tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50285203955395290442024-02-20T22:36:30.055-06:00My Corner of KatyThe adventures of a gardener in & sometimes out of her eclectic & eccentric garden in Katy, TexasCindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.comBlogger651125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-72928455658214454072019-09-15T20:14:00.000-05:002019-09-15T20:14:04.474-05:00It's Fall Bulb Season in Texas: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, September 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Long time no blog ... six months to be exact. It's not like I've got a shortage of gardening ruminations, laments, rants and celebrations to share. If I actually blogged, or even posted on Instagram and/or Facebook as often as I think about doing so, I hope a few kindred spirits would welcome my thoughts just as I welcome theirs. I make no promises but today's post is a start. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The summer weather on my corner of Katy does have a lot to do with my lack of enthusiasm for ... well, just about everything. The last 3 summers, I've made trips to England in mid- to late June, visiting gardens in the Cotswolds, Yorkshire and East Anglia. I return from those trips with a renewed passion for gardening, which is quickly dashed by the realities of gardening in south central Texas versus the British Isles. I arrived back home on July 3rd this year, just as the temperatures headed into the mid- to high 90s, where they have stayed ever since. Rain fell on July 4th and for the next 6 weeks, we had less than 1/2 inch of rain total. There was a brief spell, maybe 2 days, where a cool front brought slightly cooler and much drier air into our region. That was lovely but it was way too little to make a difference in the gardens here at Wit's End.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We did get finally get a few decent rain storms in August but if you heard reports back then of flooding in the Houston area, just know one thing: it didn't happen here! We've gotten just over an inch of rain in September and if you heard about street flooding in Katy earlier this week, well, that would have been in Old Katy about 5 miles down I-10. I'm telling you, my corner of Katy gets passed over way too often for my liking. I can look at the radar and see the storms heading my way, only to look again and see they've split and gone east and west of me. Disappointing? Discouraging? Disheartening? Disgusting? Disgruntling? All of the above!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9K5PkhyhDXmHs2IP491llBvO6owR82xunIMT9WC1xOkPCMLlhXwikcRARcK-6yrhMcRuPeBTILSe-_mBYK7WgJPSx_Grik3WWg-1UOgNGqlSEh6WiVjnZvwLGOOa5_gMr3iHx_V-CR4/s1600/fullsizeoutput_954.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9K5PkhyhDXmHs2IP491llBvO6owR82xunIMT9WC1xOkPCMLlhXwikcRARcK-6yrhMcRuPeBTILSe-_mBYK7WgJPSx_Grik3WWg-1UOgNGqlSEh6WiVjnZvwLGOOa5_gMr3iHx_V-CR4/s640/fullsizeoutput_954.jpeg" width="428" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Which brings me to this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. There's been just enough rain for two of my favorite fall blooming bulbs to make their appearance. The first to appear were the yellow rain lilies, Zephyranthes, possibly Z. citrina or sulphureus. These little beauties were dug, with permission of the landowner, from a vacant lot on Memorial Drive in Houston back in 2015. This year, in addition to the bright sunshine yellow blooms, there are some in this lovely pale yellow which make my heart sing. Rain lilies not only multiply by offsets of the main bulb, they produce seeds. I'm allowing the seeds to set and scattering them in small groupings around the front gardens.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0oCeWV0bUf8hwRmSvj7nONYeNMkAy7gqxH8r5Q-HEgF3dpJ6QEZBa2zcOKEw01I1GCmAmjr0bQS6ym-FQsTOSeglPs4vTQ5H7YsrfCHlXrggMGSCESI8CDB2alh8xEvAJqA8-TkxyDI/s1600/fullsizeoutput_951.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1143" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0oCeWV0bUf8hwRmSvj7nONYeNMkAy7gqxH8r5Q-HEgF3dpJ6QEZBa2zcOKEw01I1GCmAmjr0bQS6ym-FQsTOSeglPs4vTQ5H7YsrfCHlXrggMGSCESI8CDB2alh8xEvAJqA8-TkxyDI/s640/fullsizeoutput_951.jpeg" width="476" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The second bulb to appear is Rhodophiala bifida, commonly known as Schoolhouse Lily since it blooms just at the beginning of the fall semester. It's also known as Oxblood Lily for its rich crimson color. These are one of those bulbs which send up the flower stalk before the foliage and when the foliage dies back, it's all too easy for this gardener to forget where she's planted them. So last year I began collecting Starbucks splash sticks, and I used them to mark the spots where I've planted these and other bulbs. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz6xQDY_3iGuz1LiJFpMIQ7jW2BqGZX1XCnylak2e2zGSMdwz3uT4xfPY6FfTGwJOT_Xdea64Pbs8wV3ppYAaNKvdBCA_H6lM3dxVrnBGyVkTxo2Vp5I-v79knZv85JmDvint6_Hlqv4/s1600/fullsizeoutput_952.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz6xQDY_3iGuz1LiJFpMIQ7jW2BqGZX1XCnylak2e2zGSMdwz3uT4xfPY6FfTGwJOT_Xdea64Pbs8wV3ppYAaNKvdBCA_H6lM3dxVrnBGyVkTxo2Vp5I-v79knZv85JmDvint6_Hlqv4/s640/fullsizeoutput_952.jpeg" width="481" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DSJOG1VZMxbg2xazKNNmwNIVUsLMqeNsKKAie55cXY6zGJhz9CtzI5HsJr34oKxJRqI_OZoFyILZDn1fPRHhWOU2TN0T2mWHztdHIi8_JPJdDLCgrOHd21sUzDdohWYVqF1jZfwL83A/s1600/fullsizeoutput_953.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DSJOG1VZMxbg2xazKNNmwNIVUsLMqeNsKKAie55cXY6zGJhz9CtzI5HsJr34oKxJRqI_OZoFyILZDn1fPRHhWOU2TN0T2mWHztdHIi8_JPJdDLCgrOHd21sUzDdohWYVqF1jZfwL83A/s640/fullsizeoutput_953.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I've enjoyed writing it. If you mosey on over to <a href="https://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2019/09/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-september-2019.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a>, I believe our GBBD creator and sponsor, Indiana gardener Carol Michel, has had her blog taken over once again by the garden fairies. They don't usually hold it hostage for too long and they have yet to figure out a way to take over <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegardenangelists/" target="_blank">The Gardenangelists</a> podcast she co-hosts with Dee Nash of <a href="https://reddirtramblings.com/" target="_blank">Red Dirt Ramblings</a>. If you haven't listened to them, they are great company as you go about your watering and weeding, and planting and pruning!</span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-39940972830277509692019-03-15T11:19:00.000-05:002019-04-17T10:25:04.187-05:00Spring is Marching Along On My Corner of Katy: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day March 2019<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's been an odd spring here in south central Texas ... some plants are blooming behind time, some ahead of time and some on time. It's all good, though. Here are a few shots from the gardens.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VkfRnF_z_lR5F0PGgD9WxYNIGNLGBW1Emp5_cOAzr1B2SJIEGVrkUuPpefLGz4cl0ZEcnAZKA0HIApB1-4YurIZNyDVDW0dIjWqWslOO10s_etXgdgXKJh52EU9CSJPz_JbYKyYxtWo/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7f5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1558" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VkfRnF_z_lR5F0PGgD9WxYNIGNLGBW1Emp5_cOAzr1B2SJIEGVrkUuPpefLGz4cl0ZEcnAZKA0HIApB1-4YurIZNyDVDW0dIjWqWslOO10s_etXgdgXKJh52EU9CSJPz_JbYKyYxtWo/s640/fullsizeoutput_7f5.jpeg" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>This is a Coreopsis I purchased at my nearby Lowe's and I am happily <br />surprisedby how well it's doing. Will it continue throughout the<br /> heat of late spring and the evil season? I can only wait and see!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1600" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCuxn8GNv24Utx_TFnmcsUFTzM6EG4rh7SXXUHMJ8T6hVoBT1mha08pTuylD0B__eU_1bp4Uk3CHMknM9Lwp0Og0XEK-KONJ915S9d_-KyZMfTK3aM4M5-h7KU1JYJJnrtCjAivM0Ch4/s640/fullsizeoutput_7f6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Hinckley's Columbine with visiting friend</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1370" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDnu8TPUZfdXnhrPknFeAGHKKU8hYulsTZWP3_HKXU1S-5BWtLBiW-JVQYUr6G1nc2RtUzQ4dxYSZSiSJSIazbXQ0GQEcy0HNIKu37U1oauYAlH3Vo5cb6uP8jFrtmTwybVEm9bTbFRQ/s640/fullsizeoutput_80a.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>I am delighted with how well this Rudbeckia 'Early Bird Gold' is<br />doing in my garden. I wish I'd bought more of them at the delightful<br /><a href="https://urbanrootsnola.com/" target="_blank">Urban Roots garden center in New Orleans</a> when I visited in January.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHROSNCDQmFUOM0ob5nhObMLRZTANC7kfH6hgbcxxxWIOK-kFH_V4NSnDJ6-mOiW4iqCjvdifKYU3qwWF3ljL1EF7mYtCyeO24Hb6cvbbQiUH98mEJ9v77VvzPhrhvtB0XOhEgO5GNNXQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7f7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="1600" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHROSNCDQmFUOM0ob5nhObMLRZTANC7kfH6hgbcxxxWIOK-kFH_V4NSnDJ6-mOiW4iqCjvdifKYU3qwWF3ljL1EF7mYtCyeO24Hb6cvbbQiUH98mEJ9v77VvzPhrhvtB0XOhEgO5GNNXQ/s640/fullsizeoutput_7f7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Red Fountains Skullcap and Freesia/Laperousia/Anomotheca laxa,<br />a small bulb that also reseeds, which is why it's all over the gardens</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCuxn8GNv24Utx_TFnmcsUFTzM6EG4rh7SXXUHMJ8T6hVoBT1mha08pTuylD0B__eU_1bp4Uk3CHMknM9Lwp0Og0XEK-KONJ915S9d_-KyZMfTK3aM4M5-h7KU1JYJJnrtCjAivM0Ch4/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7f6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDnu8TPUZfdXnhrPknFeAGHKKU8hYulsTZWP3_HKXU1S-5BWtLBiW-JVQYUr6G1nc2RtUzQ4dxYSZSiSJSIazbXQ0GQEcy0HNIKu37U1oauYAlH3Vo5cb6uP8jFrtmTwybVEm9bTbFRQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_80a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCuxn8GNv24Utx_TFnmcsUFTzM6EG4rh7SXXUHMJ8T6hVoBT1mha08pTuylD0B__eU_1bp4Uk3CHMknM9Lwp0Og0XEK-KONJ915S9d_-KyZMfTK3aM4M5-h7KU1JYJJnrtCjAivM0Ch4/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7f6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtAzzMbfouiRTFlIM19uhUBI22eK1N58oaubouKNwEs_Q5QoIEDjMe4oDtNyLOvnZOcRmSqXaKeC3lnBiz10sPKuSCxMK5ZHAi72y1t0VCL7wfss5b9Rjgg_a6QZhNUBF6u8tY0LbKYk/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7f8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1495" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtAzzMbfouiRTFlIM19uhUBI22eK1N58oaubouKNwEs_Q5QoIEDjMe4oDtNyLOvnZOcRmSqXaKeC3lnBiz10sPKuSCxMK5ZHAi72y1t0VCL7wfss5b9Rjgg_a6QZhNUBF6u8tY0LbKYk/s640/fullsizeoutput_7f8.jpeg" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Texas Bluebonnet and Texas Betony </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcCHWStpke-Zwmu59_OcyUIMeh4lvw9JLL3k8ys8krSD8v0jFs1PWKezQs3qAW9KZFERccK2hbixRhpz-UCj4qVD9VCHEizZ_3bDC5PdIE-wEln0IXBgx7fVQw6qT6UfbP0AkvGr_6WA/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7f9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1241" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcCHWStpke-Zwmu59_OcyUIMeh4lvw9JLL3k8ys8krSD8v0jFs1PWKezQs3qAW9KZFERccK2hbixRhpz-UCj4qVD9VCHEizZ_3bDC5PdIE-wEln0IXBgx7fVQw6qT6UfbP0AkvGr_6WA/s640/fullsizeoutput_7f9.jpeg" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=aepa" target="_blank">Aesculus pavia, Red Buckeye</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32DcdksPCRNHZEliuXU0eQnVJM28R5yV3ycJ6dRSj08OFEQbLfiAaHOaS4hkwMOJrRsR4-1unQQm0u4r92OQN8oaCvDOUBykpHtDphAUpWc-nCC2NBjZ3Tmw4T9oUAaaP5wOd9zAvsIQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7fa.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1390" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32DcdksPCRNHZEliuXU0eQnVJM28R5yV3ycJ6dRSj08OFEQbLfiAaHOaS4hkwMOJrRsR4-1unQQm0u4r92OQN8oaCvDOUBykpHtDphAUpWc-nCC2NBjZ3Tmw4T9oUAaaP5wOd9zAvsIQ/s640/fullsizeoutput_7fa.jpeg" width="555" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Another Rudbeckia, this one self-seeded, I think 'Indian Summer'.<br />But what's with the manky foliage? </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1600" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoocvcxozc_6DyhaPsuOdswtTq4nYKjYifY3qHH3oTlLHAJjCSpuj9-_mGl-Kh7CDfpU03r33JaihQvpKrmh_ighY6VxXvob7iWpNk7-PNPB_XK0SCRNyaDP_BhtbSkGVt9yjPVAOaAE/s640/fullsizeoutput_7fb.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Spiderwort, spiderwort and more spiderwort.<br />It will soon be history in this area.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoocvcxozc_6DyhaPsuOdswtTq4nYKjYifY3qHH3oTlLHAJjCSpuj9-_mGl-Kh7CDfpU03r33JaihQvpKrmh_ighY6VxXvob7iWpNk7-PNPB_XK0SCRNyaDP_BhtbSkGVt9yjPVAOaAE/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7fb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i></i></span></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1Iy6eMw-IZpDJOXBkjp-zkXtSHY_F8E60-48EyYetSN4WWP45Hwr4KfrIhGLEipmrSt35MDTEhzlotdab21sM_wGuQ8ZbE4MYmmKz5p0OY-tBOjvWtlz_g0fejMzk_oSoNSyrW0DAv0/s1600/fullsizeoutput_801.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1597" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1Iy6eMw-IZpDJOXBkjp-zkXtSHY_F8E60-48EyYetSN4WWP45Hwr4KfrIhGLEipmrSt35MDTEhzlotdab21sM_wGuQ8ZbE4MYmmKz5p0OY-tBOjvWtlz_g0fejMzk_oSoNSyrW0DAv0/s640/fullsizeoutput_801.jpeg" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>This pink Spiderwort, however, I absolutely adore. It<br />goes dormant in the heat and isn't as relentless a reseeder.<br />I call it Zapp Hall Pink because my original plants<br />were found at Zapp Hall in Warrenton.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1391" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2fp0qaLmV0L_Mtae86VIMkIT0wM6lyPYfGiNeMfmxGsiy7eKJfAcJpCethHoOHD2RcMDnxQnkhi2RYiTVXA8wMgLoCsne2zvl1emiaXbzZGoRqCTO6qzEaEtPlUMMEEt6M7KB8lQpSs/s640/fullsizeoutput_802.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="555" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>This small bed has been a real joy thus far this spring.<br />I planted Phlox, Dianthus, Violas and Snapdragons<br />amongst the other beauties. Yes, that's more Zapp<br />Hall Pink towards the patio. Bless my mess.<br /></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2fp0qaLmV0L_Mtae86VIMkIT0wM6lyPYfGiNeMfmxGsiy7eKJfAcJpCethHoOHD2RcMDnxQnkhi2RYiTVXA8wMgLoCsne2zvl1emiaXbzZGoRqCTO6qzEaEtPlUMMEEt6M7KB8lQpSs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_802.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That's it for March. Full disclosure: I finally finished this post just after April Bloom Day. My good friend Carol at May Dreams Gardens, the originator of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, now hosts a podcast with our friend Dee Nash of Red Dirt Ramblings. Give <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gardenangelists/id1441884090?mt=2" target="_blank">The Gardenangelists</a> a listen!</span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-71686729442940160142019-01-16T14:51:00.002-06:002019-01-16T14:51:18.865-06:00Absobloominlutely January: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, January 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLPyO60RvL-WrcxJBCokVqmUXWeHj6pxjFd-totARz2Tv7h2P0hqWsfXzyy9Qx-Qj1kDi4yJXOXGfLGL_HPqQMYj8eaHGySh8OYBWMVGY9eZvCc5A5-mSS2NyNuPw6UKJBxmEwD_WxF0/s1600/tXD4fXOsRGSacI5i2Y7awg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLPyO60RvL-WrcxJBCokVqmUXWeHj6pxjFd-totARz2Tv7h2P0hqWsfXzyy9Qx-Qj1kDi4yJXOXGfLGL_HPqQMYj8eaHGySh8OYBWMVGY9eZvCc5A5-mSS2NyNuPw6UKJBxmEwD_WxF0/s400/tXD4fXOsRGSacI5i2Y7awg.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-MKOBWdpLyOzaUK-dPolYuHAck5-hgAgI7wmPnqzPKNwiuDGqqbmkpbl7MV8uWgpGnqUg3CWXDoQaekJl1NdTGBOjEBGzfQmXjqXYF3huHQdwGDJRn3HXoc7q7z_x0QqQKqh1UAjBps/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7c0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-MKOBWdpLyOzaUK-dPolYuHAck5-hgAgI7wmPnqzPKNwiuDGqqbmkpbl7MV8uWgpGnqUg3CWXDoQaekJl1NdTGBOjEBGzfQmXjqXYF3huHQdwGDJRn3HXoc7q7z_x0QqQKqh1UAjBps/s400/fullsizeoutput_7c0.