Blooms on a cloudy day

I walked out on the patio with my coffee this cloudy, gloomy Saturday morning and see most of my plants looking like this one--covered in sheets to protect them from the freezing weather we had last week.
Hiding under this sheet are red geraniums and an asparagus fern.

But blooming away along the flagstone path, I see my Lavender Pinata (lavandule stoechas Pinata). I bought several of these plants early last spring.
They were in a section at Lowe's advertised as "mounding perennials." Lavender's grow well in south Texas, but I heard they were hard to grow in my area. However, they were so pretty I decided to try.
And, I have not been dis-

appointed. They bloomed all spring, slowed down a bit in July and August, then blooms reappeared in September. They are drought tolerant, are fast growers, and according to the plant information sticker-this variety is cold hardy to 10 degrees!! (not sure if I believe that though). One thing I did discover--the plants I put in FULL sun did best. You do need to dead head, but that's not a problem. They also made great cut flowers. The blooms last quite a long time. And..oh the fragrance!! I would run my fingers through the foliage every time I walked by.
So if you are looking for a lavender to try in your garden--I give this one a "green thumbs up!"

Their pretty spikes really brightened this gloomy Saturday morning for me!

"...When I am an old lady I shall have a lavender bush and sprinkle the blooms upon my sheets and under my pillow;steep it into tea and press its spikes among the pages of my books. "
Sharon Tabor

Wednesday Gardening Notes

When my sister was in town last weekend she brought me a garden sign with my favorite quote on it. Yes, she painted it herself! She is quite an artist! She gave me 2 different size stakes to use since I don't know for sure where I will put it-I can stand it tall, or low. Isn't it pretty!




On the blooming front, my lavender is blooming again. This is Lavandula pinnata. The leaves have a fern like look. It's cloudy today-I can't get the flowers to show very well.



This is better I think..I took a picture from the other side.

The plant grows up to 2 feet and the flower stems can grow 2-3 feet. Flower spikes are in 3 parts and resemble a pitchfork. According to plant information, the flowers should bloom continually through October, but mine were sparse in July and August. They say the flowers will bloom even when the temps dip just below freezing. I can't imagine , but wouldn't that work out well with our warm Texas winters!

This type of lavender does not have the strong fragrance like some of the others, but it does smell good when you brush the leaves. Did you know you can float lavender in your birdbath and keep algae from forming? It works! I always pick off a small stem and toss it in mine. The birds really enjoy their aromatherapy bath!