tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68259847654540886562024-03-05T14:05:15.595-06:00Houston Garden GirlHouston Garden Girl journals the adventures of gardening in Houston. HGG grows vegetables, tropicals, native plants, perennials, annuals, fruit trees, and just about everything else you can think of. HGG's gardens are in full shade, part shade, and full sun. Backyard drainage problems have created the need for a rain garden and rain barrels. HGG also keeps a calendar of Houston garden events.Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-89148828791821399142015-01-08T08:44:00.000-06:002015-01-09T11:29:04.736-06:00Possibly the Very Best Citrus<p>Not only am I a gardener, but my dad is a gardener, and my granddad is a gardener. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9RWoMNJ5ppQ/VK4mPWksLII/AAAAAAAAEM8/bCQBhq6RFvQ/s1600-h/IMG_4189%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4189" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 8px 8px 5px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4189" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NWJg4PhENak/VK4mP9IVbhI/AAAAAAAAENE/TGpk01t7ucQ/IMG_4189_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="182" align="left" height="264"></a></p> <p>This past summer my dad and I helped out in my grandad’s garden. Here we are, three generations of gardeners. My grandparents live in Kansas, needless to say…they cannot grow citrus.</p> <p>They do have a lot of Texas crepe myrtles growing there, but semi-tropical they are not. </p> <p>(ok, there is no such thing as a Texas crepe myrtle, they are just crepe myrtles that my Dad brought from Texas many years ago.)</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>My Dad lives in NE Harris County and started his orchard at the same time I started mine at my old house, about 7 years ago. He probably has between 20 and 30 trees now, mostly citrus, but also apples, pears, and peaches plus muscadines and blackberries. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hHTvypJ6nYE/VK4mQzFBgdI/AAAAAAAAENM/pvmNoQZth-I/s1600-h/oranges_to_kansas%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="oranges_to_kansas" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 8px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="oranges_to_kansas" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dLSOegbPN_w/VK4mRTs5rnI/AAAAAAAAENU/HYVBL74eDsY/oranges_to_kansas_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" height="184"></a></p> <p>He’s been taking citrus to Kansas for Christmas for a few years now. This year, my mom and him have also been boxing it up and shipping it there. My grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins, and 2nd cousins are loving these treats from Texas. </p> <p>But, I digress. </p> <p> </p> <p>What I really wanted to tell you about are <strong>Kishu Mandarins</strong>. If you are going to grow one citrus tree, this is it! The fruit is D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!</p> <p>The tree itself stays relatively small, around 8 feet tall. My Dad’s 5 year old tree has produced 615 mandarins this year, and it’s not finished yet!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ddi-b9mWoLc/VK4mSNxGquI/AAAAAAAAEMI/SIQS0VY8OeA/s1600-h/photo%2525202%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="photo 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-glhQ7oY3aRc/VK4mSeZgHcI/AAAAAAAAEMM/U3nNt7f30A8/photo%2525202_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="380" height="227"></a></p> <p>These small, SEEDLESS, fruit are sweet and very easy to peel. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zmex28uB53k/VK4mS1YSMCI/AAAAAAAAEMU/ERz5081WKKE/s1600-h/photo%2525203%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="photo 3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-seX-6Y199RI/VK4mTLzeDJI/AAAAAAAAEMg/pLE5acqh1f8/photo%2525203_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="235"></a></p> <p>Kids love them and will eat them like candy…I eat them like candy! </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jdXQy7drK-4/VK4mTs-M8-I/AAAAAAAAEMk/6LP47xDaTro/s1600-h/photo%2525204%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="photo 4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oHBrJAZmWDg/VK4mUNUXE6I/AAAAAAAAEMw/5sDApNi0m-o/photo%2525204_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="400"></a></p> <p>I will usually pop half of one in my mouth at a time. </p> <p>You may have to be patient with the tree. It took about 4 years before this one’s production took off. Dad thinks it had about 400 mandarins last year. </p> <p>Harvest is from November through January. Follow typical guidelines for citrus care. </p> <p>Most of Dad’s and my fruit trees have come from the Urban Harvest Annual Fruit Tree Sale. This year’s sale in on January 17th and they will be selling the Kishu Mandarin. Check out their <a href="http://urbanharvest.org/fruit-tree-sale" target="_blank">website</a> for more details. </p> <p>The Houston Chronicle has published several good articles in the past week about <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/gardening/article/Find-fruits-nuts-and-berries-for-your-garden-at-5995334.php#/0" target="_blank">local fruit tree sales</a> and <a href="http://www.chron.com/news/article/Acreage-not-needed-for-growing-fruit-trees-5990289.php" target="_blank">growing fruit in small spaces</a>. </p> <p>If you have a patio or any amount of yard, you can and should grow citrus. Good luck and happy eating!</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-87023458581622889662014-03-21T00:16:00.000-05:002014-03-22T16:26:05.924-05:00March Garden Bloggers Bloom Day<div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">I’ve been absent from my blog for awhile and I won’t pretend that this post isn’t an anomaly, but a full-time job, 2 golden retrievers, and a new house and garden are about all I can handle most of the time. I was traveling for business this week and came down with strep throat while I was out of town, so you can imagine my delight when I was walking around the yard this evening and noticed all of the blooms. I couldn’t believe my eyes! After this winter, I haven’t been feeling much optimism about ever enjoying the outdoors again (yes, a bit dramatic, but it felt like the never ending winter, even here in Houston).</div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">These gardens are not quite one year old yet.<br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table class="tr-caption-container" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-72KqEzZRlxc/UyvIdByTgdI/AAAAAAAAEH8/lxx8w0RVQ4w/s1600-h/IMG_1547%25255B14%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="IMG_1547" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1547" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_aRbwzrxHNM/UyvIdio2QnI/AAAAAAAAEIE/ltmfWyUlWzg/IMG_1547_thumb%25255B16%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="534" height="364"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center">Phlox pilosa 'Forest Frost' (planted in the fall of 2013)</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table class="tr-caption-container" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hEdZoMbKDUQ/UyvIeL9JNGI/AAAAAAAAEIM/Ba0owRtva5s/s1600-h/IMG_1551%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1551" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1551" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-07lQLYMLeII/UyvIetxNr4I/AAAAAAAAEIQ/qWzk5rRTtBw/IMG_1551_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="534" height="357"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center">Yarrow Paprika</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table class="tr-caption-container" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="542" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OYNMKNiRQIU/UyvIfH3rCaI/AAAAAAAAEIY/MRev41h-waw/s1600-h/IMG_1553%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1553" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1553" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f1EWdZyRQh0/UyvIfx7O-kI/AAAAAAAAEIk/kUBEvJfC4Io/IMG_1553_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="374"></a></td> <td style="text-align: center"> </td> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FpDJoX8oh7o/UyvIgURCaDI/AAAAAAAAEIs/U7g-os4xx5Q/s1600-h/IMG_1554%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1554" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1554" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sUMAa9K9JUM/UyvIg_G5R_I/AAAAAAAAEI0/LKadqc9jAwo/IMG_1554_thumb%25255B16%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="371"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center">Correction, this is a Bletilla striata not a Nun’s Orchid as was originally posted. Thanks to a friend of mine for pointing that out!</td> <td style="text-align: center"> </td> <td style="text-align: center"><font size="1">Eranthemum pulchella</font></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Then, there’s the new street gardens, planted in the fall of 2013. About a 10’ wide by 50’ long stretch of what used to be weeds and Bermuda grass between the sidewalk and the street. <br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table class="tr-caption-container" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="299" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vcc2m3wCVA8/UyvIhZsdueI/AAAAAAAAEI8/TQCXA1G9VlY/s1600-h/IMG_1559%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1559" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1559" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l7QJ7uEx-Dc/UyvIh3C2TPI/AAAAAAAAEJA/909Cm2ylE7g/IMG_1559_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="374"></a></td> <td style="text-align: center"> </td> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-28X0HVyyIdM/UyvIibUITEI/AAAAAAAAEJM/AQiwCu6CEks/s1600-h/IMG_1561%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1561" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1561" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Kbz9bg7Jwu8/UyvIi03AbwI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/LsEC-uKtyx4/IMG_1561_thumb%25255B15%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="374"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center">Blue Queen Salvia</td> <td style="text-align: center"> </td> <td style="text-align: center"><font size="1">Black footed daisy</font></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table class="tr-caption-container" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oUveSqLbuX0/UyvIjJaVC7I/AAAAAAAAEJc/4ssBn2zS_7g/s1600-h/IMG_1558%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1558" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1558" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3-I_WIBTScA/UyvIjxYkAEI/AAAAAAAAEJg/Ol9-thLS_JU/IMG_1558_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="534" height="301"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center">Do I really have to say it? TEXAS BLUEBONNETS...<br>the stars at night are big and bright....deep in the heart of TEXAS!</td> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><br></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table class="tr-caption-container" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pzb4zua8V_0/UyvIkCDdeII/AAAAAAAAEJs/pF4y-ab825U/s1600-h/IMG_1560%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1560" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytGPRHs-auGJ6KQ9CjU5iWSI7z8FJuyqha3o7M7kW7sdhWiqqKTSRorIDRkVrVKU8S2x3mK2qF96qkMAApRQ9Xc1pf11dhaawnLcM1Qcbz4Bh3IvibJz9Vsm78MS3h7TJNux_s_QqCCw/?imgmax=800" width="534" height="357"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center">Oh so guilty. In my haste to plant this rose, I forgot to document which one it is. <br>It is either Belinda’s Dream or Le Vesuve. I should be able to decide once it is bigger.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table class="tr-caption-container" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RXJTKAU8Sn0/UyvIlIP7kAI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/QHmaMMdjrQc/s1600-h/IMG_1564%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1564" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1564" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5-cz08Nv0DY/UyvIlgINIhI/AAAAAAAAEKA/UqhWiAYbOFE/IMG_1564_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="534" height="357"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center">pretty sure this is Homestead Verbena</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">…And the finale! Peaches! I planted this tree last March, it was a 5-in-1. It is now a 4-in-1, but we won’t talk about that, LOL. It grew to about 10’ tall last year, I don’t expect these peaches will stay on, but sure would be nice if they did!