Bloom wise, not much happening here yet. The tulips are all faded, but they had a really good spring. With weather that’s been cool and kind of rainy, they’ve thrived. Someone should tell these red tulips that their time is over. Standing tall in the bed amongst the fading purple ones, they don’t seem to know.
The daffodils are nearly done too, and we’re in the in-between stage. The roses are storing up their energy for next month’s GBBD, and they want you to be sure and come back then. Poor dears, they get their feelings hurt if no one comes to visit.
In the meantime, here are the few things actually blooming at my house that I didn’t buy already blooming from the nursery. On the left is the front garden from a different angle. When she moved to Anacortes, WA, Wanda gave me this sweet, Hypertufa birdbath she made from a bowl and something else for the stand. Someday, when I’m not running red dirt children everywhere, I want to make my own giant leaves, birdbaths and faces. (You make the faces with Halloween masks.)
This morning, I went to three garden nurseries: the local folks at TLC and two box stores. When I draw a landscape plan, I include a plant list and where the plants are available. My nursery trips were to find certain items I included on my clients’ plan. However, I brought home plants for myself. I bought a new type of Euphorbia ‘Halcyon.’ It isn’t blooming yet, but I planted it next to the Euphorbia on the left. I can’t remember its name, but I may have a tag somewhere. I bought it from the now defunct Satterlee’s Landscape Nursery, which bit the dust last summer. Another good one gone.
The lime green saucers on top of the leaves are the blooms. Because most Euphorbias have a poisonous milky sap, it’s advised that you wear gloves while planting them or while trimming off the blooms. I wear gloves most of the time, but I haven’t noticed the sap to be a problem.
After reading an excellent article last year on Euphorbias and how they love dry shade, and that deer don’t like to eat them, I decided I had to try them. TLC has a bunch of different ones to choose from this spring.
Another new thing I’m trying this year are Supertunias. I’ve got two varieties, a pink and a dark purple. Supertunias are hybridized by Proven Winners. They are supposed to be much hardier and more prolific. So far, they look good. It will interesting to see how they do once the heat gets here. I’ve noticed that the bloom is a little smaller and of more substance than a normal petunia.
That’s all I’ve got for Bloom Day. To find other Bloom Day posts, go visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens. There are quite a few this month, so I should
have some good reading tonight. Thanks Carol.
Wow Dee you are way ahead of me up in nw OK! In fact I was already to plant a few things this w/end and then we had a frost last night…so I will wait another 10 days to be safe. However my roses are growing at a rate of knots 🙂
Sarah, NW OK gets the hottest and coldest weather, but we once went on vacation in Woodward. The locals thought it was hilarious, but we went digging for crystals, saw the oldest sod house, went to Boiling Springs State Park. It was one of our favorite vacations.~~Dee
Gosh, you have petunias planted already. I am a little afraid to put any annuals out yet. Your garden is well on its way to looking lush.
Thanks, Lisa. I’m a little too early, and some of the other stuff got zapped by the frost. The supertunias rode it through fine.~~Dee
So euphorbia is deerproof and likes dry shade. I guess I better take a look at it.
Bill, I’ve got to say. It is wonderful. That area is very dry. It is at the very end of a soaker hose.~~Dee
I love the name supertunias. But I have not seen them for sale anywhere. But I’ll keep an eye out.
When the Proven Winners rep came to the gardening school I attended, I almost laughed when she called them ‘Supertunias.’ It sound so silly to me. Now I see why.~~Dee
Hi Dee, I really like your euphorbias as well. Very interesting flower. Love the lime green color. Would they grow well in zone 5?
Chey, although some are only hardy to zone 7, it appears that others are to zone 5. Try this link: http://www.diggingdog.com/pages2/euphorbia.php. They have lots of varieties.~~Dee
I am thinking about throwing myself on the frozen cold ground and sobbing. Yes, I am. So there.
Honey, I’m sorry. You’ll thaw out soon, I promise, and then I’ll be suffering in the blistering heat.~~Dee
I’ve always thought that hypertufa method is a great alternative to stone, and I suppose a lot lighter. I haven’t got any euphorbia in my garden, but I do like the lime green explosions from them. x
Louise, it is lighter than stone. I like it a lot.~~Dee
My tulips haven’t started to bloom yet and yours are almost done. I guess that is the difference between our hardiness zones. I love the pictures you’ve picked for bloom day and I promise to come back in May (my favorite month in the garden) to see your roses.
Carol, May is my favorite too. Not too hot. All the plants are happy and have usually had enough rain. Thanks for visiting. Can you believe over 100 people were a part of it this time? Wow.~~Dee
The Euphorbias are pretty interesting, Dee – you said ‘dry shade’ – could that be a spot that’s in sun in winter when the leaves are gone?
I have a hypertufa bird bath that my husband made and I like how they look. Having a memento of your friend who moved away is very nice.
I wonder how that Supertunia could do in Austin – mine have been out all winter but summer usually does them in.
Happy Blooming Day!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie, I didn’t mention it, but they are evergreens. The foliage on mine turns a lovely rust brown and green. Then, it perks up in spring and blooms. Can’t ask for more than that from a plant. I’ll let you know how the ‘Supertunia’ does when summer turns on the heat.~~Dee
Beautiful blooms! I’m sure glad those pretty little tulips don’t have ears, they’re gorgeous. I wouldn’t dare tell them they should be done. Nothing at all like my “lovely” garden today!
Cinj, your garden will be beautiful soon, I’m sure. We’ve had such a cool spring. That’s why the tulips are still pretty.~~Dee
Aren’t those euphorbias cool. I hadn’t heard of them before. I’ll have to check them out in the local nursery next time I’m there.
Thanks,
Euphorbia is one of the largest genera out there. It comprises plants with many different plant habits.~~Dee
Diana, you’ve seen a Euphorbia on my blog—the gopher plant. Dee, I love your Euphorbia and wonder how it would do here in Austin. Of course I also love those red tulips that I can’t have.
Pam, I think it would do well there. I didn’t know you couldn’t grow tulips as annuals like we do here.~~Dee
Wow, Dee, sure seems like there is a lot blooming at your place, and it’s lovely, too. I’m so impressed by the tulips — and jealous. and I love the picture of the Euphorbias – I’ve never seen them. Hey – did you see our picture on Bumblebee’s blog? We were cute! I sure had a good time talking with you at the Fling. Can’t wait to go to another one.
Diana, we were so cute. Look for something in the mail next week.~~Dee