February 27, 2024
Spring has arrived in Austin in earnest, and it feels like about two weeks early. Is that right, longtime Austinites? Temperatures have been in the mid to high 80s F for the past few days, and even though it’s warm, it’s still very comfortable in the shade. In response to the heat, the plants jump and bloom, like the house spider (Western Tradescantia).
Bees love this flower and I’m glad I have it for them. And although spider mites are prevalent, especially in shady spots, the flowers are so welcoming and the leaves so fresh and green that I don’t really mind. I pull volunteers that pop up in places I don’t want them, and many of them come back after flowering but before they can graft. This helps me keep them under control in my garden.
gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida) is another early bloomer and self-sower. Again, I don’t mind. Unlike the shade-loving spider, it favors warm, sunny, well-drained spots like the edges of my gravel paths. After the flowers go to seed (I let them), I cut off the scrawny “arms” with their spent flower heads, pruned them back to the base and let the fresh new growth take center stage.
When pruning a gopher plant, wear gloves and eye protection. The plant has a milky sap that is irritating. You don’t want that in your eyes. On the other hand, that sap prevents deer from eating it. (And now I’m sure to hear from someone who was swallowed by a deer. Because deer are like that.)
Texas Mountain Laurels (Sophora secundiflora) in full sun are in full bloom — and they are definitely two weeks earlier. In my shade garden the buds are just starting to show their purple color. I photographed this down the street a few days ago, and of course I took a long sniff of those sweet sweet grape Kool-Aid flowers. The smell of spring in Austin.
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Attend the third annual Budding Out Plant Sale and Festival on March 16th at John Fairey Garden in Hempstead. Rare and distinctive plants from the garden nursery and selected plant vendors will be for sale. Additional offerings include art, ceramics, jewelry, food, music and presentations. Admission: $5 for members, $10 for non-members, children 12 and under free. Working hours: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; members receive early admission at 9am (membership available day of event).
Come out to Austin’s Mayfield Park April 6 for the Mayfield Park Gardening Symposium & Fundraiser, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. This annual park benefit includes a raffle, plant sale and garden speakers.
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I host in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners several times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and request to be added. Season 8 begins in the fall of 2024. Stay tuned for more information!