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">On the first Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day of 2019, take a walk around the gardens on my corner of Katy with me ... watch your step, there are plants everywhere, even in the paths ... and ignore those leaves in the front gardens if you would. The oak trees haven't finished shedding yet and it's an exercise in futility to even attempt to keep up with their removal from the beds until the trees are mostly bare. We do our best to keep the sidewalk and curbs clear: the latter are especially important since we don't want those leaves clogging our storm drains and increasing the likelihood of flooding. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The corner bed below has undergone some changes in recent months, with large flagstones added to give The Head Gardener room to move and work around the plants. Fewer plants, both desirable and undesirable, make for less work. The HG and I are 22 years older than we were when we started this garden ... how did that happen? </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawwlKyehqWInJb8Z-a45WDlaG-rccFZk-EIyE3Ck5QIaCCt4zrr9EZlvLgM5fy1KCzx6ZvYpwQLd9X2w3i3AaG47BFVneuxRUQY76FE2gb4PN4-qP2Rpw2W8bmIBeB4C5zocH-zStQRQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7cc.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1600" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawwlKyehqWInJb8Z-a45WDlaG-rccFZk-EIyE3Ck5QIaCCt4zrr9EZlvLgM5fy1KCzx6ZvYpwQLd9X2w3i3AaG47BFVneuxRUQY76FE2gb4PN4-qP2Rpw2W8bmIBeB4C5zocH-zStQRQ/s640/fullsizeoutput_7cc.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The corner bed is the most colorful spot in the garden right now. Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red', purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea), yellow Engelmann's daisies (Engelmannii peristenia) and four nerve daisies (Tetraneuris scaposa) are all blooming happily in this picture.<br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghTHk8EeWRjzpEC8P1jF6j2JL3VjyODT1qhYsma5CQssRiRlsxTPigLMSyu43SruWN9yvzRjEMu5weJ07ZhNMccI5FurPpp6GQEOx5aBF1tBvd5DgJpnGr2HXIXpvfk24ELZdwiXHIr0/s640/TkoeCDB2RqiI8uPmL7iz6Q.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rudbeckia maxima is blooming in the corner bed. You might spot some Mexican Marigold Mint (Tagetes lucida) and Rudbeckia triloba flowers as well.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghTHk8EeWRjzpEC8P1jF6j2JL3VjyODT1qhYsma5CQssRiRlsxTPigLMSyu43SruWN9yvzRjEMu5weJ07ZhNMccI5FurPpp6GQEOx5aBF1tBvd5DgJpnGr2HXIXpvfk24ELZdwiXHIr0/s1600/TkoeCDB2RqiI8uPmL7iz6Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOYRXpx3PWk06IFdNW5EJx4634odOTKQCnSCQC-tbvvkjcYkep0hxFGJcIk6o4TR-A8BMTlkMkPqiPlvEDlzcbVBYHyqug0JKznAlEJ_HdWraQIZE8H4unwttAUJ0ZwdU3ObNnoKDLCU/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7ce.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1385" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOYRXpx3PWk06IFdNW5EJx4634odOTKQCnSCQC-tbvvkjcYkep0hxFGJcIk6o4TR-A8BMTlkMkPqiPlvEDlzcbVBYHyqug0JKznAlEJ_HdWraQIZE8H4unwttAUJ0ZwdU3ObNnoKDLCU/s640/fullsizeoutput_7ce.jpeg" width="552" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cuphea hybrid 'David Verity' is also blooming.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHm8I0-9E-wdvxtGsd7wwu9mbK6X5v6XjklKYUh7xvniAOw3e14jEKNyeVZqRRjbwoY2Vevg1Y1o380V6M19llqU0NTFELNxoVUGJgI5WTRUMt09gwRC5Gbpa75v57utoa0Jg4Xcsa8k/s640/lt7Fx8qfRd2Sep0RMdy3YA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Salvia 'Cherry Chief' from grower Heidi Sheesley at Treesearch Farms<br />just won't quit!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-32odw9Ek4FvG1TgUAiYTq55-K-nAz_VPJY3DG189Qtmh_DcEbj18xHQ9djgZpOBsMSTEnfRGssUuxAzfTinRzAKoGhY8elXdNCveM6CEJBfOiJaIQuX1ed6hMbgdEgzxi_oYqdZiMU/s640/zRrHiqZsRJetVb%252BCZxofgA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Pink Muhly grass, Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) <br />and more coneflowers. The Susans and the coneflowers<br />reseed themselves throughout the front gardens.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-32odw9Ek4FvG1TgUAiYTq55-K-nAz_VPJY3DG189Qtmh_DcEbj18xHQ9djgZpOBsMSTEnfRGssUuxAzfTinRzAKoGhY8elXdNCveM6CEJBfOiJaIQuX1ed6hMbgdEgzxi_oYqdZiMU/s1600/zRrHiqZsRJetVb%252BCZxofgA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoqrIFfaEpOi1NToMCIlOb3BI949HU6y9B8EA-T3agx5Jzn06Me82Cku0pmP2YQQHD4nDEeIXYiOx7SRHBlY4MzGrpMJlvPPG18zeuWp_aDYu7ZfhweYlWsAlzek12pGpCR1VxYSrtz4/s640/BR%2525iUV2PR3yBBnyiZQEIRQ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">On the opposite side of the front gardens, Copper Canyon Daisy<br /> (Tagetes lemmonii) is spilling out of the bed between my<br />yard and my neighbors'. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FQ3P4CPCOQYku4AHKA35Hl0hijmS8yu49FXUj23qTA8YWU7IvXo2JbH9gopOH0UCndLpBkfUnuRjYRgZZfFH4el1F4xtQGIYa01ATyepc3jPqe566llWxfao0wiHhlZZuGzo4HQ3Fec/s640/T7tYjWkHRgm21Y4DBu6xiA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Coreopsis, I think Mercury Rising, is flowering in one of the <br />beds that flank the front sidewalk. This plant came from<br /> the clearance racks at my nearby Lowe's.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FQ3P4CPCOQYku4AHKA35Hl0hijmS8yu49FXUj23qTA8YWU7IvXo2JbH9gopOH0UCndLpBkfUnuRjYRgZZfFH4el1F4xtQGIYa01ATyepc3jPqe566llWxfao0wiHhlZZuGzo4HQ3Fec/s1600/T7tYjWkHRgm21Y4DBu6xiA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_kKEQxD1JjISU9QEeYuctNtV4eWAq61J6wDpPax3IBZiAm2cehoKgJg4ez-2re90ZhoJyMysfILRZ85m2o6Eb18mZxBmtrlD6KOpIHuRDnr2eHy-6aeDWZcIzK-o_8tyhRuW1MpVn90/s1600/jNruQKf5SVmZfPfCRUWz9g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_kKEQxD1JjISU9QEeYuctNtV4eWAq61J6wDpPax3IBZiAm2cehoKgJg4ez-2re90ZhoJyMysfILRZ85m2o6Eb18mZxBmtrlD6KOpIHuRDnr2eHy-6aeDWZcIzK-o_8tyhRuW1MpVn90/s640/jNruQKf5SVmZfPfCRUWz9g.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">This Red Fountains Skullcap (Scutellaria longifolia)<br />is planted on the other side of the sidewalk and <br />is evidently quite happy with the coolth.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35gnGE1tfpXgDKaD0vtEyPBqWC2x7LAH4Dj0QWgOhrpQv_qR6nIEmhQY0Uz3m22oVEaUMYah82feiQA9SFngK-n_ptELE-RW4an-i2wpsTvEO2zQ598mC213vhrfY4VohIczuMzDc32s/s1600/zEZQOA7mQUWveIuZT%252BGPXQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35gnGE1tfpXgDKaD0vtEyPBqWC2x7LAH4Dj0QWgOhrpQv_qR6nIEmhQY0Uz3m22oVEaUMYah82feiQA9SFngK-n_ptELE-RW4an-i2wpsTvEO2zQ598mC213vhrfY4VohIczuMzDc32s/s640/zEZQOA7mQUWveIuZT%252BGPXQ.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana). We have a love/hate<br />relationship with Spiderwort here on MCOK. It reseeds so very<br />indiscriminately and the tiny seedlings are a bugger to remove<br />when they're growing in the midst of other plants.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSoNmu0OAkKmk7xSfEjNmoJG5Khn9OYdCO2jVzy0pjp1V2Mzp_57fKHGvK2BEZM_ugaLMrrdaZU6OkHsbEr1UMSYNpMG0A_5tDF-H8m7M2BcINh7DO3PhTkarWZfEi7IrQpKKC15_IF8/s640/fullsizeoutput_7ca.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Spiderwort up close is such a pretty thing, though! The<br />colors are so much richer in cooler weather, too.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35gnGE1tfpXgDKaD0vtEyPBqWC2x7LAH4Dj0QWgOhrpQv_qR6nIEmhQY0Uz3m22oVEaUMYah82feiQA9SFngK-n_ptELE-RW4an-i2wpsTvEO2zQ598mC213vhrfY4VohIczuMzDc32s/s1600/zEZQOA7mQUWveIuZT%252BGPXQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSoNmu0OAkKmk7xSfEjNmoJG5Khn9OYdCO2jVzy0pjp1V2Mzp_57fKHGvK2BEZM_ugaLMrrdaZU6OkHsbEr1UMSYNpMG0A_5tDF-H8m7M2BcINh7DO3PhTkarWZfEi7IrQpKKC15_IF8/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7ca.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rtE-u7XsqVpyc_DZMfVtpU1bs9f_Db6T1zVkwQ0kb2Xr6b-p1E1wv7HsjykZTCVPHzBIGNmTAAT6JFvKRJnD19inBVcW_YwOcc0LzlanAfojdWfP8_cag2SBwn0UCEQBv43S3479QFE/s640/Noc9K03OQ9iq8Xy9Pw6mKA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I found this Scarlet cestrum (Cestrum elegans) <br />marked down at Nelson's Water Gardens. It's planted in a red <br />ceramic pot in my enclosed courtyard and I am surprised <br />that it is blooming now. I wish a hummingbird<br />were around to enjoy it!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjrOHtrkJjfE0kYcPSDj_pfb-h50_BuWPK4NEzmmZUNefEl6gummVVL2ImG5qAOlL-Gg48pCPO_eCTlLz9QTt3iM46IAKEBWsxLi9N3CZ5b9_9fRsqj-Hzi2JquUPvRIHSGuv0Mg5jLQ/s640/EdQ2qwuJSkuuli8twYrhig.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Trailing purple lantana (Lantana montevidensis) would take over <br />in the rose bed on the northeast corner of MCOK if I didn't<br />whack it back regularly. It has a lovely scent.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjrOHtrkJjfE0kYcPSDj_pfb-h50_BuWPK4NEzmmZUNefEl6gummVVL2ImG5qAOlL-Gg48pCPO_eCTlLz9QTt3iM46IAKEBWsxLi9N3CZ5b9_9fRsqj-Hzi2JquUPvRIHSGuv0Mg5jLQ/s1600/EdQ2qwuJSkuuli8twYrhig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEnX6exO5j6yXCxymsGQEDpoJnEJSqXWzMdi-MsR0XNJ9y9eELdkz_v82HP-BUNZ9GGW7oxbkKfQmYjdXRSims5qMfP1EulAbLJHXxYKX6J0KW50jZiN5z2hhi11_YA3QicSvVBHLksI/s1600/IMYWCA4FS3emt5ASqPa26g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEnX6exO5j6yXCxymsGQEDpoJnEJSqXWzMdi-MsR0XNJ9y9eELdkz_v82HP-BUNZ9GGW7oxbkKfQmYjdXRSims5qMfP1EulAbLJHXxYKX6J0KW50jZiN5z2hhi11_YA3QicSvVBHLksI/s640/IMYWCA4FS3emt5ASqPa26g.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Pink Skullcap (Scutellaria suffrescens) loves to be planted next to rocks <br />and hates rich moist soil. This one blooms along the alley behind my house.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_v4Jl4nbFmTsX_RCFGDiAk4vH9jNXfgmGuAvgV0JmXSAODUIg1OWw0V3EHhQ-F3mf6zroexXYzQCpI5qWu6YKBHE1GNXb2VugKgpPEF9kICHN0R0JELPSR_Pm9U3DlEiLHwB0oQGWyg4/s400/fullsizeoutput_7c8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Zinnias, rose bed</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qcTcDQEZwjWcAJ1uxLEnNuOgUnHyUu352Be2sWkBrFO-jG99YkgO99REgeYB8g3ac6VQY8-MTVP49IRV4J3nWUSHqPvwhqLCRATzVo3v0ndoe7p8GpzwKbrvFVDkumLVBIRQVdesTTk/s400/0nXsir1SRJy0zo3MjgZI9Q.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">More zinnias, rose bed<br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Moving on to the back gardens, there aren't quite as many plants blooming.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvkJU5LvCR8op-otvH3uxDJQD27KmS92_gg2GDlxDHv4ALqiqiwPJkF6OHhvJhC6BdxUlAaiTRt-Y5IvLYsxIQBw6WvSb4vIdwVDAC1tf8wtqGYMZt6zw9FGSxXZuoq1xJjzwSjzqWJk/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7d4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvkJU5LvCR8op-otvH3uxDJQD27KmS92_gg2GDlxDHv4ALqiqiwPJkF6OHhvJhC6BdxUlAaiTRt-Y5IvLYsxIQBw6WvSb4vIdwVDAC1tf8wtqGYMZt6zw9FGSxXZuoq1xJjzwSjzqWJk/s640/fullsizeoutput_7d4.jpeg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Violas and phlox are cool season annuals in my climate.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu2qFMLmt4K3E6m5hgLEPQjiCayPd6wZ0Tcm3N800V7xHopUv7MKREtJOv5BAmjV1X1vriKZn4PtWobG2rHXcGV1iFBM-XSowOiNaSSnVqCa_N5d0ngZf1xeNqjQ-79uNkfjLOAD_-8E/s1600/0xCL4lc0Skqtl9faKnETTQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu2qFMLmt4K3E6m5hgLEPQjiCayPd6wZ0Tcm3N800V7xHopUv7MKREtJOv5BAmjV1X1vriKZn4PtWobG2rHXcGV1iFBM-XSowOiNaSSnVqCa_N5d0ngZf1xeNqjQ-79uNkfjLOAD_-8E/s640/0xCL4lc0Skqtl9faKnETTQ.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Peggy Martin Rose is blooming sparsely on the fireplace<br />wall. The iron gate is part of a pair that guarded<br />the entrance to the front courtyard when we moved in. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC991p4hdBM8atlVxWrF8wBsOXatWTI8R2NqtsTmeHTPwjHHjNXwQgXwE-CglZG3aME3n61q18hIYw9U563gVTkvCPkAG3u8v8m0iSnzVMalTPComBnUXN7zu9ivIwSBEzjPkx1qLDLz4/s1600/2p8JowmzTNSh7fNkEtFOew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC991p4hdBM8atlVxWrF8wBsOXatWTI8R2NqtsTmeHTPwjHHjNXwQgXwE-CglZG3aME3n61q18hIYw9U563gVTkvCPkAG3u8v8m0iSnzVMalTPComBnUXN7zu9ivIwSBEzjPkx1qLDLz4/s640/2p8JowmzTNSh7fNkEtFOew.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Pink Firespike (Odontonema strictum) is HOT pink in cool weather!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjq53NEEc4GWNe5fI0MmaMT_SVtj5PPeUxiyxd3SP_ue15a0mbSEiAzPE3z408-TTZb7N-9deRxnRBVtr4FA2gBUB6bdCN91Qg7zYIpF86WyHG3XscFTJfuVAj4hpgBPTjTQi3BMaexQ/s640/5ClqrXlJSXisx%25251no%252BODyA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The Coral Woody Penta (Rondeletia leucophylla)<br />was so late to bloom that I was certain it would be zapped<br />by a freeze before the buds opened. The color was worth the wait!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjq53NEEc4GWNe5fI0MmaMT_SVtj5PPeUxiyxd3SP_ue15a0mbSEiAzPE3z408-TTZb7N-9deRxnRBVtr4FA2gBUB6bdCN91Qg7zYIpF86WyHG3XscFTJfuVAj4hpgBPTjTQi3BMaexQ/s1600/5ClqrXlJSXisx%25251no%252BODyA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6qNVQVws-7wpynCrnbK_o2UUBn8e6yyGTbzSKyiO9HDvVO4mRPRq_-t_kwBpirRgVKlus7kQBVtU3sL1AD9E3FDBZsEgJhrFooVMifszF-cVBk3Ifzk8-NtcNkLMJzuKbUkc98aWcZU/s640/7j7D%252Bu87QA6YHZfC80pczQ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I grew Rose 'Gartendirektor Otto Linne' from a cutting<br />given to me by a Texas Rose Rustler. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6qNVQVws-7wpynCrnbK_o2UUBn8e6yyGTbzSKyiO9HDvVO4mRPRq_-t_kwBpirRgVKlus7kQBVtU3sL1AD9E3FDBZsEgJhrFooVMifszF-cVBk3Ifzk8-NtcNkLMJzuKbUkc98aWcZU/s1600/7j7D%252Bu87QA6YHZfC80pczQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZddgEa3t3N0tQaR2hA_zTSIeXOv01x9n7PdnKt-ZoYHz_TNtdqn804qcpTZP58wTyA2g64pVNGJmFgWdqEHYcwgUH8yu5WNennYdJjCEFj3d9FYjnDPcJbqJKM6hjj5OyfczolVo7vY/s640/CmfWFn4gS5%252Bzrda2ioEDVQ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Salvia 'Amistad' is another Lowe's clearance purchase. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZddgEa3t3N0tQaR2hA_zTSIeXOv01x9n7PdnKt-ZoYHz_TNtdqn804qcpTZP58wTyA2g64pVNGJmFgWdqEHYcwgUH8yu5WNennYdJjCEFj3d9FYjnDPcJbqJKM6hjj5OyfczolVo7vY/s1600/CmfWFn4gS5%252Bzrda2ioEDVQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm9EcV_qaPq8PkSlWRXT_ueQ5zpRP3_L12u6YDDU69uiVLZoK-vQhadEKa6_Ti2Oq4j_V5lmZ6pcJm-kWl8WjSZ2kSVRJNKj2zQeo5JkCT8g-WqcTyQ8bikymJCtdF0lv-ANYYDeekm4/s640/EmZj%2525a6lSEes%2525riH4vJSNw.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thompsoniae var. delectum) rambles<br />along the south fence in the back gardens.<br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm9EcV_qaPq8PkSlWRXT_ueQ5zpRP3_L12u6YDDU69uiVLZoK-vQhadEKa6_Ti2Oq4j_V5lmZ6pcJm-kWl8WjSZ2kSVRJNKj2zQeo5JkCT8g-WqcTyQ8bikymJCtdF0lv-ANYYDeekm4/s1600/EmZj%2525a6lSEes%2525riH4vJSNw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoH0XafXsJ-jJFfQvrEY_7T6SEv5PPcN1HZqtgGOBjBI715c9DSxz1MpEF-38m9mShzSMHq5mPjXokVAorahCDXrpUtaLaP7qdJs2ijQfuA4uzag5oWsxLjmjd3GtbOfYaC0UFQdsgu8/s1600/Jl%252BBHSkHQOKkefjwj5OJxg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoH0XafXsJ-jJFfQvrEY_7T6SEv5PPcN1HZqtgGOBjBI715c9DSxz1MpEF-38m9mShzSMHq5mPjXokVAorahCDXrpUtaLaP7qdJs2ijQfuA4uzag5oWsxLjmjd3GtbOfYaC0UFQdsgu8/s640/Jl%252BBHSkHQOKkefjwj5OJxg.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I love how the bright pink blooms pop against the burgundy tinged <br />foliage of Gaura 'Belleza Pink' (G. lindheimeri).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> And finally, winner of the "most confused plant of the year" award, I believe my fellow Texas gardeners will recognize this plant.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDSPT2JYlf1d2QfVYwf40oWFLele7k3HZ-GSHH_9uOUymH5bLdiGzqtjvZWBYBhQT9CIOl4nVwXF0D1l0lKD4RZDf3vVAGztxCjqdd8URfuTwIHcIyRAAnplYCkGFyisp7BNt1nKyq_I/s1600/2E7bu1e9TuSIxsw8o%2525bFog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1b9Te4yrv7vBP7uAnq6w0hv9PVOVi-YjTDVo0Hg6WHgQtq5_AGz1IJoqAj2WvARdAmrAUOZslDdUIQvUsB3ZMCzEwOVSjZjdgxG0RxQqhsohpexbZB3jiuqQh_89jI81iK5t7OIidPQ/s1600/KQJkq3yESd6I%2525ZmjbKQemQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1b9Te4yrv7vBP7uAnq6w0hv9PVOVi-YjTDVo0Hg6WHgQtq5_AGz1IJoqAj2WvARdAmrAUOZslDdUIQvUsB3ZMCzEwOVSjZjdgxG0RxQqhsohpexbZB3jiuqQh_89jI81iK5t7OIidPQ/s1600/KQJkq3yESd6I%2525ZmjbKQemQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1b9Te4yrv7vBP7uAnq6w0hv9PVOVi-YjTDVo0Hg6WHgQtq5_AGz1IJoqAj2WvARdAmrAUOZslDdUIQvUsB3ZMCzEwOVSjZjdgxG0RxQqhsohpexbZB3jiuqQh_89jI81iK5t7OIidPQ/s640/KQJkq3yESd6I%2525ZmjbKQemQ.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The Texas state flower!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDSPT2JYlf1d2QfVYwf40oWFLele7k3HZ-GSHH_9uOUymH5bLdiGzqtjvZWBYBhQT9CIOl4nVwXF0D1l0lKD4RZDf3vVAGztxCjqdd8URfuTwIHcIyRAAnplYCkGFyisp7BNt1nKyq_I/s1600/2E7bu1e9TuSIxsw8o%2525bFog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDSPT2JYlf1d2QfVYwf40oWFLele7k3HZ-GSHH_9uOUymH5bLdiGzqtjvZWBYBhQT9CIOl4nVwXF0D1l0lKD4RZDf3vVAGztxCjqdd8URfuTwIHcIyRAAnplYCkGFyisp7BNt1nKyq_I/s640/2E7bu1e9TuSIxsw8o%2525bFog.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">This bluebonnet germinated in the summer heat and has been<br />blooming since September. Bluebonnets typically bloom<br />February through April. Global weirding?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
