Bloom Day April 15, 2009
April 16, 2009
Hey everybody. Well it’s been a month since I last posted. Time sure flies. Because of the nice weather we’ve been having here in Austin I’ve been working in my yard like a madman. I had 9 yards of decomposed granite delivered from the Natural Gardener to make my backyard patio and I’ve been planting beds and trying to revive my grass that looks like %&#@ from last summer’s drought. I’ve got a LOT of flowers blooming though and I want to send a shout out to Carole and May Dreams Gardens (http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/) for coming up with the idea of Bloom Day, which occurs on the 15th of each month and is the day that garden bloggers take photos of all of the flowers that are blooming in their gardens.
Jerusalem Sage
First up is the crazy Dr. Seuss-looking “Jerusalem Sage” (phlomis viscosa”). This has to be about the brightest yellow this side of the sunflower.
Statice
Next up is the statice (limonium sinuatum) which has been blooming like crazy all winter long. These flowers look the same when dried as they do when fresh. They also come in a purple variety.
I planted these this past fall and have saved the tab with the name somewhere but can’t seem to find it. Anyone have any idea what these are called?
Black and blue sage
The first blooms on the black and blue sage (salvia guarantica).
Snapdragons and dusty miller
These snapdragons have been blooming all winter as well
Castor bean
Well it’s not exactly a beautiful bloom, but the castor bean plant (ricinus communis) is blooming so it gets a place here. You know this plant is where castor oil and ricinus comes from.
Here’s the Mexican Flame Vine (Senicio Confusus)
Jasmine vine I (the frangrance is incredible)
Mealy Blue Sage
Mealy blue sage (Salvia Farinacea) is HUGE and covered in blooms.
Stick Verbena
Got this plant last year (Verbena Bonariensus) at the Rose Emporium in San Antonio. Really a cool plant. Lots of little ones coming up in the garden this year.
Verbena
Here’s another verbena blooming all over and thru the tri-color sage (salvia officinalis)
Mexican Bush Sage
(Salvia leucantha) which seems to have forgotten that it is supposed to bloom in the fall.
Bi-color sage
Bi color sage (Salvia coccinea)
Dianthus
Hot pink snapdragons with my new red convertible in the background (how did that get in there?)
Moss Rose
Moss rose (portulaca grandiflora) is blooming like crazy.
Unidentified aloe plant is still blooming.
Blackfoot Daisy
Early blooms on the blackfoot daisy (melampodium leucanthum)
Dianthus "Spooky Mix"
Peggy Martin Rose
Sweet Allysum
Marigold
Petunia
Dianthus
Viola
Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana alata is blooming with very fragrant blooms.
Unidentified Rose
Unidentified Rose
Unidentified Opuntia
Unidentified Opuntia
Mexican Olive
I love this tree, the Texas Wild Olive (cordia boissieri). It is covered all summer in these white crepe blooms.
Cross Vine
Nectarine
Petunia
Petunia
Princess Flower
Another favorite the Princess flower (tibouchina candolleana) is still covered in flowers.
Buddeleia "Inspiration"
Petunia
Impatiens
Cenizo
I was surprised to see this flower on the cenizo a.k.a. Barometer Bush. It usually only blooms after it rains.
Oleander
First flower of the season on the Oleander
Bottlebrush
More flowers on the bottlebrush bush (callistemon rigidus)
Honeysuckle
Lantana "horrida"
Morning Glory Bush
This is a new addition to my garden. Saw one blooming at Barton Springs Nursery last summer and knew I had to have it. It’s the morning glory bush (ipom0ea adeniodis)
Sunflower
Evergreen Acacia
This is such a nice tree (acacia dealdata).
Petunia
Petunia
Gregg's Blue Mistflower
Square Bud Primrose
Square bud primrose or calylophus drummondianus blooming in front of the purple heart (tradescantia pallida)
Pineapple Guava
The Pineapple Guava (Acca sellowiana) is covered in flowers. Can’t wait for the fruit to form.
California Poppy
Dianthus "Spooky Mix"
Euphorbia "Crown of Thorns"
Viola
Ok, so I cheated a bit and didn’t describe everything on here but it’s after 11 pm and I leave in the morning for a week in San Francisco. Hope you all enjoy the blooms and I thank you for visiting my site. I am going to do my best to get caught up on my posts and be a bit more consistent in May.
Happy gardening!
Horselips's Horse Sense 
April 16, 2009 at 4:30 am
Hi Horselips Randy –
Was on my way to bed and saw your comment to Carol so moseyed over to take a peek. Good grief, what a fabulous array of plants and flowers!
We had repeated freezes followed by hail up here in NW Austin, so your barely frosted bloom day feels like visiting someone at least one zone south.
I think your mystery flower is Salpiglossis. I’ve never seen it growing in a garden…aways in a greenhouse or conservatory.
Happy Bloom Day and may your traveling be safe and smooth.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
April 16, 2009 at 4:59 am
Hey! I just finished…11:57…whew! Your post looks great, I love the pic of the cactus with the fresh granite and the white frames. Have a great time in San Fran! It’s time for a crawl, don’t ‘cha think?
See ya soon, Ladybug
April 16, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Wow, Randy, you’ve got a riot of color in your gardens! Be forewarned re the Morning Glory Bush: it gets HUGE. I mean, seriously HUGE. I grew it for a while and had to let it go because it was hogging so much space. I do miss the blooms, though.
April 16, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Wow, you have quite a variety of flowers and the most amazing thing is that although we both live in Austin we grow completely different things. I don’t remember seeing a sunflower blooming so early. And I’m very enticed by the castor bean and the flowering tobacco. I’m pretty sure I have seeds for the latter around here somewhere but I obviously forgot to sow them in time.
April 19, 2009 at 9:03 pm
It looks as though you are having spring summer and fall all at the same time. I haven’t even put my sunflower seeds in yet! You must have a very sheltered spot there to have had many of your plants blooming all winter. I think I would like to move there! Beautiful healthy blooms.
July 16, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Wow, just gorgeous. I agree with Jenny; looks like you’ve got all seasons covered, even in this heat. Glad to know the ID of that incredible yellow. Yummy! Am definitely adding cordia & Indian carnation to the list.