Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Bloomin Tuesday




It's Bloomin Tuesday hosted by Ms. Jean.
I'm lovin' that it's finally spring, and I've been working in the garden as much as possible. This is what's bloomin' here in my little garden.


I just love this ground cover. Ajuga, or bugleweed, it makes a thick mat that chokes out weeds, and spreads quickly, with a bonus of cute little purple flower spikes in the spring. Mine are just beginning to bloom. All of these little buds will stretch up to about 8 or 10 inches.

Right behind the ajuga I have lots of these pincushion flowers, or scabious. I bought one of these about 5 years ago, After the 3rd year, I divided it, and now I have about 20 of these. The blooms are just adorable. And being a seamstress, well, of course I love a pincushion flower.

Evergreen periwinkles.
Love this too. Spreads like crazy...



Some people call this invasive...
I call it gorgeous.

This is evergreen euphorbia. The foliage has a deep maroon hue in the winter, when there's almost no color anywhere else. I even surprised myself, at how much I love this little plant.
These unusual, brightly colored bracts are the euphorbia flowers.

Even if the squirrels get all the strawberries, it's such a pretty plant.
And evergreen, that's hard to beat.

My first Iris blooms of '09.
These aren't fragrant, but they are just so beautiful.


My flowering peach tree is loaded with blooms.
I love the color.


My very first camillia blooms !!!



I've had a little something extra in my flower beds this week.
For the last 5 days, I've had this little visitor.
Do you see it?
Here's a closer look.

Not exactly "little".

The wooded lot next to my home is a tangled mass of wisteria.


In the next day or two, the blooms will be fully opened, and the next few weeks, I will LOVE the intoxicating fragrance. You can bet I'll be filling lots of vases with this.
Down here in Georgia,
this vine is rampant. Most men won't allow their wives to have this plant anywhere on their property. I'll show you why...
See these small wisteria vines, wrapped around these pines?
Look closely and you can see how the wisteria vines have cut right into the bark of these pines. Are you thinking that when those pine trees grow larger, that those wisteria vines will stretch, then break?
Think again.
And let me introduce you to
"The Ugly Tree".
Once it was a strong and majestic oak tree.

Then along came this beautiful vine.

Ladies, THIS is all wisteria vines.
VINES, I say.
Like a Boa Constrictor,
this wisteria has wrapped itself around,
and choked the life out of every branch on this tree.
The branches eventually break, but rarely hit the ground, as there are so many vines holding it up. Some of these vines are as big as my waist.
I don't know who planted this vine here, years ago. I heard there was once a home on the property next to mine. You'd never know it now. But who ever she was, I'm glad she planted it. If you plant a wisteria, just make sure you plant it far away from any other plants that you have, trust me on this one.

11 comments:

  1. Beautiful blooms and we have turtles from time to time, they are great and yours is not so little! Wisteria is beautiful, smells heavenly but will indeed cause much damage if not controlled. Not good to plant around septic tanks either, the roots you know!!

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  2. Teresa: This is so pretty now, I can just imagine how it looks in the summer! I, too, LOVE wisteria and know the dangers of it's choking tendencies. But when it is blooming, it is so gorgeous! And that turtle!! HUGE! Is it a snapper?? I think he could eat my cat...if he could move fast enough that is! Have a great day!

    Lou Cinda :)

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  3. everything is gorgeous including the turtle...ann

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  4. Oh My Teresa...so good to see periwinkle! Makes me miss home up north and wonder what's popping up in my garden on Cape Cod. Enjoy your early spring "hellos" from all your sprouting blooms.

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  5. Your garden is looking great! I love wistera too, but not in MY yard:)
    That euphorbia is really crazy-in a wonderful way:)

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  6. Ok, I just read the 'skunk' quote-LOL! Gonna have to use that on my 'stinky' kids:)

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  7. Wow, you definitely have a lot coming up in your yard. I love those pincushion flowers -- those are some of the first things up in my yard too!

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  8. Hi Teresa
    I love all your flowers!
    I have a huge desert Turtle too! Mine is named Charlie. He is just waking up from a winter nap. I just love him, he is so friendly, he comes to my back door every day looking for some carrots. He is one of the reasons why I had to plant my tomatoes in a hanging basket!
    Happy Bloomin' Tueday!
    ~Ann

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  9. Teresa, Thanks for showing us your lovely blooms for Bloomin' Tuesday! Welcome! Your white Iris are beautiful! I'm lovin' the turtle too. Hope he sticks around. I can't wait until spring is really here in western NY! Jean

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  10. You must take tons of pictures when that Wisteria comes alive Teresa.
    I'm seeing some little green things in my front yard..still lots of snow in my back yard : (
    Love the turtle but how do you cuddle that thing?
    Love Claudie
    xoxoxo

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  11. Either that is a really big vine or you have a really small waist! :) I did not know wisteria vines cut into a tree like that and then choke it. I was just admiring a beautiful wisteria today...they are in full bloom here in Texas. I will never look at wisteria the same. You taught me somthing today! By the way, your garden looks great. You are a busy little bee!

    Malisa

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My Grandmother always told me, "If you hang around with skunks, you're gonna get some stink on you."