GBBD List for June, 2009

My Garden Blogger Bloom Day story and photos can be found at The Transplantable Rose.

Over here you get the list of botanical names and whatever photos Blogger insisted on turning sideways.

1. Abelia chinensis/Abelia, four white shrubs
2. Abelia chinensis two unnamed pink shrubs
3. Abelia chinensis 'Edward Goucher' smaller pink shrub
4. Achillea 'Moonshine', many flowers
5. Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, Flame acanthus from Pam/Digging doing really well;
6. Antirrhinum majus, Yellow snapdragons beginning to shrivel
7. Asclepias curassavica, tropical milkweed, two plants with lots of flowers
8. Barleria cristata/Philippine violet. A couple of stray flowers
9. Brugmansia - unnamed variety Yellow Angels trumpet -one flower + buds
10. Calibrachoa hybrids, annual, some from Natural Gardener, some from Shoal Creek Nursery, stressed but still blooming in heat
11. Canna X generalis 'City of Portland'- buds
12. Canna X generalis, unnamed tall, bright green-leaved - has a few red-orange flowers
13. Canna americanallis 'Bengal Tiger' syn 'Praetoria' - big bloom in front garden
14. Capsicum annuum – garden peppers, some flowers
15. Ceratostigma plumbaginoides/Hardy Plumbago, AKA Blue Leadwort, just opened a few dark blue flowers.
16. Consolida ajacis, Larkspur – couple of blooming plants
17. Coriandrum sativum., cilantro - still blooming
18. Crocosmia, unidentified may be ‘Lucifer’, in bud
19. Cuphea ignea, orange Cigar flower, loaded with little orange flowers
20. Cuphea llavea – small pink & lavender form (two plants) one in full bloom
21. Cuphea llavea –red & purple ‘Batfaced’ in bloom
22. Cuphea llavea 'Georgia Scarlet', has red-orange & purple flowers;
23. Delosperma cooperi ? Dark pink flowered hardy ice plant, spreading over gravel walk in Pink Garden - couple of flowers
24. Dendranthema x grandiflora? a few bronze-orange flowers left
25. Dianthus – several colors of ‘Telstar’ hybrids in assorted containers
26. Dietes bicolor, African Iris, butterfly iris in bloom
27. Echinacea purpurea just starting
28. Echinacea purpurea alba? – a white cultivar, one in bud
29. Echinacea purpurea ‘Purple Stars now in flower
30. Evolvulus glomeratus, Blue Daze, several plants in bloom
31. Gaura lindheimerii ‘The Bride’ (two plants), nonstop
32. Gaura lindheimerii, unknown tall rose-pink variety (‘Pink Cloud’?), many flowers
33. Helianthus, unknown, gigantic, annual sunflower with many buds and one open flower going to seed
34. Hemerocallis citrina, still a few buds to open
35. Hemerocallis cultivar 'Vi's Apricot' - a few open
36. Hemerocallis cultivar 'Happy Returns' in rebloom
37. Hesperaloe parviflora, Red yucca - amazingly long bloom time
38. Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Blue River II’, new huge white flowers each day
39. Hibiscus syriacus/Rose of Sharon, white and purple flowers
40. Impatiens walleriana, bedding impatiens. A few plants blooming in Secret Garden container
41. Indigofera amblyantha? /pink false indigo - couple of wands
42. Jatropha integerrima 'Compacta' couple of flowers
43. Jasminium sambac, Sambac jasmine, a few buds, one flower
44. Lagerstroemia indica, hot pink crepe myrtles just beginning
45. Lagerstroemia x hybrida ‘Acoma’ white crepe myrtles (2 trees); full bloom
46. Lantana, unknown varieties both upright and trailing – lavender, white and gold, in bloom
47. Lavendula heterophylla, Sweet Lavender still covered in flowers!
48. Lavandula intermedia 'Provence', fragrant, two plants, couple of flowers
49. Lilium hybrid 'Aruba', Pink oriental lilies in bud
50. Liriope muscari/Lilyturf, in long lines all over the place, a few in bloom
51. Lonicera sempervirens, coral honeysuckle in bloom
52. Lycopersicon lycopersicum, flowering but probably too hot to set fruit
53. Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' a few stray blooms
54. Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii/Turkscap or Red Wax Mallow (two plants)have flowers
55. Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii, white form of Turkscap/Wax Mallow (two plants in secret garden),couple of buds
56. Melampodium leucanthum / Blackfoot daisy - 6 plants live! they have flowers!
57. Myrtus communis nana/ dwarf Greek myrtle - few stray flowers
58. Nerium oleander/ double yellow oleander 'Mathilde Ferrier' - still buds and flowers
59. Nicotiana 'Perfume Deep Purple', annuals from Shoal Creek a few flowers
60. Ocimum basilicum, Basil - keep trying to bloom and I keep cutting off flowers
61. Pavonia lasiopetala, pink rock rose, makes flowers but leaves are always mildewed
62. Pelargonium hybrids– assorted bedding geraniums, red, white & coral - all in bloom
63. Pelargonium hybrid, 'Fantasia Salmon', zonal geranium in breakfast room window, in bud
64. Perovskia atriplicifolia, Russian Sage (two beds), floppy but making flowers
65. Platycodon 'Fugi White', has flowers
66. Platycodon grandiflorus (several plants), Blue Balloon Flower - great bloom
67. Platycodon 'Miss Tilly' (3 plants), doing fine
68. Plumbago auriculata (two shrubs), many pale blue flowers
69. Plumeria unknown species/Frangipani, creamy yellow, in bud
70. Poliomintha longiflora, Mexican oregano (3 plants), all blooming
71. Portulaca - reseeded Moss Roses and Flowering Purslanes, all blooming
72. Punica granatum 'Nana'/ dwarf pomegranate, couple of flowers
73. Rosa ‘Champagne’ mini rose, delicate pink , two plants couple of roses
74. Rosa floribunda ‘Julia Child’, butter-yellow rose - fighting blackspot, trying to make buds
75. Rosa 'Mutabilis' (two good-sized plants) nonstop bloom
76. Russelia equisetiformis, Firecracker plant - blooming nicely
77. Salvia coccinea, red Hummingbird sage flowering well
78. Salvia coccinea, white Hummingbird sage, flowering well
79. Salvia coccinea ‘Coral Nymph’, coral pink Hummingbird sage, a few flowers
80. Salvia elegans/Pineapple sage – a few flowers
81. Salvia farinacea, Mealy Blue sage, wandlike flowers, in bloom
82. Salvia greggii, many plants in creamy white, deep rose, true red, cherry red, most have flowers
83. Salvia guaranitica, Majestic blue sage, in bloom
84. Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue', in bloom
85. Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' (2 plants), nonstop flowers
86. Salvia X 'Nuevo Leon' (several borders and containers), many small violet flowers
87. Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’/Dwarf Blue Cushionflower, a few flowers
88. Scutellaria suffrutescens, pink skullcap, two plants dependable pink bloomer
89. Sedum, little varieties with white flowers
90. Tradescantia geniculata, groundcover , in bloom
91. Verbena bonariensis – full bloom all over the place
92. Vitex agnus-castus / Chaste tree - started flowering last week
93. Zantedeschia unknown species/Calla lilies, spotted white, three flowers
94. Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea', Pink rainlily, one flower
95. Zinnia linearis/ syn Zinnia angustifolia, several plants, reseeded and in bloom

