February 26, 2025
What a change from per week or two in the past. It was a sunny 82 F right this moment in Austin — totally spring-like and extra like late March than late February. I wouldn’t say the backyard is leaping into spring although. In any case, we simply skilled a deep freeze that killed again all the brand new development crops had been placing on. The backyard is rocking shades of tan, with bamboo muhly, Mexican honeysuckle, and even autumn sage zapped into dormancy.
Nonetheless, the indicators are there. Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is budded up with aromatic golden flowers. Spring will quickly be springing in earnest.
I put the porch pots again out, after defending the succulents within the storage in the course of the newest chilly snap. It’s good to have ‘Coppertone’ sedum and ‘Bloodspot’ mangave harmonizing with the wasabi-colored entrance door once more.
The possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua) remarkably nonetheless has all its sensible purple berries. I can’t consider the flocks of cedar waxwings I hear flying overhead always haven’t descended on it, nor our native mockingbirds. Perhaps there are tastier points of interest close by?
Right here’s the possumhaw two weeks in the past, on a sullen, chilly day.
And right here it’s on a bluebird day this week.
Not a berry lacking, I’d say.
I noticed somewhat garter snake sunning itself within the again backyard, having fun with the spring-like climate. I’m hopeful it’s looking up all of the snails and slugs and pesky bugs it could discover.
On the kitchen windowsill, a Medusa’s head plant (Euphorbia flanaganii) in a Rick Van Dyke monster pot has awoken, placing on new development…
…and tiny yellow flowers. Cute!
A stroll round Woman Hen Lake confirmed the shoreline timber are nonetheless in winter mode. However that received’t final lengthy. SXSW is coming, and we’ll quickly see Texas mountain laurels, plums, and redbuds in bloom, seducing one other bunch of holiday makers with early spring delights.
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Digging Deeper
Attend the annual Budding Out Plant Sale & Competition on March fifteenth on the John Fairey Backyard in Hempstead. Store for uncommon crops from the backyard’s nursery and choose plant distributors. Native artists and artisans in addition to meals, drink, and demonstrations may even be featured. Admission: $5 for members, $10 for non-members, youngsters beneath 12 free. Hours: 10 am to 4 pm; members get early admission at 9 am (memberships obtainable on day of occasion).
Tour 5 distinctive Houston gardens on Saturday, April 26, from 10 am to 4 pm, in the course of the Backyard Conservancy’s Open Day Tour for Houston. Tickets have to be bought on-line prematurely by way of the Backyard Conservancy.
Come find out about gardening and design at Backyard Spark! I arrange in-person talks by inspiring designers, panorama architects, authors, and gardeners a number of instances a 12 months in Austin. These are limited-attendance occasions that promote out shortly, so be part of the Backyard Spark electronic mail checklist to be notified prematurely; merely click on this hyperlink and ask to be added. Learn all concerning the Season 8 lineup right here!
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