And now that we've walked through my gardens, head on over to the <a href="https://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2019/01/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-january-2019.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a> of Carol Michel and see who else has blooms to share this January!</div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-26693370234400202062018-12-31T21:02:00.002-06:002019-01-01T16:58:08.967-06:00As The Sun Sets on 2018 ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVuv6vm_dz62A-f_1FeEEIHlYWz6YgFk0ajIG9I6QFYYPx2pha64o3o2Be5R9oCyygr9eAmVP_15uf4I4V_pkVW5DWbMFkpW_1Pp-_8KMzzy2hpckwWwVkCScrMkUyffFgGeeQF9MV3g/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7a1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVuv6vm_dz62A-f_1FeEEIHlYWz6YgFk0ajIG9I6QFYYPx2pha64o3o2Be5R9oCyygr9eAmVP_15uf4I4V_pkVW5DWbMFkpW_1Pp-_8KMzzy2hpckwWwVkCScrMkUyffFgGeeQF9MV3g/s640/fullsizeoutput_7a1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgpbjNTuhjcS6NkBTLBmWdQtmGmX0vKO-CgcBqswnfKOFYafdswAoGGZUhVSWAka7Wa5Rpu-QPntyozjpTsHLAngX6mabvlK6IGNdcBPjFuoExyXMkr8ykzn8AMujG3Qg4_5sVFFZNHk/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7a3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1600" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgpbjNTuhjcS6NkBTLBmWdQtmGmX0vKO-CgcBqswnfKOFYafdswAoGGZUhVSWAka7Wa5Rpu-QPntyozjpTsHLAngX6mabvlK6IGNdcBPjFuoExyXMkr8ykzn8AMujG3Qg4_5sVFFZNHk/s640/fullsizeoutput_7a3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0BRvWBhO-VjPMCuEcRbybHtIIkfifvhjW_u8OJNxuIM0RJfb0J3J4D3Oc6kE96MAt8qbTGFrK5fspjkKtqOqVgT78yb9OO5XkzQuTt1lxsfCA-WKaP-UH6YdpV9edfotuzZUk4MbKPo/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7a5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0BRvWBhO-VjPMCuEcRbybHtIIkfifvhjW_u8OJNxuIM0RJfb0J3J4D3Oc6kE96MAt8qbTGFrK5fspjkKtqOqVgT78yb9OO5XkzQuTt1lxsfCA-WKaP-UH6YdpV9edfotuzZUk4MbKPo/s640/fullsizeoutput_7a5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7szn14bxW4GtjBar2LeQtQPVHCbsnnNMk_gmPMP_qh15ITbliF3sVKS1yWiPdk342S8sEVIR35hDlV-dvkI5UgAgNDbcA6FYiRDEILs1B-4-zWR3cC4Biv8byEwHCOKhA89f1STo4Rfc/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7a6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1600" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7szn14bxW4GtjBar2LeQtQPVHCbsnnNMk_gmPMP_qh15ITbliF3sVKS1yWiPdk342S8sEVIR35hDlV-dvkI5UgAgNDbcA6FYiRDEILs1B-4-zWR3cC4Biv8byEwHCOKhA89f1STo4Rfc/s640/fullsizeoutput_7a6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E22p4feEMb3fRNBN4nAe4nWIM-y_p8EyfIEpv1blBZxetqFx5VyyUdGlZw4fhSpcRMu4-eF-HyBQmCrj6s4e4rkZuNtDlnNzPkZIzUf5lAgtieesVXGsEfCAsBOmzOYIFi9mPMB1ebU/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7a7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1600" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E22p4feEMb3fRNBN4nAe4nWIM-y_p8EyfIEpv1blBZxetqFx5VyyUdGlZw4fhSpcRMu4-eF-HyBQmCrj6s4e4rkZuNtDlnNzPkZIzUf5lAgtieesVXGsEfCAsBOmzOYIFi9mPMB1ebU/s640/fullsizeoutput_7a7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BJm8wpB01zYoIFg3OVY1QLmzz5UjSmw-UwV3895hfDV7XWf7O8p2lkPB_lR13ju-SH44N-RIEYYdKgzFlxu4Ukp5mZykbiAqZ3dCpDRqFpd-tcfmxzNpPgQPdxOyM0yhyphenhyphenXP3MGG_p7w/s1600/fullsizeoutput_7a8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1600" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BJm8wpB01zYoIFg3OVY1QLmzz5UjSmw-UwV3895hfDV7XWf7O8p2lkPB_lR13ju-SH44N-RIEYYdKgzFlxu4Ukp5mZykbiAqZ3dCpDRqFpd-tcfmxzNpPgQPdxOyM0yhyphenhyphenXP3MGG_p7w/s640/fullsizeoutput_7a8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNC7JVoK1F5nYveEWFB_2KG_PrdLMTavrHYNi7lbPcVoraWhjGp4eOZ-Lzq6fzYuIOpot1gLoSxsvb4saTFBl7iw7JaZmyP4jWazu5fdX5EBfxT7LuFdl8I3z8wRxV2jqLUpzLNTIBmE/s1600/fullsizeoutput_79f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNC7JVoK1F5nYveEWFB_2KG_PrdLMTavrHYNi7lbPcVoraWhjGp4eOZ-Lzq6fzYuIOpot1gLoSxsvb4saTFBl7iw7JaZmyP4jWazu5fdX5EBfxT7LuFdl8I3z8wRxV2jqLUpzLNTIBmE/s640/fullsizeoutput_79f.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSFFF7LmxGhsxwIst3FwZuFDbwcLGp-_5H-Ktk-tIYU7sPFA1g3SnBCWiL1zMVZd5MljbKguPHuw1obH5dpJhHnwjikYNVocffwcRBs-4cecnFL76bGLVovqAJJxhsSTZ3C-gJR4N1_k/s1600/IMG_4723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSFFF7LmxGhsxwIst3FwZuFDbwcLGp-_5H-Ktk-tIYU7sPFA1g3SnBCWiL1zMVZd5MljbKguPHuw1obH5dpJhHnwjikYNVocffwcRBs-4cecnFL76bGLVovqAJJxhsSTZ3C-gJR4N1_k/s640/IMG_4723.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNIL_3qyPGLW8jgfuL20kjivJz7NmHhLzhS5pemGI82kUkSmIs84wl1IndP5qyUnHjzmS_EtGpEUNin3xMkj5fS7QFpAQw2JT5r2s-2lDIi_SgeHdpKp5dZzJrL97-fffBZ_bszRTrBc/s1600/XIxZSpnZTjqaavYWE%252BeteQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNIL_3qyPGLW8jgfuL20kjivJz7NmHhLzhS5pemGI82kUkSmIs84wl1IndP5qyUnHjzmS_EtGpEUNin3xMkj5fS7QFpAQw2JT5r2s-2lDIi_SgeHdpKp5dZzJrL97-fffBZ_bszRTrBc/s640/XIxZSpnZTjqaavYWE%252BeteQ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As I watched this spectacle unfold before me on a hilltop outside the Texas Hill Country town of Burnet, I thought about all of the friends and family who make my world a happier and more beautiful place, and </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">I wished you all a happy and healthy 2019 filled with many such moments of joy and beauty. </span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-82624518468384258272018-08-04T12:59:00.000-05:002018-08-04T12:59:14.307-05:00Summery Summary: July 2018 on My Corner of Katy<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The weather turned evil earlier than usual this summer and we had August in July, with daytime temperatures in the high 90s and nights in the high 70s. A 2+ inch rainstorm on July 4th was the last time my corner of Katy received any significant rain. The gardens still require my attention, though, so I do my best to make my outside several days a week and spend some time attempting some degree of control over the chaos. The sun's glare is so fierce that I only managed to take 3 pictures throughout the month of July, which I had intended to post for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. I probably took a cool shower and a nap instead.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MFLSiNYJeULUfekBkweCgD8sWiney9KazQKw_jNVyeXwkC1OzSAGCs87Jipb15L57wDrFSJrMGKHCgCAElFQXpCr9FIc-wXHWLmKKGEyHNvWtRczrnpC9mAuXKzljL8C6kCebvpDQC0/s1600/IMG_4389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MFLSiNYJeULUfekBkweCgD8sWiney9KazQKw_jNVyeXwkC1OzSAGCs87Jipb15L57wDrFSJrMGKHCgCAElFQXpCr9FIc-wXHWLmKKGEyHNvWtRczrnpC9mAuXKzljL8C6kCebvpDQC0/s400/IMG_4389.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Clematis 'Romantika' and 'Comtesse de Bouchard' from<br />Silver Star Vinery bloomed all month long. The Comtesse<br />only had a handful of blooms but to manage any at all in<br />such infelicitous weather is admirable.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jg2uYi8RIC17QKHdmvqnyxuJa0sOVGd6naWRuWf8ThUO_hbktBufI0RJsXEzypX11y2EhqM4pmXHMzUAXlchD5G69e34x0evMcX8epmIGeU1SSlsqGPSmi4PZYGA3oz6dmbnmVfZ_UU/s1600/IMG_4390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jg2uYi8RIC17QKHdmvqnyxuJa0sOVGd6naWRuWf8ThUO_hbktBufI0RJsXEzypX11y2EhqM4pmXHMzUAXlchD5G69e34x0evMcX8epmIGeU1SSlsqGPSmi4PZYGA3oz6dmbnmVfZ_UU/s400/IMG_4390.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>I think this is Clematis 'Sweet Summer Love'<br />but the bloom is larger than I expected. So maybe<br />it's another variety whose name I don't remember.<br />That happens on occasion. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCFuB83zGrvpJnKak80sG19FZRmUJVhBobGcY_-UDP3U93NJeSs2xNU6IfjtPGVpH7IE0qJxBYjfjo366V1KoI0AEzIJmyd01NoqFiksWuWsEKiHYhA_bbnigfSIvecC5Mek0vyKUNY8/s1600/IMG_4391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCFuB83zGrvpJnKak80sG19FZRmUJVhBobGcY_-UDP3U93NJeSs2xNU6IfjtPGVpH7IE0qJxBYjfjo366V1KoI0AEzIJmyd01NoqFiksWuWsEKiHYhA_bbnigfSIvecC5Mek0vyKUNY8/s400/IMG_4391.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="font-size: medium;">A late afternoon picture doesn't display the Gaura to their best advantage </i><br /><i style="font-size: medium;">in my sunny back gardens. The pure white blooms have closed and </i><br /><i style="font-size: medium;">the rosy undersides are all you can see. There are also stiff-leaved verbena blooming at the bottom of the picture and the pink blooms of 'Carefree Beauty' rose mixed in</i><br /><i style="font-size: medium;">amongst the Gaura.</i><br /><br /><div style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-15321985687648177432018-06-17T18:34:00.003-05:002018-06-17T18:34:45.896-05:00Now Blanketing My Corner of Katy: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, June 2018<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It seems that I have a gaillardia situation on my corner of Katy. When a thicket of seedlings first began to appear in the front beds inFebruary and March, I decided to thin them later in the interest of suppressing weeds. Friends and fellow gardeners, you most surely know without my having to tell you that thin them I did not.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjund-zNnVGk5JmzzGTyCtchcAapkP2TNHumhhBDSljyInAu767vpPYTgSANrWsYqZeH8-XivvAkHrvdHlpInRf4WUhDQiUcRRC5g1H9AuNmysMnEoVByaaRfVB4YBrko_LLrF1w-CBCh4/s1600/IMG_3214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjund-zNnVGk5JmzzGTyCtchcAapkP2TNHumhhBDSljyInAu767vpPYTgSANrWsYqZeH8-XivvAkHrvdHlpInRf4WUhDQiUcRRC5g1H9AuNmysMnEoVByaaRfVB4YBrko_LLrF1w-CBCh4/s400/IMG_3214.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>The corner bed faces north and west. You can see it two blocks away, just ask Leslie of <a href="http://www.growingagardenindavis.com/" target="_blank">Growing A Garden in Davis</a> and Carol of <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a>! This picture was taken<br />at the end of May so the gaillardias are actually much thicker now.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqBd0pXuzchWh85bekchPu5WodoA17arfbdGnpy2eqRiLY5FdQrAdMeTDfkeVW54YOCzKmrQg7Qwlennf8lTBlUKs_nl5rYebvpcIdyegxML2N3-GoQ_u7DfJGI0uwIsBL5zOaS527Js/s1600/IMG_3236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqBd0pXuzchWh85bekchPu5WodoA17arfbdGnpy2eqRiLY5FdQrAdMeTDfkeVW54YOCzKmrQg7Qwlennf8lTBlUKs_nl5rYebvpcIdyegxML2N3-GoQ_u7DfJGI0uwIsBL5zOaS527Js/s400/IMG_3236.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>As you walk south along my street, you'll see more self-seeded<br />blanket flowers in what was supposed to be a dry stream. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97ReJwiywtyVJbC1uuUFG2wEZjZHVt-j-eLPgkkouHgLddXAUdKgtNyn2_p2pbVj9r4wGpML2BSuOsTgpBm75GcNDJFOMm2OadbgxOMnkbb7vCxavMlx1icZbKljnreoPfBwW8q9qwkQ/s1600/IMG_3234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97ReJwiywtyVJbC1uuUFG2wEZjZHVt-j-eLPgkkouHgLddXAUdKgtNyn2_p2pbVj9r4wGpML2BSuOsTgpBm75GcNDJFOMm2OadbgxOMnkbb7vCxavMlx1icZbKljnreoPfBwW8q9qwkQ/s400/IMG_3234.JPG" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Then there's the mailbox bed where the Indian Blankets are<br />overwhelming daylilies, salvias, sedums, and more.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcOoEevk_qQ4M18md9MB-BShOGJhQdUBPlKXaHhi20Z3pF6aIzNBAwjJx96s0PK8TS3bEx7d7uUXh8cry2586V-KIOxx3AIz2bElVRBimR5XXnyio4X3AukWE2zNg1PbZzQ5hyphenhyphenWDsuus/s1600/IMG_3233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcOoEevk_qQ4M18md9MB-BShOGJhQdUBPlKXaHhi20Z3pF6aIzNBAwjJx96s0PK8TS3bEx7d7uUXh8cry2586V-KIOxx3AIz2bElVRBimR5XXnyio4X3AukWE2zNg1PbZzQ5hyphenhyphenWDsuus/s400/IMG_3233.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Arriving at the southeast corner, adjacent to the cable box<br />and my neighbors, you'll find even MORE self-seeded gaillardias.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i> </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The plants had been doing so well that I couldn't bring myself to start yanking them even though I knew they were overwhelming other plants. I finally made a start on that today but rain drove me inside before I could really get going. We're told to expect more rain tomorrow and Tuesday so this task may have to wait until July. The Head Gardener and I are packing our bags and heading across the pond to tour a sampling of the gardens in Yorkshire, England. Cheerio pip pip, the old girls can't wait!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is brought to you by </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>the fertile mind of Carol Michel, who blogs at <a href="https://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2018/06/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-june-2018.html" target="_blank">May </a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2018/06/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-june-2018.html" target="_blank">Dreams Gardens</a> and offers a list of other gardeners </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>who are posting for GBBD.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-14967095181825316682018-05-02T21:36:00.000-05:002018-05-02T21:36:05.325-05:00Excitement Abounds On My Corner of Katy!<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Last month, working in the back garden, I found a small volunteer plant growing on the edge of one of the beds in the back garden, a plant I didn't recognize. So I left it there and carefully monitored its growth ... by which I mean, I forgot all about the darned thing until I walked out one morning and found it blooming. How a </span><a href="https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=aral3" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">White Prickly Poppy</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> came to be blooming on my corner of Katy, I cannot say. Did it hitch a ride in the soil of some other plant, perhaps one brought home from my last trip to Austin? Did a bird plant it? It's one of those horticultural mysteries, as is a second seedling I found growing in one of the front gardens just yesterday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvsFnWkOy8BKh7VZsQxMBCXIx9pjEllQ8KsqnTEJxgR10rigcqWlTprQ4aSbLIeNCrmbvk2EvQ7rWaqP6Pm-Ld8srR-5z76dkhvtXnbICcSoEKwiJsLO9TjHPdpNb86kNyAIYjCgdMHE/s1600/fullsizeoutput_4be.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvsFnWkOy8BKh7VZsQxMBCXIx9pjEllQ8KsqnTEJxgR10rigcqWlTprQ4aSbLIeNCrmbvk2EvQ7rWaqP6Pm-Ld8srR-5z76dkhvtXnbICcSoEKwiJsLO9TjHPdpNb86kNyAIYjCgdMHE/s640/fullsizeoutput_4be.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As excited I was to find this Texas wildflower in my gardens, it can't compare to my excitement at getting to share those gardens with my dear friends and fellow garden bloggers, Carol of <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a> and Leslie of <a href="http://growingagardenindavis.com/" target="_blank">Growing A Garden in Davis</a>. We'll all be on our way to Austin tomorrow for the 10th annual Garden Bloggers Fling, where we'll reunite with more friends from Flings past and meet some new ones. </span></div>
Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-25885085170543371982018-02-21T17:10:00.000-06:002018-02-21T17:10:19.507-06:00A Camellia Blooms in Katy ...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And it was worth all the time and effort, not to mention the frozen fingers, that I had to spend in near freezing temperatures to protect it from our January cold spell! This is 'High Fragrance' and it more than lives up to its name. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1Zrxo5ShdgaqEfc-aSL94tEy3uNUy8QTquAxNFDxBrkVQcWGNK03J-6OcBvyUIasjW1y7poU9FNgTBwOjRiU0GL8sKTq_cHLaTPNzoyRdLehCMIDA-K9cZAzg33zoCaPoEBn-1h_TG4/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1Zrxo5ShdgaqEfc-aSL94tEy3uNUy8QTquAxNFDxBrkVQcWGNK03J-6OcBvyUIasjW1y7poU9FNgTBwOjRiU0GL8sKTq_cHLaTPNzoyRdLehCMIDA-K9cZAzg33zoCaPoEBn-1h_TG4/s400/IMG_2407.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQuKlaNIifQkWV_S1KThdCHwcK2KlFV_ECBwXEY20vJVYDmb0q62Rb3BUr_7GWKFLZ4_7D8jhizQR_MJ9WOmvZLB-vcRPwojk-wqXkoYP22DhUvdLSjCBeuLE90Hssd8ErQLzP58ktYA/s1600/IMG_2408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQuKlaNIifQkWV_S1KThdCHwcK2KlFV_ECBwXEY20vJVYDmb0q62Rb3BUr_7GWKFLZ4_7D8jhizQR_MJ9WOmvZLB-vcRPwojk-wqXkoYP22DhUvdLSjCBeuLE90Hssd8ErQLzP58ktYA/s400/IMG_2408.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-40559120070199336962017-12-11T21:28:00.000-06:002017-12-11T21:28:53.471-06:00A Rare and Unexpected Event<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What's even more unusual and unanticipated than a post on MY CORNER OF KATY??????????????? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpYpK0rGuywzmzd_vVQaJOBzCzeuHMSEzBPln1Z-umo4Z7XFvHiO-09aJgEUDZKGYH8HaI9JDSwmAx5a1Pt5jTPc2TgNPQHA8AI3CS1KAskFoDW26TkT7BJvTl2Wr1Z0noPJ9mcjuTbs/s1600/IMG_2283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpYpK0rGuywzmzd_vVQaJOBzCzeuHMSEzBPln1Z-umo4Z7XFvHiO-09aJgEUDZKGYH8HaI9JDSwmAx5a1Pt5jTPc2TgNPQHA8AI3CS1KAskFoDW26TkT7BJvTl2Wr1Z0noPJ9mcjuTbs/s320/IMG_2283.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Snow on my corner of Katy!!!!!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Assistant Undergardener in Charge of Watering woke us on the morning of December 8th to say that we had to look outside. So look outside we did and what to our wondering eyes should appear but a winter wonderland! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeg2bmALk9NMMgKFqR6errVhnYfNr8mBv19XU7ZFxAsYa7hC8Z2jhs3XF7hbSm0CughHglxoHpWZXtYsfwxWAjajf0h4JypiLtAZ27IqiLzBk7XHUgayaiDWaRvxmMqV7RMSGvqRDeVo/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeg2bmALk9NMMgKFqR6errVhnYfNr8mBv19XU7ZFxAsYa7hC8Z2jhs3XF7hbSm0CughHglxoHpWZXtYsfwxWAjajf0h4JypiLtAZ27IqiLzBk7XHUgayaiDWaRvxmMqV7RMSGvqRDeVo/s400/IMG_2144.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl6kcP6GGgANM8bv8YrktX65-QapxjgLO72I3fnSyHvw8JTIjFQL0iDNaXgwdZTMINwBOXWVecmkgc1VWtIxmEifHk1cC32JS95BrDcrzfcKkY6gIH7w07JsGT4ta9LnAc7IAP3a-weY/s1600/IMG_2153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl6kcP6GGgANM8bv8YrktX65-QapxjgLO72I3fnSyHvw8JTIjFQL0iDNaXgwdZTMINwBOXWVecmkgc1VWtIxmEifHk1cC32JS95BrDcrzfcKkY6gIH7w07JsGT4ta9LnAc7IAP3a-weY/s400/IMG_2153.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8K9hyj8BVnn8MtjQ1Gg8GF-b_2jRh8VGLDpevclfV9HGidmo9tZ1zJlrvBwKGfLJKcE_7GA9Z0KzWzxtmRMiDO7OBAdNST8KoX4ALQesoyzK7JTcP0Vuwx5uAAC3RBEpkk6Q3QOUZoE/s1600/IMG_2150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8K9hyj8BVnn8MtjQ1Gg8GF-b_2jRh8VGLDpevclfV9HGidmo9tZ1zJlrvBwKGfLJKcE_7GA9Z0KzWzxtmRMiDO7OBAdNST8KoX4ALQesoyzK7JTcP0Vuwx5uAAC3RBEpkk6Q3QOUZoE/s400/IMG_2150.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPJi4P8Mq6Hn9mk7B-W2f6GYe3hkiGaICaV0eK-7MOzfrU9Nnw-uKbmbe64PY8l4zp9VnjEpAyXqoQClG5W-C8iAltkLBN_RLtbOYtIxi_aJz45Tid7OCWTT-u2ZA6sVFdjfSK847Zy8/s1600/IMG_2165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPJi4P8Mq6Hn9mk7B-W2f6GYe3hkiGaICaV0eK-7MOzfrU9Nnw-uKbmbe64PY8l4zp9VnjEpAyXqoQClG5W-C8iAltkLBN_RLtbOYtIxi_aJz45Tid7OCWTT-u2ZA6sVFdjfSK847Zy8/s400/IMG_2165.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIFa8PT7u8_T9BhD-NsNVbLGuXT5zkc4q9871DfkJRJ6LnEacR0hr_H1auodVSD1nl_T-gVs0A-WAlNXBxoLGlYS_idfByB7ZKGpICoxDvFVy2FwH2S3xI2pS1zVDminwwfp11_JjW4c/s1600/IMG_2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIFa8PT7u8_T9BhD-NsNVbLGuXT5zkc4q9871DfkJRJ6LnEacR0hr_H1auodVSD1nl_T-gVs0A-WAlNXBxoLGlYS_idfByB7ZKGpICoxDvFVy2FwH2S3xI2pS1zVDminwwfp11_JjW4c/s400/IMG_2157.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTi0dKcH7I_ZCUaXjajYAulQuiqXRojFyWugFPbULmXoxZjehYAevezt6qsIAQA_pei0NuodYE6PRnyTS7HY3CIA1MrgnxR-dbm61TechCyFkImswtjmWJhyphenhyphenIn1OPIHyzpvjK78hMmASI/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTi0dKcH7I_ZCUaXjajYAulQuiqXRojFyWugFPbULmXoxZjehYAevezt6qsIAQA_pei0NuodYE6PRnyTS7HY3CIA1MrgnxR-dbm61TechCyFkImswtjmWJhyphenhyphenIn1OPIHyzpvjK78hMmASI/s400/IMG_2173.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPhdo39RZVPqesyzsdX0AAlxy6Wl0CQqgz08LIRWy9uKOrKobE4VbXtkfkbnm-3VM6rJJ3czAAZxX4gr6CAQWNW972BruLmg-1VmHdzrRKDoYVkosvi62N4Ahr7X0-yEBAK9kkZeu8oU/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPhdo39RZVPqesyzsdX0AAlxy6Wl0CQqgz08LIRWy9uKOrKobE4VbXtkfkbnm-3VM6rJJ3czAAZxX4gr6CAQWNW972BruLmg-1VmHdzrRKDoYVkosvi62N4Ahr7X0-yEBAK9kkZeu8oU/s400/IMG_2180.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaA9Hu-hjbUMbYXBNYCsxr-cad7A_twhiZrTTkGrIJbAkflWwHxmoVmQIg5cnNmRmb_MEVzoLkGGFXjt8UZzt5B2ffOMzaFMLzbxaZ607jOjokYDo_EhyphenhyphennHD0DyPj5nNpercmvYtlmuU/s1600/IMG_2187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaA9Hu-hjbUMbYXBNYCsxr-cad7A_twhiZrTTkGrIJbAkflWwHxmoVmQIg5cnNmRmb_MEVzoLkGGFXjt8UZzt5B2ffOMzaFMLzbxaZ607jOjokYDo_EhyphenhyphennHD0DyPj5nNpercmvYtlmuU/s400/IMG_2187.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXNJ24Y6OmkUPDQNH0fewMEO6Uy4LOd0zaCuQ_NHKa0Mrjs9Uv4i2gvdOOwpnj71TuqrfXXXLOmRpP7hgXElcGnUfHYX1chHySkvFFIm9CDDJIUMUsHqwOMMMBbFNUrTemRaoZrq5z8E/s1600/IMG_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXNJ24Y6OmkUPDQNH0fewMEO6Uy4LOd0zaCuQ_NHKa0Mrjs9Uv4i2gvdOOwpnj71TuqrfXXXLOmRpP7hgXElcGnUfHYX1chHySkvFFIm9CDDJIUMUsHqwOMMMBbFNUrTemRaoZrq5z8E/s400/IMG_2210.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHmiRGvEcISdn5XouxJWn17wuk-1-ezIaizTwr_izzZ4VkxPz6cmV85W2t0Dj_Otqr_UR6W0vJQ09HbbzWzDJfWWCkPw-rn8KtPX9BnI4_Il-tMvifKD2lr5gKdeIoOM159ZEcgGlx6c/s1600/IMG_2239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHmiRGvEcISdn5XouxJWn17wuk-1-ezIaizTwr_izzZ4VkxPz6cmV85W2t0Dj_Otqr_UR6W0vJQ09HbbzWzDJfWWCkPw-rn8KtPX9BnI4_Il-tMvifKD2lr5gKdeIoOM159ZEcgGlx6c/s400/IMG_2239.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqx02zWIoIjxNAtJSCUk_MsUhJtwsxOCJt3nGHwqL3dQlpixfeO4khJ48ruI3MCjJC1DlguBnlRIH_xilEnWu0kVV0hMSu7HB-nXIQ7TST6L1Ig5iTCDYHwJ1baUhuUEKJQSsKBVzYLsw/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3ca.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqx02zWIoIjxNAtJSCUk_MsUhJtwsxOCJt3nGHwqL3dQlpixfeO4khJ48ruI3MCjJC1DlguBnlRIH_xilEnWu0kVV0hMSu7HB-nXIQ7TST6L1Ig5iTCDYHwJ1baUhuUEKJQSsKBVzYLsw/s400/fullsizeoutput_3ca.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0oBzp0pPzYV4LhAUFayaVPo1NFvppdjFF7OTl33VbyQLRsiKrBu4ojl7CwZPyopPU4W51aFPCxqq94vNre8nKENezFvQxByt7JFF83wOALJDyz1hDq3927sPn64y0IcmSRv4Bz0ErHA/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0oBzp0pPzYV4LhAUFayaVPo1NFvppdjFF7OTl33VbyQLRsiKrBu4ojl7CwZPyopPU4W51aFPCxqq94vNre8nKENezFvQxByt7JFF83wOALJDyz1hDq3927sPn64y0IcmSRv4Bz0ErHA/s400/IMG_2238.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA_2X84m-FNxa47dB3kStqjanJaQXU0jmB8NAV8KUymg4mfmpmQfxmJzmQSEBBYzJhhskjunvDZ5hEvJCuNaxjg2_2UeNnValzYkfctVYlQ3eUW3u0VyQXJWjOfHdxgoDSrLIFwtIt8E/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3df.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA_2X84m-FNxa47dB3kStqjanJaQXU0jmB8NAV8KUymg4mfmpmQfxmJzmQSEBBYzJhhskjunvDZ5hEvJCuNaxjg2_2UeNnValzYkfctVYlQ3eUW3u0VyQXJWjOfHdxgoDSrLIFwtIt8E/s400/fullsizeoutput_3df.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-78126487962520904642017-09-15T22:10:00.000-05:002017-09-17T10:40:24.366-05:00What In The Name of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day???? September 2017<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1nerueaqv4clsDCfVn10KLZ7R8VMUa31hv1CJa6ebxa9AmBL5vK5cPDkBJhc1l0V9LO7dGr9fzEoGhuVZ5lH6WYuGPpFLNcRE34WmvH-dp0W8hWuMSJmAR_utR0Ipc-hJv0RfnnnzXE/s1600/IMG_1945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1nerueaqv4clsDCfVn10KLZ7R8VMUa31hv1CJa6ebxa9AmBL5vK5cPDkBJhc1l0V9LO7dGr9fzEoGhuVZ5lH6WYuGPpFLNcRE34WmvH-dp0W8hWuMSJmAR_utR0Ipc-hJv0RfnnnzXE/s400/IMG_1945.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Wendy's Wish in the top left quadrant, Coral Nymph bottom </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>right quadrant, and at 12:00 the glowing beauty who remains nameless </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As I was doing a bit of post-Harvey cleanup in the back gardens today, I discovered a Salvia in a shade of fluorescent orange/red that I have never seen in a retail nursery OR in a garden before. Evidently any sense of botanical decorum is lost in a storm and the salvias abandon all inhibitions to have their way with each other. Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel White', Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph, Salvia x 'Wendy's Wish' and Salvia greggii 'Raspberry' are all planted in the general area where this hot mama appeared. A closer view of her glowing charms appears below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lNxkZa45IHmlgrRT8EmzOSjGXjFC6ixjHphBCKlUZJKaPKkd0rP86WAoldvCV_5AB12lCIAm7Tf7pMmh5yd8AlJyqalDpcm27eb3avQD-Z5bXIbcwGnQTPqh6s7XJ4Sr9KV2A3tHwP0/s1600/fullsizeoutput_306.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="767" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lNxkZa45IHmlgrRT8EmzOSjGXjFC6ixjHphBCKlUZJKaPKkd0rP86WAoldvCV_5AB12lCIAm7Tf7pMmh5yd8AlJyqalDpcm27eb3avQD-Z5bXIbcwGnQTPqh6s7XJ4Sr9KV2A3tHwP0/s320/fullsizeoutput_306.jpeg" width="164" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Head Gardener is once again convinced our fortunes will be made if we can just isolate the seeds and get them to come true. She will not allow me to name the hybrid, however. 'Whorevey' was already soundly rejected. She objects on the grounds of practicality, too little time having elapsed between the storm and the appearance of these blooms for the cycle of reproduction to have occurred. Nobody believed we could get 32 inches of rain in 4 days, either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDdQ8QRinBVtQDU5VxlafwTQAFTyUnszTlb19W0fppQ6WWeoYttRrK2zmy7r7wsrhV3SMbuERrMHDetoNeC2rFMNZxuPxPJOL3dj0wIXw5-AmFndio3eQ6QtI3MY4s3L8oSIuPJjKRvo/s1600/IMG_1947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDdQ8QRinBVtQDU5VxlafwTQAFTyUnszTlb19W0fppQ6WWeoYttRrK2zmy7r7wsrhV3SMbuERrMHDetoNeC2rFMNZxuPxPJOL3dj0wIXw5-AmFndio3eQ6QtI3MY4s3L8oSIuPJjKRvo/s400/IMG_1947.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The pictures don't do it justice ... the color glows!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We're delighted to have pulled it together to participate in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, created and sponsored by Carol of </span><a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2017/09/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-september-2017.html" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">.</span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-39009937348593783012017-08-12T19:14:00.002-05:002017-08-12T19:14:48.578-05:00Gruesome Playground Injuries: 2017 Edition<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBAcYEpCM98GWZXb3VCjhJVdTee04xTsi3rD90UEDX9ta-KKWKbAlnbfVKR34T0XZ3MOiwoG55lK7w8LyQhRTjw2m_2CWLautXx0rAhqBeiQy6NVsPJA_IGDWkk73v7xQZjxh_VeDDDE/s1600/IMG_1809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBAcYEpCM98GWZXb3VCjhJVdTee04xTsi3rD90UEDX9ta-KKWKbAlnbfVKR34T0XZ3MOiwoG55lK7w8LyQhRTjw2m_2CWLautXx0rAhqBeiQy6NVsPJA_IGDWkk73v7xQZjxh_VeDDDE/s400/IMG_1809.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The view facing east</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Last summer, the overgrown plants in my corner bed resulted in some harsh words from the management company who patrols our subdivision for the homeowners' association. I spent several days in the heat of late July working to cut back plants and improve the view from the stop sign to the east, since I do value my neighbors' and other drivers' safety. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So last week, wanting to avoid a citation from the yard police, I decided to check out the view from the stop sign and see what I could do to make for a better line of sight. One thing that stood out was the low hanging limbs of the Arizona cypress, Cupressus arizonica var. glabra 'Carolina Sapphire'. I thought perhaps the judicious removal of some small live branches and various dead twigs might help ameliorate the view. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHrgJEjcZsUhVqg3fR0ZCZXj3T_pHPOh5hGOM0B-m9bn-FWySpjkMC1nWmIxCwAJdHKK3ph9nkz46KFV6EXek35LbWVr1XBwkTMXGdjBYEmSpb82ZXInwSFjIXBAXr_VVNy_W9iZacSI/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHrgJEjcZsUhVqg3fR0ZCZXj3T_pHPOh5hGOM0B-m9bn-FWySpjkMC1nWmIxCwAJdHKK3ph9nkz46KFV6EXek35LbWVr1XBwkTMXGdjBYEmSpb82ZXInwSFjIXBAXr_VVNy_W9iZacSI/s400/IMG_1808.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The view facing west. The branches don't look so low from this side, do they?</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hat on head and Jakoti shears in hand, I clipped and considered, pruned and pondered. Then I made what I think was the fateful decision that would lead only to misery: I stepped under the canopy of the tree to continue pruning from the inside. It was a hot, sunny day and sweat was running down my brow and into my eyes as I worked. At one point, I noticed that my right eye was itching and burning fiercely so I went to splash my face with water, then returned to my pruning. After another 10 or 15 minutes, both eyes were burning so badly that I had no choice but to abandon my efforts and head inside for a cool shower. I cleaned up, put in some eye drops and puttered about the house for a while - eyes still itching and burning - and then took a nap, hoping I'd feel better for doing so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Alas, when I awoke just after 5, I was alarmed to find that my vision was now more than a little blurry and hurt even worse than before. I made a call to the eye clinic: the nurse suggested I take Benadryl and use artificial tears, then told me the clinic opened at 7:30 am if I weren't better in the morning. After a restless and miserable night, I got up to find that my vision was so blurred I couldn't make out my features in a mirror. I even wiped the mirror to see if it had been steamed up from the shower ... but no.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So off we went to the eye clinic and after a mercifully brief wait, I was ushered into an exam room and provided with sweet relief in the form of numbing drops. The doctor who examined my eyes ordered a 4 week course of steroid drops in both eyes, 4x a day for 2 weeks and then 2x a day for 2 weeks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'm happy to say that my vision improved dramatically within a couple of days and a week later, I have no residual effects. Once I was able to read again, I did some Googling and discovered that the Arizona cypress is in the same botanical family, Cupressaceae, as the dreaded cedar plants of central Texas, Juniper ashei. I believe this explains why my reaction was unusually severe: every year, when the cedar pollen blows in from Austin, I suffer an attack of cedar fever that usually ends with severe bronchitis and a course of oral steroids. For those unfamiliar with cedar fever,<a href="http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/texas-primer-cedar-fever/" target="_blank"> this article from a March 1986 issue of TEXAS MONTHLY</a> might be of interest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">What's really annoying is that, after all that angst, the view from the stop sign is still not what it should be. The real culprit is probably the Pride of Barbados tree, which The Head Gardener says someone planted in a most unfelicitous location. But with that tree in full and glorious bloom, and butterflies visiting it on a regular basis, I refuse to prune it! Surely even the yard police will see my point ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYmnGhL2hD7IJMrRv1b0Yju8k924j1hicUBOz44uv3jGRNWa-AzNu29TCbQI8ukH-8WDh-nSHRQYQFjyy44cZQTn5u1RWnbZnIpKOO5Ydu0kUFAFKdNWqMU4PqBdcaR-Ng9K5QAcUVe0/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYmnGhL2hD7IJMrRv1b0Yju8k924j1hicUBOz44uv3jGRNWa-AzNu29TCbQI8ukH-8WDh-nSHRQYQFjyy44cZQTn5u1RWnbZnIpKOO5Ydu0kUFAFKdNWqMU4PqBdcaR-Ng9K5QAcUVe0/s400/IMG_1818.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-17682469441290908242017-07-29T20:38:00.000-05:002017-07-29T20:38:58.649-05:00A Small Rant on a Sizzling Saturday: When It Comes to Gardening, Think Locally!