First is a pretty coral cactus bloom on an unidentified barrel cactus in the front gravel garden.
The rain a few days ago filled the cup-like bloom with water. The colors coordinate with the coral hesperaloe blooms too. These cactus flowers only last a day, if you look closely you can see two more forming.
I've been using deer repellent on the hesperaloe blooms and it seems to be working. These blooms have opened to show their yellow centers.
Opuntia santa-rita is beginning to bloom for the first time this spring. It took about two years to go from a cutting to bloom. Yellow blooms against the purple is a pretty combination.
Iris blooming in the front garden for the first time. These were passalong plants and have taken about two years to begin blooming planted under an oak. Not the best sun, but it was the only plantable spot in my whole yard at the time.
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Salvia greggii along with a few wildflowers which I think are called "greenthread" and seed all over the neighborhood this time of year.
Damianita which loves it hot and dry are still blooming away in the back garden with the last few bluebonnets.
Gomphrena 'Fireworks' blooming again in the back garden after briefly dying back this winter. The bluebonnets in the background have stayed around longer this year.
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I love seeing the cactus flowers. I have an Opuntia that I think has survived our wet winter. I keep checking it to see if it is putting out any more pads, but nothing yet. I hope some day to see it flower.
ReplyDeleteThat will be fun to watch for. It might be tough to get enough sun on it in your area.
DeleteOur opuntias are putting on lots of pads, but no blooms yet. The barrel cactus bloom is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is so far ahead of mine. We just get a lot colder here. And, they're saying low 40s in Austin, the end of the week. That could be 30s here. I'm ready for this to stop.
Happy Bloom Day.
When I read this I checked because I knew we were scheduled to "cool off" but didn't realize how cold. We are indeed predicted for a low of 42 on Friday night.
DeleteI still haven't planted the Basil.
Touring your garden (except for the iris) is like visiting another planet. A friendly, beautiful one.
ReplyDeletePlanet Texas as we call it is quite a different landscape in many ways. I didn't see iris in my garden until a much wiser gardener handed them to me.
DeleteWhen I saw your blog name I knew you had to be from the hill country. I lived up around San Antonio my whole life. Now I am in south Texas near Kingsville. Quite diffrent from the hill country. I think I've lost my green thumb. LOL Anyway, I found you thru Bloom Day and glad I did. You have a beautiful garden and you take great photos. Hope you are getting more rain than we are.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Yvonne. I haven't heard of another place where those three collide with the joys and challenges of each so dominant in the garden.
DeleteVery nice mix of so much in bloom; I'll try to remember and ask some "cactoseros" here what your barrel is. Two years from a cutting to that Santa Rita P. Pear? That is healthy, big and fast, Mrs. Green Thumb.
ReplyDeleteShould have clarified it was a cutting from Ragna who is generous with her plants. I still thought it would be a while longer.
DeleteGorgeous red bloom on that cactus! So pretty close to the red yucca. I featured my "Rita" today too - I am also so excited as it is the first time it has bloomed for me. Cheers to GBBD San Antonio, Santa-Ritas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour "Rita" is so pretty blooming on the porch. So glad you had a fun GBBD Heather.
DeleteIt's amazing what grows there but with temperatures soon to reach the 90's I understand why. We have whole summers where the temperature doesn't reach 90. We have PNW air conditioning - Open a couple of windows upstairs to get a nice cross draft of cool air in the morning. That's it. Anyway, beautiful images of your gorgeous blooms!
ReplyDeleteIt is very different even though we are both Zone 8 if I remember correctly. The reverse is that we open the windows in the winter to warm the house in the afternoon.
DeleteWhat a pretty little flower on that cactus. We got into the high 80's today so I fear the 90's and 100's are not far behind. What is the large, round cactus behind the little cactus in the first photo? I love the green thread flower. I see that everywhere too and wish I had some.
ReplyDeleteThe large round plant behind the little barrel is an Agave Ovatifolia or "Whale's Tongue Agave".
DeleteThe greenthread is a common flower and volunteered in that spot. Most neighbors mow or pull them out but I leave them.
Spring in your garden is captivating! The colors are so vibrant. The Gomphrena looks like it would be a good cut flower. Have you ever tried it in a bouquet? Happy GBBD!
ReplyDeleteThey make very long-lasting cut flowers and the color is unique so I do use them in bouquets when the plant has filled out. One of my goals is to plant more flowers for bouquets.
DeleteI'd love to see it in a bouquet! Isn't it great to be able to step outside and cut fresh flowers? I can't wait!
DeleteHaopy GBBD! I love the contrast of the the Santa Ritas when they bloom- such sweet flowers on such a mean little cactus- hahaha They always get me with the spines no matter how careful I am! Beautiful blooms!
ReplyDeleteRita hasn't been too much of a problem, the bunny cactus is the sneaky one for me. Cute little thing, ha!
DeleteI've been enjoying your cactus flowers too Kacky.
Love those cactus blooms! So unusual! And your irises are pretty, too. I just love hesperaloes. I can't wait to see mine blooming! They line the freeways with them in Dallas, and they are a beautiful sight to see.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is stunning with desert plants in bloom and woodland plants as well. I have a native cactus here in NY and can't wait to see it bloom this year.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your barrel cactus bloom so much! that is stunning! In fact, everything looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe cactus blooms are great! My favorite irises are the bicolors, the purples usually smell wonderful. Mine won't be blooming for a month or more. The wildflowers are fun, I'm trying to find more to self-sow in the fall here.
ReplyDelete