is my second nasturtium rule.

I do wish I had gotten around to fertilizing things this spring - the pretty round leaves would look much nicer if they were greener . . . without intending to I seem to have an EarthKind garden. . . .

Hope the Easter Bunny's good to you!

April's Garden Chores in Deep South Texas

FLOWERS (ANNUALS): Marigold, zinnias, cosmos & snapdragon from seed. Many more from bedding plants but beware when you buy from the Big Box Stores. They were selling impatience and pansies this week - after May it's so hot here they just melt.





VEGETABLES: Most of your planting should have been done by March 15th. But if you still have a little room, you may want to plant okra, southern or black-eyed peas. Zucchini and summer squash should be close to harvest. We are currently harvesting asparagus, tomatoes, and eggplant. The tomatoes were planted last fall and the eggplants are a full year old now.

HERBS: Dill can be planted from seed and the warm weather herbs can be planted from seedlings. Most of the garden centers currently have a nice selection of herbs in 3" pots but I'm still looking for Sweet Basil. Last summer we lived on pesto and I want to make sure we have enough. One of my friends who grows LOTS of herbs told me that Sweet Basil is only good a year and then you need to replace it. I added another Mint (Mojito season will be upon us soon) If you haven't grown herbs, you need to try a few. They are so much fun - huge benefit in the kitchen (or bar) - many are catepillar host plants -

CALADIUMS - Caladiums are just beginning to peak up out of the ground. April is your last month to plant them - and if you want your fancy caladiums to last further into the summer, look for a spot that gets afternoon shade. I like to put some in pots that can help disguise a struggling spot.

PRUNE - Most of your annual pruning should be done but I just today finished pruning the Firebush (Hamelia patens). Since Firebush blooms year around on new growth, it can be pruned at any time. But I like to give mine a big spring haircut and then take a little nip here and there as needed. If your roses are spring bloomers, you can cut them back now. Pinch the growing tips out of poinsettias, coleus, copper plants, and mums.

WATER - Top of my list is to add some drip irrigation to a number of beds. The price of the battery powered timers have dropped drastically and I've been told the batteries will last an entire year. Now all I need is a water source to automate much of the irrigation chores.

COMPOST - If your compost bin is like mine, it is now chocked full of brown (carbon) material - cut or shred your trimmings to add to the pile. I still notice bags and bags of leaves and twigs around over Harlingen. Maybe it's time for some leaf rustling!

MULCH - I think this is the most important thing you can do for plant health. It cools the roots and keeps weeds from sprouting and competing for water and nutrients. Around my house, we have some new planting beds so we've already spread over 100 bags this spring. To save money, some of the beds in the back of the house are going to get a base mulching with hay. Give your plants a nice 3 inches of mulch. Once you get all your beds done, topping them off each spring is a piece of cake! Remember to keep it a couple of inches away from your tree trunks.

PEST CONTROL - Be on the look out for aphids and scale. Honeydew is a sign of an aphid infestation. Horticultural soap can handle most small to moderate infestations.

Mystery Solved!

Well, the identity of the Mystery Tree has been solved, I think. My friend, Gordon, called right after I posted to say it's a Shaving Brush Tree, Pachira fastuosa (according to Successful Gardening in The Magic Valley of Texas) or Bombax ellipticum (according to just about every other website).

Native to Mexico, this deciduous tree will grow to about 30 feet. I would have guessed that it is very tender but one website claims it is hardy to 18 degrees. Although it is coveted for it's flashy pink brush-like flowers, the leaves are also very ornamental. I will be watching for them this spring. It is said that the new leaves are a bright red turning light green as they age. Another bonus is that Shaving Brush Tree needs little water.

SamiG did suggest that it could be a Pink Powder Puff, Calliandra surinaemensis. I couldn't find much info on Pink Powder Puff but the Forest Service has a good fact sheet. They mention that Pink Powder Puff blooms throughout the year - and I don't think this one does. But I'll keep an eye on it and let you know if I've changed my mind.

Mystery Tree

I've been admiring this tree for the past month - and each time I pass, I wonder what in the world it is - but promptly forget to do the research - so I thought I would "research" the easy way by tossing it out to the cyber-world. What is this tree???It bloomed all of March and its puff-ball blossoms are about 4 inches in diameter. The trunk is smooth and currently the tree has not got a single leaf.

We picked up a fairly fresh bloom that the tree had shed. It had a bit of a rubbery feel. What I think may be the sepal felt a bit like chenile twine (if that makes any sense to you).

Okay now, be a friend and share your knowledge - or even your best guess.