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I can't remember a time when the Houston Chronicle wasn't a part of my life. My parents were faithful subscribers, just as my husband and I have been since we married in 1983. I was fortunate enough to be a contract employee for a while, working with garden editor Kathy Huber (now retired) and Laura Haynes Weisman, who headed up the garden website. Didn't know there was such a thing? Ah, those were the glory days, brief though they may have been. I wrote plant descriptions for the plant database that was included in that website, doing my best to provide information that was specific to our challenging growing conditions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All that is to explain why I'm disappointed, and occasionally incensed, by the Chronicle's trend over the past few years to use articles written by and targeted at gardeners in other areas of the country, with information that at best is minimally applicable to Houston area gardeners and could lead new gardeners to spend time, energy and money that will be wasted if they follow the advice in these articles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My rant is prompted by <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/gardening/article/Why-the-shade-garden-is-so-underrated-and-how-11643280.php?cmpid=gsa-chron-result" target="_blank">today's article</a>, written by Adrian Higgins of the Washington Post, who is an acknowledged and reputable garden authority in his area of the country. [Only with great restraint did I not put those last 5 words in caps!] I am in no way criticizing Mr. Higgins, mind you, since I am certain he has no control over where the WaPo chooses to syndicate/reprint his articles. Writing about the shade garden, he focuses on the experiences of a gardener in Pennsylvania as well as his own. I'll grant that the descriptions of the types of shade might be useful to a gardener in the greater Houston area and so might the information on paths and elements of design. Those are aspects of gardening that aren't too different from one area of the country to another. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But when it comes to plant choices and watering, I beg of my fellow Houston gardeners - especially those of you who are fairly new to gardening itself, or to gardening in the Houston area - to ignore what you're reading and instead consult local sources. Save yourself time, effort and money - not to mention angst and regret - and think about what you're reading, the audience of gardeners to whom it's truly addressed and just how applicable the advice really is to your garden. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When I first began to garden on my corner of Katy in 1997, I was just slightly less than clueless about what I was doing. That was also in the early days of the Internet, when American Online was the #1 provider and I was an enthusiastic participant in the AOL gardening forums. I was so delighted to find other people who were as passionate about gardening as I was that I took their advice to heart, regardless of where they gardened. But as I gardened more on this corner and learned more about plants and growing zones and the incredibly vast differences across the country, I learned that when I needed advice about my own garden, I needed to think locally. And over the 20 years I've been gardening here, that is probably the single most important thing I've learned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-33350437662066921192017-07-15T11:45:00.000-05:002017-07-16T15:29:01.345-05:00Great Galloping Gardens! It's Bloom Day! July 15, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ70Rq2oxzhISGX-Evh2PoOJIyjKd-U0nKcDKFUjxll4_KymFs81EkshxadZKLH1VM_C8P_gKORYoRmTyRoxzmfys3XhUegEV0DMg_cPiqUaN9tB4CVIcVk2XHSG-3yI2YyzfAup2VVt4/s1600/wordcloud+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ70Rq2oxzhISGX-Evh2PoOJIyjKd-U0nKcDKFUjxll4_KymFs81EkshxadZKLH1VM_C8P_gKORYoRmTyRoxzmfys3XhUegEV0DMg_cPiqUaN9tB4CVIcVk2XHSG-3yI2YyzfAup2VVt4/s320/wordcloud+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I ventured out into the gardens intending to take pictures of some of the blooming beauties here on my corner of Katy, but I was very quickly driven inside by the heat. So I've been sitting here in my comfortable chair in my air-conditioned house, composing a word cloud of the plants that are blooming in my garden right now. I dashed out one time to make a quick survey of the front gardens since I needed to jog my memory of what's blooming in those beds. I lasted maybe 3 minutes, then retreated once again to the cooler clime inside. I don't know those of y'all without a/c survive during a heat wave. Mercy, that would be misery and then some. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't been doing much gardening in the last 6 weeks or so. I had the joy and the privilege to join a garden tour of the Cotswolds from June 12th-19th, preceded by a visit with the always delightful Layanee of Ledge and Garden at her home in Rhode Island. We were joined there and on the tour by Idaho's Dirt Diva, Mary Ann Newcomer of Gardens of the Wild Wild West. I had high expectations of English gardens and they only exceeded those expectations a million times over! Pictures eventually ... I'm still going through them and sighing in rapturous remembrance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I made it home, I was too overcome by exhaustion to do much more than pull a few weeds and yank some of the manky plants that were violating my amenities. Then came one of those torrential summer rainstorms and it blew in something that sent my sensitive sinuses into overdrive. From there it was only a short trip to bronchitis and bronchial asthma, which turned into mild pneumonia. The severe coughing caused some vitreous detachment in my right eye, resulting in flashes and floaters that still continue. The floaters are annoying because I think gnats or mosquitoes have gotten into the house and keep swatting at them, only . The optometrist specifically told me no gardening: bending over from the waist is forbidden since it could cause more tears and possibly even a detached retina. While I certainly don't want that to happen, I will admit to occasional forays out to water when I kneeled to pull a weed. That's about as close as I've ever gotten to following doctor's orders. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Add to that a seriously wonky MacBook Air. I finally admitted that solving its problems were beyond me and took myself to SimplyMac, an Apple authorized Mac store in my area. I left the store without the Air but with a shiny new MacBook Pro. The Air is now working again, thanks to the store technicians. However, they still have to determine whether several thousand missing pictures are still there or gone forever. I</span><span style="font-size: large;">'ll visit with them about that tomorrow. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Back to gardening ... I just realized I left out Ironweed (Vernonia something), water purslane and Polygonum Pink Buttons. And if you're wondering why the toad lilies are blooming now, so am I. The blooms are sparse and only on the plants in one area are blooming. So it goes on my corner of Katy. There's always something unexpected happening!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-5708009413160839592017-04-16T20:54:00.005-05:002017-04-16T20:55:29.293-05:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: April 2017<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">First, a few words to our gracious and delightful Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day host, Carol of May Dreams Gardens: See, Indy? Not only did I get pictures of blooms as I said I would but I posted them too! Okay, there are only two ... but life has been especially chaotic here on my corner of Katy recently and doesn't promise to settle down any time soon. We took time out today to celebrate the miracle of spring ... these were the views as I sat with my mother on the patio and listened to the birds sing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaYeOVd6fW6dhEFkYX9HVTnzp736WyTe0IGyrIl_V70yjUIGtcLz_TejwM9l7EADJxB_IXNUjZBep01O28NP7H-vU9PrDX2UXQS74KO_cnBTznFMz-eCIbnITP-sxI2SzHjATSZ3ly_I/s1600/IMG_8366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaYeOVd6fW6dhEFkYX9HVTnzp736WyTe0IGyrIl_V70yjUIGtcLz_TejwM9l7EADJxB_IXNUjZBep01O28NP7H-vU9PrDX2UXQS74KO_cnBTznFMz-eCIbnITP-sxI2SzHjATSZ3ly_I/s400/IMG_8366.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>Larkspur, toadflax, alyssum and some pink verbena on the far left</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1FU_kQUBCUakeoDHuphmBsYiHpkn16mxsnD_iSaoAPjRzSKfUS9AMUo9yLlo4jZf24yTWegxAScmcFodMwluropJVlroL6rxhfW6069aJufYiyMQGx8YmNrs6ZT3b3sly0wkkM05G3I/s1600/IMG_8367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1FU_kQUBCUakeoDHuphmBsYiHpkn16mxsnD_iSaoAPjRzSKfUS9AMUo9yLlo4jZf24yTWegxAScmcFodMwluropJVlroL6rxhfW6069aJufYiyMQGx8YmNrs6ZT3b3sly0wkkM05G3I/s400/IMG_8367.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>The big white blooms are white Callirhoe involucrata, which is at its tiptop best right now!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-36740451776447614252017-04-01T18:34:00.002-05:002017-04-01T18:34:22.177-05:00Big News from My Corner of Katy: Incredible Discovery Will Make The Head Gardener Rich!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Head Gardener is beyond ecstatic to report her discovery today in the gardens of Wit's End of a fantastic new hybrid of Rudbeckia, unlike any ever seen before. The working name for this spectacularly unusual black-eyed beauty is Caterpillar Rudbeckia. However, the HG is willing to negotiate propagation and/or naming rights for an immodest fee. She is patiently awaiting the calls from the big names in horticulture and the inevitable bidding war that will result from her find. I've just popped a bottle of bubbly at her insistence. Before she took her first quaff, she graciously consented to allow me to post a picture. Feast your eyes, my friends!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuugAsCfmWh710sIdOljjDmSDkRLHmYIRI2pZsHwi7JgNCakG5rE2h5tDejqjzakuKHEQq6yzR5Yrt8F35ioknijFC4zoY8s-Ekgs7F0x7s09tF7BnaSujhA4YUdszfJWy0R4WIP2yTvk/s1600/IMG_8350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuugAsCfmWh710sIdOljjDmSDkRLHmYIRI2pZsHwi7JgNCakG5rE2h5tDejqjzakuKHEQq6yzR5Yrt8F35ioknijFC4zoY8s-Ekgs7F0x7s09tF7BnaSujhA4YUdszfJWy0R4WIP2yTvk/s320/IMG_8350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-50692719970643931562016-10-15T00:01:00.000-05:002016-10-15T00:01:15.046-05:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, October 2016: A Tale of Two Salvias<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Head Gardener and I have been busy since last we blogged ... Day-um, has it really been 5 months??!! </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There's been a lot going on, both in and out of the gardens. More on that later. Right now it's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, hosted by my pal Carol of May Dreams Gardens, and it's time to show off what's blooming in our gardens. I was all fired up to get pictures of bauhinias, plumbago, echinaceas, cupheas, rudbeckias, asclepias, caesalpinia, aloes, russellia, calylophus, melampodium, cordia, justicias, stachys, anisacanthus, tradescantias, zinnias, and more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But just as I headed outside to get some photos of my best blooms for y'all, it started raining and I only had time to get a couple of shots. So October 2016's GBBD is a tale of two salvias, Mystic Spires and Amistad. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7doCmeyBnIcuLiBkOfjqPvRibvDAnwFEQjfM_0_gAImcJTpK5nPGtr3KeV2MF02UBvyoJoS5Go4GAiHMAZnL9joLQfXeblBWK8l2T_7NjheOupiYjz4iG81Ts1xQ9oa7R3KRR0J5hphw/s1600/IMG_7944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7doCmeyBnIcuLiBkOfjqPvRibvDAnwFEQjfM_0_gAImcJTpK5nPGtr3KeV2MF02UBvyoJoS5Go4GAiHMAZnL9joLQfXeblBWK8l2T_7NjheOupiYjz4iG81Ts1xQ9oa7R3KRR0J5hphw/s400/IMG_7944.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Salvia Mystic Spires*</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">It was my understanding that Mystic Spires would be a smaller, more compact version of Indigo Spires. Looking at this example, perhaps you are inclined to agree. Think again, my friends: this is one plant, after being cut back approximately 4 times this summer, most recently a few days ago. The bumblebees love the blooms and that is why I am loath to whack it back to bare stems. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUsb13LQ7sUaUxnIFhGLv0AH3qNPFkhWdXuaD10cQS11aPFot2Pm64h_mR07ijkpahwIbuG6rB5Vmn_YrDUDADMR7t8qGjGY1Xfn7IWE1M_O6aihaCkyGiirex9HACqGsckpq2qJb6Ms/s1600/IMG_7945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUsb13LQ7sUaUxnIFhGLv0AH3qNPFkhWdXuaD10cQS11aPFot2Pm64h_mR07ijkpahwIbuG6rB5Vmn_YrDUDADMR7t8qGjGY1Xfn7IWE1M_O6aihaCkyGiirex9HACqGsckpq2qJb6Ms/s400/IMG_7945.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Salvia Amistad</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;">Salvia Amistad, I expected to get this big. The blooms are such a gorgeous deep rich purple, I just want to wrap myself in their color. It wouldn't be a good idea, though, since the hummingbirds would doubtless fight me for them. This has been the site of frequent and spirited hummingbird battles throughout the summer. No matter how tired I am of hot summer weather, my spirits are always lifted when I see the hummingbirds dive bombing each other above this plant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;">That's it for this Bloom Day. Take a look at the Mr. Linky list on Carol's post and see what's blooming in other gardens around the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;">* </span><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">Please ignore the scattered rocks, portions of black plastic pots and outdoor cushions visible in this picture. The Head Gardener is furiously rethinking the back garden and every day finds something else rearranged. The woman wears me out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-82687638736028617432016-05-15T11:23:00.000-05:002016-05-16T11:54:42.030-05:00May 2016 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: It's All About the Daylilies!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This Bloom Day, it's all about the daylilies here on my corner of Katy! It's also an occasion for the Head Gardener to lament my inability to properly label my daylilies when I plant them or move them, thereby leading to our inability to identify many of them by name. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Please feel free to let us know if you recognize any of them!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am a sore disappointment to the HG but she remains hopeful that I will work to overcome this unfortunate flaw in my character and that someday all of the daylilies here at Wit's End will be properly identified. But until that day, any blog posts on the subject of Hemerocallis will be sadly remiss in the identification area. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">While the HG puts on her big girl panties and deals with it, on with the show! </span><b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">CARPE HEMEROCALLIS! </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> FYI: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's been raining since Saturday so the blooms are a bit soggy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kGzIftB0y_3tLgqja2DYHbEZy9pdCpPbgtgeByhAVT0A9jvUQPrY5NcbveTVlFHjdGJYUq_zbEzZZKI1awyNG2z4mb6SjoanD53-8mmf9sckhVcujy5cy2MWUS7ZDdMuqA387vDDobs/s1600/IMG_6665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kGzIftB0y_3tLgqja2DYHbEZy9pdCpPbgtgeByhAVT0A9jvUQPrY5NcbveTVlFHjdGJYUq_zbEzZZKI1awyNG2z4mb6SjoanD53-8mmf9sckhVcujy5cy2MWUS7ZDdMuqA387vDDobs/s400/IMG_6665.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk_0ZZhv7vKGPHVOcr962P8sJeRY9E8-KG6ZBJLl9JexaslOdweT6AoSQIC-3lXJVWV0ohUf9suOXBLkzFlpg7YK_XSmIvj60TtCce6EOsam_zVUoT4zYAvDHa9JQi0rCW8iaxSww6Sc/s1600/IMG_6666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk_0ZZhv7vKGPHVOcr962P8sJeRY9E8-KG6ZBJLl9JexaslOdweT6AoSQIC-3lXJVWV0ohUf9suOXBLkzFlpg7YK_XSmIvj60TtCce6EOsam_zVUoT4zYAvDHa9JQi0rCW8iaxSww6Sc/s400/IMG_6666.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ38phjc9OUraGDQbBdxbsFnJMvpUVj1Lg-hkpptRWE727SBpd_D_YIcD0eTOP6xIXdtY0Z9MwdwrfXon3xOaAR7a1pL43Atdmro5ohlYhgmT-44qwPPU26H_Uujzxg9WQQdXnbuFsqHM/s1600/IMG_6667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ38phjc9OUraGDQbBdxbsFnJMvpUVj1Lg-hkpptRWE727SBpd_D_YIcD0eTOP6xIXdtY0Z9MwdwrfXon3xOaAR7a1pL43Atdmro5ohlYhgmT-44qwPPU26H_Uujzxg9WQQdXnbuFsqHM/s400/IMG_6667.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXcVoRGDea0aNEK6HjynPaC0ZaBupownVWx6pHsyYEnFFKmJS9JzBBlFK7u1XpKFmp8LoApXo5D653nsh0tHiPC78CH9ijpEtYpLGJis_HdkpNJVQdKEjIWmj2fcRsMdTTyppDSxdRII/s1600/IMG_6672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXcVoRGDea0aNEK6HjynPaC0ZaBupownVWx6pHsyYEnFFKmJS9JzBBlFK7u1XpKFmp8LoApXo5D653nsh0tHiPC78CH9ijpEtYpLGJis_HdkpNJVQdKEjIWmj2fcRsMdTTyppDSxdRII/s400/IMG_6672.