May Dreams Carol will have the roundup and links to the other blogs participating in GBBD.

Chicago Botanical Garden in 1988

Like many of you I've been eagerly enjoying the tweets and posts and photos from the bloggers who are meeting in Chicago this weekend.

Mr McGregor's Daughter has posted a photo of the wonderful Carolus Linnaeus statue as it looked for the Chicago Spring Fling participants yesterday. The statue seems to be unchanged but apparently a vegetative barrier keeps the public away from the sculpture. On the chance that someone might be interested, I hunted down an old photo.

Carolus Linnaeus Statue, Chicago Botanical Gardens, 1988

The set-up was a little different 21 years ago in 1988 when this picture was taken. Everyone had their photo taken with Linnaeus, sort of like every kid in Chicago having a picture taken sitting on one of the stone lions at Brookfield Zoo. The protection seems like a sensible decision. The Linnaeus statue is composed of many individual representations of plants and animals, very unlike the smooth lions.

Here in Austin's Zilker Park several large gates are decorated with representations of the plants and creatures found in Central Texas.

Thanks for the photos and notes, Chicago Flingers!

A Pacific Giant Delphinium in Austin

A few people wondered how I grew this delphinium which was budded for GBBD on May 15th and is now opening blooms. They're not generally recommended for Austin so growing it wasn't part of a plan...it just sort of happened:


April 2006, dig out St Augustine grass to make a triangle-shaped bed. Buy an obelisk and add it to the bed. Grow things in this bed for 3 years, continuously adding compost & decomposed granite. Water, weed and use Hasta-gro, Liquid seaweed and John's recipe.


In winter 2009 plant sweet peas to grow on obelisk. By March 30, realize drought followed by hail equals no sweetpeas. Stop by Shoal Creek Nursery on way home from somewhere else and impulse-buy a vigorous plant of Mixed Pacific Giant Delphiniums for less than $2. Add more compost, plant, water in with seaweed. Water a couple of times a week for 6 weeks and rejoice when we get a short spell of cooler weather just as bud stalks emerge.


Since the flowers are semi-double white, the variety might be 'Galahad'. I will think of this genuine Knight of a Delphinium as an annual, a consolation prize for the failure of the usually dependable larkspurs/annual delphiniums. (EDIT: Added this second photo May 21 - weather heading back to 90's so it may not last longer than a cut flower - but cost no more than cut Delphiniums and I had the pleasure of watching it grow and unfold)

GBBD List for May 15, 2009

The Addendum is where the list of botanical names is kept - photos appear on the main Garden Blogger Bloom Day post for May 15th at the Transplantable Rose. All of these plants have made flowers - a few like the daylilies and the passion vine sometimes have only buds one day and flowers the next. These 'Prairie Blue Eyes' daylilies had flowers open on May 14th and 16th with buds on the 15th.As you can see, the image is rotated, something that happens every GBBD. When uploaded to Twitter it worked perfectly. I don't know why Blogger wants the perovskia to grow upside down. I also don't know why it disappeared the number on the list. There are 101 items.

1. Abelia chinensis/Abelia, four white shrubs in bloom
2. Abelia chinensis two unnamed pink shrubs in bloom
   
3. Abelia chinensis 'Edward Goucher' smaller pink shrub
4. Achillea 'Moonshine' many flat yellow heads
5. Ajuga, unknown species, purple-leaved bugle weed
6. Antirrhinum majus, Yellow snapdragons living and producing flowers since Christmas 2007
7. Asclepias curassavica, tropical milkweed, just a couple of buds open
8. Bryophyllum daigremontianum, Mother of Thousand, just a few remaining flowers
9. Bulbine frutescens 'Yellow'/ yellow bulbine will keep blooming with deadheading
   
10. Calibrachoa hybrids, annual, some from Natural Gardener, some from Shoal Creek Nursery in hanging baskets and troughs. One basket hangs outside the breakfast room window and the hummingbirds come to it
    
11. Canna X generalis 'City of Portland' one plant in container near shed
    
12. Canna X generalis, unnamed tall, bright green-leaved with red-orange flowers
    
13. Capsicum annuum – garden peppers, had a few peppers, still a few flowers
14. Castilleja indivisa, Texas paintbrush, grown as annual, one plant fading, one still blooming
    
15. Citrus x meyeri, Meyer's Improved Lemon, a few buds on the one in the pot
    
16. Citrus aurantifolia? Mexican lime, in container
17. Clematis unknown hybrid, one reddish-purple flower
18. Conoclinium greggii, Gregg’s Mistflower - closely related to C. coelestinium, the mistflower I grew in Illinois, but leaves are quite different. Lavender blue flowers in front bed.
    
19. Consolida ajacis, Larkspur – one plant with a few flowers and a couple of surviving plants with buds
    
20. Coriandrum sativum., cilantro, all gone to flower
    
21. Cuphea ignea, orange Cigar flower, many little orange flowers
22. Cuphea llavea – small pink & lavender form. Plant near back door blooming but the one in triangle garden not happy
23. Cuphea llavea –red & purple ‘Batfaced’, a few flowers
    
24. Cuphea llavea 'Georgia Scarlet', just budding
    
25. Delosperma cooperi ? Dark pink flowered hardy ice plant, spreading over gravel walk in Pink Garden;
26. Dendranthema x grandiflora?. - ordinary cushion mums in several places, blooming pink and off-white
27. Dianthus – red, white and pink shades of ‘Telstar’ hybrids in assorted containers
28. Dietes bicolor, African Iris, butterfly iris, a few every day. Best bloom it ever had.
    
29. Evolvulus glomeratus 'Blue Daze', in Secret garden and near gate, but plants in containers still leafing out
    
30. Feijowa sellowiana / Pineapple guava- the shrub in secret garden still has flowers and buds but one on patio seems done for year
    
31. Gaura lindheimerii ‘The Bride’, two large plants plus seedlings
    
32. Gaura lindheimerii, unknown tall rose-pink variety (‘Pink Cloud’?), many flowers
33. Hemerocallis cultivar 'Pinochio', dwarf, burgundy, brought from Illinois, one plant near gate another in Pink Entrance Garden
    
34. Hemerocallis cultivar 'Vi's Apricot', brought from Illinois. Now divided into 6 small plants.
    
35. Hemerocallis cultivar 'Prairie Blue Eyes', brought from Illinois, has 3 bloom stalks
    
36. Hemerocallis cultivar 'Happy Returns', almost through with bloom cycle. Will deadhead and may rebloom in 6 weeks
    
37. Hesperaloe parviflora, Red yucca, tubular, slow opening flowers all along one long stalk
38. Hibiscus syriacus/Rose of Sharon a few purple and a couple of white flowers
    
39. Hippeastrum hybrid Peach & White, #5 of seven kinds in Bulb Garden
    
40. Impatiens walleriana, bedding impatiens, white, lived over winter in Secret Garden
41. Jatropha integerrima 'Compacta', couple of buds at top
    
42. Justicia spicigera/ Mexican Honeysuckle, a few open, orange flowes
    
43. Lantana, unknown varieties both upright and trailing – pink & yellow, white and gold and lavender
    
44. Lavendula heterophylla, Sweet Lavender, lots of stalks
45. Lavendula stoechas, Spanish lavender, just a few left
    
46. Leucophyllum frutescens/ Texas sage AKA Barometer bush AKA Cenizo – one shrub, a few flowers - supposed to be a sign of rain and an inch fell today.
    
