The evolving garden

As with all things, preferences and focus change over time.  When I first started doing 'extreme sport' gardening, I focused on plants and design, color and contrast, embracing native and adaptive plants for Texas.    As time went on, I became more and more excited and attracted to garden art.  I've added several pieces of garden art - and boy do I have plans for more! 


 These signs welcome you to my garden.   These are to the left of my entry gate.    Cannot describe my persona any better! 

 

These are some gutter planters I made along with a tile mural.  All outdoor friendly!   I love the beautiful combo of yellow/orange and blue.  

I've made a succulent area - named 'LeSucculent Cafe' coined after the Succulent Cafe in Oceanside CA.  A succulent vertical planter, along with colored pieces of wood and two mirrors.    

 

More succulents.  My planter made from a  wooden pallet, along with several colorful pocket planters. 

 

How else do you cover an ugly grey house foundation?   Paint on some birds.    I hired a local street artist who paints birds all over the city.   The bird with an attitude 'you're not the boss of me' is in honor of my corgi Maggie.    Really - she thinks she's in charge!  

What season is it anyway?!?!?

Central Texas has had a very mild winter ....  Not that I'm complaining!  The temps so far have been so nice and warm that plants in my garden are very confused!   Lots of blooming going on ...  Not that I'm complaining!

Makes me wonder about the affects on the following seasons.   Will there be more bugs?  Will the bulbs still bloom?  Does this mean we are in for a harsh summer?   We have had a couple of very short freezes.   And those times when the temps have dipped to 32 degrees it has only been for a couple of hours in the early morning hours.

I'm from Midwestern Illinois and the garden season there was relatively short. I always feel very blessed to live in Texas where the growing season is really 12 months long.  My heart goes out to my blogger friends in the colder climates. 


Here are some pics of those confused plants just blooming away in February!