<br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table class="tr-caption-container" style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GUnkXarodpg/UyvImEmwLHI/AAAAAAAAEKM/vTbUCvCd4eo/s1600-h/IMG_1577%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1577" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1577" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-47dfcNS9ygU/UyvImpC32NI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/_Y04IqbIFU0/IMG_1577_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="534" height="357"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>Other plants blooming in my garden include trailing white lantana, red firecracker, almond verbena, blue eyed grass, pink firespike, lemon sorbet shrimp plant, and salvia coccinea. </p> <p>Thanks for stopping by my bloom day. Check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/" target="_blank">May Dreams Garden</a> for more bloom day posts.</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-55013977100349956692013-08-21T14:31:00.000-05:002013-08-21T14:31:00.125-05:00My new Dramm Watering Wand<p>I’m not sure that I have ever done a product review on this blog as a result of being sent a product to try. However, I do often recommend products and local gardening centers that I like. I’m actually thinking about doing a series of posts about products that I use on a regular basis. So, I guess this is my first one.</p> <p>When I was in San Francisco for the annual Garden Bloggers fling, we had a demonstration by Jessica Reinhardt from <a href="http://www.dramm.com" target="_blank">Dramm</a>’s Public Relations. I am naturally a very skeptical person, and was dreading the sales presentation. To my surprise, I was intrigued by the Touch N Flow Rain Wand that she demonstrated.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8yIoXn_qybU/UhRDSUwvvzI/AAAAAAAAEFk/McsVc7LtecE/s1600-h/IMG_3847%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3847" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_3847" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-98SaKW0Qb4I/UhRDS-oNLwI/AAAAAAAAEFs/11f15KcHupg/IMG_3847_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>Backstory: I <u>have</u> to buy a new rain wand every year. </p> <p><strong>Seriously…every year.</strong> </p> <p>The ones from the big box stores usually start leaking before the end of summer. The other thing that interested me about Dramm products was their lifetime guarantee.</p> <p>I was at <a href="http://wabashfeed.com/" target="_blank">Wabash</a> recently and noticed that they were selling the Dramm Touch N Flow 16” rain wands. A little on the expensive side, but I thought I would take a chance on it. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-er26u81G2TM/UhRDTJrcLPI/AAAAAAAAEF0/BJOtEwo0lyk/s1600-h/IMG_2303%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2303" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2303" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q-4QNxzcfL8/UhRDTmPBRbI/AAAAAAAAEF8/RK7pKpdZKkw/IMG_2303_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p><strong>OMG! I love this thing! Seriously, I’m not lying! I have been really excited to water my plants with this new wand.</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT1Wq1TjRRwpp1L8h5F_2WOU2oGKnEHRCF-n23YGvWQf3cTZ97WPnqvSB5a766i2GVeQ-Z9RF5oFhITKMVJ5bdQ8YJhlx-Y4zlGj0Vedj9r0oRTItHtBsyqkrchk4NvmVNOo000UA-kQ/s1600-h/IMG_2304%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2304" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hXpf1eJIh64/UhRDUsESLRI/AAAAAAAAEGM/u4EKR46bOJI/IMG_2304_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>I do not like to spend my time hand watering plants. I think my favorite part about using this is that it delivers a lot of water, gently, and in a short amount of time. Watering my potted plants is much faster than it used to be. My opinion on this watering wand, is that it is worth the price even if it only lasts me one summer. That’s because it is saving me time. But, my bet is that it will last longer than just one summer, but only time will tell.</p> <p>My strategies for watering include quick connects on all my hoses, sprinklers, and hand watering tools. I also have timers on every spigot. I also have to replace all of these things every year or two it seems. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MEKOKp3Jfoc/UhRDVLVagRI/AAAAAAAAEGU/sVEM4h9b6o0/s1600-h/IMG_2312%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2312" style="float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_2312" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hdRLJo6SpEM/UhRDVqPosyI/AAAAAAAAEGc/VsawAvMhY-s/IMG_2312_thumb%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="199" height="198"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-24bYntrWl64/UhRDV-RsAiI/AAAAAAAAEGk/RuGwS27ZfEE/s1600-h/IMG_2310%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2310" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2310" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jClDcETfMks/UhRDWbkHELI/AAAAAAAAEGs/Ipf-hywSUfc/IMG_2310_thumb%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="199" height="196"></a></p> <p>For a while I was going through timers at least once a year. I do have one good timer though. Guess what, it’s a Dramm! I didn’t even realize it until recently when I was looking at the Dramm product catalog. I bought this timer at least 3 years ago from <a href="http://www.southwestfertilizer.com/" target="_blank">Southwest Fertilizer</a>. I’ve always thought it was by far my best timer. </p> <p>So, since I like these two products so much, I thought I would ask Dramm to send me a few more things to try. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ODCTZFaCLos/UhRDW_KRNYI/AAAAAAAAEG0/iuHQwetFL3g/s1600-h/IMG_2307%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2307" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2307" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8Do1XtDEj6E/UhRDXXXlILI/AAAAAAAAEG8/ZbQWH-4Gjts/IMG_2307_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p>So, let the testing begin! They sent me another Touch N Flow, a yellow revolver, and a set of Quick Disconnects to use. I will report back next year to let you know how durable all of these products have been in my garden. </p> <p>In the meantime, if you are looking for the timer or the Touch N Flow, you can find them locally at Southwest Fertilizer, Buchanan’s, and Wabash (if you are making a special trip, you should call ahead to confirm product availability) or order them online from Amazon.</p> <p><iframe style="height: 240px; width: 120px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=houstongarden-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000BPG5BW" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"> <br></iframe> <iframe style="height: 240px; width: 120px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=houstongarden-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B001P80H22" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <p>(Just so you know, I don’t get any discounts or freebies at our local garden centers. However, I do get a little from Amazon if you order from the above links.)</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-25618344139982871822013-08-14T06:24:00.000-05:002013-08-14T06:24:00.294-05:00My Special Garden Gnomes<p>As you may be able to tell from my homepage, I really like garden gnomes. My banner picture is of gnomes I saw in Heidelberg, Germany while on a hike on the other side of the river.</p> <p>A couple of years ago I was visiting my grandparents in Kansas and showing my grandma pictures of my garden. I had several gnomes scattered around the flower beds. She was feeling in the mood to clean out a few things and told me she had something for me. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QtNqMwW2Zig/Uglu666gCLI/AAAAAAAAED8/_sQUI1CrD38/s1600-h/IMG_4860%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4860" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4860" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1NZtayp07x4/Uglu7gvcZ5I/AAAAAAAAEEE/_5p8tt7t4To/IMG_4860_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="509" height="382"></a></p> <p>She brought me a box of 4”-5” tall gnomes that she had painted. My great-grandma, her mother had owned a ceramics studio for many years (before painting ceramics and drinking wine became popular). This is where she had painted the gnomes, probably 30 years ago or more. The poor gnomes have been wrapped in tissue paper for, I guess, this whole time. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-37rP8fnaAb4/Uglu8IGiLDI/AAAAAAAAEEM/x6TKk2VysLU/s1600-h/IMG_4861%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4861" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4861" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KJoiFWnRSt4/Uglu8lre2FI/AAAAAAAAEEU/tasUObF4ABw/IMG_4861_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="510" height="382"></a></p> <p>I’ve always been afraid they would get broken if I put them in the yard. At my previous house I had a lawn care service, but now, the dogs and I are pretty much the only people in the yard. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hlqv-19HvUQ/Uglu9BjMIDI/AAAAAAAAEEc/oKIfhp4yvR0/s1600-h/IMG_4864%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4864" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4864" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-h75_fEIZYgA/Uglu9sWfWvI/AAAAAAAAEEk/p_UQXtaQWHo/IMG_4864_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="510" height="382"></a></p> <p>I’ve decided to let the gnomes free to do as they please.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yU_zM8RFp9g/Uglu-ey7-iI/AAAAAAAAEEs/BzspbBZz7uc/s1600-h/IMG_4867%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4867" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4867" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n1MI5yh2fl8/Uglu-wZHgYI/AAAAAAAAEE0/vUiryb341iQ/IMG_4867_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="510" height="382"></a></p> <p>I love my new little garden gnomes!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NzGMXykTTFc/Uglu_b-azyI/AAAAAAAAEE8/W9uAROhe0a8/s1600-h/IMG_4871%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4871" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4871" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wNgXFBps8XY/Uglu_4mD_QI/AAAAAAAAEFE/yGy0lO9e74Y/IMG_4871_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="510" height="387"></a></p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-41597930140239087272013-08-11T18:38:00.001-05:002013-08-11T18:38:05.953-05:00Bromeliads, Succulents, and Flora Grubb…oh my<p>Here’s a few more inspirations from the 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling in San Francisco. </p> <p>This first one has it roots in my 2005 neighborhood garden tour. These homeowners fashioned their own wire baskets filled with various plants and hung to trees around their pool. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_xX2hIfP8XA/UgggR5xVpCI/AAAAAAAAECU/blgv0doKnfk/s1600-h/P1000744%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000744" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="P1000744" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6_AgbrS9OZI/UgggSf33RvI/AAAAAAAAECc/7GrY4_km2CA/P1000744_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="473"></a></p> <p>I was so excited when I saw the wire baskets being sold at <a href="http://floragrubb.com/idx/index.php" target="_blank">Flora Grubb</a>, they seemed perfect to re-create this idea that I had seen so many years earlier. Below is my basket planted with a bromeliad and hanging on a palm next to my pool.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BxZRBY8oQrI/UgggSxti2UI/AAAAAAAAECk/z9RAamDI0Uc/s1600-h/IMG_2283%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2283" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2283" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--va-bVI2bTU/UgggTdwjI9I/AAAAAAAAECs/c1pq07I7_oU/IMG_2283_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></a></p> <p>Below is a close-up of the basket. I was so excited to get it planted, I didn’t take any pictures of it while it was empty.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UIAnFa0uEEc/UgggT9jVICI/AAAAAAAAEC0/ekJUEyeNmhU/s1600-h/IMG_2293%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2293" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2293" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LNvzqoTwk-4/UgggUUpEqsI/AAAAAAAAEC8/n5yQZX1KFBE/IMG_2293_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></a></p> <p>My other purchase from Flora Grubb was a couple of these planters. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VRLm-LB9V-k/UgggU4G26qI/AAAAAAAAEDE/tDnY3a5T9n4/s1600-h/IMG_4429%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4429" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4429" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NflM_TLQWn8/UgggVXKCUOI/AAAAAAAAEDM/5WXcEn1IyNg/IMG_4429_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="359" height="480"></a></p> <p>I think they are made from palm tree trunks, but I’m not positive about that. Here are my two in their new home.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-05aM9Q4tzH0/UgggVxdy5RI/AAAAAAAAEDU/Tc9nRWRwPK8/s1600-h/IMG_2291%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2291" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2291" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--XSbsLtAoAQ/UgggWX6Xt7I/AAAAAAAAEDc/foymYlgWByo/IMG_2291_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></a></p> <p>And, since I am on a succulent kick. I bought this old metal bowl at <a href="http://www.anotherplaceintime.com/" target="_blank">Another Place in Time</a> and filled it with some succulents that I bought at <a href="http://www.filoli.org/" target="_blank">Filoli</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7jtB_i9GxfQ/UgggW40C_aI/AAAAAAAAEDk/GKhJni4ZmeI/s1600-h/IMG_2292%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2292" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2292" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CZeGEFIbAVQ/UgggXHBJnCI/AAAAAAAAEDs/b2DG1dXJ10g/IMG_2292_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="480"></a></p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-47403750868771210142013-07-28T22:35:00.001-05:002013-07-28T22:35:51.307-05:00Growing Tillandsias in Palms<p>Recently I travelled to San Francisco for the annual Garden Bloggers Fling. We visited about 15 different public and private gardens. There were many opportunities for inspiration. </p> <p>At the Nichols garden in Oakland, I was taken by their use of tillandsias and bromeliads in the Canary Date palm in their front yard. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-j9q10msRYCo/UfXjASsoPJI/AAAAAAAAEAg/6HkIdPgKrII/s1600-h/IMG_4358%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4358" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4358" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BHIQFiI4d_Q/UfXjAyE4H5I/AAAAAAAAEAo/FiJReEE7Cm8/IMG_4358_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="613"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xU2WvdcKFNE/UfXjBExvFTI/AAAAAAAAEAw/6JHKD-I7d0c/s1600-h/IMG_4360%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4360" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4360" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rrMwQ4IU3JY/UfXjBtBcFEI/AAAAAAAAEA4/dAryE3xyvwA/IMG_4360_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="613"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--sDaXUhZNec/UfXjCCQVryI/AAAAAAAAEBA/mwtCI0kNPYc/s1600-h/IMG_4361%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4361" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4361" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UA0DRwbEtDo/UfXjCsjkz3I/AAAAAAAAEBI/HjjCDxnqc2g/IMG_4361_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="613"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DtAIzZqH34I/UfXjDDrGo_I/AAAAAAAAEBQ/LEPUpWBIcYY/s1600-h/IMG_4415%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4415" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4415" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AtoqHpLEdiY/UfXjDdwxsgI/AAAAAAAAEBY/srE_byftI50/IMG_4415_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="613"></a></p> <p>I have about 15 palm trees at my new house. I think they were planted at least 15 years ago. Mostly they are 30 ft tall fan and queen palms with relatively smooth trunks. They don’t lend themselves to this kind of planting. However, I do have a few where I think this should work well. </p> <p>Here’s my test case, with two tillandsias that I bought at Ikea of all places (obviously an impulse buy <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3AJqJBOyNus/UfXjDwraFTI/AAAAAAAAEBc/c6rl4xOCF64/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">). Locally, I think Another Place in Time should have a good selection. This tree already has some weeds growing in it, so it will be nice to have something attractive there as well. And one of these days I might get around to pulling the weeds out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-067CDOIZlPU/UfXjEDsnYEI/AAAAAAAAEBo/ZLPISnvqJ4o/s1600-h/IMG_2260%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2260" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2260" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-G-YA5YOz_mo/UfXjEvAXsZI/AAAAAAAAEBw/qHmi1FzFvg0/IMG_2260_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="613"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Cai9Vml47-E/UfXjFFRYsPI/AAAAAAAAEB4/DhJNtCA5b30/s1600-h/IMG_2258%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2258" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2258" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0VbIRI9ltCM/UfXjFgiNTnI/AAAAAAAAECA/60ZTCryO4EQ/IMG_2258_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="613"></a></p> <p>If this works, I think I’ll start adding some more tillandsias and maybe try a few bromeliads as well.</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-26043534412078878612013-07-17T07:37:00.001-05:002013-07-17T07:37:01.666-05:00July Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day<p>I was so excited yesterday when I realized I was going to actually post a bloom day post on the 15th, the actual bloom day. Then, I realized that yesterday was the 16th, so I just went to bed. Lol</p> <p>There’s not a lot blooming in my garden right now. Most things are just trying to get established in their new homes. </p> <p>However, there is one star of the show. The potted Brunfelsia americana that I moved from the old house. Here it is in its glory.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yPdWDEi99uU/UeaP6puHq4I/AAAAAAAAEAE/kXgMpgS5sms/s1600-h/IMG_4855%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4855" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4855" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rtuOkxdoeTw/UeaP7IfMn1I/AAAAAAAAEAM/kt69yu4ekAU/IMG_4855_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="463" height="602"></a></p> <p>Other plants blooming, but not looking as good are pentas, Laura Bush petunia, chenille plant, Flamenco Samba cuphea, and Yellow buttercup Turnera alternifolia.</p> <p>Thanks for visiting, check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/07/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-july-2013.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a> for other bloom day posts.</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-7268309682978793982013-06-26T22:39:00.001-05:002013-06-26T22:39:15.291-05:00Perfect Timing<p>I moved into my new house in February this year. As soon as I was unpacked, I started working on the gardens.</p> <p>I had the pond removed, an irrigation system installed, the side sidewalk removed, and a new front sidewalk installed. I brought in about 100 pieces of concrete edging, new sod where the old side sidewalk was, and countless bags of topsoil, rose soil, and mulch. By the way, I swear by Living Earth Rose Soil and Houston Mulch, in case you were wondering. </p> <p align="center"><strong>The front yard</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-K7gEHWmBOxc/UcuzuCatjRI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/47jxZ7ZAa78/s1600-h/IMG_1668%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1668" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1668" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MQvJwR7Nfvc/Ucuzulsl0eI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/wOjI87XtCE8/IMG_1668_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></p> <p align="center">I enlarged the tiny front flowerbed.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2d8o8a-_J7A/UcuzuwlpcgI/AAAAAAAAD8g/B-GgTgDLJnw/s1600-h/IMG_1900%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><strong></a></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2d8o8a-_J7A/UcuzuwlpcgI/AAAAAAAAD8o/jYNOQdDoQ8Y/s1600-h/IMG_1900%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1900" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1900" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-n7YHNe5YH28/UcuzvpiL3GI/AAAAAAAAD8s/VDhqPByBYl4/IMG_1900_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></strong></a></p> <p align="center">My house was built in 1885, so I went with antique brick for the new sidewalk.</p> <p align="center"><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TlijIGEhXi0/Ucuzv6fizFI/AAAAAAAAD84/5w3Efd7bh-o/s1600-h/IMG_4843%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4843" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4843" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uoNIWkKHxn8/UcuzwXsAB7I/AAAAAAAAD9A/54Xew6amBug/IMG_4843_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pRqN4CYihOY/Ucuzwt0yZXI/AAAAAAAAD9I/ecUsMytCSoE/s1600-h/IMG_4847%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4847" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4847" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qb_lniVtacw/UcuzxDyBLPI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/hhE-CEm7xDM/IMG_4847_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong>The Old Pond</strong></p> <p align="left">First the pond had to be removed. There is also a small pool in the back yard, and two water features were overwhelming to take care of. The pond is gone and the fish have been given a new home.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xllfhqoPy6g/UcuzxjJuxcI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/cXwmai1WutY/s1600-h/IMG_1597%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1597" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1597" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EFtZ92mUjyk/Ucuzx8CoaSI/AAAAAAAAD9g/vhy6p1ccWNo/IMG_1597_thumb%25255B19%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="320"></a></p> <p>The act of removing the pond was a fiasco. The people that I paid to do it only made it look like it was removed. After a good rain I found out that I still had a pond. My Dad spent many back breaking hours busting up the concrete that was at the bottom of the pond so that I could have a regular garden instead of a water garden.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4DhxEp89Dbg/UcuzyVff4rI/AAAAAAAAD9k/CWVhIovyI9k/s1600-h/IMG_4841%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4841" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4841" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yx3fLRDQQ0I/UcuzytU8wTI/AAAAAAAAD9w/YDkESDZc7uA/IMG_4841_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="443" height="336"></a></p> <p align="center"><strong>The Side Yard</strong></p> <p align="center">This sidewalk was in an odd and never used place, so it had to go!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4y62KPOwidc/Ucuzy5lSRcI/AAAAAAAAD94/VXQjA-sXN6M/s1600-h/IMG_1673%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1673" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1673" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s2GxFpzw-Fc/UcuzzWP4c-I/AAAAAAAAD-A/B5tcEer2rZo/IMG_1673_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" height="335"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bIL4D3O5f7M/UcuzzwwzcFI/AAAAAAAAD-I/MuEkF-dPsgU/s1600-h/IMG_1897%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1897" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1897" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zXUPijt-yGQ/Ucuz0O7_hkI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/zwdKR5q8Nmg/IMG_1897_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="446" height="338"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zeoRJhfZczU/Ucuz0sI2jjI/AAAAAAAAD-Y/DJy7CqkXPus/s1600-h/IMG_1995%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1995" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1995" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MxfLnmpoWa0/Ucuz0zyzOGI/AAAAAAAAD-g/zlnmLnvH8d8/IMG_1995_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="445" height="338"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ru6HbbSb84M/Ucuz1cLubdI/AAAAAAAAD-o/JE-VYdG8FU4/s1600-h/IMG_4839%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4839" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_4839" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w9wTgt1w4T8/Ucuz1iTg73I/AAAAAAAAD-w/myoUoePJ4hM/IMG_4839_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="345"></a></p> <p>I planted a Brown Turkey fig in the small garden by the fence, I am planning to espalier it.