47. Lilium unknown Easter Lily type - couple of trumpets on two plants in Bulb garden
48. Lobularia maritime, Sweet alyssum, alive, but fading in heat
    
49. Lonicera sempervirens, coral honeysuckle (just a few flowers)
50. Lycopersicon lycopersicum, tomatoes
    
51. Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' , one flower a day for past week
    
52. Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' a couple of flowers on surviving plants
    
53. Mazus reptans, tiny blue flower on ground cover
54. Melampodium leucanthum / Blackfoot daisy- think there are 5 plants, each with a few flowers
55. Myrtus communis nana/ dwarf Greek myrtle- just a few flowers, three shrubs in ground
    
56. Nerium oleander/ double yellow oleander 'Mathilde Ferrier', double yellow, fragrant, near steps to veranda
    
57. Nicotiana 'Perfume Deep Purple', annuals from Shoal Creek
58. Ocimum basilicum, Basil
59. Oxalis crassipes 'Alba' (dotted around and in containers), several blooming
60. Oxalis regnellii 'Atropurpurea' (dotted around and in containers), couple of flower
    
61. Passiflora X possibly 'Lavender Lady' Passionvine - see above, buds and blooms
62. Pavonia lasiopetala, pink rock rose, makes flowers but leaves are always mildewed, even with sun and air
    
63. Pelargonium hybrids– assorted bedding geraniums, red, white & coral, in containers
    
64. Pelargonium hybrid, coral, blooming in breakfast room window
65. Penstemen tenuis, Gulf coast penstemon- planted a couple of months ago- buds and blooms
    
66. Perovskia atriplicifolia, Russian Sage (two beds), floppy but making flowers
67. Phlox sublata/Creeping phlox in lavender blue, very long bloom season
    
68. Pisum sativum Sugar Snap, sugar snap garden peas - flowers and peas - ate a few raw!
    
69. Plumbago auriculata (two shrubs), going nuts and covered in pale blue flowers – recently pruned so the back door could shut
70. Plumbago auriculata var. alba (one plant), one flower head
    
71. Poliomintha longiflora, Mexican oregano (3 plants), all blooming
72. Portulaca - reseeded Moss Roses and Flowering Purslane, in newer triangle garden
73. Punica granatum, pomegranate - might be 'Wonderful', a few flowers, no fruit seems to have set
    
74. Punica granatum 'Nana'/ dwarf pomegranate, two small plants, ornamental
    
75. Rosa 'Belinda's Dream', Pink shrub rose-one battered flower, several blooms
    
76. Rosa ‘Champagne’ mini rose, delicate pink , two plants, more buds than leaves
    
77. Rosa floribunda ‘Julia Child’, butter-yellow rose, still has buds
    
78. Rosa 'Mutabilis' (two good-sized plants) nonstop bloom
79. Salvia coccinea, red Hummingbird sage, reseeded in triangle
    
80. Salvia coccinea, white Hummingbird sage, reseeds near patio
    
81. Salvia coccinea ‘Coral Nymph’, coral pink Hummingbird sage, in Secret Garden and in Entrance garden
    
82. Salvia farinacea, Mealy Blue sage, wandlike flowers, replacements for winter killed plants, still in pots from nursery
83. Salvia greggii, in creamy white, deep rose, true red, cherry red
84. Salvia guaranitica, Majestic blue sage
85. Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
86. Salvia leucantha, Mexican Bush Sage, a few flowers - big season is fall
    
87. Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' (2 plants), nonstop flowers, but they're all white - no lips!
    
88. Salvia roemeriana /Cedar sage, red flowers in shade, still blooming
89. Salvia X 'Nuevo Leon' (several borders and containers), many small violet flowers
90. Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’/Dwarf Blue Cushionflower, steady buds and flowers, two plants
91. Scutellaria ovata, Heartleaf skullcap, from Pam/Digging. Thought it was lost but reappeared this spring and made a couple of flowers
92. Scutellaria suffrutescens, pink skullcap, two plants dependable pink bloomer
93. Scutellaria wrightii, blue skullcap, three small plants, sparse flowers.
    
