My Garden in March - 2

I love driving through the neighborhoods this time of year. In almost everyone's yard, one can view a burst of spring color in the garden. I haven't had much time to prepare my spring garden this year, so I will have to be happy drooling over everyone else's handiwork this year, while tucking away plenty of ideas and inspiration for next year.



The yards with the most beautiful, lush gardens are the ones that underwent a whole lot of work last fall. These gardens already have mature plants that are covered in spring flowers. They also have vines and shrubs with plenty of new, healthy, shiny green growth. I am now dripping in jealousy!!!!



Anyway, I got home, grabbed the camera, and walked around outside, snapping pictures; I was searching for inspiration. I noted some new growth in my own formerly shabby looking plants. I saw some new colors. I saw some healthy growth. I also saw some dog doo, which I carefully avoided.


Check out some of my newest arrivals:

Salvia

This is a great little desert plant with wonderful color. It looks great through July, but by August, it starts to look pretty tired. It can get kind of scraggly and ugly in the winter, so I usually trim it way down, and enjoy the lovely blue blooms when they return the following spring. It reminds me of lavender, which you'll hear about in a minute.

Lantana

Three years ago, I went to Lowe's garden center with my mom and a then two-year old E. I bought several plants, many of which I am sure have died since then. E was toddling along the aisles, and grabbed this plant. I didn't really like multi-colored lantana, I preferred yellow. My mom saw me trying to discreetly put E's selection back on the shelf, and shamed me into buying it. "She's two, and she wants to be a part of your hobby!" Boy was she right! This tough guy is a beautiful addition to my garden, and I'll never forget the story about how I came to buy it.

Angelita Daisy

This little desert perennial is hardy and adorable. Unfortunately, it is so adorable that the girls love to grab their little kiddie scissors, cut off the stems, and add them to their mixed bouquets.

Petunia

These are obviously on their way out. They do such a great job of bringing color to the garden in the fall, winter, and early spring, but they can't handle any kind of real heat. We'll bid our tearful goodbyes in about a month, or as soon as the nurseries start to sell periwinkles or zinnias.

Lavender

I LOVE LAVENDER!!! If I could have lavender plants all over my yard, with a hint of yellow flowering plants for an accent, I would. Oh, I so would.

California Poppy

I planted seeds of this native wildflower about four years ago in a sunny part of my backyard. I abandoned them late in the summer, they went to seed, and the seeds floated everywhere! The next spring, I had more poppies, the year after more, and this year, I've got them all over the place! It's a fun flower, and brings color to dry, forgotten spots.

Calla Lily

I love these so much, maybe because they look like they should die a slow and pitiful death here in the desert, but they don't! They show up every spring and make me happy with their elegance and beauty.



Coleus

I added these beautiful coleus to a couple of pots that sit in full shade. These will add color and interest, and with enough water, will last through the summer months and into next fall.

Begonia

I added these to the shady pots in my front yard. It's going to make good friends with the coleus and bring happy color all summer long.

Petunia

These are some really cool Wave petunias I planted last fall in those same pots I just mentioned. They are having one last beautiful spurt of color before the really hot months arrive. They become super scraggly and ugly in the summer, so I'll just pull them out and replace them with periwinkles.

Euryops

This is new. This little guy is supposed to mound out to about two feet wide, and stay covered in yellow flowers through the summer. We'll see how it hangs with the other tough guys in my garden. I'm watching you euryops!

Pink Indian Hawthorne.

I have two of these fantastic, hardy, evergreen shrubs in my front yard. They have a natural rounded shape, and stay nearly hidden all year long. I love love love it when these adorable pink flowers show up every spring. It's such a happy surprise, since these shrubs are normally so shy and hidden away behind other more showy plants.

And that's my garden so far this spring. Watch out, I could be in your neighborhood tomorrow, scoping out your yard for ideas!