Monday, March 13, 2017

Spring has Sprung


Texas weather is unpredictable during the spring.  Hot then cold. Dry, dry, dry then drowning.  And my favorite calm breezes then batten down the hatches winds.  All of these can change at the drop of a pin and several times a day.


Somehow in all this craziness, spring has managed to arrive in all its beauty.


Knowing next to nothing about wildflowers.  What is do know is that they are beautiful and I must take the time to enjoy their beauty.


And what beauties they are!



Even my frozen citrus trees and hibiscus plant are springing back from the dead.  Maybe, just maybe, they will show their beauty once more.


After the winter freeze, I am thinking native wildflowers are the way to go in the future for spring pretties.


They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors are easier to maintain.





They grow just about anywhere.  In the sun and shade, under the trees, and in the case of this flower, the grate of the steps, and all take very little watering because they are native.



They attract wonderful pollinators such as beetles, butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and ladybugs.


 A double whammy of beauty.  Beauties for this year and beauties for next year.


And for a triple whammy: I didn't have to do anything but observe them.  Hot damn!


By far, this is my favorite flower.  What is it?  A native Texas plant.  Yup, that is my scientific name.


Much to my dismay, even the nasty poison oak is blooming.  For such a mean little plant, it sure is beautiful.  Lovely waxy leaves, nice smelling white flowers, and amazingly purple/pink stems.  Just beautifully evil. Gotta take the good with the bad.