94. Sedum, little varieties with white flowers
    
95. Trachaelospermum jasminoides, Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, evergreen vine with white, fragrant flowers. Three vines, on veranda, side fence and shed, almost at end of season.
96. Tradescantia geniculata, groundcover , in bloom, tiny white flowers
    
97. Tradescantia pallida, syn Setcresea pallida/ Purple Heart, many lavender flowers;
98. Verbena bonariensis – doing well this spring, has seeded around and is blooming in 4 different borders
    
99. Viola spp– just a few remaining Pansies and violas still alive
100. Vitex agnus-castus / Chaste tree, just forming buds
101. Zinnia linearis/ syn Zinnia angustifolia, reseeded from last year - just a couple of buds.
     

Making A Lavender Stick

Making a Lavender Stick was written by Annie in Austin for the Annie's Addendum Blog

Welcome if you came here from the May 6th "Thought Pops" post at the Transplantable Rose!


Lavender Sticks are a sweet little thing to make. I read about them years ago in a chapter of Elizabeth Lawrence's book Through The Garden Gate. If you can find the original version her narrative is enchanting. Here's an approximation of what Miss Lawrence said:

The sticks must be made immediately after cutting, or the stalks may break rather than bend. Cut stalks when the first flower opens - they need to be a least 8 inches long but can be as long as 18 inches. (What I grow is Sweet Lavender, which has longer flower heads than some of the other fragrant varieties. The shape and length of the stick will be slightly different with each variety.)

You'll need an even multiple of an odd number. That could be 14 which is 2 X 7, or 18 which is twice 9, 22 which is 2 X 11, etc. If you have enough you could cut 30 which is twice 15.

You also need a few feet of 1/4 inch baby ribbon - or whatever narrow ribbon you can get. Lay the stalks together with the tips of some spikes sticking up beyond the others, making a flowering head about 6 inches in length. Tie one end of the baby ribbon tightly around the stems just below the lowest flower. Then you will make the ribbon and stalks into a basket shape by gently bending the stems back over the flower heads, first weaving the ribbon under two stalks, then weaving it over the next two, and so on....going around and around until you've made the stems into a basket enclosing the flower heads within the ribbon/stick weave. Take your time, slide the ribbon gently and keep it all flat. The size of ribbon, length of stem and closeness of weave will combine to make each stick look a little different. The number of stalks you use will also make them look quite different - 14 is a very slender stick. When you've woven past the flower heads you can tie off the end and neatly clip the stem ends. I like to tie the end of the ribbon into a loop that can be used to hang the Lavender Stick at nose-level.

Don't worry if the technique sounds confusing - it becomes apparent once you have the ribbon and stalks in your hands. The resulting little baskets of lavender used to be hung on clothes hangers or layered with sheets in linen closets. As the lavender dries the weave keeps the flowers inside.

I like the Lavender Sticks for themselves, but am just as pleased with the connection to Miss Lawrence, the garden writer we all love.


Making a Lavender Stick was written by Annie in Austin for the Annie's Addendum Blog

Cactus & Narcissus

We saw this plant combination last February at the San Antonio Zoo. I remembered it when reading this post and its comments at GardenRant on how tough many bulbs can be and whether they look okay next to succulents. What do you think?

1999 Iris List

This wallow in Iris nostalgia was inspired when MayDreams Carol mentioned her dwarf bearded iris. Her post sent me to the old diaries from our last Illinois garden, the one I left behind in Summer of 1999.


The diaries had lists of names and bloom records. Some iris were ordered from catalogs, some picked up at Northern Illinois Iris Society sales, many were passalongs from friends. I don't remember ever seeing dwarf bearded iris for sale at a nursery.

I loved those dwarf bearded iris! They bloomed with Brunnera and Dicentra/Bleeding Heart, when the coral bells and lilies were waking up. Their small rhizomes didn't attract Iris borers like the flashy big hybrids and they fit so well into a small bed designed for close-up viewing.


Some of the dwarf bearded iris had registered names:

'Bright & White'

'Little Imp'

"Pixie Pastel'

'Beau'

'Lillipinkput'

'Eyeshadow'

'Irish Sea'

'Gingerbread Man'

'Bright Eyes'

'Orchid Raye'

'Enchanted Blue'

'Mr Roberts'

'Daisy'

'Hammered Copper'

'Indian Jewel'


Some dwarf bearded iris were named for the friend who shared the plant:

'Ruth's Kansas Prairie Purple'

'Vi's Minister's Yellow'

'Ellen's Yellow & Maroon'

'Vi's Purple w/white beard'

'Vi's Bright Yellow'

'Ruth's white with Blue beard'

'Carol's off white'

'Bernice's yellow & mahogany'

'Vi's Light Pink'


Some tall bearded iris had official names, too:

'Tangerine Sky'

'Orange Parade'

'Cozy Calico'

'Schiaparelli'

'Dundee'

'Stunning'

'Debby Rairdon'

'Carnival Time'

'Superstition'

'Fire & Ice'

'Lacy Snowflake'

'Victoria Falls'

'Lemon Brocade'


And names unofficial:

'Ruth's lilac'

'Bernice's Yellow'

'Sophie's Purple Velvet'

'Lilacia Garden Club Pink'

'Vi's Tall Purple & White'


Siberians were called:

'Sea Shadows'

'Gull's Wings'

'Cabernet'

'Illini Encore'

'Maranatha'


Passalong Siberians had names of people attached:

'Dad's Dark Blue'

'Vi's Dark Purple'

'Vi's Lilac'

Two species Iris came to me from Lorraine:

Iris graminea and Iris pseudocoris.