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwY3vQejT0aklhkfVPyfQtsQ-BNDlPrhZ93IDrimwYgqLdwq5pNiir5H8LUbmAsZXMyRvYodlk23uCtBI_Lxr1yoHjZlqdT4sxWjMP8hzoE507SV_XH6cv7qKPrieia2-AzOxllGxJ8zY/s1600/IMG_6675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwY3vQejT0aklhkfVPyfQtsQ-BNDlPrhZ93IDrimwYgqLdwq5pNiir5H8LUbmAsZXMyRvYodlk23uCtBI_Lxr1yoHjZlqdT4sxWjMP8hzoE507SV_XH6cv7qKPrieia2-AzOxllGxJ8zY/s400/IMG_6675.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6bThmm8-oQCds1U93NKqYmmfS3edobaLDImSCMD7e-z5Nn4UARyvBxvI9qociPfp8jfCktd7UNomUtlxAE7mxQbR9xPhed_JMTdF63aBn8oY9XDnGrt6wb1WO-jG6oOQ6cEXDYXBuB8/s1600/IMG_6676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6bThmm8-oQCds1U93NKqYmmfS3edobaLDImSCMD7e-z5Nn4UARyvBxvI9qociPfp8jfCktd7UNomUtlxAE7mxQbR9xPhed_JMTdF63aBn8oY9XDnGrt6wb1WO-jG6oOQ6cEXDYXBuB8/s400/IMG_6676.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKrtISrsqDDDuMWmnwqBqNV0merLg5XAPAgPoYd8MvJfF4W2fRFBhE_qNx4j9laEk7BTTC_kDmLYgwbg43PZ6uZeZo34zfPFVtrNcGEuD0ozXWf6TmSD73lh_VD1eTKsNqeE7z-XBb6Y/s1600/IMG_6677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKrtISrsqDDDuMWmnwqBqNV0merLg5XAPAgPoYd8MvJfF4W2fRFBhE_qNx4j9laEk7BTTC_kDmLYgwbg43PZ6uZeZo34zfPFVtrNcGEuD0ozXWf6TmSD73lh_VD1eTKsNqeE7z-XBb6Y/s400/IMG_6677.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwmjI5MXfRMBsYNuIy6AnzwaU3NUOpHWcEI60LtJ71nDvfzb4eJYCETwMGlsfahSobRjnK5Xpf0v8BjmyEJ7iBU_YRDUQdQ1-r90xXeLd203UGLYMku307hLpQi70j1Qvk-UBfDEAu-0/s1600/IMG_6678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwmjI5MXfRMBsYNuIy6AnzwaU3NUOpHWcEI60LtJ71nDvfzb4eJYCETwMGlsfahSobRjnK5Xpf0v8BjmyEJ7iBU_YRDUQdQ1-r90xXeLd203UGLYMku307hLpQi70j1Qvk-UBfDEAu-0/s400/IMG_6678.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWAmK_bi0v_p2qmTZ0JRuSY2fND88VSasLlDvGjs48A8WiNtPX-IPrRVKpPR1oyYybR7E94Vajl5IfBztt16Nf2Fqx4m47-dCeQLeKidKM8VcRu4S9JuQROtbTnrmxNqMYghrzfRb3Gw/s1600/IMG_6679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWAmK_bi0v_p2qmTZ0JRuSY2fND88VSasLlDvGjs48A8WiNtPX-IPrRVKpPR1oyYybR7E94Vajl5IfBztt16Nf2Fqx4m47-dCeQLeKidKM8VcRu4S9JuQROtbTnrmxNqMYghrzfRb3Gw/s400/IMG_6679.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ird8C0w4ihkJstU2yDoIoxS2rHhJymQJlKt6XSW5ZM62H55V_nzsnqwLOKKoOy715Yti5zFIlUywrhNPCCItt3ZwUaZqPGSvkzAabAfOJqzqkVPE6X0g_JEky1FqTNkUyXedyQBThlc/s1600/IMG_6680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ird8C0w4ihkJstU2yDoIoxS2rHhJymQJlKt6XSW5ZM62H55V_nzsnqwLOKKoOy715Yti5zFIlUywrhNPCCItt3ZwUaZqPGSvkzAabAfOJqzqkVPE6X0g_JEky1FqTNkUyXedyQBThlc/s400/IMG_6680.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2zVtuS65QeG8AsrpiEop3Js4NuQ2Ac8S8JBxC0b1RF8UMH4THpmEMVvk8OxoU2KiRMlgTXmeLP1p3HSRC5OFxFNYXB2SlLVtwsuVBcSMQIoTcs-CFyF9-1mIpcHYVprQUNPqgAuf3dc/s1600/IMG_6681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2zVtuS65QeG8AsrpiEop3Js4NuQ2Ac8S8JBxC0b1RF8UMH4THpmEMVvk8OxoU2KiRMlgTXmeLP1p3HSRC5OFxFNYXB2SlLVtwsuVBcSMQIoTcs-CFyF9-1mIpcHYVprQUNPqgAuf3dc/s400/IMG_6681.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvIA2Xn4WeGqPp_TCm39Wqz0UllrrD-kV26eCc_wX5o8c4b5Fd4BFoFWKtcH-0YI4AKBnmz65ojELEMGd26ao_iT6k3v_LDk-wmzB49EAnFNEjXQWo75gyYo7-fXwxUTFMS_qZd1BG-4/s1600/IMG_6683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvIA2Xn4WeGqPp_TCm39Wqz0UllrrD-kV26eCc_wX5o8c4b5Fd4BFoFWKtcH-0YI4AKBnmz65ojELEMGd26ao_iT6k3v_LDk-wmzB49EAnFNEjXQWo75gyYo7-fXwxUTFMS_qZd1BG-4/s400/IMG_6683.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkP_fPPmEnfDbt4yjEJGkxIzcGiEGYQtKbRlux-FY9Q7nO0ltXZUaUFh37a2cvKsC5WK6SfHR4Y6OkVK36MaHKNMmYm0kA7wTm5AsE7bFxt2rotPhxrehTQh_j-kXooT5cWulCRNor-M/s1600/IMG_6684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkP_fPPmEnfDbt4yjEJGkxIzcGiEGYQtKbRlux-FY9Q7nO0ltXZUaUFh37a2cvKsC5WK6SfHR4Y6OkVK36MaHKNMmYm0kA7wTm5AsE7bFxt2rotPhxrehTQh_j-kXooT5cWulCRNor-M/s400/IMG_6684.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5xpJR4U4mFZdEEOIPN1Is_qpE3LnP8TR6ZcDvdKg0JN8J_6PIlrDqbo_m0feM_R-QvtH1_fN-THhO4n3CReEiZ_BILsYTrsUmEa87ycreHVL-NREJ_gDvfqKxMtiaAtaiB9R2YqmPjk/s1600/IMG_6685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5xpJR4U4mFZdEEOIPN1Is_qpE3LnP8TR6ZcDvdKg0JN8J_6PIlrDqbo_m0feM_R-QvtH1_fN-THhO4n3CReEiZ_BILsYTrsUmEa87ycreHVL-NREJ_gDvfqKxMtiaAtaiB9R2YqmPjk/s400/IMG_6685.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdhSKP0rWw4k_r95yu5SyJfhbFR_S79dREnb_XZBxmWNhCKCnB9kqjIXYDAbI8b3hcgYR6LuZe-0ciVOcx6e0T5KrY18ZEtEI93EbKCzTREx1Eq21FYalZw4tk5thKXO7H-It5WtCTvE/s1600/IMG_6690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdhSKP0rWw4k_r95yu5SyJfhbFR_S79dREnb_XZBxmWNhCKCnB9kqjIXYDAbI8b3hcgYR6LuZe-0ciVOcx6e0T5KrY18ZEtEI93EbKCzTREx1Eq21FYalZw4tk5thKXO7H-It5WtCTvE/s400/IMG_6690.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is celebrated on the 15th of every month and is hosted by the intrepid Indygardener, who blogs at <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2016/05/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2016.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a>. Check out what's blooming in her garden and gardens around the world!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-18596852293244289822016-02-15T22:43:00.005-06:002016-02-15T22:43:47.543-06:00February 2016: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">ACK! It's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and I didn't get any pictures taken! I have a good excuse ... I'm getting ready to head to Seattle tomorrow to meet up with a few of my favorite gardeners and bloggers at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. I've heard about the wonders of this show for years but it's my first time to attend ... yeah, I'm a little excited! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I do have blooms here on my corner of Katy so I thought I'd post a list of what's blooming. I won't say it's all blooming profusely but thanks to our mild winter, many plants have never stopped blooming. When I get back from Seattle, I'll have to go into tough love mode and start cutting back remorselessly!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The List:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Salvia 'Amistad'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Salvia 'Cherry Chief'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Salvia 'Mystic Spires'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Salvia regla</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Salvia madrensis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sweet olive, Osmanthus fragrans</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Camellia 'High Fragrance'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Walter's Viburnum</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Spiderwort</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Echinacea</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Alyssum</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Pink skullcap</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Lobelia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Violas: Johnny Jump Up, Penny White, Sorbet Purple</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Leucojum, Summer Snowflake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Mexican Flame Vine, Senecio confusus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Toad lily, Tricyrtis (a few confused plants)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Freesia laxa/Anometheca laxa/Lapeirousia laxa, Painted Petals</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Narcissus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Roses: Souvenir de la Malmaison, Old Blush, Mutabilis, Souvenir de St Anne, Caldwell Pink, Peggy Martin, Bon Silene, Chi Long Han Zhu</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Giant aloe/candelabra aloe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Pigeonberry</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Polygonum 'Pink Buttons' (it's the Schrodinger's Cat of plants here, both dead and alive at the same time thanks to a couple of dips into the low 30s)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Giant Firespike, Odontonema strictum </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Clerodendrum thomsoniae var. delectum</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hirome Cherry (just starting)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Rising Sun Redbud (just starting)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Gaillardia, Indian Blanket</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Bulbine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Evening sundrops/dewdrops, Calylophus drummondii</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blackfoot daisy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Pink muhly grass</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There may be more but it's late and I've got to get up early tomorrow! Read other Bloom Day accounts at <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2016/02/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-february-2016.html" target="_blank">that Indy gardener's blog.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-66937658006490779072016-02-11T09:36:00.000-06:002016-02-11T09:36:14.026-06:00Three for Thursday: Signs of Spring on My Corner of Katy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Spring has come to south central Texas and I've lost count of how many near perfect days we've had since the last week of January. Those of you who are housebound due to snow and ice are more than welcome to come on down here and visit me. I can promise you some quality gardening time!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FgEiYfpJ0dGqureapIUB9iE0XH0D8E6hz8MPwzMj1mkKns2T3laiCwgIq_fJkCKrbDd3hlKPCmcgaD2s7gmY6XgX11EWTF0wTsJXDreTJNHlZfayxcI55nutOKYxfVN7ISTGkgo41dE/s1600/IMG_6332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FgEiYfpJ0dGqureapIUB9iE0XH0D8E6hz8MPwzMj1mkKns2T3laiCwgIq_fJkCKrbDd3hlKPCmcgaD2s7gmY6XgX11EWTF0wTsJXDreTJNHlZfayxcI55nutOKYxfVN7ISTGkgo41dE/s400/IMG_6332.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">'Rising Sun' redbud is getting ready for its big show.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqTZd_5CHvzniJtCJgOvquMqn7-oqeLZKHSqZ2bWuEe94mKIfDrs_Z5KtnlkYVig1ICjpigAJgQ5Mgr_4EdESw4y60o4lQZPGM3GOr1Hmyq2U0mbACh1ID2fJkyWerqCJaLr5kcZc6ws/s1600/IMG_6334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqTZd_5CHvzniJtCJgOvquMqn7-oqeLZKHSqZ2bWuEe94mKIfDrs_Z5KtnlkYVig1ICjpigAJgQ5Mgr_4EdESw4y60o4lQZPGM3GOr1Hmyq2U0mbACh1ID2fJkyWerqCJaLr5kcZc6ws/s400/IMG_6334.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>The cooler weather means a deeper purple bloom on the spiderwort.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1ymTNO1Yh2YfJFAJ5DdmJkj7PoZ03peMwQs6tuNRU9wSaYf9MvqMD54OHhup_XBYv4BgsnRgbKzxp4dAV-3qov3FYhQf27k1nkHyd2UlpIt4cYSjfA1yVdikWHLUTSNC-w-VIfpc0dU/s1600/IMG_6343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1ymTNO1Yh2YfJFAJ5DdmJkj7PoZ03peMwQs6tuNRU9wSaYf9MvqMD54OHhup_XBYv4BgsnRgbKzxp4dAV-3qov3FYhQf27k1nkHyd2UlpIt4cYSjfA1yVdikWHLUTSNC-w-VIfpc0dU/s400/IMG_6343.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="font-size: medium;">Our state flower is making an early appearance.</i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This weather, right here, right now, is what makes me and so many other Texans willing to suffer through our sizzling summers. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The evils of August seem very far away.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-53899636786675196042016-01-15T20:28:00.000-06:002016-01-15T20:28:01.297-06:00January 2016 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: In the Pink on My Corner of Katy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhzQao3ODOqO1-cTC2kWghC7v6_5m5ZaslRACNqzAs61uQNc82DmcTVjj6JyqsBJu_VVFFbCcetfAlSItMMlyL0-mLb0O2R2Q5989y2iDj2RC4y8hzNqcm7R0ZYLqPlnGA91z0aTzhbw/s1600/IMG_6227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhzQao3ODOqO1-cTC2kWghC7v6_5m5ZaslRACNqzAs61uQNc82DmcTVjj6JyqsBJu_VVFFbCcetfAlSItMMlyL0-mLb0O2R2Q5989y2iDj2RC4y8hzNqcm7R0ZYLqPlnGA91z0aTzhbw/s400/IMG_6227.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Echinacea with my Happy Pill from the Toronto Fling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRo-R-zTyloSAPfYD__5T8rRkNqT90TzL4kmsZVks_Ss0dz4Y9EyPsqKwrnMOyVYZ58EGjpJ8jmeVW-cIuD-mQqR2ICH56fwQ4ZlR3NHB8Vte1_H-b4TdRXFhrkB8kIjg-Z7fYWUQgZA/s1600/IMG_6229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRo-R-zTyloSAPfYD__5T8rRkNqT90TzL4kmsZVks_Ss0dz4Y9EyPsqKwrnMOyVYZ58EGjpJ8jmeVW-cIuD-mQqR2ICH56fwQ4ZlR3NHB8Vte1_H-b4TdRXFhrkB8kIjg-Z7fYWUQgZA/s400/IMG_6229.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Peggy Martin Rose</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYGZurULqAbD7OIKRWjFTB7krjblTHB2NQAtsCnjHq2vZqSo8hjnxlR3vGGGJuq2FoJWfSUnSUTyLHKWJzRi4iXZFL9OPc860nfslU2NufvRBc8Py6tZC8ExNaF09CjuNW7-AuUIA5r0/s1600/IMG_6238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYGZurULqAbD7OIKRWjFTB7krjblTHB2NQAtsCnjHq2vZqSo8hjnxlR3vGGGJuq2FoJWfSUnSUTyLHKWJzRi4iXZFL9OPc860nfslU2NufvRBc8Py6tZC8ExNaF09CjuNW7-AuUIA5r0/s400/IMG_6238.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rose 'Mutabilis'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZDgeX4ZlC3VOTOMcI124sHz8qnmcqyNGeMyBSkNbQLkMDwEfkBTjyVPxigvMw8_w7oa8wDC0cpbLvJXjFCsl8ElIjST70ZTtXAaguaAR3A3d7iz4bMadifBYnBUr2NUy_wzgaHr_Mrg/s1600/IMG_6241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZDgeX4ZlC3VOTOMcI124sHz8qnmcqyNGeMyBSkNbQLkMDwEfkBTjyVPxigvMw8_w7oa8wDC0cpbLvJXjFCsl8ElIjST70ZTtXAaguaAR3A3d7iz4bMadifBYnBUr2NUy_wzgaHr_Mrg/s400/IMG_6241.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Echinaceas with visitor</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba-sG0Bcpq4VrYz_WrZaQnp8_P9OM1qZNgcaEzuJYRijDWaFnN8xpHxuq6uULeOn-XKRM8_Hd4tMmVH2_2RzHpwnAh2y7ZDGkmvN0KOoFRPaW8AWHwx_UmLg_sYWNixka84Pxk8gSZSw/s1600/IMG_6253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba-sG0Bcpq4VrYz_WrZaQnp8_P9OM1qZNgcaEzuJYRijDWaFnN8xpHxuq6uULeOn-XKRM8_Hd4tMmVH2_2RzHpwnAh2y7ZDGkmvN0KOoFRPaW8AWHwx_UmLg_sYWNixka84Pxk8gSZSw/s400/IMG_6253.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Scutellaria 'Fuchsia Fountains'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIljVXfpoXsRW3C6xqRZQiCU6UABe2jxuG7_-B2vlzgUizaRQfzO-GTJwVKdQ42bOWst4LnAn3H-w1Kv3AElfWjTHyGwxnK0zgx-CHHRR6dMPWhOWvacThv_F67X1G58dh39z-f50Psv8/s1600/IMG_6257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIljVXfpoXsRW3C6xqRZQiCU6UABe2jxuG7_-B2vlzgUizaRQfzO-GTJwVKdQ42bOWst4LnAn3H-w1Kv3AElfWjTHyGwxnK0zgx-CHHRR6dMPWhOWvacThv_F67X1G58dh39z-f50Psv8/s400/IMG_6257.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rose 'Old Blush'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMegFu3Z7NAnXo1DJeDAqt15_UlngnTMsVo5EQHl6J4K0ikmojiwicWu1UohuMPJZUEN732YXkt-Hb2T5bMk9Bf5tObvQRIFJb-a7KtVWCDjc_OGR4VwflBBV9szcqbvtIHT3kTiPn1T4/s1600/IMG_6262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMegFu3Z7NAnXo1DJeDAqt15_UlngnTMsVo5EQHl6J4K0ikmojiwicWu1UohuMPJZUEN732YXkt-Hb2T5bMk9Bf5tObvQRIFJb-a7KtVWCDjc_OGR4VwflBBV9szcqbvtIHT3kTiPn1T4/s400/IMG_6262.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rose 'Bon Silene'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnZszMYI4A23FstJ8JN-XdM3_ceIzJYA6ajh9G2nzTBAs4GtSF6Rczc7fhA6y8moWDXSlXkuv5FYM9lw-wGPX0xNKIx3Tgt42eM4HhVoZqp0U-y9Gp5Lp8Jf0Q8mb2HrvFKf4Orp9qTs/s1600/IMG_6263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnZszMYI4A23FstJ8JN-XdM3_ceIzJYA6ajh9G2nzTBAs4GtSF6Rczc7fhA6y8moWDXSlXkuv5FYM9lw-wGPX0xNKIx3Tgt42eM4HhVoZqp0U-y9Gp5Lp8Jf0Q8mb2HrvFKf4Orp9qTs/s400/IMG_6263.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rose 'Belinda's Dream'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejOsn-wWNGMX3I8ID7UKlTVaXI7NKXvCywe7nNswpMqJWlzHBhxe3hk4OSj8bzqTDHV1yIhL6OG6V5F01nAfkChtBY0HGo5DLTWoUbKdxIfUpOfrQvFGCRjQVNgsiwfgMfcAaL1tPNvI/s1600/IMG_6264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejOsn-wWNGMX3I8ID7UKlTVaXI7NKXvCywe7nNswpMqJWlzHBhxe3hk4OSj8bzqTDHV1yIhL6OG6V5F01nAfkChtBY0HGo5DLTWoUbKdxIfUpOfrQvFGCRjQVNgsiwfgMfcAaL1tPNvI/s400/IMG_6264.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rose 'Souvenir de la Malmaison'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmy4X_uyIVVcjY0yLP_j___csOoGVf1Y4seNCIq60fUEkZtMP-oK0_3t_zfvIPNFsg2KfMfoD0wSR2E8hSkDRrn8ZDXP6WjPDfGR8KgbOcoejvEGf-cmlXAa_DEu6LTCjl-Y6DZJD8b8/s1600/IMG_6265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmy4X_uyIVVcjY0yLP_j___csOoGVf1Y4seNCIq60fUEkZtMP-oK0_3t_zfvIPNFsg2KfMfoD0wSR2E8hSkDRrn8ZDXP6WjPDfGR8KgbOcoejvEGf-cmlXAa_DEu6LTCjl-Y6DZJD8b8/s400/IMG_6265.