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Eleven days later the Texas redbud in my far NW Austin garden has poked out little pink tongues so I'm calling Spring here, too!
We've had frost warnings the last 2 nights, with the actual low temperature falling to 34°F/1.11ºC each morning.
Now it's time to once again take off the thermal covers from the Meyer's Lemon and the Mexican Lime and switch off the Christmas lights. The weather looks pretty good for the next week - are we done with freezes?
Are there flowers today? Yes! It's a week late but today I'll join Carol of May Dreams Garden for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.
The Mexican Lime has buds and tiny new leaves that stayed safe under the thermal covering
The top branches of the Meyer's Lemon died and most of the leaves fell off, but it's pushing out new leaves and making blossoms, too.
At their feet Oxalis regnellii 'Atropurpurea' blooms happily after recent rain
The Texas Mountain Laurel is a little squashed from the sheet thrown over it last night
One yellow Lady Banks rose shows petals
The Spiraea on the back fence is in full bloom
The Carolina jessamine has passed its peak flowering time but still smells sweet
There are enough yellow flowers left to please the bees
Earlier yellow daffodils have wilted - my muse 'Thalia' takes her turn
Only one of the Pale Peach colored iris has opened but there are many buds
Most of the white 'cemetery' iris, a favorite Austin passalong, are already blooming
Blackfoot daisies are finally happy here, making flowers in the parkway bed
The Cherry sage/Salvia greggii blooms there, too
A single mutabilis Rosebud is ready for its closeup
And there's a hint that the most famous sign of spring in Texas, the Bluebonnet, is on the way
But even without open flowers the garden has been exciting to watch every day
Cedar Waxwings arrived a few weeks ago to strip berries from the evergreen hollies and act like kids in the birdbath fountain (23 seconds)
The song of the Mockingbird called Spring before anyone else was sure it would come (about 1 minute)
Pam/Digging holds Foliage Followup the day after GBBD - my foliage is appearing today not because it is spectacular... but because the leaves bear witness that these plants are alive
I've left the Shell Ginger outside in other years - but it spent this winter in the garage
I was sure the Amaryllis planted outside would be gone after 13°F/-10.5ºC , but MSS of Zanthan Gardens thought they could make it - she was right!
If my pomegranate is alive maybe that means Rock Rose Jenny's will be alright, too?
The Japanese Painted Fern disappeared during last year's heat and drought but it's appeared again, ready to face life in Texas for another year. I hope we humans can do it, too.