It's nearly a decade since I left - think any of them still bloom at the old house?

GBBD List for April 2009

For the photos of April 15, 2009 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, see the Transplantable Rose post.
The Addendum is the place to find a list with botanical names of what's in bloom at Circus~Cercis today. Some of them may actually be spelled right:


Abelia chinensis 'Edward Goucher' smaller pink form of this shrub; it's in flower but large white ones are not.

Ajuga, unknown species, purple-leaved bugle weed. It was already growing under an abelia when we moved here. Now in a couple of other spots as groundcover.

Anemone hybrid 'St Brigid' mixed Windflowers. Some smashed by hail but a few are blooming now.

Antirrhinum majus, Yellow snapdragons looking pretty good since Christmas 2007!

Bryophyllum daigremontianum, syn Kalanchoe daigremontiana, Mother of Thousands, one plant in bloom

Bulbine frutescens 'Yellow'/ yellow bulbine, a few flowers in front center bed

Calibrachoa hybrids, annuals in containers, some from Natural Gardener, some from Shoal Creek Nursery

Canna X generalis 'City of Portland', one bloom on a plant in container

Capsicum annuum – garden peppers, several have flowers

Castilleja indivisa?, Texas paintbrush, grown as annual. It came through hail just fine, but adjoining Bluebonnet was smashed.

Cercis canadensis var texensis 'Alba', has unexpected light rebloom as leaves expand.

Citrus x meyeri, Meyer's Improved Lemon, still a few flowers

Citrus aurantifolia? Mexican lime, still a few flowers

Clematis hybrid 'Ramona', growing in container, 8 or 9 huge light purple flowers

Clematis unknown purple hybrid, budded and ready to go

Clematis hybrid, probably 'Miss Bateman', 6 or 8 white flowers

Coriandrum sativum, cilantro - some gone to flower

Cuphea llavea – small pink & lavender form; one plant begining to bloom - other hit hard by repeated freezes.

Delosperma cooperi ? Dark pink flowered hardy ice plant, spreading over gravel walk in Pink Garden;

Dianthus – ‘Telstar’ hybrids in pink, rose and red, growing in assorted containers front and back gardens

Dietes bicolor, African Iris, butterfly iris - bloomed last week and has more buds

Evolvulus glomeratus, Blue Daze. Two of the lived-over plants are making flowers.

Feijowa sellowiana / Pineapple guava, two plants - one flower

Gaura lindheimerii, unknown tall rose-pink variety (‘Pink Cloud’?), many flowers

Hesperaloe parviflora, Red yucca - first time blooming!

Hippeastrum seven hybrid varieties in bulb garden including Red Lion, Minerva, San Antonio. Four are budded- one open.

Impatiens walleriana, bedding impatiens. A couple of lived-over white impatiens bloom in containers in the Secret Garden

Indigofera amblyantha? /pink false indigo -one wandy pink flower unfolding.

Iris bearded hybrid, passalong from Ellen, later-blooming, grape-scented blue violet

Iris siberica, Siberian Iris, blue-violet, passalong from Barb in IL

Ixia, unknown species, pale cream-colored Corn lilies from bulbs planted fall 2007

Jatropha integerrima 'Compacta', couple of puny flowers, few leaves

Justicia spicigera/ Mexican Honeysuckle, a few light orange flowers

Lantana, unknown varieties both upright and trailing; yellow just budding, trailing white bloomed all winter

Lavendula heterophylla, Sweet Lavender, many many wands ready to open

Lavendula stoechas, Spanish lavender, covered in flowers

Lobularia maritime, Sweet alyssum (dotted around), blooming since last winter

Lonicera sempervirens, coral honeysuckle, some flowers

Lupinus texensis, Bluebonnet. I planted 8 of them but the hail hit hard and only a few still live.; one is finally blooming.

Lycopersicon lycopersicum, Tomatoes, several have flowers, including ‘Juliet’

Mazus reptans, tiny blue flowering ground has a couple of flowers

Michelia figo - Banana shrub, past peak but still has buds. Shrub is now shedding hail-damaged leaves and trying to grow new ones.

