Spring Equinox - 2015

We have had a lot of rain so far in March.  The backyard is a soggy mess.  However, the fruit trees are in bloom now.  The Almond (pink) and Pear (white) trees are looking very nice.

The almond blooms are especially lovely now.

The Pear blooms are also showy.

The Peach tree is also in bloom now. 

This is my first and only daffodil bloom so far - I have been very disappointed in them.  I'm not sure why they have not produced this year. 

Note the fallen yaupon holly berries on the ground.

The front porch is spruced up a bit now.  Bearded iris and daylilies are coming up in the foreground.

Colorful petunias are cool season annuals.

 I found some beautifully colored snapdragons this spring.  Another nice cool season annual.

On to the vegetable garden.  We purchased tomato, bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper plants this week.  We didn't plant them immediately because of the weather forecast indicating potential hail.

The onions and garlic are growing well.  They withstood the snowy and icy weather last month like champs.

The herbs made it through the winter well.  Even the artichokes on the top tier are coming out of it.  Trailing rosemary, parsley and chives are in the back tiered garden.  Oregano is in the front.  

The broccoli, cabbage, spinach and swiss chard survived the snow and ice.  However, the bunnies are doing their best to take them out. 

And finally, a male cardinal is looking for a girlfriend this spring!

Spring is in the Air - Mid-March 2015

We have had an unbelievable amount of cold weather including ice, snow and now rain for mid-March.  I'm ready for Spring!  It seems to me that the Carolina Wren who came and sang outside my window this week was ready to announce that winter is over too.

Our peach tree is now covered in big fat buds.

Here is a close up shot of the buds - ready to burst into bloom any day now!

 Jonie is out searching in the water logged soil for bugs - note the Louisiana Iris are starting to come up now.

Henbit, a wildflower (weed) is coming up and blooming in the yard now - this is definitely a cool season plant.  The tiny blooms remind me of salvia as well as an orchid.

 Dandelions are also blooming now.  I haven't identified the tiny blue wildflower (weed) yet.

The true harbinger of Spring - Crane flies are now out and about - I usually see them on my back porch clinging windows and doors.

The Almond tree is starting to bloom now!  I'm crossing my fingers that we have no more freezing weather.

The pear tree is also starting to leaf out now - lots of white blooms will soon spring forth as well.

 Bearded iris are starting to come up too.

And finally, the Daylilies are also coming up now too!

Status Update - Early March 2015 and SNOW!

Today, March 5, 2015, we awoke to snow in North Texas.  I took some pictures around our yard to chronicle the event.  Lucky for us, the forecast for the next few days is sunshine and warmer temperatures.  We started out with a nice sunrise this morning.

The thermometer on the back porch says 22 degrees.

George and Martha were hanging out by the pool this morning.

The backyard fountain is covered in snow and icicles.

The peach tree is covered with buds, but I believe it is still too early in the season for them to be harmed by the ice.

The vegetable garden is now reeling under the weight of the 3rd winter event since we planted it the first week of February.  So far the plants have survived - we'll see.

Berries from a yaupon holly bush are covered in snow and ice.

The Agave plant in the front yard is a tough succulent - freezing temperatures and snow do not bother it. 

 Rosemary flowers are now covered in snow.

Cow's Tongue prickly pear

Spineless prickly pear.

 A couple of days before the snow, we had a flock of starlings visit our backyard. 

When they took flight, I noticed there were a few red winged blackbirds in the group.

On a good note this week, our Black Austrolorp hen, Jonie, started laying again!  She hasn't laid any eggs since the bobcat attack last year.  See http://rainbowmagicsparklebutterfly.blogspot.com/2014/07/mid-to-late-july-2014-never-dull-moment.html

The frostbitten garden gnome bids you goodbye!