Queen's Tears bromeliads are some of the most cold hardy, so as soon as you're above 32, with no frost, they can go outside. Mine stay out year round. I did cover them twice, when we got below 32. They were not harmed at all. Matchstick bromeliad is also very cold hardy. They do die back after blooming, but it's not immediately and they have usually produced several pups before they die. Just keep water in the cups and you'll have a full pot in no time!

Out of order plants...spring is peeking through...my pecan budded today. Rumor has it that once a pecan buds there are no more frosts. Will have to wait and see what this front brings this week-end.

Spanish Bluebells...................................Daffodils


Crane fly...oh shucks...I mean iris


Stock


Hyacinths................................................Pansies


The salvias...May night and 3 or 4 greggi's are looking to bloom.

May everyone's garden bring them a season of happiness!

You're ahead of me, Sharon. The mesquites haven't budded out yet, much less the pecans. It's almost true about the pecans and frost. They are so late compared to anything else that it's very rare. I think in my 60 years plus I've only seen it twice. You don't want to see it either because by the time they put on growth, other things are fully leafed and actively growing. Things get really damaged when a freeze is that late. Pecans don't like it, either. The last time the canopy growth was killed back 3-4'. They were hurt by it more than almost anything else even though they weren't yet fully leafed out. Mine seem fully dormant yet. I've been watching for green on the mesquites. They don't get frost bitten too often either. A late frost can damage their growth as well, but being a mesquite they naturally rebound.

Great info! I've never seen my Buckeyes bloom as late as this year. I've been wondering. Seems like most things were late except the poor Lantanas

@needrain Donald...Today was the first day I noticed the buds. They are a good half inch or better, so it might have been yesterday. I was surprised that happened with this weather system coming. The weather says frost Saturday night. Might not happen..time will tell. I have seedlings...won't take the chance...throwing a frost cover over them.

@tx_flower_child for the acorn.

We are more than 3 inches behind in rain.

May everyone who needs rain be blessed to receive it and those that do not need rain... may they be blessed in a different way!

I'll sure take the rain up my way. In my area 30 miles east of El Paso I have had a total of 3/10 of an inch of rain since last November. Having to run well daily, city water is just to expensive to water every thing out side and for every gallon of potable water used a sewer charge twice as much even if used out doors. I Read not to long ago El Paso County is the largest grower of pecan in the state of Texas. Close to 40,000 acres of trees with 4 different processing plants in my little town. According to the Sheriff Dept there is over a million dollars worth of nut stolen from farmers every year. The two largest growers have now hired security guards to watch fields at night. And those farmers have over 5,000 acres each in production. But in my 65+ years here I have seen several time for the late frost freeze destroy crop.

James...may you be blessed with rain. Even though you have a well, plants love the rainwater. Pecan trees need quite a bit of water. Where do they get the water from? Mighty sad that people are stealing nuts...but their price per pound can rival beef prices. Cattle rustling has been a problem for hundreds of years.

Many blessings for your health and safety!

@luvtobake, T-mail me for pentapetes seeds; one suvrvive this winter is showing new growth. Have been growing the scarlet one for couple of years. Did you know Thomas Jefferson was first to have this plant in his garden 1811? I saw it in Monticello site and wanted badly. A fellow gardener was kind enough to share her seeds, so now I'm blessed to have them.

LA iris
amaryllis
freesia laxa

Loved seeing all the new blooms last night! When I get home this afternoon, I'll take a few photos of the plants my daughter helped me pull out of the hoophouses. Backyard looks awfully messy.

@Altheabyanothername Good to see you posting here! At the end of summer last year, I bought some "rescue" hibiscus. They were new introduction "Berry" gallon (or two) pots. They were a little scruffy, but I hoped they would bouce back this spring. When I put them away this winter, they were just brown sticks.All have new growth. Some look better than others. I'm anxious to get them planted and see them bloom.

The Mexican flame vine,which survived this winter, is in full bloom;




Few more:

blackeye susan vine

bluebonnet and verbena
kalancho

Does anyone grow Rock Rose? I've been told it can grow in part (or less) sun. Or maybe I should say 'on the shadier side of the street'.

Too often plant labels don't consider things like Texas heat. My zone might fit the label's range, but sometimes that doesn't really consider location.

Seems like I saw Berry hibiscus somewhere. If I run across it again I'll make a note. As much text as I included for the plant sales, in many cases there was a lot that I left off.

@tx_flower_child
Re: Rock Rose

I have one in a pot. It gets shade off and on throughout the day. I just put it there last fall, so...

@tx_flower_child Yep, I've got several rock roses. They get full morning sun. Mine have grown quite a bit since I planted from seed 2 years ago. I'm trying a couple of other Pavonias too. I like em. Little maintenance.

Mine occasionally get the powderly mildew.

Betsy-- beautiful pictures! Nice spring colors at your house!

@needrain My pecan did not lie to me. Hope your back is doing OK!

May everyone be blessed with rain this weekend, and if you do not need it may you be blessed in other ways!

First orchid of the year.


I think she gets a new pot this year?

Wow!

@ricelg,

I direct sowed some rock rose seed, last fall, in two different spots and 5 seeds in pots and nothing sprouted. Did you find them hard to germinate?

I haven't called Native American Seed yet. I always feel bad doing that even though they are very friendly and helpful. I know that they test many of their seeds in an independent lab for germination rates.

Did you start them in spring or fall?

I posted photos of my Nun's Cap ground orchid in the Tropicals Forum. But I wanted y'all to see this...I never knew this is why they are called "Nun's Cap". Look closely inside the flower!

Yeah, yeah I know they are poinsettias. They are a little off cycle (A LITTLE?! LOL) . But the cream/yellow fits perfectly in my spring garden! I planned it that way! Well...you know...

@ShadyGreenThumb, that is so neat!! It DOES look just like a tiny little nun. Giggles.

Who care when the poinsettias bloom. Pretty is pretty.