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Looking at the side yard from the opposite perspective</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7NJd22bdIfQ/Ucuz2PTKGGI/AAAAAAAAD-0/y_uZCNIPMBY/s1600-h/IMG_1669%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1669" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1669" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z2i51o1dcRA/Ucuz2bceSbI/AAAAAAAAD-8/nEoszDNM8n4/IMG_1669_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="319"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bvuzlMnlLvk/Ucuz2h3DjpI/AAAAAAAAD_I/ukoc63D51jw/s1600-h/IMG_1996%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1996" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1996" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C71_70WvUcY/Ucuz3IFkXBI/AAAAAAAAD_Q/YXZrNv_Hyh8/IMG_1996_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="319"></a></p> <p align="center"><strong>The Vegetable Bed</strong></p> <p align="left">The yard was sodded in November 2012, but wasn’t really cared for so the grass hadn’t rooted well by the time I built this cinder block bed in April. Usually I use the newspaper method to build my beds (laying down newspaper, wetting it, then covering it with dirt, which will kill the grass), but it was pretty easy to pull the grass up inside this new bed. I filled it with about 8 bags of Black Cow cow manure and garden soil mix from the dirt yard.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QU9hKihRipA/Ucuz3WWUHTI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/rgRizZMtIIw/s1600-h/IMG_1756%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1756" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1756" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q0t650k_o-A/Ucuz38mPmUI/AAAAAAAAD_c/N-Mc4xdo79k/IMG_1756_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>I guess that was a great combination, as you can probably tell from the picture below. My tomato plants are outgrowing their cages and I’m harvesting tomatoes every day right now.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cHjG-G1CIKE/Ucuz4J7QlII/AAAAAAAAD_o/wtij6mnNexE/s1600-h/IMG_2107%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2107" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_2107" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_J8it5g844s/Ucuz4ioAp2I/AAAAAAAAD_w/eSYrdTrNV5A/IMG_2107_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>All of the gardens (including the vegetable garden) are watered with drip irrigation and the grass is watered with pop-up sprinklers. So, why perfect timing, you ask?</p> <p>Well, because it’s time for the annual Garden Bloggers Fling (in San Francisco this year) and it’s reaching 100 degrees here in Houston these days. With the plants, most of them started from my old garden, in the ground and my upcoming travels, I won’t have to worry so much about watering. I have to say, that if you have the opportunity to put in an irrigation system before planting your beds, that’s the way to go. I did the opposite at my previous house, only after years of moving around a sprinkler on Saturday mornings.</p> <p>I’m very excited to have this much accomplished in my first 5 months of living here. My next project is one of the “hell strips” in front of the house. Can’t wait…</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-377615147917599482013-05-18T16:02:00.000-05:002013-05-18T16:02:15.543-05:00May Garden Bloggers Bloom Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, let’s see what’s blooming in my yard this month…<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wNucy2w-A8M/UZfoRZnkqHI/AAAAAAAAD6k/wW9UAqOK0TM/s1600-h/IMG_1891%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_1891" height="292" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5-VLu7eqqJk/UZfoR3nPpcI/AAAAAAAAD6s/dGyiuB_1T6E/IMG_1891_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1891" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smell of the jasmine is heavenly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WsC8iYyPc3M/UZfoSVJtU4I/AAAAAAAAD60/06h7O8x8ve8/s1600-h/IMG_1892%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_1892" height="292" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HDppdQW5Xs0/UZfoS-nFJZI/AAAAAAAAD68/uPrUsZlJvt0/IMG_1892_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1892" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The desert rose is the only one that's staying in its pot.<br />
The yellow on the left is butterfly weed. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Vf7gAu0hDY/UZfoTZl2STI/AAAAAAAAD7E/KIDtcv0ebdY/s1600-h/IMG_1893%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_1893" height="292" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ooiI27Nwoyk/UZfoT3kqT9I/AAAAAAAAD7M/ySYFSPzjAtc/IMG_1893_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1893" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmm, the plumeria smell great too!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pTuI9Cu7lrA/UZfoUSEoHvI/AAAAAAAAD7U/GXxZDSUxVKc/s1600-h/IMG_1894%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_1894" height="292" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SNzokcAY3JY/UZfoU8s7qpI/AAAAAAAAD7c/uO-7CfBlT9w/IMG_1894_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1894" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe, I'll get some pomegranates this year.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aQ8Ay7O7YBw/UZfoVAwInjI/AAAAAAAAD7k/1am1f1BaKOI/s1600-h/IMG_1895%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_1895" height="292" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z5pOx2IgiqA/UZfoVkM7opI/AAAAAAAAD7s/3b-VvwK1m48/IMG_1895_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1895" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shrimp plant is called Lemon Sorbet.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MVcnJoS_tew/UZfoWCShcTI/AAAAAAAAD70/HfGJsSTqQQo/s1600-h/IMG_1896%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_1896" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtvttni8FhzyCCwyFPFGyRzPzzdW4VPkl_FMZYhKbjdKinQNerTp03kDn10WhF2zlIIMuILgxJ6Nmw9RfpfsuuR_rTDU9yIEhJ7p3RC0FkfSwpzSPrLo0AYUH_Lw7_woiMwK3qLJVQ0Q/?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1896" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coreopsis Mercury Rising</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I think I'll finally be able to start planting in a couple of weeks. I've spent the last few months building beds, and lining up people to install a new sidewalk and sprinkler system. I'm a few weeks behind schedule, but that has been ok since we have had an extended spring this year. However, summer has finally hit Houston, I think the high today is 93.<br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by to see what's blooming in my garden. For more Garden Blogger's Bloom Day posts, visit Carol at <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/05/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2013.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a>.</div>
Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-52104566286368856522013-05-06T17:13:00.000-05:002013-05-06T17:13:00.096-05:00Shangri La Macro Monday<p>These are some of the photos I took at Shangri La Botanic Gardens in Orange, TX last weekend.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdJQWHCUaE31-1ERchnKThQdVgVYZ4jgNISvl_z_h8aSyzJyiZPCJZ4rXkx86BfcjfOnTq8oQ_MH9nTwIsJ9LigFrnFutEzYaU0cDe9L04qMaDoHzxfCn6FVpDP2aZaap-x65ZiKZo3s/s1600-h/IMG_3572%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3572" alt="IMG_3572" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-seet9gTOJZ4/UYCyvk9zBOI/AAAAAAAAD4I/_IZy-wrxlq8/IMG_3572_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="461"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YPhrD5lz4AE/UYCywEvKohI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/XuUYeIduUqw/s1600-h/IMG_3595%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3595" alt="IMG_3595" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-t5s22CfP5w8/UYCywvsBBVI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/LXbojmk2mRE/IMG_3595_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="385"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6XkELknONrA/UYCyxCMOIfI/AAAAAAAAD4g/miencTuijsY/s1600-h/IMG_3622%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3622" alt="IMG_3622" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zyDsC0G3jXo/UYCyxttuIqI/AAAAAAAAD4o/1jotFQVKwg8/IMG_3622_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="474"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CJHJhLRqH-Y/UYCyyIS10PI/AAAAAAAAD4w/y2GIzE4pk70/s1600-h/IMG_3678%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3678" alt="IMG_3678" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yl3Jqh909mk/UYCyynfaSEI/AAAAAAAAD44/OORhUWePnpM/IMG_3678_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a></p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-70070117642247433742013-05-01T00:09:00.001-05:002013-05-01T00:16:56.119-05:00A Visit to Shangri La<div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">East of Houston, in a town called Orange, lies Shangri La. It was created by H.J. Lutcher Stark in 1937. Shangri La was H.J.’s vision turned reality. While he was overseeing Shangri La, he would open it to the public during the spring blooming season. There were countless spring days when the garden received thousands of visitors. <br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">After a devastating ice storm in 1958, the gardens were abandoned. Nearly 50 years later, they were rejuvenated by the Stark foundation and re-opened to the public, but this time year-round.<br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iyr89w439-w/UYCh248FFJI/AAAAAAAAD2c/3o5-E0SUsLA/s1600-h/IMG_3569.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3569" alt="IMG_3569" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1WRsTArkn_s/UYCh3Uz_UnI/AAAAAAAAD2g/qiIosQIEJHY/IMG_3569_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Two of the water gardens were packed with perennials.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i51Pd41n_2Y/UYCh3ySjAjI/AAAAAAAAD2k/kbf2qF0SFKY/s1600-h/IMG_3577.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3577" alt="IMG_3577" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L1qSlFkHH5o/UYCh4cEy78I/AAAAAAAAD2o/eUAVGZnUa1k/IMG_3577_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">This is the entrance to the children's garden. <br>Definitely not just for kids.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3sY2tyv5nSw/UYCh4zoRTTI/AAAAAAAAD2s/-h-tWxOcHEY/s1600-h/IMG_3583.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3583" alt="IMG_3583" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8R5llQNdE4E/UYCh5QztrlI/AAAAAAAAD2w/l4EoTRmxr_I/IMG_3583_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="439"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Unusual to see this many different columbines growing in these parts. </td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block" title="IMG_3589" alt="IMG_3589" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vCczxNMTnhE/UYCh6byZm3I/AAAAAAAAD20/EQgvTL5aSLM/IMG_3589.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">I'm always on the lookout for bottle trees.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-W55-8dAQ9xY/UYCh647_eMI/AAAAAAAAD24/xcyqcFivt9E/s1600-h/IMG_3599.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3599" alt="IMG_3599" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jSK1j15IXhk/UYCh7BGcp5I/AAAAAAAAD28/6cbOYrK0FI8/IMG_3599_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">They had some great vegetable beds and bird mansions.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yRj2jGQICIA/UYCh7gZGG4I/AAAAAAAAD3A/_hBv4HL1Hlg/s1600-h/IMG_3603.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3603" alt="IMG_3603" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--CRrXBALHQo/UYCh8JbX0lI/AAAAAAAAD3E/En_r1MMBp8c/IMG_3603_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"> </td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_CcPGNpr5AQ/UYCh8pAqnII/AAAAAAAAD3I/oAtEh4npbL0/s1600-h/IMG_3615.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3615" alt="IMG_3615" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T0P7QAiiGQw/UYCh9ddZ7YI/AAAAAAAAD3M/0_BtKcHNyxE/IMG_3615_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Getting closer to the bird blind.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-R5V9TpvoCa4/UYCh9mjUhYI/AAAAAAAAD3Q/9MJ9BZrz73E/s1600-h/IMG_3657.