pink bluebonnet
2011-03-16. Second generation pink bluebonnets. Austin, TX

March 16th, 2011
GBBD 201103: Mar 2011

Carol at May Dreams Gardens invites us to tell her what’s blooming in our gardens on the 15th of each month.

March 2011

The paperwhites and kin got frozen out in February but the other classes of narcissus have had a great year. I planted 100 new ‘Ice Follies’ bulbs and they did not disappoint. Even some old clumps of ‘Ice Follies’ that haven’t bloomed in the last few years threw out a few flowers.

This week the daffodils turned center stage over to the irises. Unfortunately I wasn’t home during daylight hours so I missed getting a photo when they were at their best. The grape hyacinths hit their stride and the cherry laurel is loaded with flowers. The Texas mountain laurel is a making a good show, especially on the east side of tree where visitors can be surprised by the scent of grape soda as they walk down to Auditorium Shores for SXSW concerts.

Because of the drought, this has not been a good year for bluebonnets (especially when one contrasts it to 2010, the best year ever). My experimental stand of pink bluebonnets is very healthy only because planted them early and kept them watered. Self-sown bluebonnets are small and few in my meadow this year. The cilantro and arugula were both barely up before they bolted. The roses haven’t started yet. I think ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ will open her first buds tomorrow.

All the trees decided to leaf out today: cedar elm, oak, and Texas persimmon. I’ll be thankful for the shade in July but as long as the temperatures remain in the 70s, I wish the yard was sunny and the flowers had a chance to show their stuff.

bridal wreath spiraea
2011-03-16. Bridal wreath spiraea. Austin, TX

Complete List for March 15, 2011

  • Bridal Wreath spirea
  • Commelinantia anomala
  • Coriandrum sativum
  • Dianthus chinensis (a single flower)
  • henbit
  • Eruca sativa (arugula already bolted but the flowers are yellow not white)
  • Iris (unnamed blue)
  • Iris albicans
  • Leucojum aestivum (fading)
  • Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’
  • Lupinus texensis (both pink and blue)
  • Muscari neglectum/racemosum (full bloom)
  • Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’ (one late flower)
  • Narcissus jonquilla ‘Trevithian’ (fading)
  • Narcissus triandrus ‘Hawera’ (one flower)
  • Nemophila insignis
  • Oxalis crassipes
  • Oxalis triangularis (purple)
  • Prunus caroliniana (Full Bloom)
  • Prunus mexicana (a handful of flowers on smallest tree)
  • rosemary
  • Solanum jasminoides (potato vine)
  • Sophora secundiflora (full bloom)
  • Tradescantia