Signs of Spring, Part Two

A couple of weeks ago I showed you that we had a few signs of spring in our garden. Well I think the garden was holding back, waiting for the official "First Day of Spring" to really let loose. 

The daffodils, encouraged perhaps by the metal yard art, burst into happy bloom.

The Sam Houston peach, which did nothing last year (I think perhaps we had one blossom on it), is covered in blossoms and now starting to leaf out.

Time will tell whether or not we actually get a peach or two this year as well. (I can hope, right?)

In the raised bed by the trellis, several asiatic lilies are coming up.  I forget which they are, so it will be a surprise when they bloom :-)

On the trellis itself, the Major Wheeler honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, has been a huge disappointment since I planted it two years ago, with little growth and no blooms. But it looks like it may finally redeem itself this year.

For the first time ever, it has some of the red tubular blooms for which I purchased and planted it.  I'm also seeing other signs of new growth, so it may fill out this year. 

At the moment it consists of one single stalk twisting up the trellis and I was so close to digging it up.  These few blooms and signs of growth have earned it a reprieve! 

I do wonder if I'm wishing for too much though.  Everything I have read on it talks about how wonderful it is etc. etc., but it's supposedly hardy in zones 4 to 8 and as far as I know, I'm in zone 9B. Our summers may just be too much for it.  I'd be interested to hear from other Texas gardeners who have had success with it.

Elsewhere in the garden, I'm seeing new growth on the three Rose of Sharon bushes, and the milkweed in the front border is sprouting new growth at ground level. The grapevine is leafing out, as are the crepe myrtles and by the utility corner, the homestead verbena has started blooming (no photos of that yet).

Spring seems to be springing out all over - I love this time of year!

Finally, here's a little hint of what's to come in my next blog post....

Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.

A New Fairy Garden

Back in 2012, I told you about the old barbecue grill that I recycled in to a Fairy Garden.  

Did I mention I have a *thing* about fairies?  In addition to the recycle grill fairy garden, I have a little fairy that used to sit out under the crepe myrtle where I used to live.  She now sits in the corner of the patio, under her little red and white spotted toadstool.

Just recently,  I was inspired by a photo on Facebook of a fairy garden created in a super-sized teacup.  While getting bird seed in Wal-Mart yesterday, what should I spy but the same large teacup planter?

Without thinking twice, I bought one, along with a bag of potting soil and some plants and then headed next door to Hobby Lobby to see what they had in the way of inspiration for fairy garden accessories.

The finished garden is very simple, with some ivy, verbena and dusty miller, a little fairy table and chair, as well as a miniature butterfly, sampling the verbena, a miniature bird house and a dainty little welcome sign.

 
 I set it on the patio table where I hope I will remember to water it and also to keep the plants trimmed (my selections were probably not really suited to a miniature garden, but I've never been one for too much planning!)

I love how it looks. The perfect touch of whimsy for this corner of the patio.  Thanks to the folks at Flea Market Gardening for the inspiration.

If you want to get inspired, visit their complete list of DIY Fairy Garden ideas.


Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.