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3657" alt="IMG_3657" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-radiQy2g218/UYCh-dG45SI/AAAAAAAAD3U/ySSaSBS3q3U/IMG_3657_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Thousands of Great Egrets were visiting.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></div><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y9P-CLSePc0/UYCh-9c2_3I/AAAAAAAAD3Y/9m6a6WiAdA4/s1600-h/IMG_3668.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3668" alt="IMG_3668" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_aJd3Y9lUWQ/UYCh_fk3fzI/AAAAAAAAD3c/sOSehqVOqQg/IMG_3668_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="439"></a><br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-q_17EjA__V4/UYCh_4H4pgI/AAAAAAAAD3g/qnZ8VOsExQE/s1600-h/IMG_3673.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3673" alt="IMG_3673" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jprb-kOspaA/UYCiAYaX74I/AAAAAAAAD3k/g6E7FgRjlOE/IMG_3673_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a><br><br>The Stark family made their fortune in the lumber business and grew it with the oil and financial industries. The home of H.J. Lutcher Stark’s parents is still standing and is in pristine condition with all of the original furnishings (as things went out of style his mom would send them to a warehouse for storage, luckily she was a bit of a pack rat.) The only family to ever live in the house is the Starks. However, the house was not saved by H.J. Lutcher, but instead his wife Nelda. He was ambivalent towards its preservation, thank goodness Nelda had the foresight to save it.<br><br><br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x5KnCDs4KE8/UYCiAjyC74I/AAAAAAAAD3o/-qTeD0BQbxQ/s1600-h/IMG_3699.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3699" alt="IMG_3699" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-McxCxtYJtcw/UYCiBLzdu6I/AAAAAAAAD3s/jNaz7RdCZIw/IMG_3699_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="383"></a><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HgOP0diZKVA/UYCiBjQMD5I/AAAAAAAAD3w/u9PGqxzCJfw/s1600-h/IMG_3695.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3695" alt="IMG_3695" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RI5gEFcNvDE/UYCiB5o3yHI/AAAAAAAAD30/SYegjbCjG7Q/IMG_3695_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="439"></a><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-h9QgGhl0oP8/UYCiCQikKaI/AAAAAAAAD34/XlOUSP4Tcbk/s1600-h/IMG_3703.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3703" alt="IMG_3703" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-glDI4PdGTIA/UYCiCxfj8xI/AAAAAAAAD38/8pMp0LUDizo/IMG_3703_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="439"></a><br><br>The interior of the house was a sight to behold. Literally, I could have spent an hour in each room of the 14,000 square foot house. It was gorgeous. But, you’ll have to go there to see it for yourself. Unfortunately they do not allow photography. <br><br>The gardens were beautiful this time of year, but I bet they would also be stunning in the spring when the 41 varieties of azaleas are blooming. Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-88300013309965709422013-04-16T23:44:00.001-05:002013-04-16T23:47:52.649-05:00April Garden Bloggers Bloom Day<div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">I’m back, I’m back in the saddle again. Sorry, but that’s the song stuck in my head right now. </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Here’s my first Bloom Day post in a long time. I still don’t have my plants in the ground at my new house, but that isn’t stopping them from blooming. All but one of these is still in a pot that I brought from the old garden.<br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B57HEZ-jblc/UW4nUnVGDMI/AAAAAAAADxM/5wib5L3eONw/s1600-h/IMG_1768%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_1768" alt="IMG_1768" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1iOpXknOFXw/UW4nVRwuAkI/AAAAAAAADxU/h63iUjSMSBU/IMG_1768_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="340"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">This honeysuckle is one of the few plants that gets to stay. <br>Too bad you don't have smell-a-vision.</td> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><br></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-anmfuGJ2XFE/UW4nVimkIAI/AAAAAAAADxc/f0zk5gEqwv4/s1600-h/IMG_1769%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_1769" alt="IMG_1769" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3yJUajhvTX0/UW4nWPPRGVI/AAAAAAAADxk/wh3wi6-yAWI/IMG_1769_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Starts of my trusty chenille plant from the old garden. <br>Seems to bloom year-round.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E60YObqQ9KE/UW4pda3pPdI/AAAAAAAADyc/NII5OGPMkFI/s1600-h/IMG_1770%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_1770" alt="IMG_1770" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aY5LAgro5Uo/UW4pd0zvguI/AAAAAAAADyk/LfaTeKa2Xp0/IMG_1770_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QLWVkkvn448/UW4nWZ8T9mI/AAAAAAAADxs/Rzj1aDaXzfg/s1600-h/IMG_1770%25255B3%25255D.jpg"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Lovely amaryllis.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_aglydbjWMI/UW4nXZrN93I/AAAAAAAADx8/QP-f4ojmX-U/s1600-h/IMG_1774%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_1774" alt="IMG_1774" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ese1yUq2GZI/UW4nX2fPpbI/AAAAAAAADyE/mFeEtrLPmf8/IMG_1774_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Eranthemum pulchella</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Xaf14-rI31E/UW4nYIr0zDI/AAAAAAAADyM/ASLEM-D7v4U/s1600-h/IMG_1776%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_1776" alt="IMG_1776" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYFo4WZsmtgS7Il3QmkIlRx-U_RmWGPwdc4pgACi3AMVyIjgaHc-CRtbTYyi4EmUAFJPjvKHWJSzwrREkYtPo63pXNMilHRBihSrAQUPE12V_uz3163QFI21yZVshw66ADAam5n7o5TI/?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Another old reliable from the old garden.<br>Calibrachoa</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Thanks for stopping by, enjoy more Bloom Day Posts at <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/04/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-april-2013.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a>.</div> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-45388235417803093982013-03-18T21:46:00.000-05:002013-03-18T21:48:12.046-05:00Starting Over<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I’ve hardly written a blog post in over a year. My life started its descent into a sad country song early last year, but I won’t get into the details of that right now. I suppose I can be happy that, at the very least, there was no pickup truck involved. </div>
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Oh…wait…yes there was…</div>
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In November, my dog Scout and I moved out of the house that is home to the gardens that I poured my heart into for 8 years. I just now looked at those last few pictures I took on my last day at that house. They are all crummy. I guess they are reflective of my mood that day. The last good pictures from the garden were posted in <a href="http://www.houstongardengirl.com/2012/05/may-garden-bloggers-bloom-day.html" target="_blank">May 2012 on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day</a>, you’ll have to check out that page if you are interested in getting a glimpse at the old gardens.</div>
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That statement about pouring my heart into the gardens is true. I know there is a lesson to be learned there. I also pour my heart into my work, my work at an office for a multi-national corporation. Hmm, yes, there is a lesson to be learned. Sometimes when you pour your heart into things instead of the people around you, your life can turn into a sad country song. </div>
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I know many of you gardeners out there are obsessive gardeners. I am one too. However, someone didn’t write the saying, take time to smell the roses for no good reason. And, they also didn’t mean to literally smell the roses! I know what you obsessive types are thinking…but when I am in the garden all weekend, I do smell the roses. LOL</div>
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Well, moving on…<br />
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<b>My New House</b><br />
At the beginning of February I moved into a new house in a historic area of Houston. The house was built in 1885 (not exactly new). There is not much here in terms of gardens. However, there is a pretty awesome stand of palm trees. I am getting close to being unpacked and my thoughts are moving toward the garden. </div>
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-p2x5Tk5R8SE/UUfQJTSejvI/AAAAAAAADwA/YuIu84KCzT8/s1600-h/hr3073589-12%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="hr3073589-12" height="261" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5rPfin5F80U/UUfQJ2ZEH1I/AAAAAAAADwI/cxYUIEcaV4c/hr3073589-12_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="hr3073589-12" width="390" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MJwf8Tpf2do/UUfQKFhUyPI/AAAAAAAADwQ/VDn9nZd_hsE/s1600-h/IMG_1676%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1676" height="292" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kEYBgKuPgkM/UUfQKZIb75I/AAAAAAAADwY/dGqOmDWwHUQ/IMG_1676_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1676" width="390" /></a><br />
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<b>Bear</b><br />
Last May, Scout’s brother Rusty passed away. He was 10 years old and Scout never knew life as an only dog. Now that we have our new yard and new house, it was time to get a new baby brother. Last week, we adopted Bear. He’s 7 years old and is getting along quite nicely in our little family.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UNSelG6mynY/UUfQLHak-RI/AAAAAAAADwg/QebjsHa_t2w/s1600-h/IMG_1664%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1664" height="252" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7Dg7O62gr94/UUfQLdKl5dI/AAAAAAAADwo/u1IQv1aQELM/IMG_1664_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1664" width="390" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wjuEjWCdly0/UUfQLwFLg6I/AAAAAAAADww/XamR190Pnr4/s1600-h/IMG_1692%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_1692" height="340" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CAWMi2BCAaY/UUfQMX23NnI/AAAAAAAADw4/QY_5AEAyCao/IMG_1692_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_1692" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear is in the foreground and Scout is in the background. </td></tr>
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I can’t wait to get started gardening in this new yard. It’s like a blank slate! Stay tuned for all the before pictures. The transformation is beginning! </div>
Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-74717520750343728412013-01-24T00:26:00.001-06:002013-01-24T00:31:15.962-06:00Fruit Tree Sale Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's that time of year again, the time to buy fruit trees. I have noticed a spike in hits on my blog the past few weeks, despite not blogging for the last 6 months or so, no doubt because of my 2011 series on growing fruit trees in Houston. I wrote <a href="http://www.houstongardengirl.com/2011/01/fruit-tree-series-1.html" target="_blank">three articles on growing fruit trees</a> and one that will give you an idea of what the <a href="http://www.houstongardengirl.com/2011/01/report-from-2011-urban-harvest-fruit.html" target="_blank">Urban Harvest Fruit Tree</a> sale is like. You can also check out some fruit tree descriptions on the <a href="http://www.urbanharvest.org/events/fruittreeinfo/fruittreevarieties.html" target="_blank">Urban Harvest</a> website.<br />
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If you missed last weekend's Urban Harvest sale, you still have time to catch some of the local master gardeners' sales.<br />
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This weekend, January 26th, both <a href="https://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2013_fruit-tree-catalog.pdf" target="_blank">Harris County Master Gardeners at Bear Creek</a><br />
and <a href="http://www.mcmga.com/" target="_blank">Montgomery County Master Gardeners</a> are having their sales. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/2013_Fruit_&_Citrus_Tree_Seminar_&_Sale.pdf" target="_blank">Galveston County Master Gardeners</a> sale is on February 2nd and the Harris County Master Gardeners in Pasadena sale is on February 16th (where they also have a great variety of peppers and tomatoes).<br />
<br />
