Long before Oklahoma's mighty oaks show a little green, along creek beds and in the dappled shade of larger trees, a purple haze breaks through the winter gray. Cercis canadensis var. texensis 'Oklahoma,' commonly known as Oklahoma redbuds, are one of our first signs that winter is waning. The common name for redbuds without the 'Oklahoma' designation is Eastern redbuds. They are also called Texas redbuds, hence the texensis in their botanical name. The Eastern redbud is the state tree of Oklahoma. I can't imagine a prettier tree especially in spring. Plus, it has heart-shaped leaves! Dead redbud with native sumac in the fall. Even in death, they are beautiful. Can you imagine how happy the settlers and American Indians were when they first saw the purple blooms in early spring? Oklahoma winters can be very harsh. Redbuds are such a cheerful symbol of new life. Old redbud half dead and falling over on my property. Redbuds...

Freezes happen in spring so be prepared. You may remember I cautioned against getting too excited over spring's warm temperatures and gentle breezes. It's only March. We still have a month before Oklahoma's last average freeze date of April 20, and freezes happen.

Can this only be March 15 and Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day? The temperature feels like late April, but before you run to the nursery and get tender plants, please don't. This weekend, Oklahoma is forecasted to get down to 34°F which is too cold for tender tropicals--the basis of our summer gardens. We may still get a freeze too. Remember, April 20 is our last average freeze date.  You've been warned. If you simply must, bring those flats home and let them sit in the house for a couple of weeks. You can move them in and out everyday. Doesn't that sound fun? I can't tell you how many times I've done that over the years. Helleborus x hyb. Ballerina Mix that's grown in my front bed for years. It's now really strutting its stuff. Alternatively, you can go buy yourself a new hellebore. That will help stave off spring fever for a week or...

After last week's beautiful summer foliage post, I promised you another entry devoted entirely to coleus. I'm crazy 'bout coleus, and I think you will be too when you consider all the summer gardening possibilities. As I've written before, tropical plants are a summer garden's best friend. That's not to say I don't like flowers. You know I love flowers, and gardens definitely need flowers in spring, summer and fall to stock your pollinator buffet. Coleus 'Golden Dreams' and 'Fishnet Stockings' seen at CAST. Note in Oklahoma's climate, 'Fishnet Stockings' needs some shade to perform at its best. I don't know about 'Golden Dreams.' There was a time when I didn't think much about coleus. Sure, they were pretty, but you could only grow them in the shade, and they took tons of water. I don't have that much shade. I never have, and I felt there were plenty of shade plants...