Nicotiana 'Perfume Deep Purple', annuals from Shoal Creek

Osmanthus fragrans/Sweet olive three shrubs still in light, fragrant bloom

Oxalis crassipes 'Alba' (dotted around and in containers), several blooming

Oxalis regnellii 'Atropurpurea' (dotted around and in containers), a few flowers

Passiflora X possibly 'Lavender Lady' Passionvine - many buds and blooms

Pelargonium hybrids– assorted bedding geraniums, red, white & coral

Pelargonium hybrid, coral, blooming in breakfast room window

Penstemen tenuis, Gulf coast penstemon, a few flowers

Philadelphus inodorus, English Dogwood/Scentless Mock orange, at end of huge bloom

Phlox sublata/Creeping phlox in lavender blue, three plants all in flower

Plumbago auriculata (two shrubs), just beginning to reflower after winter

Portulaca - reseeded Moss Roses and Flowering Purslanes - one flower

Punica granatum, pomegranate - might be 'Wonderful' - one flower, couple of buds

Punica granatum 'Nana'/ dwarf pomegranate, very small plant but keeps making flowers

Ranunculus hybrids, bulbs planted fall 2007 - fewer blossoms than last spring and hail-damaged, but they're alive

Rosa banksiae 'Lutea'/ Lady Banks rose, peak of bloom over, but some buds still opening

Rosa 'Belinda's Dream', Pink shrub rose- buds and blooms

Rosa ‘Champagne’ mini rose, delicate pink , two plants, in bloom

Rosa floribunda ‘Julia Child’, butter-yellow rose, many flowers and a few buds to come

Rosa 'Mutabilis' (two good-sized plants) my darlings have been in nonstop bloom

Rosa /unnamed apricot mini-rose, one open flower and a couple of buds.

Rosa, unknown variety/ tall pink climber, about 8 or 9 flowers and buds

Salvia coccinea ‘Coral Nymph’, coral pink Hummingbird sage, in Secret Garden

Salvia greggii, many plants with flowers of creamy white, deep rose, true red, cherry red

Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips', now reblooming after winter

Salvia roemeriana /Cedar sage, dark red flowers in shade

Salvia X 'Nuevo Leon' (several borders and containers), many small violet flowers

Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’/Dwarf Blue Cushionflower, one plant in full bloom; a division still becoming established has a few flowers

Scutellaria suffrutescens, pink skullcap, two plants - one has a few open flowers

Scutellaria wrightii, blue skullcap, three small plants lightly flowering

Sedum, several unknown species here and there, all making white flowers

Spiraea - three of the bridal wreath type shrubs are still blooming

Stachys coccinea/Texas betony, coral flowers - didn't bloom last year but are in flower for 2009

Trachaelospermum jasminoides, Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, evergreen vine with white, fragrant flowers. Three vines, on veranda, Secret Garden fence and on shed, all in bud and/or blossom.

Tradescantia geniculata, groundcover , in bloom

Tradescantia pallida, syn Setcresea pallida/ Purple Heart, many lavender flowers;

Verbena bonariensis – let them seed all over - a few are blooming now

Viola spp– various hybrids of Pansies and violas in containers and hanging baskets with a few flowers

Weigela florida 'Rumba'/ Weigela Canadian Dance series - photo shows peak of blossoming last week but there are still flowers today.

Carol of MayDreams Gardens thought up GBBD - please go to her blog for links to the other gardens. Happy Blooming Day!

Bloom List for April 2nd

Although leaves and flowers were damaged by last week's hail, many plants are blooming right now. It seems like a good idea to keep a list for myself, even if no one else ever reads it.

Abelia chinensis 'Edward Goucher' smaller pink shrub, just opened

Antirrhinum majus, Yellow snapdragons

Bryophyllum dalgremontianua, Mother of Thousands, just taken out for summer

Bulbine, yellow in front bed

Canna 'City of Portland' - one bud stalk, on plant in container on holding table

Castilleja - not sure species, Indian Paint brush, lovely corally color in front bed next to non-blooming, hail damaged bluebonnets


Citrus x meyeri, Meyer's Improved Lemon, a few on container plant now on patio, tree in ground has many flowers

Clematis 'Miss Bateman' (best guess at ID) several flowers twined into Lady Banks rose.

Clematis 'Ramona' - 8 large buds and blooms - in container

Cuphea - pink & lavender- may be one of 'Tiny Mice'. Plant in bloom is near back door. One in front dies back harder in winter

Delosperma, ice plant, gone crazy in rosy-red

Dianthus - 'Telstar' hybrids in containers and hanging baskets -shades of pink and red, some combined with white

Dietes bicolor, AKA African Iris or bicolor iris, creamy yellow with maroon markings, one flower

Gaura, burgundy leaves, pink flowers

Hesperaloe parviflora, Red yucca - spike is starting to open!