And if you are not a get up early to stand in line to buy a fruit tree kind of person, many of our local nurseries are carrying some of the same trees you can get at the fruit tree sales. Some of the nurseries to check out are Arbor Gate (Tomball), Buchanan's (Heights), Wabash (inside I-610), Maas (Seabrook), & Papershell (Richmond) to name a few. If you don't know a lot about fruit trees, in general, I would advise you to buy from a local nursery rather than a big box store. Many of the big box stores sell fruit trees, however they are not typically the right kind of trees for our area.<br />
<br />
So, my friends, go forth and buy fruit trees. Have fun. You'll be enjoying fruit from your very own backyard in a couple of years.</div>
Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-78847947230749583412012-05-19T09:10:00.000-05:002012-05-19T09:10:00.126-05:00Garden Bloggers Fling and a Book Giveaway<p>It’s that time of year again, time to fling. Garden Bloggers Fling that is. This year we are heading to Asheville, North Carolina. The home of the Biltmore House, surrounded by National Forests, and filled with a bunch of cool funky stuff.<br><br>My first Fling was in Buffalo, NY. I had only been blogging for a couple of months and really had no idea what I was getting into. Who knew bloggers were such a fun and friendly group of people to hang out with? We were treated like royalty by the local press and all of a sudden a ton of people were reading my brand new baby blog. Here are my posts from that Fling, it was called <a href="http://www.houstongardengirl.com/search/label/Buffa10" target="_blank">Buffa10</a>.</p> <p>Last year we flung up to Seattle. Where us southern bloggers had a respite from the heat. I saw some familiar faces from Buffalo along with a lot of new garden bloggers joining us. Our time in Seattle was jam-pack with garden goodness. <a href="http://www.houstongardengirl.com/search/label/Seattle%20Fling" target="_blank">Check it out.</a><br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vc5rNUTmFWg/T7dxvAZCbMI/AAAAAAAADuU/ujq-Tz7q6DQ/s1600-h/image002%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image002" border="0" alt="image002" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XpLNZ0JTHQc/T7dxvykCHSI/AAAAAAAADuc/i-T0qadzhQc/image002_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="183"></a> One of the Seattle Fling organizers, Lorene Edwards Forkner released a book last year called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604691859/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=houstongarden-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1604691859" target="_blank">Handmade Garden Projects</a>. You can see some great examples of her projects on many of last years blog posts: <a href="http://www.houstongardengirl.com/2011/08/garden-art-of-seattle.html" target="_blank">Houston Garden Girl</a>, <a href="http://www.commonweeder.com/2011/08/16/lorene-forkners-garden/" target="_blank">Commonweeder</a>, <a href="http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/2011/07/handmade-perfecto-funkadelic-fling.html" target="_blank">Bonney Lassie</a>, and <a href="http://wwwrockrose.blogspot.com/2011/07/sunday-at-seattle-fling.html" target="_blank">Rock Rose</a>.</p> <p>Here’s a few more pictures from her backyard to wet your appetite.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zrftYjl9Ydg/T7dxxOogorI/AAAAAAAADuk/yRR4bEFwiao/s1600-h/IMG_3760%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_3760" border="0" alt="IMG_3760" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M9pEeNkYQr4/T7dxxt7ah6I/AAAAAAAADus/0yJZnt7-ziA/IMG_3760_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3hCiLv2sSjI/T7dxyY7Kz4I/AAAAAAAADu0/hKREWD1gtFI/s1600-h/IMG_3794%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_3794" border="0" alt="IMG_3794" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HaF-UaV1eeE/T7dxy7mCrWI/AAAAAAAADu8/in1ugXA7_-o/IMG_3794_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1Ic0yvzV5S4/T7dxziC4GII/AAAAAAAADvE/aOMHqBkpfkY/s1600-h/IMG_3802%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_3802" border="0" alt="IMG_3802" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mzCRHe0vT9k/T7dx0eAQ2mI/AAAAAAAADvM/dorsk0-dO9Y/IMG_3802_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a> </p> <p>Timber Press is having a promotion right now and has provided me with one copy of Lorene’s book to give away. Leave a comment by May 26th to enter the drawing to receive a free copy.</p> <p><a href="http://gardenbloggersfling.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline" align="left" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dL6rip70aHI/TrwuH6H8M1I/AAAAAAAAnEk/AJ0TR83pJgE/s288/Badge.JPG" width="215" height="140"></a>As you can see, many talented garden bloggers are involved every year in Flinging. Keep up with all of us and our travels around Asheville by visiting <a href="http://gardenbloggersfling.blogspot.com/">the Fling blog</a>.</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-40801269539150312732012-05-19T04:05:00.000-05:002012-05-19T04:16:00.632-05:00May Garden Bloggers Bloom Day<div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">I have been out of town for the last week or so, back in Oman for another stage of the project I've been working on for my company. I was pleasantly surprised by the gardens when I arrived back home on Wednesday afternoon. The rain we received while I was gone really set everything into motion. <br> <div></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <br> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AbzAzf1tv3g/T7dgkgVk1BI/AAAAAAAADsg/88Gx_ByDDa8/s1600-h/IMG_0666%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_0666" border="0" alt="IMG_0666" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ojOWuFrRDsA/T7dglFy3H0I/AAAAAAAADso/7-L47OvJP-M/IMG_0666_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">I bought this little one on clearance at Lowes. It's doing well so far this year with some shade from an oak tree.</td></tr></tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OYAOWX_FKR4/T7dgl3dBCbI/AAAAAAAADsw/mrifGJBK6U8/s1600-h/IMG_0668%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_0668" border="0" alt="IMG_0668" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1rYHJML6k2M/T7dgmqkKAFI/AAAAAAAADs4/HZj_kFuNr3Y/IMG_0668_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Perennial Pentas, definitely better than the annuals</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQCNT2rB-uFLLwr_zwFXZfpwWEKtxt0e4BD7tfTnTarRxKZTM6qjZ9ZqWURQqEZdP7xltagyfdTVI5p2V6D_aa_Cqm5BXt6s9noOoOF-sEpnFufrQoH_X0BYRUq_CF5j0UawQjt47nPA/s1600-h/IMG_0669%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_0669" border="0" alt="IMG_0669" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Yga3o-PudXA/T7dgn_SXDbI/AAAAAAAADtI/o1pom1nQbtE/IMG_0669_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Practically everything is in bloom</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-q7WWMBbhVCw/T7dgodqNRCI/AAAAAAAADtQ/hgRO14eYDLU/s1600-h/IMG_0670%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_0670" border="0" alt="IMG_0670" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pKI82OtnhlE/T7dgoztWaTI/AAAAAAAADtY/rmkGwlfpysg/IMG_0670_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379"></a></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_1Yz9BFDo9k/T7dgpIzfeII/AAAAAAAADtg/UZAJL-we_tc/s1600-h/IMG_0671%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_0671" border="0" alt="IMG_0671" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UobEGnFM0no/T7dgpzDHFJI/AAAAAAAADto/M3vv0nb_qXI/IMG_0671_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">The group of crinums in the foreground aren't blooming, but the two in the background are.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pZpsk1IBn_4/T7dgrTvN1WI/AAAAAAAADuA/C8Ohkf5CFbE/s1600-h/IMG_0673%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_0673" border="0" alt="IMG_0673" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-74HcWeXecvk/T7dgsMOYgXI/AAAAAAAADuI/LLcL4Qyc1bw/IMG_0673_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Belinda's Dream with Nature's Way compost as a topdressing that I spread before I left on my trip</td></tr></tbody></table> </div></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">I’m in Asheville now for the 2012 Garden Bloggers Fling. Stay tuned, more pictures to come.</div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br>And a big thanks for Carol at <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a> for hosting garden bloggers bloom day.</div> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-77885323755572514622012-03-30T23:37:00.001-05:002012-03-30T23:37:10.552-05:00Have a Look Around<p>The great thing about daylight savings time is how late it stays light outside. After work today I puttered around the gardens, finishing up cutting the dead stuff back and doing some light weeding. This year there was not nearly as much to cut back. At least not because it was dead. This year I was cutting a lot of plants back because they were getting leggy or were just too big. That’s what happens when they get to grow year-round. No hard freezes for us this past winter!</p> <p>Tonight, I took a moment to stop and take in the scenery. I am thrilled that my garden is looking so good and I have not had to expend much energy to make it that way (at least this spring). Every year for the past 8 years, I (and members of my family) have put in a lot of hard labor building new beds and trucking in massive amounts of dirt. So far this year, its just been weeding and fertilizing, nothing back-breaking. I do still need to mulch all the beds…maybe next weekend.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9BOHs3Iv6t0/T3aJ4IPhptI/AAAAAAAADqQ/EBJyVvwCU5o/s1600-h/IMG_0597%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0597" alt="IMG_0597" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pYb4yCiksC0/T3aJ4mX7FqI/AAAAAAAADqY/98IMMoLBbsA/IMG_0597_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="371"></a></p> <p>About a third of the grass you see in the above picture is new sod. This is the only lawn area that didn’t get watered last summer, the other grass survived because it was close enough to trees or flowerbeds that were getting watered. In the distance are my two new rain cisterns that I need to get in place before the rain stops.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-izqvYJq_HJ0/T3aJ5Hz0P9I/AAAAAAAADqg/842jw_abhXY/s1600-h/IMG_0598%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0598" alt="IMG_0598" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hkO1ff4qN7k/T3aJ5j5-odI/AAAAAAAADqo/ONJ4XSpCW7M/IMG_0598_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="367"></a></p> <p>Here’s a view of the veggie gardens, fruit orchard, and new rose garden. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uTZUhF_tMaQ/T3aJ6A3RH8I/AAAAAAAADqw/giW2bgO6-To/s1600-h/IMG_0600%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0600" alt="IMG_0600" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RGZU15XvOJQ/T3aJ6_GpMoI/AAAAAAAADq4/bZD989SKvjI/IMG_0600_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="367"></a></p> <p>Behind the oak tree is the rain garden and the part of the yard that stays the wettest when we get a lot of rain. That’s where the Louisiana Iris were blooming a few weeks ago.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f_NUJR6efc8/T3aJ7c8sqdI/AAAAAAAADrA/FfusMjh1Vz8/s1600-h/IMG_0601%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0601" alt="IMG_0601" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dqyeTDcg6uo/T3aJ8FmJkeI/AAAAAAAADrI/7ONDzhn5gkE/IMG_0601_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="367"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wDLGlKTB-0k/T3aJ8agOA2I/AAAAAAAADrQ/6ifDaDu6XR4/s1600-h/IMG_0603%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0603" alt="IMG_0603" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oE0Opv7_aXo/T3aJ9cvqlRI/AAAAAAAADrY/5khxgjYW8-c/IMG_0603_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="367"></a></p> <p>Everything is so green right now. We have been getting lots of rain, let’s just hope it continues for a while. Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend!</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-77783858344397605282012-03-19T23:57:00.001-05:002012-03-19T23:57:57.105-05:00A Visit to Bayou Bend<p>Last week I noticed that <a href="http://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend-collection-and-gardens/bayou-bend-visitor-info/" target="_blank">Bayou Bend</a> was having what they called Spring House and Gardens Days on the 17th & 18th. The gardens and Ima Hogg’s house were open for tours. They also had some experts on hand to talk about various garden related topics.