Light snow day

It's nice to have little snow every once in a while, though I'm a little worried for all the spring flowers that started blooming over the balmy weekend (buds were showing yesterday on the mountain laurels in the front). The yard's looking so shabby right now; time to get busy pruning after this cold front moves out. Across the street was the smallest snowman ever.

Saw lots of windflowers (white and purple) on the Turkey Creek hike Sunday.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - February 2010

I think this is the consistently coldest winter we've had since I moved to Austin 9 years ago. Not surprisingly, the rosemary and a few dandelions are the only things blooming outside. Everything else is waiting for spring, which is a wise choice. Or possibly just dead; won't know for a while.




From the top: two kalanchoes are blooming indoors (one cream, one coral); broccoli doesn't mind the cold nights; got 6 of these iris from Boggy Creek Farms last fall, so I can't wait to see the blooms (supposedly apricot); I think these are showy evening primrose, which used to show up by the thousands in my yard (guess I'll find out soon).

Backyard birds

Cedar waxwings and a downy woodpecker couple were hanging out in the cottonwood tree this afternoon. I don't know how they do it, but every winter I get this feeling I'm being watched and look up...and there are the waxwings, silent and masked.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - December 2009

A November freeze wiped out most blooming things outside, with the exception of some scrappy Mexican mint marigolds and sheltered purple lantana, neither of which photograph well right now. So, here's the best color around the house:






The rosemary's got a couple of flowers still on it; purple lantana; some kolanchoe which may bloom if we get a few warm days in a row; the Christmas cactus (again); and my neighbor's pear tree is looking beautiful today.

Cactus in full bloom

Last zinnia bouquet

before the freezing weather kicks in.

Pre-Christmas cactus