Amaryllis Blooming

Fall Color

Fall is here in Texas

Beautiful, sunny fall days are bringing the butterflies to my backyard.

soggy visitor to my yard

Summer is over, Welcome FALL!

We've endured 70 days of over 100* temperatures and very little rain resulting in an EXTREME DROUGHT. Finally in September and October, we are getting some beneficial rain and cooler temperatures.

Finally getting RAIN, after a long HOT, DRY summer

ANGRY SKY

During my trip from Kansas to Colorado, as I drove I saw a classic thunderstorm forming. Large cumulonimbus clouds over developed, the wind began gusting, the clouds turned dark and a rain storm approached.
At a visit to the Denver Museum of Art a few days later, I was drawn to this painting. It was an angry sky.

Hot and Dry Bloomers

It's Hot and Dry here in Texas, but these plants don't care!

Gold Esperanza and Red Bird of Paradise/Pride of Barbados

"When the Bloom is on the Sage"

"When the Bloom is on the Sage" - a good old country and western song.

Texas Sage, Texas Ranger, Cenizo, Barometer Bush, Silverleaf, Purple Sage - is a drought tolerant Texas shrub. It is said that when it blooms, it will rain. They are blooming this morning - and we could really use some rain! But, none is in the forecast.

We've had 23 days of over 100* degree highs and many record highs recorded this summer. Our lake levels are at record lows. The weather service says El Niño conditions will continue to develop and are expected to last through the Northern Hemisphere Winter 2009-2010.

I wish the bushes were right!

Little Bird

This little bird visited the backyard to enjoy some sunflower seeds.

He sang quite a pretty song for me during his visit.

Agave Bloom End

The agave blooms I have been watching are nearing the end. The blooms fully opened and are now falling apart.

The base of the plant is drooping and looking sad.

Our high temperatures have been over 100* for most of June, which I'm sure has helped in the plant's condition.

Sunflower Blooms

Ah summer!

My sunflowers are in full bloom.

The stalks are very tall.

Sunflower Lunch

This local squirrel came to check out the sunflower buffet today. He climbed the 5ft high stalk and balanced on the leaf branches, leaning out and under the sunflower head trying to get a bite.

He looks like he is smiling - don't you think?

Turtle

While visiting a local garden center this week, I spotted the resident turtle sunning himself on a rock in the middle of his pond. He had his back leg extended. Was he sleeping? Or just stretching?

Garden Visitor

After a wonderful needed rain yesterday, this morning was cooler and overcast, perfect for weeding the backyard. This little guy joined me and was showing off on the handle of my shovel.

In her second book, Down to Earth: Practical Thoughts for Passionate Gardeners, Margot Rochester wrote with humor, "Some folks have an overdeveloped sense of tidiness and should get over it."
"Whatever goal you set, the garden should make you happy. Why else would you go to the trouble and expense?" And, "The moral of the story is this: never work harder than absolutely necessary, especially in the garden. Gardening should always be a labor of love."

Saguaro in Texas?

I visited a cool cactus store this weekend near Spicewood.

They had some Saguaro cactus made from cedar posts near the entrance.

The wildflowers blooming in the field are Mexican hat.

Agave Bloom Update 2

The pods on the arms extending out from the agave bloom stalk have begun to open.

CART

One of my favorite greenhouse/nursery locations has metal carts for hauling plants while you shop. I noticed one day that each one has a name written in chalk on the back. These names always make me smile. All the names have "cart" in them. Example: Magna Carta, Dolly Carton, Paul McCartney, Milk Carton, Cartoon, Cart of Monte Cresto, etc. I think in early spring the employees must have had a slow day - very creative minds!

Baby Gecko

This morning while out in my backyard, I saw a baby gecko on a sunflower leaf.

Agave Bloom Update

The agave plants have continued to grow in height and now the bloom stalk has "arms" coming out in several places near the top with ball clusters at the ends.

Jessie

Jessie joined me in the yard today. He has a favorite rock that he rubs and then lays on. Don't you think those warm rocks feel good on his old bones!

Rain

My Forest Pansy Red Bud Tree's heartshaped leaves with beads of rain.


We've had a few days of good soaking rain.

The Prickly Pear Cactus are blooming.

Agave Bloom Watch

This Agave Plant (and 3 others like it) are growing in the median of the street entrance to our subdivision. About 3 weeks ago, the center stalk started growing at a fast rate. I'd guess about 5 foot per week. I'm watching and anxiously waiting for the blooms to appear. I have read that these plants, sometime called century plants, bloom at about 10 years of age and then die. Our subdivision was built about 10+ years ago. I'll update any progress that I see.

COLORS OF SPRING

The PURPLE of the blooming redbud trees and the GREEN of the new wheat and new leaves on the trees was outstanding!

Spring Trip to Kansas

I went to Kansas this week and had a great time!!

"playing in the dirt"

Today Don and I visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for the annual spring plant sale. While we were there we saw an exhibit of paper cut flower art. They were amazing! Here is a photo of the iris frame, although I don't think you can see the depth in a photo. Very cool!

Shou (pronounced "Sue") Ping brings a new dimension to artwork by creating what she calls "paper sculptures" of hummingbirds, wildflowers and other subjects. With a pair of scissors, she expresses herself and transforms an ordinary painting into a 3-dimensional work of art that speaks to the heart and the senses.

Garden Friends

It's definately SPRING here. I spent a beautiful afternoon outside planting and weeding. I was kept company by some garden friends. The Gecko used his camo to mimic the green and pink of this blooming amarylis. The snail scaled the large water pot and did a lap or two around the rim with the water rushing by him. In the photo he stretched his neck out to look around. I also saw a hummingbird enjoying a drink from the same pot. I'll have to be quick with the camera next time to capture his photo. More work to do in the garden - it's a work in progress - a therapy journey to enjoy.

Chicks of many colors

It's Spring!

Today Ann and I visited the Farm Supply store for our annual viewing of the chicks and bunnies.

They were camera shy!

WHEAT

2009 Judy's Garden

I enjoy reading blogs, so I figured it's time to write my own. I hope to share what I'm doing, what makes me happy and of course photos that I take.

I hope you enjoy JUDY'S GARDEN.