April 1st, 2007
Week 13: 3/26-4/1
2007-03-31. Ubiquitous photo of Texas bluebonnets. Some people think they’re too leggy for the garden but that hasn’t been my experience at all–not if you thin them.
Dateline: 2007
The week ended with a perfect weekend, blue skies and low humidity after a drenching of rain on Friday (3/30). March 2007 ended up being very wet although northwest Austin (lucky Annie!) got more rain than we did south of the river. Everyone is celebrating the possibility that we’re coming out of the drought. I see that last year was the wettest March in Austin history–and we remained smack in the middle of the drought for another year.
Nonetheless Zanthan Gardens currently looks like it’s on steroids. If this were the height of summer, I’d be perfectly happy. I could sit on the lawn and sip lemondade (okay, red wine) and enjoy the garden. Of course, the weeds are on steroids, too. The henbit is finished but the cranesbill and the hated horseherb is flourishing. Chinaberry and cedar elm seedlings have popped up everywhere in the bark-mulched paths.
Allium Neapolitanum (Naples onion)
First Flower: Allium neapolitanum (3/26), Phlomis lanata (3/27); rose ‘Penelope’ (3/28), Iris flavescens? (3/30), Crinum (3/31), Oenothera speciosa (4/1).
Full Bloom: Commelinantia anomala, Coriandrum sativum, Lupinus texensis, Nemophila insignis, Rhaphiolepis indica, rose ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’, tradescantia, yaupon holly, viola.
Also Flowering: Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Magic’, Consolida ambigua, Hyacinthoides hispanica (fading), Lathyrus odoratus ‘Regal Robe’, Lathyrus odoratus ‘Velvet Elegance’, Lavandula heterophylla ‘Goodwin Creek Grey, Meyer lemon, Muscari neglectum, Narcissus jonquilla ‘Quail’, oxalis (purple, white, pink), persimmons (both Texas and Japanese), rose ‘Blush Noisette’, rose ‘Ducher’, rose ‘Heritage’, rose ‘Madame Alfred Carriere’, rose ‘New Dawn’, Salvia greggii ‘Raspberry’, Spiraea bridal wreath,Tulipa clusiana (pummeled by rains early in the week), Verbena canadensis. And the messy, invasive chinaberry trees.
Dateline: 2006
Sunday (3/26) is delightfully clear and cool with morning temperatures in the 30s. We walk over to Zilker Botanical Gardens for Flora Rama (I’m a traditionalist…I’m not going to call it by its new boring name.) Monday (3/27) we had light rain on and off in the afternoon. Then Tuesday (3/28) morning boom! thunder, lightning, heavy rain. The surge protectors are beeping like crazy. I am coming home from school and got soaked walking from the bus stop. And I’m singing in the rain (while hoping I wasn’t going to get struck by lightning). This is our favorite forecast: a front has stalled over central Texas. We get 3.26 inches of rain in as many hours; closer to 4 inches in the downtown neighborhoods. It is the most rain on any day in March that has ever been recorded. And this one morning of rain is enough to make this the wettest March on record for Austin.
The rest of the week it really feels like Austin spring weather, warm and muggy. As long as the cloud cover doesn’t burn off it’s bearable. When the sun comes out, you might as well be in the steam room.
This is the week that the meadow garden is at its height; the flowers manage to hide the many weeds and so the garden looks almost presentable. I have less bluebonnets than most years, and more yellows (Engelmann’s daisy and Tulipa clusiana) and pinks (Oenothera speciosa) mixed in. The cilantro is providing dainty white filler. Every year I let it self-seed and so every year is a surprise. But now there’s enough variety that it looks passable. Oddly absent this year is the Nigella. Maybe the rain will bring it out.
First Flower: rose ‘Prosperity’ (3/26), Iris flavescens (3/31), raspberry salvia (3/28), rose ‘Buff Beauty’ (4/1).
