March 31, 2025
When it goes, it goes. Ka-boom! An explosion of orange trailing along the coyote fence.
‘Tangerine Beauty’ crossvine is one of my favorite vines for spring color. It’s native, semi-evergreen, attractive to pollinators, vigorous but not invasive (unlike similar-looking trumpet vine — avoid!), and tough as nails. Give it plenty of sun, and it easily covers a fence in a few years.
People often ask about my rustic fence — a common style of fence in Central Texas. It’s called a coyote fence for reasons unknown and is constructed from wired-together cedar posts with the bark left on. My coyote fence is attached to an old chain-link fence, and the cedar posts rest on a concrete footing, which has helped them last over 20 years without rotting. Cedar is remarkably long lived as a fencing material.
But back to that glorious vine…
*angels singing*
Texas redbud is in full bloom too. This is a young tree, but it’s putting on a good show.
I like the pink flowers framed by orange crossvine.
Bees love the flowers too.
We finally — finally! — got some rain a few days ago. An inch of rain, and plants immediately responded with new growth and flowers. Driving along Capital of Texas Highway this weekend, I saw a new haze of bluebonnets — a little thin but better than no bluebonnets.
Spiderwort has popped up throughout the back garden with its daylily-like foliage and purple flowers.
It adds lushness to shady spots, and flowers are pretty from morning until early afternoon, when they close up.
Gopher plant is still showing off chartreuse flowers and bracts.
‘Traveller’ weeping redbud was a cascade of pink flowers a week ago — so pretty against the bright new leaves of ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate.
The little ‘Fire Dragon’ Shantung maple was also flowering last week. Its poofy yellow blossoms looked pretty against the blue sky and pool.
I moved my hanging planter of ‘Monterrey Frost’ squid agave and ghost plant into the sun along the deck. It used to hang under the crape myrtle, and it always drove me a little nuts to see the crape’s fallen, hot-pink flowers hung up in the succulents all summer. It sounds like it could be pretty, but it just looked bedraggled.
The ghost plant is flowering, adding ivory blossoms on thin stems to the gray, pink, and turquoise of the leaves.
Soap aloe is blooming too, just in time for the return of hummingbirds. I saw one last week at the Wildflower Center.
Up on the deck, a yellow pot holds more ghost plant (just one spray of flowers on this one) and non-variegated squid agave.
Oh, and on a neighborhood walk, I saw a Texas mountain laurel in flower. My tree’s flower buds, like so many others around town, were killed by the deep freeze in late February. But it’s nice to see this one was able to save its buds and bloom. Did I lean in for a sniff of that sweet grape Kool-Aid fragrance? You bet I did.
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Digging Deeper
Come learn about a visionary xeriscape and pollinator garden called SummerHome at my next Garden Spark presentation on April 10th at 7:30 pm! Tickets are on sale now. I’m excited to welcome Lisa Negri to my Garden Spark speaker series and introduce her to a Texas audience of appreciative native plant lovers. Hear how she transformed an empty lot into an oasis for wildlife and neighbors. The talk will be held at Leaf Landscape Supply (north location), and tickets must be purchased in advance. Join us for an evening of learning, inspiration, and community with fellow garden lovers!
Shop the Spring Native Plant Sale at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center each weekend from March 28 to April 27, 9 am to 1 pm (last entry at 12:30 pm). The first weekend (March 28-30) is open only to Wildflower Center members, but it’s easy to join. Plant sale admission is free. Bring your own wagon or cart to transport your treasures.
Come to the Austin Cactus and Succulent Society Show & Sale at Zilker Botanical Garden on March 29-30 from 10 am to 5 pm. Includes a plant show with specimen cacti and succulents, handcrafted pottery, daily silent auction and hourly plant raffles, and expert advice. Admission is included with paid admission to Zilker Garden.
Tour 5 unique Houston gardens on Saturday, April 26, from 10 am to 4 pm, during the Garden Conservancy’s Open Day Tour for Houston. Tickets must be purchased online in advance through the Garden Conservancy.
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few 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 ask to be added. Read all about the Season 8 lineup here!
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