March 2, 2017

Boing! Spring Already Sprung!

Giant Leopard moths are already hanging out with us on the patio. Pretty soon we’ll see their offspring: those black fuzzy wuzzy wooly bear caterpillars.

90° temps and crucifying sun last week certainly hurried things up.

Already, Narcissus ‘Marieke’ bids us farewell until next spring.

I’m sold on these guys with their silvery foliage, since they’ve returned reliably for three years.

Fragrant mountain laurels are fading fast after their around town bee powwow.

Narcissus ‘Erlicheer’ hangs in there, always earliest to bloom and the last to leave. It’s crowding Yucca pallida so perhaps, I’ll get around to dividing and moving once the foliage browns.

Usually, Leucojum aestivum, often called “snowdrops,” logs in first, but lagged behind this year.

Mine are flopping down with Texas sedge (Carex texensis).

Some are drooping over the sidewalk to grab attention as I hit the front door.

Dutch iris arrived in time to join the Leucojum party, so I lucked into an unusual—though welcome—pairing.

Lady Banks rose put early energy into its topmost branches. Below, I see buds, already limp in unseasonal heat. Also, I did a lot of necessary late pruning, knowing that I’d sacrifice flowers this year.

Native golden groundsel (Packera obovata) is on schedule to present its composite calling card to countless pollinators.

Native spiderwort (S. gigantea) broadens the pollinator spectrum in hues of lavender and pink.

Perfumed Buff Beauty rose dangles over my den window.

All my plants get along fine with my thrifty water ways. This week, @TXPlantGuy Daniel Cunningham at Water University from the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center – Dallas takes the waste out of water with DIY tips.

On tour in Georgetown, Williamson County Master Gardeners demonstrate EarthKind techniques from food to flowers.

Thanks for stopping by! See you next week, Linda

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