In Bloom: Aquilegia hinckleyana, bridal wreath spiraea, cilantro, Engelmann’s daisy, Hyacinthoides hispanica (fading in the heat). lavender, Lantana (white and gold), Lupinus texensis. Nemophila insignis, Oenothera speciosa, Oxalis (various). Rhaphiolepis indica, rose ‘Ducher’, rose ‘New Dawn’, rose ‘Madame Alfred Carriere’, rose ‘Madame Joseph Schwartz’, rose ‘Penelope’, rose ‘Prosperity’, Salvia farinacea, St. Joseph’s lily, Tradescantia, Tulipa clusiana, false dayflowers, larkspur, yaupon holly.
As soon as we got some rain, the roses ‘Ducher’, ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’, and ‘Prosperity’ were overcome with mildew.
Dateline: 2005
Not a lot new happening in the garden, but lots of weather as a couple of fronts roll in: one last Saturday, one yesterday. We alternate between hot and humid days when the south wind is dominant and cool, dry days when the north wind is. In between we get wild thunderstorms with hail whenever they switch. Looking back, I see that whenever the temperatures reach the mid-80s, I start worrying about rain and water.
It seems, no matter how many times I note it in my journal, I’m always surprised at how dark the yard gets this week after all the trees leaf out.
I spent three hours weeding Johnson grass out of the lawn Monday (the one perfect day) while listening to Yes on my iPod. Actually it was just an excuse to be outside.
First flower: Allium neapolitanum (3/27), rose ‘Souvenir de St. Anne’s’. Hippaestrum x Johnsonii (3/31), Engelmann daisy (3/31), Iris flavescens (4/1).
Full Bloom: rose ‘Madame Joseph Schwartz’ (I keep taking pictures of her, but I can’t capture how gorgeous she looks this week), bluebonnets, Spanish bluebells, baby blue eyes, (I was drawn to blue flowers when I started gardening and now I have an overabundance) Tulipa clusiana, columbine, rose ‘Prosperity’, rose ‘Madame Alfred Carriere’ (finally!), rose ‘Blush Noisette’, rose ‘Souvenir del Malmaison’, Rhaphiolepis indica, bridal wreath, oxalis, cilantro, tradescantia, and false dayflowers. (Noting that last year the Lady Banks rose was in full bloom this week makes me miss her all the more.)
Also flowering: Dianthus chinensis, verbena, Muscari neglectum, yaupon hollies, Japanese persimmon (on new growth), chinaberry trees, lavender, rose ‘Ducher’ (which has caught a bad case of mildew), wisteria, and one lonely larkspur. ‘Hawera’ is winding down.
Dateline: 2004
2004-03-30. Our mini-meadow of bluebonnets is dwarfed by the trees which focus our eyes skyward. That’s our neighbor’s house, not ours. [2005-04-01. Looks just like this this year, too.]
Dry, clear and already edging toward hot with temperatures in the high 80s. All that is supposed to change tomorrow when a couple of bands of thunderstorms roll in. Yesterday (3/31), set a all-time record high for oak pollen.
Austin seems incredibly and unbelievably green. Lot’s of things blooming now, but a lot of things are immediately wilting, too. The tulips have had it and some roses, like ‘Madame Alfred Carriere‘ open and wilt in one day. I’ve had to start watering. But the bluebonnets are finally here in force. And I have rain to look forward to.
This is the first year that the oleander wasn’t frozen back to its roots and it began blooming today (4/1). The persimmon trees and the yaupon hollies are flowering. I notice that the hollies flower on last year’s growth.
First Flower: Allium neapolitanum (3/29), rose ‘French Lace’ (3/30), Oenothera speciosa (4/1), Nerium oleander (4/1), Nigella damascena (4/1).
