some
pics from around the yard the last couple of weeks...
I
noticed the aloe someone gave me a year or so ago is sending up a
bloom stalk.
This
is one of the azaleas we bought last year on sale for half price.
Out of the ten we still have 9. Tthey were so root bound with a
solid thatch on top that water absolutely could not penetrate. I had
to basically bare root them. A couple I even had to dig up and pot
because after they initially seemed to do OK, they started to fail.
This is one of them that got moved into a pot. Then the ants moved
in and it was not recovering, losing all it's leaves but the stems
were still green. I finally had to take it out of the pot, hose it
down, bare root it again, dust it with rooting hormone, repotted it,
and pruned it back. It looks dead doesn't it.
Look
again.
I've
tried several times to get macros of the center of the red poppies
because they have the most subtle colors...yellow, purple, and black
but most have been unsuccessful because of the wind. Finally got a
good one though it isn't completely crisp.
And
another with bees but it doesn't really show the colors very well.
The
pink is pretty too.
This
is the area where the poppies were so profuse and tall last year.
Not so much this year but the larkspur, which is just coming into
bloom is pretty with the evening primrose and the yellow coneflowers
are starting to come on. Yesterday evening a ruby throated
hummingbird was busy on the larkspur. It would pause and hover
looking at us now and then and then go back to it feeding.
Another
area with larkspur. You can see the direction the prevailing winds
have been coming from.
The
evening primrose in the fields are at peak.
The
mock dogwood has been very pretty.
I
inadvertently cut a blooming branch while trying to prune out the
dead wood. I brought it in the house and it stayed fresh for over a
week.
The
pecans trees finally came out. These 'blooms' are the next fall's
nuts.
And
finally, this wasp posed nicely for me while I waited for him to move
off the gate so I could open it.
love poppies! love your english garden area, too!!! beautiful wasp macro! well done!
ReplyDeleteI plant poppies and they last for a season or two and then they are gone. I guess we are too wet.
ReplyDeleteStunning! Absolutely stunning! Those poppies are other-worldly, the wasp a giant, amazing beast.
ReplyDeleteMacro success. I loved the bees and the wasp along with the beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! love the wasp on the gate! I think that I would wait for him too.
ReplyDeleteYou and your garden are the best Texas has to offer!
wow!! your photos are amazing
ReplyDeletethe wasp shot is incredible
I love when things start to bloom, so sweet and hopeful
Wow. Your flowers are just gorgeous, Ellen. It sounds as though you know how to bring them back from the dead; I wish I had a green thumb like that but I don't.
ReplyDeleteThat wasp looks like an alien.
LOVE the flowers! Gorgeousness!
ReplyDeleteBut really, the wasp picture wins - super cool!
Are they native azaleas? I love them but have never had any success at growing them. They are so finicky about the exact soil/water conditions. Love the wasp.
ReplyDeleteYour close ups are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAnd that wasp looks ready for business! Yikes!
Hugs
SueAnn
I love to see the leaves first starting to appear - I cut back my fuchsias last year; since the beginning of March I have been watching them hoping I hadn't been too severe with the cut back and praying they survived the long harsh winter - success this last week all 3 are starting to leaf up (btw this is Jane - don't ask google is being silly again)
ReplyDeleteThis is the weirdest wasp I’ve ever seen.
ReplyDeleteAs always I must comment on how much earlier your seasons are than ours. I’m still battling cold days and even chillier nights.
I’ve got a post on gardening on the boil too but, like you, I find blogging tedious at the moment.
Could it be to do with the length of time we’ve been at it? It does seem a ridiculous thing to do sometimes. O, for a bit of enthusiasm for anything!
Fun shots, i love seeing the blooms The wasp is real fun
ReplyDeleteYou have some wonderful shots there, Ellen. That wasp image is amazing.
ReplyDelete