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Upright hot pink Pentas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM5ot5O1e2yYUhEPguW7Cbv9sY9lREPImKuPNY5I856JRbhXqFnmNbn_JTsgkzru2E3Ut39XrWVtcWb4gcc3IUZjxowx4y3pZjSIpf5LaflgAirziR8MS5-56lCUgCizaPEEXob4knoQ/s1600/IMG_6267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM5ot5O1e2yYUhEPguW7Cbv9sY9lREPImKuPNY5I856JRbhXqFnmNbn_JTsgkzru2E3Ut39XrWVtcWb4gcc3IUZjxowx4y3pZjSIpf5LaflgAirziR8MS5-56lCUgCizaPEEXob4knoQ/s400/IMG_6267.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Amazon Neon Dianthus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3opo6ezMufAX_3hEsfKJ28ao3yUrnbKgLrB0ZBm6CV9F6M5UV4tW5qgrwDPOeB06hXe33FM9nAveV1Y-KtGBxFW0GR6qZ8AfXuIH_wdzCCkDeB9pTXb7X8VwAzLknVik6GayKnmaHMgs/s1600/IMG_6269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3opo6ezMufAX_3hEsfKJ28ao3yUrnbKgLrB0ZBm6CV9F6M5UV4tW5qgrwDPOeB06hXe33FM9nAveV1Y-KtGBxFW0GR6qZ8AfXuIH_wdzCCkDeB9pTXb7X8VwAzLknVik6GayKnmaHMgs/s400/IMG_6269.jpg" width="393" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Sweet Pea 'Painted Lady'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYRgYsibaoMtdWP_gRxYkCXifZxhKsDdxS_COGzd5l3V7XbfsiuvVAHA_QlqT-Al8HSPPoY93yVJ-EiiG31daEt5gf-jjIzIYrhr4-w30FMLoxl6YnKm20Wg0I_1CgV-aIR4hsPvmnuE/s1600/IMG_6273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYRgYsibaoMtdWP_gRxYkCXifZxhKsDdxS_COGzd5l3V7XbfsiuvVAHA_QlqT-Al8HSPPoY93yVJ-EiiG31daEt5gf-jjIzIYrhr4-w30FMLoxl6YnKm20Wg0I_1CgV-aIR4hsPvmnuE/s400/IMG_6273.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Pink Firespike, Odontonema stricta</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks to Carol of <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2016/01/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-january-2016.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a> for hosting Bloom Day each month!</span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-41744760579488641212015-11-15T20:04:00.001-06:002015-11-15T20:04:20.064-06:00November Blooms on My Corner of Katy: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day November 2015<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKBcTrOZBZTyCPMuq6HYwnwYm7UQ7522rNRo-hRWCRYnP9nVTOhW4UlOU5erekhzTWizkfHNASqLpDSvojAHRneXVSPwt26TJ29q7SpZRg-jqCnCGlYKfAwXHV1ExpiZSb21Qvtzq7Jw/s1600/IMG_6143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKBcTrOZBZTyCPMuq6HYwnwYm7UQ7522rNRo-hRWCRYnP9nVTOhW4UlOU5erekhzTWizkfHNASqLpDSvojAHRneXVSPwt26TJ29q7SpZRg-jqCnCGlYKfAwXHV1ExpiZSb21Qvtzq7Jw/s400/IMG_6143.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>Pour Paris et pour tout la France: <br />a bloom on my Souvenir de la Malmaison rose, <br />a beautiful reminder of another time in history when <br />life was fraught with pain and turmoil</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's been a beautiful Sunday here on my corner of Katy and I took a break from working in the garden to just sit outside and savor the sunshine and cool breezes, and do my best to work through the sadness I feel about our broken world. I was going to say let go of the sadness but I wonder if that isn't part of what's broken in so many people: we don't want to acknowledge, feel or process our emotions so we "let it go" and it becomes angry hateful thoughts that often become angry hateful words and angry hurtful acts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My gardens have always been a place of comfort and solace for me and knowing that others find peace and beauty on my corner of Katy reminds me that all most of us can do is tend our own little corner of the world in hopes that it will make a difference. Think globally, act locally. Do your best to find peace in your own heart. It's a start. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw3jD1RmwVPzxGOKAa5DGISYO0Q2GcWgUnMOA740X4yvNzZ876K1ELAdTkGS0-CtWwl2fUwz83jCLnhqzjEni1J2rCJxR-YwiRMLPgReNj63jYnSpz_06pQxhrNkchEsqaJ-I5aM4nmg/s1600/IMG_6101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw3jD1RmwVPzxGOKAa5DGISYO0Q2GcWgUnMOA740X4yvNzZ876K1ELAdTkGS0-CtWwl2fUwz83jCLnhqzjEni1J2rCJxR-YwiRMLPgReNj63jYnSpz_06pQxhrNkchEsqaJ-I5aM4nmg/s400/IMG_6101.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AZzSK8qnzkAYGj72F3sD4I18P9AEpiKN_cdlh56wvpfDcDPCT9ptLmyzsyzx15WA7VHfjppBagt3Bld2MxzCSybVF3V4HsIDpcAw8uETtmICBtEH6uQNaxtfBAZSHO21v38eDbbpG4U/s1600/IMG_6111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AZzSK8qnzkAYGj72F3sD4I18P9AEpiKN_cdlh56wvpfDcDPCT9ptLmyzsyzx15WA7VHfjppBagt3Bld2MxzCSybVF3V4HsIDpcAw8uETtmICBtEH6uQNaxtfBAZSHO21v38eDbbpG4U/s400/IMG_6111.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkaR6JNSjul8tJAzQQFr6z50hGd3PgAtdmSTk4yZAqYCa9Jk5dC1uxeXcyPGpiFnJFtfJlXMw9GVqIwt4_6fFauKndKX5zhyO9nmGbhWi0srGmSUzzfLmF85SV62nItpaXG9n48TJDvE/s1600/IMG_6115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkaR6JNSjul8tJAzQQFr6z50hGd3PgAtdmSTk4yZAqYCa9Jk5dC1uxeXcyPGpiFnJFtfJlXMw9GVqIwt4_6fFauKndKX5zhyO9nmGbhWi0srGmSUzzfLmF85SV62nItpaXG9n48TJDvE/s400/IMG_6115.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoj_qjad8MQfqZFfIMe1AZFyj4idZkjraxxA_slg2bIolBeZxmvx0hNGanQLG8C-tjrgM3-NdOhaw44qyjxoVT2CaBE0h40H1l0tB1fAay3OvxpYvWWPvT5oQGyKjpeDdi2QD7iuuWBs/s1600/IMG_6125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoj_qjad8MQfqZFfIMe1AZFyj4idZkjraxxA_slg2bIolBeZxmvx0hNGanQLG8C-tjrgM3-NdOhaw44qyjxoVT2CaBE0h40H1l0tB1fAay3OvxpYvWWPvT5oQGyKjpeDdi2QD7iuuWBs/s400/IMG_6125.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup1a6wCQ-wPvfLlhGpS0idnu1f7iZwsfvM9N7yeFPt2DvurtaJrkgGY8CY7M-6ruq8TN4s0VUx9uY-O38ToodsULI-6s_ukMlVsrKvXPia4YcSvIRgU_SGMC4GKlA5DDxoxKFPD4jN34/s1600/IMG_6137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup1a6wCQ-wPvfLlhGpS0idnu1f7iZwsfvM9N7yeFPt2DvurtaJrkgGY8CY7M-6ruq8TN4s0VUx9uY-O38ToodsULI-6s_ukMlVsrKvXPia4YcSvIRgU_SGMC4GKlA5DDxoxKFPD4jN34/s400/IMG_6137.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2k3adV5PCkGl9DaY_qt3dpTp0jrP76w0PEAWbRxmot6_s0PuRNlBNJJPE4TnBytOLWx5EAq43DTha9sLTvv8mFjDORrhkyyUtnWQZ_rwl7DfOPuPLxsariDNtXb8abwJ1Cgh3_WaWEc/s1600/IMG_6138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2k3adV5PCkGl9DaY_qt3dpTp0jrP76w0PEAWbRxmot6_s0PuRNlBNJJPE4TnBytOLWx5EAq43DTha9sLTvv8mFjDORrhkyyUtnWQZ_rwl7DfOPuPLxsariDNtXb8abwJ1Cgh3_WaWEc/s400/IMG_6138.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBez0v6VKI1kaDJhf3Nbibkg19wyZ6h_O2iqS-kEkabz2OTP3y8mkUgkeJ6__ZYHGqNmD09t8gc9-WKQimd3Lfc0sWbxN3hkH-rduvBWGDs8KDsvIx_dZWUEDS6IpftOMquiL5fJnue4/s1600/IMG_6142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBez0v6VKI1kaDJhf3Nbibkg19wyZ6h_O2iqS-kEkabz2OTP3y8mkUgkeJ6__ZYHGqNmD09t8gc9-WKQimd3Lfc0sWbxN3hkH-rduvBWGDs8KDsvIx_dZWUEDS6IpftOMquiL5fJnue4/s400/IMG_6142.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjuBiiddeedQeetSKn3qrN_26vfyW_kkM5UW8EAishU032esI-YFwS9h1gVWUpYAug5mV1gL_r5jMvCd8ZgdCgEBVi0mhRzXdmBKRBSYc_-6npzZF1frt9a18Gle7SaQewEQs1rxchDY/s1600/IMG_6149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjuBiiddeedQeetSKn3qrN_26vfyW_kkM5UW8EAishU032esI-YFwS9h1gVWUpYAug5mV1gL_r5jMvCd8ZgdCgEBVi0mhRzXdmBKRBSYc_-6npzZF1frt9a18Gle7SaQewEQs1rxchDY/s400/IMG_6149.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2015/11/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-november-2015.html" target="_blank">Carol of May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. </a></span><br />
<br />Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-35672196263113634582015-08-29T12:23:00.001-05:002015-08-29T12:23:25.647-05:00August Showers Yield Golden Flowers!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg034duIKNRmoIP-Ghqkkoqsu6fqrHMBjT6SPfMKo9To5eG6sCrlXLdwORneLU-I7fP8tWZNGgz6ewZYtlEGg2AXFTEvW_UsN1E8e1IVEq5jiFuaKpoCk9WLm-LKGOHWZzs4v3sf6OQ7gs/s1600/IMG_5984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg034duIKNRmoIP-Ghqkkoqsu6fqrHMBjT6SPfMKo9To5eG6sCrlXLdwORneLU-I7fP8tWZNGgz6ewZYtlEGg2AXFTEvW_UsN1E8e1IVEq5jiFuaKpoCk9WLm-LKGOHWZzs4v3sf6OQ7gs/s400/IMG_5984.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>A basket of bounteous beauty to come!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Last Tuesday after an appointment with my recent medical providers, as I turned off the Beltway onto Memorial Drive in heavy rain, I passed a vacant lot with splashes of golden sunshine beaming from various spots. Those were gardener's gold: beautiful yellow rain lilies popping up to thank Mother Nature for the gift of rain. As I passed, I noted there was a For Sale By Owner sign with a phone number. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, yes, I did what any gardener would do: I circled back around and pulled over to write down that number. And then I called and spoke to the owner to ask if I might dig some of those golden delights. He said I was the second caller in as many days :-) I told him there were plenty of bulbs for both of us so he consented graciously. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I confess, even though I'm working hard to keep to my restricted activity level, I went back the next day and dug up a few myself. Give me points for not trying to dig them in the rain! I was careful in my movements and I didn't dig nearly as many as I'd have liked. The HG is still chiding for not taking pictures to share with y'all. Hush, woman. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Fortunately, I'd had the foresight to check in with my pal Otahal and ask if by any chance, he and his crew might be in the Houston area this week. They were indeed working on a job near downtown and Mr. Otahal kindly consented to stop by the vacant lot and have his crew do some more digging for me. They stopped by yesterday evening with a bounty of rain lily bulbs which he thinks are Zephyranthes sulphurea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have big plans for these little bulbs in the front gardens. I am so appreciative of Otahal and his hard-working crew for doing the hard part of the work. And for then going above & beyond by taking down the rest of the vitex trunk with their chain saw, which I'd spotted in the back of the truck. The HG considers me a shameless opportunist but Otahal and I go back a long, LONG ways and I'm careful to make fairly minor requests when he and the crew are on the road home after a hard week's work. I frequently repay him in plants: yesterday he took home a contractor's grade 39 gallon trash sack of Louisiana iris. He was happy to get them and I was happy to see them go!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc1pvolv5f7v0A0-dhNdrDoW13NDVitwv36uZ65PL0bIhAGxyVN62ByELDBzVWUIlDv3-u59EL5QmmXaOqryTMulNbRv_DjnCOvsP760ux2r4Yv5uQ1EGR1fdmksP7O1JivwV78tGS5k/s1600/otahal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc1pvolv5f7v0A0-dhNdrDoW13NDVitwv36uZ65PL0bIhAGxyVN62ByELDBzVWUIlDv3-u59EL5QmmXaOqryTMulNbRv_DjnCOvsP760ux2r4Yv5uQ1EGR1fdmksP7O1JivwV78tGS5k/s640/otahal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>David Otahal during the Great Rockout of 2010</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-84878837000111458382015-08-22T12:12:00.001-05:002015-08-22T12:12:59.289-05:00Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall ...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As might be surmised from my previous post, the Head Gardener and I were beginning to doubt the truth of that old adage. So we were delighted when rain began to fall last Sunday. Over the course of the week, we got almost 2 inches of rain here on my corner of Katy. Most of it fell slowly and gently over the course of several hours each day so it had a chance to soak in and do some good. The HG and I are consequently a little happier with how things are looking out back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jnXG3L5Wdu3u0qGQqNb01Vo_jOe7an6hxHr6HyUEA1-tgE1EqwN2m_BEZKPQywTLlb7g04-NSwwEDjgzhx3rWzJYhNMOLMqe8IYrG0PG-C9_5HFI8gWrFhsbtrORv9Sl81-yNMtughU/s1600/persianvitex.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jnXG3L5Wdu3u0qGQqNb01Vo_jOe7an6hxHr6HyUEA1-tgE1EqwN2m_BEZKPQywTLlb7g04-NSwwEDjgzhx3rWzJYhNMOLMqe8IYrG0PG-C9_5HFI8gWrFhsbtrORv9Sl81-yNMtughU/s640/persianvitex.JPG" width="601" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Persian Vitex in 2008. Why we don't have or can't find<br />any more recent pictures, is probably due to our lamentable lack<br />of any semblance of organization in our iPhoto files.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There was one major casualty, however. The Persian Vitex (V. trifolia) near the pond hadn't been pruned in a while and the weight of the rain on the limbs proved too much for the trunk to support. It split about 2 feet up from the ground, with most of the tree falling forward into the bed and path. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEvjkqih2bFUGcppfAOPZ7KYMHIPKE9_KDmzhK7qeB73yktZ1_IrTMYMOOZSmDDVRVB6jNz6HFSMBj2iYIlkNs79lXAVMgEgbW8TFp0aYAOwEb_VYoE4z-AbW-V289EoLkFOJMpzuFiM/s1600/IMG_5968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEvjkqih2bFUGcppfAOPZ7KYMHIPKE9_KDmzhK7qeB73yktZ1_IrTMYMOOZSmDDVRVB6jNz6HFSMBj2iYIlkNs79lXAVMgEgbW8TFp0aYAOwEb_VYoE4z-AbW-V289EoLkFOJMpzuFiM/s400/IMG_5968.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The Persian Vitex as of August 20, 2015, above and below.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpO4LGD4f36vX-d3C133LFb85euaBFjnmXSSNQn0nQb6kEZq_AxGjiHF332spvKzJ8PtH1PKl7ii2moAEit_jPIUPMyH2J9nB69eVgOFCrnrRe1kXe1bIeiHK3KmlMM3aEYngetwaCzk/s1600/IMG_5969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpO4LGD4f36vX-d3C133LFb85euaBFjnmXSSNQn0nQb6kEZq_AxGjiHF332spvKzJ8PtH1PKl7ii2moAEit_jPIUPMyH2J9nB69eVgOFCrnrRe1kXe1bIeiHK3KmlMM3aEYngetwaCzk/s400/IMG_5969.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All is not lost ... there are sprouts at the base of the tree and once the EP takes what's left of the trunk down to the ground, it will regrow. The HG and I are currently in a disagreement about whether or not we had to cut it to the ground after the hard winter of 2009-2010. I think we did; she says we pruned it back to live wood and then let it regrow from there. Whatever. The point is that we're not worried we'll lose it. We are, however, pondering whether we want to keep it; replace it with a tree or large shrub that won't need quite as much pruning to keep it in check; or remove it and plant that area with smaller shrubs and perennials. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I tend to lean in favor of keeping it: I love how the trunk of this species tends to contort itself in such sculptural ways. It's also a fairly fast growing tree, which is important because there are shade-loving perennials - toad lilies and bletillas - planted under it. I also have to consider how difficult it would be to take it out since the root system is both extensive and healthy. The HG thinks it should go and is currently enamored of the idea of smaller shrubs and perennials.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There's no hurry for us to decide. Until The Awful ends and the temperatures drop into the 80s during the day, we have no desire to venture forth even if our activity restrictions are lifted!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAErWU-nQdCvi6LTXyOrUN7ozegS29JZgpbzeSnQlhoSb_kG0l3OiDGFsb-PlADNX5RJHZZH0NLz7nLhWbDgHpPYpQOrvO877dKUIcyE6n3xxp1Y8pyxZCniHy5rzl2rboL-kWHHQBWbU/s1600/IMG_5981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAErWU-nQdCvi6LTXyOrUN7ozegS29JZgpbzeSnQlhoSb_kG0l3OiDGFsb-PlADNX5RJHZZH0NLz7nLhWbDgHpPYpQOrvO877dKUIcyE6n3xxp1Y8pyxZCniHy5rzl2rboL-kWHHQBWbU/s400/IMG_5981.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The remains of the trunk ... did I mention that the Executive<br />Producer is not known for his finesse?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-80315426558025810222015-08-15T19:42:00.001-05:002015-08-15T19:45:06.915-05:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day August 2015: These Are The Times That Try Gardeners' Souls!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ7d6jET-QyxvgkIqQdGXZ06tPH1D0zCTLp8_5180mLkJaCm0-eOSJnp05uUkLjhc7778D3OjwK8aug5p4WgA25hVsbiTqyahYpedwaPZXfuh6W-yoN9SlMFKp1Paa-2Khh9b41IowpM/s1600/IMG_5962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ7d6jET-QyxvgkIqQdGXZ06tPH1D0zCTLp8_5180mLkJaCm0-eOSJnp05uUkLjhc7778D3OjwK8aug5p4WgA25hVsbiTqyahYpedwaPZXfuh6W-yoN9SlMFKp1Paa-2Khh9b41IowpM/s400/IMG_5962.