Full Bloom: bluebonnets, tradescantia, false dayflower, oxalis, bluebells, Aquilegia, Lobularia maritima, Rhaphiolepis indica, rose Lady Banks ‘Lutea’, rose ‘Ducher’, rose ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’, rose ‘Madame Joseph Schwartz’, raspberry salvia, salvia ‘Indigo Spires’, lavender, cilantro, baby blue eyes, spiraea, Dianthus chinensis.
Dateline: 2002
The wisteria (Wisteria sinensis ‘Texas White’) is in full bloom. It is only three years old and this is the first year it has been really heavy in bloom. I see it from indoors both in the morning, from my bed, and in the evening, when watching television. I want to train it as a tree, rather than let it clamber uncontrollably as a vine. 2006-03-28. This wisteria was a complete dud this year: it had only two flowers.
The garden is in transition. The early spring flowers (daffodils, summer snowflakes, Spanish bluebells, and grape hyacinths) are fading. The late spring flowers (larkspur, iris, and roses) are opening shyly, one here, one there.
My attention, however, is focused on a little, green worm (actually a caterpillar) which flings itself from the trees on a thread and when it finds a very young and tender leaf, encloses itself in a webby cocoon and wraps the leaf around it, munching all the way.
Dateline: 2000
Wednesday March 28, 2000
Continues in the 80s, causing the potatoes to droop and the bluebonnets to quickly fade to seed. This is very much the pattern of last year (1999), but much warmer than the previous years. Even the larkspur may have already peaked. [2005-03-28. Strange. This year only one has begun flowering so far.]
First flower: Datura inoxia (3/28).
First harvest: Potato (3/30).
Dateline: 1999
Saturday March 27, 1999
A 40% chance of rain: the most we’ve had all week. Overcast and cool all day. Mowed the back yard in anticipation.The rain finally comes about 9PM. We probably got about an inch. The sweetpeas really needed it. Although the plants look healthy, the buds keep yellowing before they open. The bluebonnets need it too, as they are water stressed and going to seed very rapidly.
Dateline: 1998
First Flower: Allium neapolitanum (3/28).
Monday March 30, 1998
It is a warm and sulty day, almost oppressive. At 8:30, it begins to rain, sometimes quite heavily. By morning we got 3/4 of an inch. The meadow is beautifully punctuated with islands and drifts of spiky larkspur.
Dateline: 1996
Tuesday March 26, 1996
Some rain at last. It rained from 7:PM to about 7:20. Probably only 1/4 inch or less. But a promise of more tomorrow.
by M Sinclair Stevens in Austin, Texas
April 2nd, 2004
I miss the small pink oxalis that bloom so profusely in Austin. My other favorite wildflower is the wine cup (Callirhoe digitata). A couple of years ago, I saw some in Kansas, but I doubt they would grow up here in Zone 5. A truly lovely flower.
Sometimes it is the little things that make me stop and look.
Your report on the heat and spring blooms remind me that Austin gardeners can appreciate the chilled air of cooler early spring climates.
Don. It’s amazing how only 3 days of temperatures in the 80s make me wish for rain. Luckily, storms threatened all day (we’re under flash flood watch) although we haven’t had much rain yet. I’m hoping more is on the way. Winecups are my favorite Texas wildflower, but I have never been able to grow them. I should try again. I find that sometimes plants that fail miserably in one spot in the yard thrive elsewhere. — mss
April 5th, 2005
I am so sorry you lost your rose. Although it’s not recommended, I have been growing my Lady Banks rose as a container plant for almost 5 years, moving from a one-gallon pot [probably from Red Barn] to larger ones as it grew. The deer had eaten all the roses in the yard, and the deck was the only safe place. The soil and moisture levels were easier to control, too.
In late fall 2004 I put her into a large patio-type container with an unnamed clematis, verbena, and some variegated lemon thyme, and lightly pruned the rose to drape over a metal arch. The Lady Banks is blooming like mad right now, and the clematis is also blooming.
It might not work forever, but I’ve had 5 years of flowers so far!
