New Bench in the Orchard

My husband bought the two metal bench ends from Adkins Architectural Antiques and built this bench. He painted it green to match the fence. Very picturesque.

More California Poppies

Paul Redmond Irises

The Paul Redmond irises are just beginning to bloom. They multiply rapidly. I dig them up and move them fairly often. They set seed after they bloom, and they spread by corms. The flowers aren't as showy as the bearded irises, but they try real hard. Each stem has multiple flowers, but each one wilts when another one opens. So you never get a spectacular show. I don't mean to turn anyone off of them despite my lukewarm description. They will fill a flower bed quickly.

What's Blooming Now - Mexican Feather Grass March 25, 2012

Beautiful grass, very attractive blowing in the breeze! And it is a heavy reseeder. I pull it up all the time. I'm thinking about starting to plant it around the pool rather than yanking it up and throwing it in the compost pile. The airy, wavy grass might be pretty around the pool. Stays evergreen in the winter if it is a mild winter. If it is a very cold winter the grass turns golden, and it is still very pretty.

What's Blooming Now - George Tabor Azalea and Mexican Buckeye March 25, 2012

This flowerbed is right next to the Greenhouse. I have two other Mexican Buckeyes growing near this one, but they did not bloom at all this year. Probably a drought issue, or maybe not enough sun. I'll give them one more year and if they don't thrive I'll move them. Pretty trees. They make big seed pods, hence the name "buckeye".

What's Blooming Now - Purple Columbine March 25, 2012

I planted this Columbine two years ago. It looks pretty growing in front of the Greenhouse with the azalea and the Mexican Buckeye blooming in the background.

Columbine are good reseeding perennials. I dig up seedlings in the paths all the time and move them to various flower beds. Columbine likes a little shade, definitely no afternoon sun. There is a yellow Texas native columbine called Hinckley. I have that growing in the Shade Garden. It has just begun to set buds.

What's Blooming Now - Larkspur March 25, 2012

These are the first Larkspurs of the season. These came back from last year. I seeded this spot two years ago. I seeded other flowerbeds last November. They have not begun to bloom yet, probably because they are over crowded and therefore still small. I just don't have the heart to thin seedlings! I know they do better if they have more room, but it's tough to pull up healthy plants.

A Weekend at the Farm March 23 - 25, 2012

Fun weekend with perfect weather.

• Had a luncheon under the arbor with all the family except for my mom and dad who are visiting my sister. We ended the day shooting all the guns and playing with the blow dart gun.
• Sunday morning early I spotted a vole in the Orchard pushing dirt out of a tunnel. I ran and called Bert, and he shot it.
• I pulled up the mustard greens. They were infected with mealy bugs or some such white powdery creatures on the undersides of the leaves. I drove them far away from my gardens so they wouldn't infect anything else. That is a blow. I had them in my Houston gardens and they are difficult to get rid of. They over-winter in the soil.
• I also pulled up the remaining Swiss Chard, the Kale, and the Collards. Time to finish the spring garden. No time to lose.
• I turned the soil and planted Straight Eight Cucumber seeds, Early Yellow Crookneck Squash seeds, marjoram seeds, Marina di Chogga pumpkin seeds, and Hale's Best Jumbo cantaloupe seeds.
• I planted 4 more tomato plants - a total of eight tomato plants: Golian Hybrid, Carmello, Yellow Pear, Burpee Big Boy, Hillbilly, Mortgage Lifter, Homestead 24, and Pineapple.
• I also seeded some empty spots with Celosia Cristata.
• Sprayed herbicide in the Orchard.
• Walked around and around and around looking at everything.
  

What's Blooming Now - Victoria Falls Bearded Iris March 25, 2012

This flower bed is at the entrance to the Orchard. The bee hive is in the background of the picture. Bearded irises are beautifully dramatic.

These irises must be very happy in this spot. I had several irises bloom in February. Very random.

Next to the irises is a Sombruiel rose that has never done very well. I should move it. And in the right of the picture are Scarlet Wave cannas coming up.

Our Italian Luncheon in Burton

Bert and I had a luncheon on Saturday. It was a fun day. The weather could not have been more perfect. Josh, Ashley, Mr. H., Blake, Will, Kim, Beth, Max, Nancy and Lisa were with us.

The menu:

Starters

Chilled asparagus from our garden drizzled with balsamic,

Tuscan White Beans with Red Onion and Salami,

Oven Candied Tomatoes,

Cantaloupe wrapped in Prosciutto,

Portobello steaks marinated in hot pepper oil,

Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and various cured meats,

Italian bread,

Olives,

Arugula, Sorrel, and Dandelion Greens (all from the garden) with Capers and Hazelnuts in Anchovy Dressing

Pasta Course

Linguine with Pistachio Almond Pesto

Meat Course

Garlic-Caper Grilled Pork Chops with Caramelized Tomato Jam

Polenta with Parmesan Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar

Desserts

Espresso Ricotta Cream with Espresso Chocolate Sauce,

Vanilla Ice Cream with Balsamic Soaked Strawberries

The First Spring Flush of Roses

Duchess de Brabant - Teddy Roosevelt used to wear a bud in his lapel

Lady Hillingdon - a semi-double, the buds are very pretty, but when they are fully open the flower is not as attractive a fully double rose. I love the creamy yellow flower color. And new growth is bright red, really unique.Iceberg - this flower is blown, but still pretty.

Dame de couer - a true red. I don't have many red roses in the Rose Garden - just Cadenza, Valentine, Chrysler Imperial, and Dame de Couer. So I really am partial to the reds because there aren't many.

Living Easy - they have great bud shapes. The orange is a real stand out.

Living Easy - fully open and faded from the sun.

Mrs. BR Cant is fully double - see the cabbagey look they have when open?

This is also a Mrs. BR Cant, but a younger one that is not quite open.

Mrs Dudley Cross is a pale yellow and pink blush. They have a frilly flower, but the buds are not very pretty.

Another Mrs. Dudley Cross. The pink / yellow is very delicate.

What's Blooming Now - Corn Flags 03/18/2012

Corn Flags are the common name of these species gladiolas. Byzantine Gladiolas are their "serious" name.

I planted these little bulbs in November. They are not quite in full bloom. The ones I planted several years ago are not yet blooming, but there are a few buds on them. I love these flowers, the color is so pretty.

I have sowed Laura Bush petunia seeds on the ground underneath them so that they can take over as the greenery yellows and dies away.

What's Blooming Now - Excelsior Spanish Bluebells 03/18/2012

I think Excelsiors are the king of bluebells. Excelsiors have strong greenery and large flowers. On sunny days the bluebells are smothered in bees.

I have about 400 bluebells planted along the boardwalk. They make a good show for awhile, but they die back in the heat of the summer, so it's best to plant them in front of something that can take over after these have gone dormant.

Bluebells like shade. I have mine growing under a mix of cedar trees and deciduous oaks.