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qfRBm-l2vmw/T2gOMEOuKJI/AAAAAAAADoc/cr1NdDyOX84/s1600-h/IMG_4353%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4353" alt="IMG_4353" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rfsNgsF3uqY/T2gOMqSOCLI/AAAAAAAADok/hxnYpp0Q8nM/IMG_4353_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>It’s embarrassing to say it, but I had never been to Bayou Bend. A beautiful garden right here in the middle of Houston only 15 minutes from my house. I have wanted to go on the River Oaks Garden Club Azalea Trail the past few years, but the harsh winters (ha ha, you northerners will get a kick out of that comment) and this year’s rainy weekend have kept me away. Now, finally I have seen Bayou Bend, although I still haven’t seen the azaleas at their peak…maybe next year.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HJKE2Pbge84/T2gONFPtgQI/AAAAAAAADos/in1uZVHFqng/s1600-h/IMG_4349%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4349" alt="IMG_4349" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7GPiJ_NzTTs/T2gON7uE_2I/AAAAAAAADo0/A8sUWGCUciU/IMG_4349_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></p> <p>The gardens closest to the house all have a very formal style. Above is the Clio Garden laid out in 1927)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yZvnJqkEMIg/T2gOOTqV4pI/AAAAAAAADo8/xCrqC7mtpIw/s1600-h/IMG_4351%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4351" alt="IMG_4351" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iAZC4UENu_8/T2gOO-W0qcI/AAAAAAAADpE/XxNgZGviwKc/IMG_4351_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>I love how they used the bricks to form the steps separating the north terrace (designed in 1928) from the Diana Garden (created from 1936-1939). </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sOrqEfcjug0/T2gOPk6UPPI/AAAAAAAADpM/RR74iCeLgDA/s1600-h/IMG_4365%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4365" alt="IMG_4365" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MAdBaDTlfvY/T2gOPyprcII/AAAAAAAADpU/HyMsMKN2a-A/IMG_4365_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>Above is the East Garden designed in 1927.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dEcJAKBgzuw/T2gOQa3v0aI/AAAAAAAADpc/j4qysPnRoJU/s1600-h/IMG_4377%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4377" alt="IMG_4377" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6a1wMqH8ZH0/T2gOSG3ukdI/AAAAAAAADpk/DDN39cucIYo/IMG_4377_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>The Butterfly Garden is named for it’s shape rather than the flowers that grow here. The bricks in this design were laid in 1942.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--2eb1Bp7fe4/T2gOSqFIyMI/AAAAAAAADps/tEQ7yHm8mSI/s1600-h/IMG_4373%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4373" alt="IMG_4373" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-S1nabGGitcE/T2gOULS8kxI/AAAAAAAADp0/slzzjN1TcVQ/IMG_4373_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>In addition to the many formal gardens there are woodland gardens and winding paths as you get farther from the house. The grounds are 14 acres in total and are a fun place to wander around. This should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Houston. And, if you can only go once, be sure to visit on a day the house is open for tours. It is spectacularly furnished and well worth your time.</p> <p>One more thing…I don’t normally post promotions on my page, but this one is right up my alley, so I thought you might be interested in it as well.</p> <p><a href="http://www.timberpress.com/edibles" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="prizes" alt="prizes" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0XiuwAR6-Og/T2gOUjRQGSI/AAAAAAAADp8/DTvRaE_V18g/prizes%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="282"></a></p> <p>Click on the above graphic to register to win the following: </p> <ul> <li>35 packets of organic heirloom vegetable seeds from Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply (an $87 value!)<br></li> <li>A bare-root fruit tree, also from Peaceful Valley<br></li> <li>And an edible gardening library from Timber Press, featuring:<br> The Beginner's Guide to Growing Heirloom Vegetables<br> Fruit Trees in Small Spaces<br> The Edible Front Yard<br> The Kitchen Gardener's Handbook<br> Sugar Snaps and Strawberries</li></ul> <p>Register to win <strong>before March 23rd</strong>!</p> <p><em>(disclaimer: I am receiving one free book in exchange for promoting this on my site. But, I also registered for the contest, cause all that stuff looks great! <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mDbYEXh4hyg/T2gOU8srueI/AAAAAAAADqE/L8rEaKV_jEU/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">)</em></p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-51466242906029952722012-03-17T11:25:00.003-05:002012-03-17T11:30:37.331-05:00March Garden Bloggers Bloom Day<div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">This is my first 2012 Bloom Day post. As I was walking around the gardens to take pictures I was, as usual, surprised at how much is in bloom. We had a mild winter or what some might call a normal winter so many of my new plants that struggled through last summer had a chance to get better established.<br><br>My new front yard landscaping is doing well. This bloom day post will be the first ever post to feature plants from my front yard.<br><br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EPNxW3OFk2M/T2S5LUHdnWI/AAAAAAAADl4/mqjFTNV2c0I/s1600-h/IMG_4345%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4345" alt="IMG_4345" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q7Ip3qPT_-Q/T2S5MHScFmI/AAAAAAAADmA/Qlx1O9BW2Ns/IMG_4345_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Sisyrinchium Suwannee Blue-Eyed Grass</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KF7nSRA9wgA/T2S5MitjLuI/AAAAAAAADmI/j4oZgrbn2oU/s1600-h/IMG_4293%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4293" alt="IMG_4293" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WJp9yLPKtJY/T2S5NArPqwI/AAAAAAAADmQ/GUgnXwyxQfc/IMG_4293_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Phlox pilosa 'Forest Frost'</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DHM2tnJZiGE/T2S5NlbkCJI/AAAAAAAADmY/NTDNSW-SKMA/s1600-h/IMG_4295%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4295" alt="IMG_4295" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XsbrQKucETg/T2S5N23KmPI/AAAAAAAADmg/F2nMgNbiaB4/IMG_4295_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Chionathus viginicus, American Fringe Tree<br>It’s only about a foot tall right now, but it’s covered in blooms.</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">And in the rest of the garden…<br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UZyDlCbisy0/T2S5OVJMnlI/AAAAAAAADmo/apdedFDDmS0/s1600-h/IMG_4310%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4310" alt="IMG_4310" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-72IdU9a5FtY/T2S5O-hLAqI/AAAAAAAADmw/CE-Mie58y6c/IMG_4310_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Persian Shield</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tJpArVTfi-g/T2S5PdOtctI/AAAAAAAADm4/3gYdyzyzOq8/s1600-h/March%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="March" alt="March" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RF8suH5UIsQ/T2S5Prg0nTI/AAAAAAAADnA/P4HzzAyss2I/March_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="279"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">variety of calibrachoas</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UA9F3EigvY8/T2S5QAhnScI/AAAAAAAADnI/cUUK9bUsVqo/s1600-h/IMG_4318%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4318" alt="IMG_4318" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IGUsqq6VS6Y/T2S5QhoFBEI/AAAAAAAADnQ/JkC-W8Eg6_o/IMG_4318_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Salvia Vanhouttii</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kbrwdBarTZU/T2S5Q9_BSiI/AAAAAAAADnY/9t_igKMh1po/s1600-h/IMG_4330%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4330" alt="IMG_4330" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QtycpReGlMU/T2S5RuquQ1I/AAAAAAAADng/qezmI0USZOA/IMG_4330_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Echinacea purpurea</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QqYeNcY-FZ4/T2S5SKbXMsI/AAAAAAAADno/c1Q2ImOkHyg/s1600-h/March1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="March1" alt="March1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6vANpjzt_Do/T2S5StxrLrI/AAAAAAAADnw/F9zTDBkgJCE/March1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="279"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">left: Le Vesuve, top right: Belinda's Dream, bottom right: Maggie</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RNS-mBZGYx4/T2S5TIkKimI/AAAAAAAADn4/JzDaZlMx3xo/s1600-h/IMG_4333%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4333" alt="IMG_4333" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z4r_KxQv1yk/T2S5T6hllFI/AAAAAAAADoA/ZQDjxb0UREk/IMG_4333_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Louisiana iris</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-990RIbxXTGk/T2S5UAlJvBI/AAAAAAAADoI/sJi9QTG_EMc/s1600-h/IMG_4342%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4342" alt="IMG_4342" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E0bEQYOXGqI/T2S5UwxT9RI/AAAAAAAADoQ/XnqAvbuF0l4/IMG_4342_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption">Bromeliad Bilbergia nutens</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> </div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Other plants blooming include: firecracker plant, bottlebrush, chenille plant, lipstick salvia, hotlips salvia, salvia coccinea, butterfly weed, blue queen salvia, calliandra emarginata, biloxi blues verbena, yesterday, today, & tomorrow, diamond frost, blue daze evolvulus, paprika yarrow, pentas, peach tree, citrus trees, yellow cestrum, white cestrum, iochroma cyanea, pink trumpet vine, shrimp plant, & bougainvillea.<br></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a> for other bloom day posts.</div> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-37280702238363977082012-03-15T00:35:00.001-05:002012-03-15T00:35:14.747-05:00I’m Back!<p>2012 has been full of surprises, not all of them good. My life has been thrown off track, but I’m on my way back. The garden has had to take care of itself these past few months, but I must say it has done a good job of it. The blog was due for a new header, so the gnomes of Heidelberg, Germany have joined us. The big garden news is the addition of 1600 gallons worth of rain barrels from <a href="http://www.texasmetalcisterns.net/index.html" target="_blank">Texas Metal Cisterns</a>, that will be an upcoming post for sure.</p> <p>After a lot of internal debate I decided to go ahead and sign-up for the 5th annual Garden Bloggers Fling. This year it will be in Asheville, NC. I am super excited to see <a href="http://www.biltmore.com/" target="_blank">Biltmore</a>.</p> <p>Today is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and I am planning on posting the first ever pictures of my front yard flowers. I completely re-landscaped the front yard in the fall, using mostly native plants. Several of them are in bloom now and will have the honor of being featured in the first 2012 Houston Garden Girl’s bloom day post. I’m so excited!</p> <p>I’m convinced that 2012 can only get better from here. Happy gardening everyone!</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-74601961820555383882011-12-02T12:27:00.000-06:002011-12-02T12:27:00.096-06:00Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center<p>My husband and I have been talking about taking a trip to Austin for awhile now. Both of us briefly went to college there, before we knew each other, and we haven’t spent any significant amount of time there since. I strategically planned our trip for the weekend of the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center fall plant sale in October. I have given the front yard flowerbeds a complete overhaul and my intention is to plant primarily natives in the new and improved beds. The only downside to my plan was that he is not a gardener, so my time to spend wandering around and taking pictures was limited. </p> <p>This was my first trip to the Wildflower Center. The entire center covers almost 300 acres, but the display gardens are all pretty close to the main entrance. There are also trails representing different ecosystems, but I didn’t have a chance to explore those.</p> <p>Here are some shots of the gardens from the top of the tower</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nrerAdyNbfs/TtCJSfZo9KI/AAAAAAAADi0/T9Ydv_EdL80/s1600-h/IMG_41533.