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Pink Skullcap, Scuttellaria suffrutescens, considered one of the most heat <br />& drought tolerant natives for Texas gardens. That's how bad it is.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I promised Carol aka Indygardener aka Indy of <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2015/08/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-august-2015.html" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a>, the GBBD instigator, that I would post SOMETHING for this month's Bloom Day. There's precious little out there to choose from, at least in the back gardens which is as far as I can venture this evening. The Head Gardener and I had a little nipping and tucking done at the end of July and have been on orders to restrict our activity ever since. Unfortunately for us, our inability to get outside comes during a worse spell of heat and drought than we saw in 2011. Hand watering was all that saved the back garden that year since there's no irrigation system set up for those beds. This year, we can only watch in horror as plant after plant - most of them heat and drought tolerant - wilt, wither and die. By the time we get our doctor's clearance to get back out there and work, we're expecting much of that work will involve pulling up dead plants amidst much wailing and gnashing of teeth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_6tUQfo1pXLAH_VcrIw0-oT1S6_nFrQAegGRX-XEYfj38wyFE0-JYgNSKThk52Ks_ZeVQR7khoswBZX_1j4AFp7oG1xRWtpgDWci5WCKCU-T65TH2i5ytoTXedlJU-pInZ5fSMms-pk/s1600/IMG_5957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_6tUQfo1pXLAH_VcrIw0-oT1S6_nFrQAegGRX-XEYfj38wyFE0-JYgNSKThk52Ks_ZeVQR7khoswBZX_1j4AFp7oG1xRWtpgDWci5WCKCU-T65TH2i5ytoTXedlJU-pInZ5fSMms-pk/s400/IMG_5957.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The white plumbago has probably been the best performer in the back garden throughout July and this first half of August. It's had no supplemental water that entire time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AUq7vYApaQVry6tTNkFLsG9-9rw_UsGtBtl_LJPWgiPuVdEnJT7RNeeV3InJSxrMFRpj4bBifLF5qqm0SdzQlr0tM0mJDreg-E_kQW-Rf8ZHcJ5X1gnizToH57OYJx_YM8LTe39sZb4/s1600/IMG_5958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AUq7vYApaQVry6tTNkFLsG9-9rw_UsGtBtl_LJPWgiPuVdEnJT7RNeeV3InJSxrMFRpj4bBifLF5qqm0SdzQlr0tM0mJDreg-E_kQW-Rf8ZHcJ5X1gnizToH57OYJx_YM8LTe39sZb4/s400/IMG_5958.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Fireworks gomphrena has absolutely blown me away with its ability to survive without moisture in 100+ degree temperatures. Once or twice it's gotten a bit droopy in the afternoon but by the next morning, it returns to its usual perky self. That's ONE plant. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vl0O_8v9TAot3H6x3OVz0GEK_efiSDEq0etNTPzya0MUu6VzWMruLB0Spph6M-5DlWPuunYaXAZsyXoiQ1G9-bYT1tCm70rLKNp0viTOIH2ZipViQQ9e2eXH7-bxDH45QYlYucxQfZg/s1600/IMG_5959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vl0O_8v9TAot3H6x3OVz0GEK_efiSDEq0etNTPzya0MUu6VzWMruLB0Spph6M-5DlWPuunYaXAZsyXoiQ1G9-bYT1tCm70rLKNp0viTOIH2ZipViQQ9e2eXH7-bxDH45QYlYucxQfZg/s400/IMG_5959.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is one of a few Serenity mix hybrid verbenas that has managed to keep going. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hYbZv2P4yfbj9yOgoF1pq-nRKtJL2ZnQCF0skLwAzZiwN8nxAxMsrHeAwqWiG1a9P24enuzXlKHGvbB-Lp1f-4zOXqatNhO4cHqARiwaFP0beWlv5GyvUGvGiWtNbtFucTRX-yHp9hk/s1600/IMG_5961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hYbZv2P4yfbj9yOgoF1pq-nRKtJL2ZnQCF0skLwAzZiwN8nxAxMsrHeAwqWiG1a9P24enuzXlKHGvbB-Lp1f-4zOXqatNhO4cHqARiwaFP0beWlv5GyvUGvGiWtNbtFucTRX-yHp9hk/s400/IMG_5961.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And this is, of all things, a rain lily. We did get a brief intense storm on Wednesday evening and this brave little plant responded as nature intended! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">While we're stuck inside, the HG and I are doing a lot of thinking about what kind of changes we'll make to the gardens when cooler weather is here and we've seen the extent of the summer damage. The only thing we're sure of is that we've got to simplify ... and we are unanimous in that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028520395539529044.post-3657700417328540332015-06-16T20:53:00.003-05:002015-06-27T09:56:11.797-05:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day June 2015: I Can't Grow That!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQz3U_z8EAmjafj8z0jJt-h1qQt1iZn-Xc-_ofJMTs4Z1z_JFhAjOLscP2uAwCD9qlGqU_aiG06Ue-axhkqqE3K7JOc1vdHJk_MNifk0BJQFlfMH7tlFyvzwcsubtyKTOoW2XNgypkQI/s1600/IMG_5301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQz3U_z8EAmjafj8z0jJt-h1qQt1iZn-Xc-_ofJMTs4Z1z_JFhAjOLscP2uAwCD9qlGqU_aiG06Ue-axhkqqE3K7JOc1vdHJk_MNifk0BJQFlfMH7tlFyvzwcsubtyKTOoW2XNgypkQI/s400/IMG_5301.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Camassias and tulips</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A week ago today, I returned home from the Garden Bloggers' Fling 2015 in Toronto, reeling from the absolutely splendiferous array of blooms and foliage that I CAN'T GROW, DAMMIT!!!!!! Most of the Flingers are used to, and probably weary of, my mandatory whine upon seeing some beauteous botanical bibelot ... "I can't grow that." I'd even started a Twitter hashtag #Ican'tgrowthat and posted a couple of pictures before Verizon notified me that I'd exceeded my data limit (so much for the data plan I <i>thought</i> I'd signed up for). So I thought I'd use Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day to whine some more ... and I trust that y'all will recognize my tongue is very firmly in my cheek. Should a Toronto gardener visit my corner of Katy, s/he'd probably have the same whine!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-XOR3lFx7mbSHXOteWUhvbEHPuP23DNkTQUBFFHyTY-faRga6v2Y1j0Iyo4p19MVSGW0EGkOTblkdWN0l6XSTkV1GZ6zXnkt25sQaCTKjAF9mFGR1_A0oJBxGhpcaH4VU1_iPfGnfC8/s1600/IMG_5501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-XOR3lFx7mbSHXOteWUhvbEHPuP23DNkTQUBFFHyTY-faRga6v2Y1j0Iyo4p19MVSGW0EGkOTblkdWN0l6XSTkV1GZ6zXnkt25sQaCTKjAF9mFGR1_A0oJBxGhpcaH4VU1_iPfGnfC8/s400/IMG_5501.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Rhododendron</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOfXXuzeu17mas3Ij3gO_EqwvrGZOCXwaEhNF4er0AGryOUCgLoiAUbN5iXw-THMyW9THv-zMPJEDiw4WzbEACjzUgCC3EKMHzMF443R6YDZWimOB8iMOY2CBizsA7IWmzvRGNojvOf8/s1600/IMG_5242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOfXXuzeu17mas3Ij3gO_EqwvrGZOCXwaEhNF4er0AGryOUCgLoiAUbN5iXw-THMyW9THv-zMPJEDiw4WzbEACjzUgCC3EKMHzMF443R6YDZWimOB8iMOY2CBizsA7IWmzvRGNojvOf8/s320/IMG_5242.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Rhododendron</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmPnnBqwUBCisqzNs98kfiS7DLUr-6A2nIgT7n0OpwieUp7ElC78b31yC4IhN52I-gtT18zjGFo-NCWeHDI5m-6vSIbrMryo71zjQf7xiqqzMBxGEw9eWf0Sy8mfDoSJsWtAqaruPFMY/s1600/IMG_5246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmPnnBqwUBCisqzNs98kfiS7DLUr-6A2nIgT7n0OpwieUp7ElC78b31yC4IhN52I-gtT18zjGFo-NCWeHDI5m-6vSIbrMryo71zjQf7xiqqzMBxGEw9eWf0Sy8mfDoSJsWtAqaruPFMY/s400/IMG_5246.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Allium</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-ZJ8Z-CWTwxvxC8PKiw6BvDVW5EKiT_eCOanYBqRrti2sptnSi9gZcvW_DFl4OBjAxLsQO-QPOOb9LXPbp_VqG7c53Kffe8F5PISyKxlTyxcqPRlk52hliqC-5oVToq-_cygN4YyGAs/s1600/IMG_5250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-ZJ8Z-CWTwxvxC8PKiw6BvDVW5EKiT_eCOanYBqRrti2sptnSi9gZcvW_DFl4OBjAxLsQO-QPOOb9LXPbp_VqG7c53Kffe8F5PISyKxlTyxcqPRlk52hliqC-5oVToq-_cygN4YyGAs/s400/IMG_5250.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Conifer (I don't know what kind, I can't grow them!)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE21jSLxB-nz5w6hyphenhyphenz50Gt34kMViW8VvSwBAkzjuvlHsfDzDWcgGB2D0r5CdjQOZxZj6eStmIInleSVTYT2sKwjj89Q9aqH0nIOXpVcCBYVB3mxWQf-mYVLuyQf6KvOH0-snMrg3PZ5L4/s1600/IMG_5296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE21jSLxB-nz5w6hyphenhyphenz50Gt34kMViW8VvSwBAkzjuvlHsfDzDWcgGB2D0r5CdjQOZxZj6eStmIInleSVTYT2sKwjj89Q9aqH0nIOXpVcCBYVB3mxWQf-mYVLuyQf6KvOH0-snMrg3PZ5L4/s400/IMG_5296.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>I have never ever ever seen this poppy in the Houston area.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYKPrF__stz6Hf9rFs2Yre4-vAmXuXgPTtHESE-_D9wOjKTNeyFWoCBOJIBEGpwMghQBAbahyphenhyphenNU1KJFQDshnpNERMwG2vWXozRvLkpEhz4yUXjTCTB_tQ4E8XIPHysQztD-mLAKb8Vu8/s1600/IMG_5315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYKPrF__stz6Hf9rFs2Yre4-vAmXuXgPTtHESE-_D9wOjKTNeyFWoCBOJIBEGpwMghQBAbahyphenhyphenNU1KJFQDshnpNERMwG2vWXozRvLkpEhz4yUXjTCTB_tQ4E8XIPHysQztD-mLAKb8Vu8/s400/IMG_5315.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>I can't remember what this delightful little tree is. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83inHjPdAt1HpEzDk-APwPp3KG4l1jVOM2QzNm7sV4wU4wK0Dw6And8LxQ4P4_YBmRMwW3zchhe_PlQmXiCAK63OMzCGCG7fTDdah3ZtR9rRCr714xoeCH3YTiVBOpbL2VuWWEgsSSBg/s1600/IMG_5319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83inHjPdAt1HpEzDk-APwPp3KG4l1jVOM2QzNm7sV4wU4wK0Dw6And8LxQ4P4_YBmRMwW3zchhe_PlQmXiCAK63OMzCGCG7fTDdah3ZtR9rRCr714xoeCH3YTiVBOpbL2VuWWEgsSSBg/s400/IMG_5319.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Weigela, one of the many cultivars in that genus which I can't grow!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxcBveWBT1dg1pnrfOlpclQcRjPzRaWjypeJpsZ-t-lMDe8QztJWe3HlQlJxOOTKJlipqcigCYIIC7cCw-XMozjW-T-iu0owJOA1JBG3wpgbqByJb7n4h7c4A71tw92lDtDUtwLNk498/s1600/IMG_5369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxcBveWBT1dg1pnrfOlpclQcRjPzRaWjypeJpsZ-t-lMDe8QztJWe3HlQlJxOOTKJlipqcigCYIIC7cCw-XMozjW-T-iu0owJOA1JBG3wpgbqByJb7n4h7c4A71tw92lDtDUtwLNk498/s400/IMG_5369.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Japanese Painted Fern. I've tried. Believe me, I've tried. OVER & OVER & OVER.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5yQx2u_JPVaO1tzX2_uPvzdMauBHXPBhdpfk59qYB58bQq8nvSFXJrVbaCrNRo_OpemjM8hm66RzXMfLhgzJt_46TNJYCaX1m8DePSVcNVUZ0jAusEcCvMczv7rztnCLqiXjTDMMtC0/s1600/IMG_5428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5yQx2u_JPVaO1tzX2_uPvzdMauBHXPBhdpfk59qYB58bQq8nvSFXJrVbaCrNRo_OpemjM8hm66RzXMfLhgzJt_46TNJYCaX1m8DePSVcNVUZ0jAusEcCvMczv7rztnCLqiXjTDMMtC0/s400/IMG_5428.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Lupine. Definitely not texensis. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mHAKfYCLCFuiKMnx0sS1ysD2oTzeotkvl5YgZxO4R69vu22Ge5emKc7hvBjIKCwEn6ycEASLT89uyklRm7Ws1F-2T_AD9TkIGk1e5khY1s_bIQEiZXRHjGT0a8oyptuEt-SWtFECKZI/s1600/IMG_5465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mHAKfYCLCFuiKMnx0sS1ysD2oTzeotkvl5YgZxO4R69vu22Ge5emKc7hvBjIKCwEn6ycEASLT89uyklRm7Ws1F-2T_AD9TkIGk1e5khY1s_bIQEiZXRHjGT0a8oyptuEt-SWtFECKZI/s400/IMG_5465.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Luscious apricot and pink Peony</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhT3TFIiG9BWmRTV3eyLPMD0_mjf0X_7QO0rw8Ch9QJDOryIPMCoYqFmLN3iRIG_bOq_J6vt4mdZJui8SOpdg4nllfs_IbdNi3YEi_kURvh8NXG5WKwNmBSOD38t09h6Vad7btSq9LU1Q/s1600/IMG_5477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhT3TFIiG9BWmRTV3eyLPMD0_mjf0X_7QO0rw8Ch9QJDOryIPMCoYqFmLN3iRIG_bOq_J6vt4mdZJui8SOpdg4nllfs_IbdNi3YEi_kURvh8NXG5WKwNmBSOD38t09h6Vad7btSq9LU1Q/s400/IMG_5477.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Weigela, ANOTHER one of the many cultivars in that genus which I can't grow!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JtdglCOdlhQkcRAcSeJiI5rV0nFxzKsNGpVRLDSJjfLFx4MlFgb105uK4FA3q_eqOF79QGJuPLr2Zu_oGojlyJ3i12N0og6pIS7zadnkfZqiaKTbdZyDSSSlDqTAQSY583MejpW0clU/s1600/IMG_5575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JtdglCOdlhQkcRAcSeJiI5rV0nFxzKsNGpVRLDSJjfLFx4MlFgb105uK4FA3q_eqOF79QGJuPLr2Zu_oGojlyJ3i12N0og6pIS7zadnkfZqiaKTbdZyDSSSlDqTAQSY583MejpW0clU/s400/IMG_5575.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Pink and white Double Clematis, misidentified as Columbine. I still think</span></i><br />
<i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">it's too delicate by far for Katy. Maybe I should try it & see!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ2mKMAQ0wbGsiLAO64JDhbanAs1xxOdOiUQOVyx7yI6K0ZE1vTT6BuI6KfUF0NIud7wqPkMsJb6DaziKUsIMX9yhqkUtdZEeXLzzbZGNGoDGoyApiRz_0lh2-dPghutDqj048PRQwFM/s1600/IMG_5602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ2mKMAQ0wbGsiLAO64JDhbanAs1xxOdOiUQOVyx7yI6K0ZE1vTT6BuI6KfUF0NIud7wqPkMsJb6DaziKUsIMX9yhqkUtdZEeXLzzbZGNGoDGoyApiRz_0lh2-dPghutDqj048PRQwFM/s400/IMG_5602.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Bath's Pink Dianthus with The Head Gardener ... they rot here (the Dianthus, <br />not the HG ... although ...)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXpUw5LsiR46iVQakNDxsU8uWmZGizMWsFsymJm-pFXHARyYZMWFFeDN5d5tFg_x5A-edmGxCsVrEDzCVe6PCEQzapktbd2eGQoaxl-SUdCgoAWqVY-kxkSYOsaed-LSNRHy8fkrF5co/s1600/IMG_5713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXpUw5LsiR46iVQakNDxsU8uWmZGizMWsFsymJm-pFXHARyYZMWFFeDN5d5tFg_x5A-edmGxCsVrEDzCVe6PCEQzapktbd2eGQoaxl-SUdCgoAWqVY-kxkSYOsaed-LSNRHy8fkrF5co/s400/IMG_5713.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>OK, this one I'm not so sure we can't grow: it's not that different from <br />the yellow Phlomis.</i></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtHfctDQ7vwe02cTdX2H2akPzw0ChfsvVhzCmd88sF6btDEy5WexJqvGm2tFDmnEb2BhyynYUcL5qVITCgQ08JL7SD79Zbcwd8fn15Q4ecoirKuGoBqDae5ln6NGU_IBY480zgf3xvrU/s1600/IMG_5685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtHfctDQ7vwe02cTdX2H2akPzw0ChfsvVhzCmd88sF6btDEy5WexJqvGm2tFDmnEb2BhyynYUcL5qVITCgQ08JL7SD79Zbcwd8fn15Q4ecoirKuGoBqDae5ln6NGU_IBY480zgf3xvrU/s400/IMG_5685.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Bearded Iris</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4Rp33lu09w_BaqQs-Tpg0za7uAC-VBYuJF6r0yXZcogl2cSwckzwaGOzQcyT70p36juWCL4UhB1hGPtUe7GXDxZy4xXtvKh5_EMNZipBX4FVMdQNVDrdcQhNZYQqaG-LLQQz2PSj3oc/s1600/IMG_5775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4Rp33lu09w_BaqQs-Tpg0za7uAC-VBYuJF6r0yXZcogl2cSwckzwaGOzQcyT70p36juWCL4UhB1hGPtUe7GXDxZy4xXtvKh5_EMNZipBX4FVMdQNVDrdcQhNZYQqaG-LLQQz2PSj3oc/s400/IMG_5775.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rLMhNVX1PgR6zSLGdhzAGOnFguwB-ITTYkEf2KwFdw5BYRQP66uSGNdb6zBq0F7HUcCKvbWXdf3oK5rZ5DV5rPixYe9n9OmVLlG2PhFaTFNGZvhrcoSM3hTKbtQUU6_yCD-NSG0C6mQ/s1600/IMG_5770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rLMhNVX1PgR6zSLGdhzAGOnFguwB-ITTYkEf2KwFdw5BYRQP66uSGNdb6zBq0F7HUcCKvbWXdf3oK5rZ5DV5rPixYe9n9OmVLlG2PhFaTFNGZvhrcoSM3hTKbtQUU6_yCD-NSG0C6mQ/s400/IMG_5770.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The most incredible array of Bearded Iris I've ever seen</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jLA2Um3Ut_6WBBtmQ3KMRdZ_hFDxcfrXx1L6Ky7p5QK_CdWUN424btM2-AjPKapCDXqMLC9HI8WNwePXZn_MsflP0t6zdITrwBQmdRq6_8dUKhGE1UPt2KKdFT94Z4v5Fc0ZEkYqZ_g/s1600/IMG_5822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jLA2Um3Ut_6WBBtmQ3KMRdZ_hFDxcfrXx1L6Ky7p5QK_CdWUN424btM2-AjPKapCDXqMLC9HI8WNwePXZn_MsflP0t6zdITrwBQmdRq6_8dUKhGE1UPt2KKdFT94Z4v5Fc0ZEkYqZ_g/s400/IMG_5822.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Viburnum plicatum </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1f_rl8OcUhm4tU_KsDNCIqIy3PvnPqydCTNqWMyBzIfewkJEvoEQAhW3SFVsszlsF8fkXOQZKkuYjsaidgm4PWzusH53ixl3q8nWyKAz4EIcRdNyTzDThEELvPxSWPE_MULciNoHIv8o/s1600/IMG_5707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1f_rl8OcUhm4tU_KsDNCIqIy3PvnPqydCTNqWMyBzIfewkJEvoEQAhW3SFVsszlsF8fkXOQZKkuYjsaidgm4PWzusH53ixl3q8nWyKAz4EIcRdNyTzDThEELvPxSWPE_MULciNoHIv8o/s400/IMG_5707.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Angelica, I think gigas?</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0gGQ3VaIB2cT4-X8Jg66HZTqT77zgpNIpp0MuscYgDtGpsWh3DIWn28KrzppAFlnEaYP_l6y2kQE7nQhuZVjUjK6GbT0kLzFpcFK1o6BpAyqBQalxthvbp5RPOziLUuGFmf326KsRCU/s1600/IMG_5786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0gGQ3VaIB2cT4-X8Jg66HZTqT77zgpNIpp0MuscYgDtGpsWh3DIWn28KrzppAFlnEaYP_l6y2kQE7nQhuZVjUjK6GbT0kLzFpcFK1o6BpAyqBQalxthvbp5RPOziLUuGFmf326KsRCU/s400/IMG_5786.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;">Amorphophallus titanum ... one which I am definitely glad I can't grow!</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to Carol of May Dreams Gardens, our Bloom day progenitor!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cindy, MCOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094260737874973235noreply@blogger.com19