Sproing!

Spring has hit here at the Black Thumb in a big way. Kinda like a tidal wave, really...we have gotten a LOT of rain lately, and the plants are loving it. So without further ado, here are the Outsiders...

The Herb Bowl at my back steps:

Simon's Dill and Green Bell Pepper:

The Magical Mystical "Holy COW it really smells like" Curry Plant:

And more here. Click that link for a slideshow of all my garden pictures.

As for the Insiders...Draco and Umbrella are thriving when not being nibbled by the cat. There is one shoot of Jade left...he's been dying off bit by bit. Purple whatzit has gotten taller...we rescued a friend for him of the same species from Lowes for a quarter, but it was too far gone. Belle is trying her best to burrow into a picture frame but I keep thwarting her progress. The others not mentioned...are gone. Some plants I'm just not supposed to keep I suppose...but I do have Brummy, a collection of bromeliads that I need to photograph.

Will it ever be winter?

Wildflower boxes
Originally uploaded by Nancy Allen

No? I don't so much care when I can walk out in the back and see these gorgeous wildflowers blooming. I mean, who can help but smile when you see that? Gorgeous, just like Yorkshire Pancakes. Gorgeous.

I'm a sucker

I was in Publix last week and saw the most pitiful looking plants...

Okay, not really, they just looked lonely, like they wanted me to take them home. So please allow me to introduce the new kids at the Black Thumb: Begone-ya and Caracas.

Begone-ya is just what you think, a begonia. Complete with moss on the soil.

Caracas is a coxcomb or celosia with brilliant purple plumage and a touch of mold on its soil.

Both came in that tacky paper that supermarkets wrap up plants in to make them look as palatable as gifts as proper cut flowers. I had to save them. In fact, I almost brought home another Draco but it was HUGE and a bit out of my budget.

Nothing much more to report. The wildflowers continue to delight and they seem to really like the rain we've gotten the last few days.


As you can see in the second photo I have a bit of dead-heading to do on those plants.

Dianthus Blooms

I'm gonna totally hate it when these flowers stop blooming.


Be sure to click on that so you can see the larger image. The tiny white dots on the petals are amazing.

This next one makes me think of either a square dance skirt or like someone has painted the tips of the petals with a tiny paint brush.

The Plants...living with Black Thumb

First, the "Indoors"...yeah, they all have names...so?

Jade One and Jade Two:





Draco, the Dragon Tree (after some nibbling from my cat, sadly...):



Banana, the Umbrella Plant:



Whatsit, the Purple Passion Plant/Vine:



Beelzebub, what we THINK is Devil's Ivy (Belle for short):



The "Outdoors"...no names, they don't live in the house with me and there are just too many!

The Rosemary Twins:



Window Box One and Two: Petunias, Snapdragons, Peonies and Dianthus (not sure the species)





Gerbera Daisies, Orange and Red:







The Lavender Garden: