Flowers 2017
 

I'm moving leaves today and noticed a patch of Henbit flowering. Here is an interesting link with lots of info [URL]http://www.ediblewildfood.com/henbit.aspx[/URL]

What a pretty little spring flower. Thanks for the link because I learned something. When I first saw your picture, I thought, hmm it looks like the hummers might like this one. And they do.

Hummingbirds, bees, and we can eat the henbit (Probably won't). Most importantly, they are our first flowers this year. There were European honey bees feeding on them today.

It made me thank of Jeff Foxworthy type joke - If European honey bees - it's bound to hurt. Could be worse than a shark bite? :lol:

[QUOTE=AlittleSalt;615361]Hummingbirds, bees, and we can eat the henbit (Probably won't). Most importantly, they are our first flowers this year. There were European honey bees feeding on them today.

It made me thank of Jeff Foxworthy type joke - If European honey bees - it's bound to hurt. Could be worse than a shark bite? :lol:[/QUOTE]


:D Do you still have any Mina lobata seeds or are you in need of some?

Those are really pretty!!

Patti, I'll PM you.

The Henbit is the first flowering plants I've seen on our property this year. I have seen some Dandelions flowering already on the south side of a building about 7 miles away. The forecast for this upcoming week is an odd one. A few days of highs around 85F, then some lows in the 30s, and back in the mid 80s again. It's going to be interesting to see what grows and flowers here this year.

Edit: Thank you Spike. they are a weed here that can become invasive, but not like morning glories or Johnson grass - nothing like that.. Oh a perfect way of describing them - they are like clover...just different looking.

Last year taught me how important flowers are for the garden. Every year before moving I would use the companion planting method and mix in herbs/flowers in every row in the garden. Since moving I never got around to planting any and had huge issues with caterpillars. Before I would get some, but they would quickly be covered in egg sacks from braconid wasp. So I have plans to get back to my old method this year. Looks better and less work for me so a win-win.

I have to subscribe to this for another taste of Texan spring. :D

One of the first signs that Spring is on its way.

That is just lovely. I like how you have it popping out of the green ivy. The background really sets it off nicely.

And... isn't it nice to know that Spring is on it's way.

The flowers are planted under a medium sized oak tree that is beside a huge oak tree. They get almost no sun. Yet, they produce flowers every year, and the ivy doesn't wrap around them. They grow together well.

Nice. Ours are still buried in snow for a change this year.

The blue flower is a lupine. The white one is on a wild plum tree.

While I am far from being a Texan, it seems quite early for these to be blooming down there.

I love lupines of all sorts. I start some every year, only to have the rabbits and deer come to have brunch on them. I maybe get one plant to bloom each season... So sad...

The Oxalis are already doing thier thing. I like the leaves even more than the flowers.

Lupine or grape hyacinth? The leaves look like the latter, but maybe they're from something else. Either way, they're gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

[QUOTE=bitterwort;622408]Lupine or grape hyacinth? The leaves look like the latter, but maybe they're from something else. Either way, they're gorgeous! Thanks for sharing![/QUOTE]

Yep, you are right. Grape Hyacinth it is. Good eyes there, I did not look that close to observe the leaves. :lol:

They really are Wild Lupine. I bought the bulbs in 1993. We have dug them up and shared them with the neighbors, and they are growing all over our property in clumps.

They really aren't Wild Lupine... You will have to change what you call them. I'm so sorry.

Grape Hyacinth is a spring flowering bulb with grass like foliage and blue flowers. They look like this, [url]https://www.brecks.com/product/Blue_Grape_Hyacinth_Super_Sak/Super_Saks?p=0729246&utm_medium=[/url]

Wild Lupine are legumes and have pea plant shaped flowers. Their leaves are more like an open hand. [url]https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/insects/kbb/lupine.html[/url]

Hyacinths are grown from bulbs and lupines are grown from seed.

Now, I'm wondering what it is :lol:

After doing an image search - they are not wild lupines. Maybe that's part of why that nursery went out of business?

Grape Hyacinths [URL]https://www.google.com/search?q=blue+grape+hyacinths&biw=1152&bih=553&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjspoyjh7bSAhVq64MKHY0XDCEQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=fD0xkkm6ohGnBM[/URL]:

Blue Lupines [URL]https://www.google.com/search?q=Blue+Lupines&biw=1152&bih=553&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZ4NTDh7bSAhWd2YMKHV0sDVUQ_AUIBigB[/URL]

My wife just reminded me that was the same plant nursery that sold my father a yucca plant but called it a century plant. A big difference in price.

Well it's no wonder that the nursery went out of business when they can not even identify the States Flower which is the Texas Bluebonnet aka Wild Lupine. :twisted:

It's hard to do business when you don't know what it is that you are selling... :o

If you throw some bone meal at those hyacinths, they will bloom heavier next year.

My poinsettia from Christmas 2015 as it is now
 

Bought this from Walmart at Christmas 2015. It's been outside ever since. Can't kill this thing.


P.S. Sorry it's on it's side!

SpookyShoe, they look wonderful.

There's a good chance we're going to have dewberries this year :)

Dwarf pomegranate blooming Mar. 10
 

Hummingbirds love this.

Begonia in pot on front porch
 

These are from last summer. I had to cover them only once this winter. The power of zone 9!

Live oaks
 

Sorry for all the dry leaves in my pics. If you live in Texas you know that the live oaks are dropping their leaves......right about.....NOW! You can sweep your patio and it will be covered the next day.

Nun's Orchid
 

3-10-17

Purty pics, spooky!