Red birds and yellow berries

I'm not a bird-watcher, but when I see a Cardinal, I can't help but try to take a picture. Do you see him in the center on top of the carports?

Here he is.

This one's a cool shot. See him?

Just barely caught him on camera.

Aaaand... last one -

I got his butt.

I bought a yellow raspberry 'Anne' from Gurney's a couple months ago. I don't have many berries, but this one's furthest along. I like the yellow because I don't think they'll get eaten by birds since even when they're yellow and ripe, they look unripe.

updates on the patio garden

Here are some July updates.

After almost losing my deep, dark red Plumeria this winter, I've been pleasantly surprised with its growth. Here is a reminder of what it looked like after I chopped off the top.

And here is what it looks like today! It has three branch tips, although only two are actively growing. I need to start fertilizing it so that it might bloom next year.

Here is a succulent I ordered off of Etsy. I think it's Senecio mandraliscae. I like its cool, chalky blue color

Next is one of my most prized plants that I almost killed when it didn't get any water while I was on my cruise. It's Quisqualis indica - google it. BEAUTIFUL flowers

This plant is really neat, I'll be sure to take pictures of its flowers once it blooms. It's Snail Vine, Vigna caracalla.

Two new additions, boxwood basil (front) and lemongrass (back)

Unknown gladiolus. Beautiful peach color

Purple basil. Most recently used in a delicious pesto I made last night :-)

Ornamental Black Pepper. you do not want to eat one of these. Here are the leaves.

Windowbox planter. From left, Shasta Daisy, petunia, some type of chrysanthemum

First post of 2010 - my Scott Pratt plumeria is not dead!

It's been a pretty uneventful spring, flower-wise. I moved to Houston last June and have been working on my patio garden. I just now have anything to blog about! I had a TON of seeds left over from my 2008-2009 seed-buying spree. I was starting to get a little anxious that some of the ones I'd never germinated would no longer be viable, so I planted about 20 different types of flowers. Here are the results so far!

I don't know what kind of Zinnia this is, but I started these in April and I got my first bloom this past Monday morning!

Here's the dwarf Pomegranate tree I ordered from Gurney's in about 2007(?) It's doing alright - needs some more sunlight to really take off, but I'm just glad I've kept it alive for so long. The pink things are flowers. If you've never seen a pomegranate flower, I suggest you google it!

THIS is the HIGHLIGHT of my post!! I ordered a cutting of Scott Pratt Plumeria in 2008 or 2009, can't remember. A cutting is a clone of a plant, if you will. It's basically cut off the mother plant and sent with no roots. Cuttings range from $7-$30(!?) and the ease of rooting depends on the variety. Scott Pratt has a deep, red flower, and are known for their difficulty to root. They often rot before they can send out root. I decided to send the cutting to Florida Colors nursery, where Luc, the owner, will graft cuttings to a stock plant for only $4! Of course, the sender is responsible for shipping to and from Florida. However, some find the almost guaranteed success worth the extra ~$20 for shipping and grafting.

Anyway, since it gets a little too cold here in Houston for young plants to survive the winter, I brought this plant inside and it sat in my living room all winter. When spring came, I put it outside and it started showing signs of exiting hibernation, then...... nothing. I poked the plant with a thumbtack to see if it would start oozing white sap which would tell me that it was alive, and....nothing. In a drastic decision which might shock Plumeria enthusiasts, I cut the top off the plant to check for rot. Results were inconclusive - the flesh didn't look pure white, but it wasn't black . I sought advice on a Plumeria forum (yes, I'm a nerd) and was told to water it - perhaps it was dehydrated. At first, the water just ran through the soil, but I watered until the soil stayed slightly wet. I waited. And waited. When I got back from a trip out of town, I saw this!

Can you see it? A teensy, tinsy, little growth starting from an old leaf scar!!! I'll post updates later about what it looks like!

This next one is a Torenia plant I bought at Houston Plants and Garden Center

Here's the pot the Torenia is planted in. To the left is flowering tobacco, Nicotiana, the rest are Zinnias

Here's a little of everything. On the left, Sage. going clockwise, basil, then Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost', next is Purple Melic grass. In the middle is Rosemary.

Here is one of the two planters I bought at Ikea, Starting from the left, sage again, then purple Basil, then Calibrachoa.

Lastly, ornamenal Oregano. Interesting flowers

Plumeria Pot Buddies. A.K.A. Companion plants for Plumeria

There was a post in the Garden Web Plumeria forum about companion plants for Plumeria that inspired me for this post. Enjoy!

Lupinus texensis 'Alamo Fire' This plant has been sort of shaded out by the Laurentia and Petunia in the pot, but it's just starting to bloom and should look nice

Yellow Petunias. I know that many people hate Petunias because they are so common, but I just love how bushy they are. These yellow ones are nice.

Calendula 'Zeolights' I can't wait until these take off. Right now, I just have one lonely bloom.

Laurentia This plant has blown me away. From one seed, I got a huge bushy plant that would look wonderful alone in a container. You can see in the first photo how prolific it is. I wish the flower color photographed a little better. It's more purple than it looks here.

White petunias. Crisp, clean and white.

Linaria I don't know the cultivar, but this is an interesting plant.

I also have Statice and Centaurea in the pot, but they aren't blooming yet. For the most part, everything has been really drought tolerant and I only water when they are looking wilty. I bet this pot would look wonderful just filled with colorful petunias.

I don't follow a weekly blogger format

Well I decided that I have too many pictures to post to wait for 'Bloomin Tuesday' or GBBD. Here are my most recent pics! Enjoy

The cutest grass ever. Lagurus ovatus 'Bunny Tails' This plant is so easy to grow and it is a fast grower. As for texture - it's so cloud-like and soft. The whole plant feels like velvet. Salpiglossis 'Kew Blue' The color in this picture is actually pretty accurate. Ignore the dying Delonix regia in the left background. I should repot that.

Salpiglossis 'Painted Tongue'

Capsicum annuum Ornamental Black Pepper 'Purple Flash Hybrid' I really like the variations in the colors of this plant, however I have yet to see any fruits forming. Hopefully the pollinators will start visiting my garden soon!
The bright green plant to the left is Liatris.

Lupinus texensis 'Alamo Fire'

Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' I love this plant and it is so easy to grow. Just let it dry out a little between waterings and don't forget to fertilize it.

Morning Glory 'Carnivale' There is also a pink version.

Strawflower, lilies, calendula

Here is what is blooming on May 12th

Linaria. From seed

White Petunias. Grown from seed.

Helichrysum - Strawflower. The purple color is so interesting

Orange lily. I bought this on sale at Home Depot/Lowe's for $3 last fall. I was surprised at how quickly it bloomed again - It's only May!

Calendula I grew from seed. I started these earlier in the spring.

Yellow Petunias.

A sunday in May

Here is what is blooming in my garden on this May sunday.

Nolana This is a must have for next year

Helichrysum - Strawflower, a purple variety. The color will be fantastically dark and sexy when it opens up completely.

Emilia coccinea Tassel Flower.

This was supposed to be Lavatera but I don't think that's what it is. Any ideas?

Snapdragon bouquet