April 5th, 2006
Wow, your meadow is beautiful. We’ve had one of the driest March on record. Today we finally had some rain, probably 1 1/2″, if that. So far, only daffodils and crocus in bloom up here in R.I. I’m jealous of your warm weather!
Elizabeth, good to hear from you. I’ve been enjoying your blog. The meadow is looking better than usual this year, because a variety of colors are in play. Pure coincidence. The biggest problem with the meadow is that it has only one good season, spring. The rest of the time it just looks messy. I’ve been meaning to post about its transformation over the years. I should get to that… — mss
April 5th, 2006
FLORA RAMA!!! We moved to Austin too late to hear that one, and I love the name. “Zilker Garden Festival” is okay, but Flora Rama… so much more Austin. We went on Saturday the 25th, and came home with a yellow Brugmansia/Angel trumpet. A friend has had luck with hers living over with a deep mulch.
You got much more rain - we had 2 inches, and were thrilled to have that.
The Lady Banks is blooming in captivity once again, meaning 6 years of abundant yellow flowers from a $7 plant. I put a native coral honeysuckle into another large container on the opposite side of the arch with fingers crossed on that one, too.
I grew Tulip clusiana in Illinois and think you are inspiring me to try it down here next fall.
Annie in Austin/Glinda from the Divasofthedirt.com
Annie, I think the old name “Flora Rama” is just so Austin-tatious. Maybe we can start a meme and have it brought back. “Spam-a-rama” was the next weekend; I’m glad they haven’t changed its name. I kept a Brugmansia going for several years, but I always covered it during a freeze. Last winter I was negligent and it died. I’ve been hoping that when it got warm it might sprout back from its roots, but I’ve seen no signs of anything yet. — mss
April 3rd, 2007
I’ve considered planting wildflower seeds in the easement behind my house, but haven’t ever gotten around to it. It’s been completely taken over by weeds. The things I planted on purpose are doing well, too, but the dandelions and whatever that sticky weed is are EVERYWHERE!
I started with wildflowers. Now sow themselves and all I have to do is weed out the ones I don’t want. They are wonderful for about six weeks. After that, the garden looks pretty bare. — mss
April 3rd, 2007
Yes, wouldn’t it be great to have this weather (warm as it is today) and our lush springtime gardens all summer? That must be what it’s like in the northeast. Well, we’ll just have to enjoy it while we have it—maybe another two months if we’re lucky.
AJM says that I see a dark cloud inside every silver lining and wonders why I can’t enjoy the moment. I reply, “I am enjoying the moment–by appreciating how wonderful it is compared with what’s coming in summer.” — mss
April 3rd, 2007
Hello, M. Back for a third appearance in week 13. The Lady Banks is past peak now, but the coral honeysuckle is still blooming. Big spiraea done, mockorange taking over, one pink rose, no buds on the larkspur, and the various Echinacea are just tiny leaves at the base.
Your cedar elms do leaf out early - the pecan leaves are just visible now.
And I never did buy any Tulipa clusiana.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I like the cyclical nature of these posts. I think it’s fun to compare to other years and, like you, I often find my resolutions have still gone unfulfilled or plants that were gorgeous one year (like the rose ‘Madame Joseph Schwartz’) are now dead. Karel Capek said that each year we were “further on” but that has not really been my experience. So many plants die and so many new plants are introduced that each year brings surprises–rather than being an expansion of the previous year. — mss
April 4th, 2007
AHHHHH…how those bluebonnets bring back memories to me of Texas in the spring — ESPECIALLY in your part of Texas.
Since I’m about to get a garden of my own, I wonder if there’s ANY chance at all I could get bluebonnets to grow in a bed in England?
LOVELY posting…as always!
Janet
I think the winters are too cold and damp in England. I tried to grow bluebonnets when I lived in Japan without success even though I lived in a part of Japan with a climate, I thought, very similar to Houston. So maybe it’s soil conditions, too. You can grow other lupines though, right? — mss