Feeding the birds

Hello everyone--Happy New Year to you!
Not much going on here in my part of Texas. We are on a constant roller coaster with our weather. Some days it is cold and gray; some days it is cold and clear; other days it warms up to the 60's. Not much going on in the garden either these winter months, however one of my favorite pastimes is very active. I love feeding the birds..especially yellow finches! And I must have some really tasty thistle as these little birds are at the feeders every morning and stay most of the day. This picture is taken from my breakfast window-these cuties would run (well, fly) if I ventured out to take their picture. Normally the finches I see have on their winter colors of brown-not as much yellow as I am seeing this year. Hum...sign of the La Nina we are experiencing maybe?
I actually put up 2 feeders wondering if they had a preference. When they first arrived, they only went to the yellow feeder, but as more and more birds appeared, both feeders stay full of diners. We enjoy our little feathered friends every morning as we sit at the kitchen table with coffee. We have other feeders in the yard for the sparrows, black-capped chickadees, jays and cardinals. (Oh...guess I should mention squirrels-they think that food is for them!) But our very favorites are the yellow finches. They will only be here a short time as our summers are way too hot for them. And while they are our guests, their feeders will remain full!
Do you feed the birds in the winter...what is your favorite?

Pansies...or Begonias??

I am having a gardening dilemma. Late every fall, I plant pansies in the front. Usually in back as well, but this year I am sticking with my perennials and leaving the beds in back as they are. But I will take advantage of the great east sun that hits the beds in front, and plant pansies for that beautiful color and wonderful scent that will last into early spring. So..pansies are planted on either side of the porch.. and in containers on the porch.. but my plan to plant them across the front is being disrupted this year..











..because..
the begonias are beautiful! We have just not had any really cold weather, so these pretties are looking healthy and happy! My plan for this day after Thanksgiving was to go buy the rest of the yellow flowers for the front-and finish out the bed.
But seriously-could you pull these up when they looked like this? Bet not-and neither can I! And, when you look at our house from the street, the red begonias look so great along with the yellow pansies. It's Spring.. in Texas..in November! So, what else could I do today. I could get out my Christmas decorations..but I just want to put out some bunnies! :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Autumn Gold

At this time of year, when there is not much blooming , it is so nice to look out and enjoy lovely golden color in the garden. I have two plants that have nice foliage in summer, but fall is when they really put on a show. The first is this Mexican Mint Marigold, or as we call it here..Texas Tarragon. We can't grow French Tarragon here in Texas, but this herb gives us a great substitute (it is wonderful in chicken salad!) for cooking. However, the biggest wow factor to me is the reliable fall color. It starts blooming around the end of October and continues until frost. The other plant that I am completely in love with is Copper Canyon Daisy. Sometimes it blooms a little in spring, but fall is really showtime. This plant can get pretty big, but I keep it cut back some in summer just making sure I don't do any pruning after the middle of July. Brushing the feathery foliage releases a very spicy, citrus smell. I love it--but it does not appeal to everyone. The CC Daisy begins blooming around the first of November, and like Texas Tarragon, blooms until frost.
I have enjoyed the look of this plant all summer, but now that it almost in full bloom--I am in LOVE! Both plants work well cut and used as fillers in fall bouquets inside. (especially with asters and spires of Mexican Bush Sage.) Unfortunately however, both plants die back completely over winter, but as soon as it starts to warm up in spring you will see new growth begin. If you need a little autumn gold in your garden, you might consider these two. They never fail to brighten dull autumn days for me!

Beautiful reminders...

While enjoying the splendor and vivid colors of fall..I stumble across a beautiful reminder of a spring yet to come..
Abraham Darby--David Austin English Rose

"How I would love to be transported into a scented Elizabethan garden with herbs and honeysuckle, a knot garden..and roses..clambering over a simple arbor."
Rosemary Verey

Road Trip!

Have you ever been to Paris? Paris, Arkansas that is. That is where we went on our recent road trip-to Mount Magazine State Park. This is the lodge where we stayed. It is on top of Mount Magazine, which is the highest peak in Arkansas.

It is pretty, rustic, and very scenic.
All of the rooms off of hallways like this face the beautiful Petite Jean Valley.

The lobby is made with huge logs, and has high ceilings and rustic lights.

There is also a massive stone fireplace, which we enjoyed each evening.

We saw beautiful sunsets..

..and a bright, colorful sun rise.
Our hikes took us down shady paths through the woods,
into bright clearings with blue skies.

The panoramic views were spectacular..

..and although not yet peaked, the fall colors were sure pretty to this Texas couple!

There were lots of patios. Off of this one I found a very special garden..
As you can see, it was created by Master Gardeners.
The Pineapple Sage was sooo pretty! (wish mine looked this good!)

I loved the way they marked each plant..with rocks! And believe me-there are enough rocks up there to mark plants for a very long time!

I would have never know what this grass was without that plant marker. It was so unusual!
The night before we left there was a big storm. We woke up to FOG! The usual gorgeous view from our balcony looked like pea soup!
The fog did however make for a really pretty drive down the mountain side.
This deer didn't seem to mind our stopping to take a picture. I would go back to this area anytime. The fall colors (even though the area was seeing some drought conditions) were really pretty. The spring wildflowers are suppose to be amazing. The temperature is always 10 degrees cooler, so summer wouldn't be a bad time to go. And the pictures of winter are simply beautiful. (not sure how one gets up those windy roads in winter though!). I put this area on my "return to" list!

It's true!!!

Frogs really do sit on lily pads!

Hi Freddie! (or is it Freda?)

Anticipation....

What a cloudy, wet, foggy day---it is just beautiful! A day I have been waiting for...anticipating...for a long time. We had a nice, soaking rain this weekend--Thank you Lord, very much! The summer was long...record breaking days over 100, and no rain. But, you are not going to hear this "flower gardener" complaining. I was just tired of watering and not getting to spend a lot of time outdoors. However, there are farmers losing crops, and ranchers having to sell their cattle because they couldn't grow enough feed. Stories are heart-breaking. And the forecasters are anticipating next summer to be the same. Actually, we were told last summer to expect the hot, dry weather--but I for one did not listen. I am listening now.

My flowers have been ok. Many are still blooming. Thank goodness last spring I started to buy more perennials..going with lots of natives that can take the heat. Glad I did. This bed of lantana mixed with re-seeding cosmos, blue salvia and turks cap has been pretty all summer.
So needing to clean out the bed on the opposite side of the yard anyway, I planted 3 little lantanas trying to get a jump start on next year. I also scattered lots of wildflower seeds. I get excited anticipating seeing wildflowers in spring, then lantana spilling over the bricks in summer.
The zinnias around the Pistache tree were amazing this summer. All but a couple along the edge (that were still blooming) are now gone and the bed awaits bluebonnet seeds. I scattered a few red poppy seeds last week thinking the red and blue would be pretty--but I will admit this may be my last year for wildflowers around this bed as the weeds become more and more of an issue. I know I have always used way too many containers, but with such a small backyard I am always looking for more opportunities to plant flowers. But of course, it's the containers that take all my time in summer. I really like all my old buckets and pretty glazed pots filled with color, so not sure if I can let them go. I will most likely continue to plant twice a year; pansies for late fall and winter, then a bright annual for late spring into summer. It seems like as a gardener I am always thinking of the next growing season..anticipation. Guess that is just part of the passion of growing things, but for today this gardener is feeling very blessed with what is growing today, and enjoying this perfect, cloudy, dreary--beautiful autumn day.

"There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been! " ~Percy Bysshe Shelley