Impatiens - lived over white in container, Secret Garden

Iris - one last stalk of pale peach, a couple opening buds on fragrant tall purple

Jatropha integerrima 'Compacta' - spicy Jatropha - couple of flowers, barely a leaf on it

Justicia, Mexican honeysuckle, clear light orange

Lantana, a trailing white variety in Pink Entrance Garden

Lavendula heterophylla, Sweet Lavender

Lavendula stoechas, Spanish lavender

Lonicera sempervirens, coral honeysuckle - heavily hit by hail and had to have lots of cracked stems cut clean, but still opening some flowers

Mazus reptans, just a couple of tiny pieces left, but blooming

Melampodium leucanthum / Blackfoot daisy - a few blooms in front bed and small triangle in back

Michelia figo - Banana shrub had some cracked stems but still has some buds and flowers

Nicotiana fragrant purple hybrids, just bought 3 plants and put them in long fence border with Julia Child rose

Osmanthus fragrans/Sweet olive

Oxalis, both green leaves/white flowers and burgundy leaves/pale rose flowers.

Passiflora X possibly 'Lavender Lady' Passionvine - buds and blooms

Pelargonium - most plants hail-damaged. One in breakfast room blooming coral and another coral under overhang in Secret Garden

Phlox sublata, creeping phlox

Punica granatum, pomegranate - might be 'Wonderful' - one flower, some hailed off

Punica granatum 'Nana'/ dwarf pomegranate, steady light bloom, safe under roof overhang

Rosa mutabilis, both plants

Rosa, 'Champagne' mini rose

Rosa 'Julia Child' - in spite of a dozen buds hailed to the ground, she is gorgeous

Rosa 'Lady Banks' - all open flowers knocked off by hail, but some tight buds remained and they're opening

Philadelphus inodorus, Scentless Mockorange, English Dogwood, a wall of blossom

Ranunculus hybrids, orange and yellow. Planted fall 2007, just a couple of bulbs returned

Salvia greggii, Cherry color
Salvia greggii, creamy white

Salvia 'Hot Lips'

Salvia 'Nuevo Leon'

Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'; teased off section a few weeks back so now have two plants in bloom.

Setcreasea 'Purple Heart'

Spiraeas - four white in two varieties

Stachys coccinea, Texas Betony, coral flowers. Did not bloom last year.

Verbena bonariensis here and there

Viola actually Pansies - some hit by hail, a few blue and yellow okay

Weigela florida 'Rumba'/ Weigela Canadian Dance series. Two tiny pieces bought as souvenir of Howard's Nursery on Koenig in spring 2006 are a couple of feet tall, covered in trumpet shaped, deep rose flowers.

Not-Quite-So Irish Soda Bread

Everyone seems to have a different Irish Soda Bread recipe - do you make it for St Patrick's Day? My sister puts raisins and caraway seeds in hers. Some very Irish people we knew used to make it very plain, with just a hint of sugar. They'd let it sit overnight and then cut it in thin slices with a crossed thread. Maybe that's the original idea - a substitute for yeast bread in thin sandwiches.

The recipe I've used for 30 years is more like a teacake or dessert. Instead of raisins it has currants - not, apparently the actual currants that would grow in a cool climate like Ireland (genus Ribes), but a tiny grape (genus Vitis) from California, which are dried and called Zante currants.

Every year I'd make soda bread with currants for St. Patrick's Day and it tasted fine to me. But that bread didn't seem to 'move'...days later it would still be around. The same thing happened when I made other breads that my mom used to make when we were kids. My husband and children weren't very interested in Banana Bread, Applesauce Cake, or Zucchini Bread, either.

Finally I discovered the secret - add chocolate chips and even the Lithahooligans will love Soda Bread. Or Zucchini bread. Or Banana Bread. Nothing, however, will make them like Applesauce Cake.

Lithuanian-Irish Soda Bread

Put 1 and 1/4 cup milk in glass pyrex pitcher. Add 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Microwave on low power 90 seconds. Let sit while you sift together:

2 and 1/2 cups unbleached flour (you can substitute up to 1 cup of white flour with King Arthur whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
a sprinkle of sea salt
3/4 cup sugar (white, brown, or a combination)

Cut in 1/4 tub Smart Balance or 1 stick butter or margarine

Add 2 slightly beaten eggs, the clabbered milk, 1/2 package (about 1 cup) Zante currants, and a cup of chocolate chips. The ones used this year were Ghirardelli Dark chips.

Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes, lower heat to 325°F for another 30 to 45 minutes depending on pan size. You can make it in a regular loaf pan, or make a round loaf in a glass pie pan, or use one of the newer silicon molds to make small loaves. That's what I used - got 4 of them from this recipe. Whatever the pan, grease or spray it and sprinkle with turbinado sugar for a little extra crunch.