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4153" alt="IMG_4153" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DY2DKmkqudk/TtCJSy9YxII/AAAAAAAADi8/3nQRZXSJyuo/IMG_4153_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lchxmBCJMkw/TtCJTf2NCFI/AAAAAAAADjA/yAmAYDEtPEE/s1600-h/IMG_41543.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4154" alt="IMG_4154" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-L31gcwH2INY/TtCJTpl82pI/AAAAAAAADjM/QRu31EQcUHs/IMG_4154_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>I went directly to the plant sale after we arrived at the Wildflower Center. I already had a list of plants that I was looking for. After I scored my loot, I took a leisurely stroll through some of the gardens. I was on the look out for appealing shady scenes. After all, my small front yard is almost entirely shaded by three 30 year old live oaks. </p> <p>Here are some of my inspiration photos.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-A5ken7fvK18/TtCJUTEqotI/AAAAAAAADjU/8dLxOGV3Aj4/s1600-h/IMG_4144%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4144" alt="IMG_4144" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rwD7WXRLuAc/TtCJUwIywdI/AAAAAAAADjc/N1CfiBA6q-A/IMG_4144_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="313"></a></p> <p align="center">This is our native red turk’s cap, blooming in the shade of an oak tree.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U29ePh4SyVY/TtCJVFYrrQI/AAAAAAAADjk/GYgfkMHrcfo/s1600-h/IMG_4152%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4152" alt="IMG_4152" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--4EXjfFFi6Y/TtCJVpQX_zI/AAAAAAAADjs/yhZ_dS-MFyM/IMG_4152_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="312"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_xiHdFUM3fI/TtCJV5rrjJI/AAAAAAAADj0/Gtyw0GdsSKw/s1600-h/IMG_4147%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4147" alt="IMG_4147" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vR0TZjt0emU/TtCJWqxv3cI/AAAAAAAADj8/5egFhc8WxhE/IMG_4147_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p align="center">The fall blooming asters were electrifying the shade in every part of the gardens.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bePXfK24D5k/TtCJXLwzSII/AAAAAAAADkE/pAdbTugNAcQ/s1600-h/IMG_4158%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4158" alt="IMG_4158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt7A_dCbLoKuunQJhyphenhyphenf6lYllQsKKqsf3IFnp-Px96DieWfPcqBCLieF6MtyU9s5B6SzwMqyNUhrtHMGEIfznHj8_hpgA020_pAy8P_vhrlPERI7XapMvLRt53VqhOWS6JIo0-kdIbVqQ/?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-anjitKFieP4/TtCJYOTFeSI/AAAAAAAADkU/yyoRSm1sEDQ/s1600-h/IMG_4148%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4148" alt="IMG_4148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdSQD4h6X89Tu-8GswTerh3BWz-zZy2_V1yxzWBCy6Z9e_Di0tVBKSWDJ1WBXc9941AkCUXIDAaJmmWWaCcFNUhSRr7JV4EB5qDCDsnKMeraR0NAY9DZbIk67En-CVPr0Hx9rK-PPMC0/?imgmax=800" width="390" height="312"></a></p> <p>In the above photo, there is more of the red turk’s cap and something new that caught my attention…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TUOSV5SEOIc/TtCJZLFdtDI/AAAAAAAADkk/ysBoZb53jR0/s1600-h/IMG_4150%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4150" alt="IMG_4150" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gbf9HAonQLE/TtCJZbmyFhI/AAAAAAAADko/rG8MlKdSPUM/IMG_4150_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>Inland Sea Oats. After seeing these, I had to take another trip back through the plant sale to pick up some of these for the new front yard beds.</p> <p>This is what I came home with: </p> <p>For the front gardens:<br>Malpighia glabra, Barbados Cherry<br>Salvia Regla, Red Mountain Sage<br>Chasmanthium latifolium, Inland Sea Oats<br>Conoclinum coelestinum, Blue Mist Flower<br>Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Fall Aster<br>Callirhoe involucrata, Winecup<br>Salvia arizonica, Arizona Sage<br>Chile Pequin</p> <p>And for other parts of my garden:<br>Monarda Lindheimeri, Lindheimer’s Bee Balm<br>Monarda fistulosa, Wild Bergamot (I haven’t had much luck with Monarda since I moved back to Texas, so maybe these natives will succeed)<br>Sphaeralcea incana, Gray Globemallow<br>Passiflora incarnata, Maypop<br>Passiflora foetida, Scarlet Fruit Passionflower<br>Flame acanthus<br>Mexican Red Hat<br>Salvia gregii, Red Autumn Sage<br>Erythrina herbacea, Coralbean</p> <p>Even though these are all Texas natives, Texas is a big state, which means these plants aren’t guaranteed to do well in Houston. So, this is my own little SW Houston experiment. Some might be too invasive, some may not be quite right for Houston, but that’s why gardening is so much fun! I can’t wait until next summer to see how these plants will handle the whims of Houston weather.</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-6773533338105405642011-11-30T10:05:00.000-06:002011-11-30T10:05:00.407-06:00Wordless Wednesday<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JI8ytvOs0bU/Ts3C0S0pP_I/AAAAAAAADh8/4_-hWDNUe9Q/s1600-h/IMG_00395.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0039" alt="IMG_0039" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5cGK-KhxyqE/Ts3C0o6iAjI/AAAAAAAADiE/gdWuZbW5uvU/IMG_0039_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="514" height="349"></a></p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-24815647556667872062011-11-25T10:33:00.000-06:002011-11-25T10:33:00.920-06:00Forcing Bulbs by Accident<p>Forcing bulbs is so easy, you don’t even have to plan on doing it…</p> <p>Another one of my annual plant sale traditions is the Houston Garden Club’s infamous Bulb and Plant Mart in October. I planned so far ahead, that I pre-ordered bulbs in August. They have a great selection of amaryllis, I bought a couple more varieties this year, despite the fact that I already have 5 different kinds and I’m not sure where in the garden these will end up. The two newbies this year are Pasadena and White Peacock. </p> <p>A couple of weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. I went into my home office and decided to do some yoga to relax, hoping that it would help me get back to sleep. In the middle of my yoga session, as I moved into a standing forward bend, I noticed it. Peeping from a brown paper shopping bag. The light green leaves. Oh no! My amaryllis bulbs were starting to grow! </p> <p>There went my concentration, all I could think about was getting those bulbs into pots. Pasadena was much farther ahead of White Peacock. Now, I have 7 beautiful Pasadena blossoms, all because I left the bulb in a brown paper shopping bag for a month. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFNmaY5uAvIB_gKKhYiUGpcDvYfEf25EU8f_ugw1HvP8MY5p3skjz-isIgRLXTlHKEf86x29IaZO4CojPCyTDQbv62z3sAdNKq8rpovAlMxcBY0pnelNhQBeff1m4Kpitvor7vVoW5lo/s1600-h/IMG_4210%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4210" alt="IMG_4210" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3hxEgxgm7nU/Ts3LOK7X7bI/AAAAAAAADiU/faYuUpL7pFM/IMG_4210_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8xrY6HWmg9Q/Ts3LOggEfJI/AAAAAAAADic/eOW7WjLyyl4/s1600-h/IMG_4215%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_4215" alt="IMG_4215" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qk5rwEwZfho/Ts3LO6vkODI/AAAAAAAADik/n2IdVfFbZm8/IMG_4215_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="292"></a></p> <p>So, you see folks, anyone can force bulbs indoors in the winter. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NZMIBQf9t2s/Ts3LPbKRqlI/AAAAAAAADis/mWvj79KkiuQ/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-69832542599625471902011-11-21T09:50:00.001-06:002011-11-23T01:51:06.849-06:00November Garden Bloggers Bloom DayI love Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Lately, life has been so hectic, bloom day is the only excuse I have to spend some time roaming around my garden to see what it’s up to. Despite the fact that my bloom day post is late, my pictures are from the actual bloom day <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zCmZt-YMb8M/Tsye1CuGM8I/AAAAAAAADh0/zpRqhSOeh3c/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />.<br />
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Finally, the first blooms of pink firespike. This was a new one this
year, I’m glad to see the pink blooms as we head into fall. (Yes, I said
fall. It is Texas after all)<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-G1tKVvrTXKQ/TspzOQWncgI/AAAAAAAADf4/mfqLsuajtxQ/s1600-h/IMG_4192%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4192" height="292" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OtzTDEOfooU/TspzPCYnxCI/AAAAAAAADgA/D3EgWxK-ePU/IMG_4192_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_4192" width="390" /></a><br />
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OK, these aren’t blooms, but I think they are interesting. These are the fruit of a white turn’s cap.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dj_GH7gKKuk/TspzPcq2sNI/AAAAAAAADgI/Y5nLkr4Mfys/s1600-h/IMG_4198%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4198" height="278" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yKO5qFtiQ3g/TspzP3Iw0rI/AAAAAAAADgQ/_RjxlPTYuzw/IMG_4198_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_4198" width="390" /></a><br />
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Here’s one I have been wanting to post on a bloom day for quite awhile
and this month it actually cooperated. It is iochroma cyanea.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IUEiVQ1L7D0/TspzQfUylAI/AAAAAAAADgY/n55SNUV7RLU/s1600-h/IMG_4201%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4201" height="340" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4Ogny7cCvnU/TspzQm3aXgI/AAAAAAAADgg/urV3l3CGcvM/IMG_4201_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_4201" width="241" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5iREdJmkKg4/TspzROfct9I/AAAAAAAADgo/ZOu9_-b7RTs/s1600-h/IMG_4202%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4202" height="340" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EYJ4Lft9J8U/TspzR611VuI/AAAAAAAADgw/UGvV1lXV2XI/IMG_4202_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_4202" width="243" /></a><br />
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Two of my new rose bushes are blooming. Hopefully they will stay happy in their new home.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BrLErsBkYJI/TspzSUJTrLI/AAAAAAAADg4/EEaBWG5peQ0/s1600-h/IMG_4206%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_4206" height="278" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ShQQNTcbi2A/TspzSlTLnjI/AAAAAAAADhA/z7M985gaU3g/IMG_4206_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_4206" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le Vesuve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G8EPxNzsL4s/TspzTF8h7JI/AAAAAAAADhE/pGlnXzDEevg/s1600-h/IMG_4207%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_4207" height="279" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kx6U0EaNhWw/TspzT_NVgQI/AAAAAAAADhQ/BblCe5VG_yI/IMG_4207_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_4207" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Heritage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And finally….the pink brugmansia that I received as a cutting is blooming. (thanks Elida). It had a tough time making it through last winter, but it has been persistent. Hopefully, it will make it through another weird weather year in Houston.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uAOI5cpPF-U/TspzUQ0GNqI/AAAAAAAADhY/W7bR-RMmAK4/s1600-h/IMG_4209%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4209" height="340" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nVUr1W8rbxw/TspzUrIRAkI/AAAAAAAADhc/6wDaE3GuY-k/IMG_4209_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_4209" width="255" /></a><br />
Thanks for checking out my November blooms. For more bloom day posts go to <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2011/11/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-november-2011.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a>.Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825984765454088656.post-32795374586221392011-11-09T08:46:00.000-06:002011-11-09T08:46:00.577-06:00Wordless Wednesday<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iUUSaHDifUU/Trdi0hlmPFI/AAAAAAAADfc/Al5w-kkWglc/s1600-h/IMG_3473%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_3473" alt="IMG_3473" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ENlztb-34aM/Trdi1IjeNOI/AAAAAAAADfk/d_g4gdM00q4/IMG_3473_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="455"></a></p> <p align="center">Musical Notes Clerodendrum</p> Houston Garden Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09294237426728774405noreply@blogger.com2