Bloomin' Trees & Shrubs

White Antique rose

The first wave of Knock-out roses and Antique roses are coming to an end.  Pat and I dead-headed 3 rose bushes this past weekend.  The other bushes are starting to wind down, too.

Red Knock-out rose

I managed to get another good shot.  The recipe:  patience + overcast skies = maybe not perfect but good enough to make me a happy photographer!

Desert Willow blooms

The Desert Willow suffered a setback last summer.  We lost one large limb, but this spring we're budding and blooming daily.

Texas Sage

I wasn't too concerned about the Texas Sage until I easily snapped a branch.  Then I got to thinking that it hadn't bloomed at all during the recent rains.  Finally blooms appeared last weekend!  I think she'll be okay.

Esperanza Yellow Bells

This year's blog theme is hope and double portion.  The Esperanza is beginning to show its lovely yellow flowers.  Hope renewed!

Oleander

Everyone else's Oleander is blooming like crazy.  Our Oleander is always last, but I see blooms on the horizon!  Plus the bush is very lovely this year and shaping up nicely.

Almanac Update for April 2012


We didn't see as much rain as I was hoping for.  Officially, we only had about 1.66".  I think we got around 2.0" at the house.  Sadly, there is no rain in sight for the 1st week of May.  We are getting a little antsy and desperate for an inch or three.

The temperatures have been very mild at night, but 80° to almost 90° every afternoon now.  Still, around 5:30 to 6:00 relief comes in cooler temps and/or a nice breeze to cool us off.  We still haven't turned our A/C on.  We try to make it until June 1 every year.  As allergies and old-age sets in, we usually give in around May 15th.  I'm hoping we can at least make it to Memorial Day weekend.  We'll see!

Langtry--Just for Fun!



Judge Roy Bean's Opera House--Town Hall--and Seat of Justice
taken on our Bike tour of Big Bend in March 2007

 There are many legends about Texas and the people who call her home, but there is none as colorful as the Legend of Judge Roy Bean, Law West of the Pecos.  On our last long motorcycle trip through Big Bend, Pat and I decided to head back home via Del Rio, Texas.  That dusty and lonely journey from Alpine, Texas, to Del Rio made us appreciate what it must have been like to tame the Mountain Basin region of our state.  Even now there is literally nothing between the two towns until you stumble upon the oasis of Langtry!

A very fancy water well

Langtry, Texas, was the home of the infamous Judge Roy Bean and many stories still circulate about him: some are true and some are stretched in true Texas style.  However, my favorite story is his love and devotion to a photograph of Lilly Langtry.  In her honor the Judge changed the name of his town to Langtry, and the saloon and seat of justice to the Jersey Lilly.  The link below the picture takes you to another site about the romance of the Old West and the life of Judge Roy Bean. 

Look closer in the photo above, and you will see some plants Pat and I have proudly on display in our garden.  There are Prickly Pear (which ours are the spineless variety), Texas Sages and Beaked Yuccas.  Visiting this ghost town was a highlight of our trip since we've heard about Langtry and Judge Bean all our lives.  The Texas Department of Transportation has done a superior job of turning this site into a place to visit even though it is miles from almost nowhere!  The picture to the right is of a garden behind Judge Bean's saloon...I mean...Opera house, complete with native Texas plants.

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Photograph Your Garden

It will not be often that I implore my readers to do something. But this is an exception:  photograph your garden regularly.  This lovely photograph is one that was taken either by myself or my son, Cory.  It probably was Cory because I don't remember taking such a gorgeous picture!



Yucca planted by Pat early 2000.  Photo taken in 2006.


Yuccas grow well in most parts of Texas.  Unless you live in the Mountain Basin region, they will freeze.  In 2006 we had about eight yuccas in our yard.  Here is another shot of our yuccas next to our Texas Sage.  Since both plants are native to the region, it makes sense to plant them together. 



Photo taken in 2007.  Texas Sage and Yuccas

 Sadly, we no longer have our yuccas.  We have had several hard freezes over the years and have lost all but two or three of them.  Of the ones that are left, they are not as hearty now as they were in 2006.  Having photos reminds me of what I love and what I don't love or miss about our garden...honestly!  After seeing this photo again, I am hoping someday Pat will plant some replacements.