Today the crabapple and pear are blooming.


This lilac (Annabelle) is in southwest light and is ahead of all of them. The scent is heavenly.


Quinces.


SDBs have begun.


First ever bloom on mini Iris koreana from Korea (appropriately).

I'm just back from another library talk and these pictures really are pleasing to my tired eyes. Just beautiful.

Jim

Ohh, gorgeous Tulip, Steven!

Will you look at the cute mini Iris!!
Kathy, do you ever make Quince Jelly ? Or are these Quinces strictly ornamental?

Thank, everyone!
Beautiful, Steven and Kathy! The SDB's are lovely,Kathy.

I just picked up an SDB after work, went to the GC for soil and walked out with 3 plants and no soil

I don't get enough quinces for jelly.
What plants did you get Steven?

Janice and Kathy, you continue to amaze and entertain with your ongoing show.

Things are quiet today so I took a walkabout. First a look at the rose garden:

Jim

There are some fruit in my future:

Jim

Mango


Persimmon


Avocado

Let's see how the yellow garden is doing.

Jim

A look at the purple garden and that wonderful thornless tree bougainvillia.

Jim

The ornamental grass garden.

Jim

A few of my cycads:

Jim

Encephalartos hildebrandtii


Dioon edule


Encephalartos ferox


Ceratozamia hildae (bamboo cycad)

What else?

Jim

Arenga engleri or clustering sugar palm


Gardenias are still blooming everywhere making the yard smell wonderful.


Golden dew drop


Caladiums:



I always have time for a garden visitor:


And then there is trouble, trouble right here in Odessa. A big stink is a comin' and I can't stop it. Neighbors are beginning to pray for a strong wind blowing out towards the lake on the big night.

Back on May the 10th, I misspoke about buying a Florida native tulip. It was a Florida native petunia. Must have been a particularly good wine that evening. Anyway, it is Ruellia caroliniensis or wild petunia and it graces the top of my new rainbarrel. It grows from the Carolinas to Texas and Florida.This plant is not related to the garden petunia. It is easy to grow with a lavender flower. Adds color to a wildflower garden and are butterfly attractors. They vary in size and growth habit. I'll post a pic when it blooms again.

Jim

Just gorgeous garden tour, Jim!
What is that wonderful palm-like plant under the Avocado? Love it!
Majestic grasses!

Thanks, Janice. The palm like plant to which you refer is commonly called a cardboard palm. It is really another cycad, Zamia maritima.

Jim

Looks great Jim. I used to have a ruellia in AZ when I lived there. Different one though. I loved the shade of purple. Oh I would go mad having the scent of gardenias all over the garden. It is my absolute fav scent in the world! (Besides Cym Golden Elf.)

Boojum, Your mini Iris koreana is beyond sweet. Congrats. Patti

Thanks, Patti!