The Schoolhouse is Open

Just about the time you hear the class bells ring signaling that the schoolhouse is open, look for a lovely little lily to begin opening, as well.

Rhodophiala bifida is also known as the Schoolhouse Lily 

because the timing of its bloom coincides with the start of the school year.

This small amaryllis look-alike blooms atop one-foot stems.  Flowering is triggered by rains in late summer or early fall.  Strap-like foliage emerges after the blooms fade and remains all winter.  The foliage then dies down as the heat kicks up the following summer or late spring (April/May).

If your clump of lilies needs dividing, this April/May time frame is the best time to divide and transplant.   Plant the bulbs at a depth 2 to 3 times the height of the bulb.   Summer shade is okay, but Schoolhouse Lilies need full winter sun, so a great place to plant them is at the edge of the canopy of deciduous trees. They are hardy in Zones 7-10.

The deep blood red color of the blooms is how they received their other common name, Oxblood Lily.   I also have a pink variety, but unfortunately I missed the opportunity to get a picture this year.

I like to plant them among 'Katie's' Ruellia (Dwarf Mexican Petunia).   Even though the Oxblood Lilies are short, they are tall enough to rise above the Ruellia.  And when the Ruellia dies down after a hard freeze, the evergreen foliage of the Oxblood Lily remains.

You won't have to hit the books and study hard to grow this little lily.  Just pop it in the ground and forget about it.    If you're looking for an easy bulb to brighten your late summer garden, this one makes the grade.  In fact, I think I'd give it an A+.

Toni :-)

Blooms for the Blues

Post-vacation blues, the August heat, and a gimpy arm (yes, again!) have had me a little down in the dumps lately, so I thought a look back through some garden pictures might cheer me up a little.  Here are a few pictures before the repeated triple digits took their toll on the plants...and me.

Now that's a cheerful sight for sad eyes and a sore arm :-)  

The Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' has taken center stage in my garden this summer.   Last year they suffered so with the drought, but this year they have done much better.

Other perennials near the front walk are Summer Phlox, 'Henry' and 'Augusta Duelberg' Salvia, 'King Humbert' Canna, and 'Karley Rose' Fountain Grass.

The Rudbeckia-Phlox-Canna combination is at work in the backyard, too,

And more Rudbeckia blooming on the other side of the backyard with Salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue' and 'Bengal Tiger' Canna behind

In the front perennial bed, here is the Rudbeckia again, paired this time with 'May Night' Salvia and annual 'Profusion' Zinnias.

Now here are some blues to take away the blues.

New on the summer scene is Clematis 'Jackmanii'.   I am growing this vine on an obelisk surrounded by daylilies that were given to me by a friend.    The daylilies are all in varying peach and yellow tones, and they bloomed in May and June.  

This last one is called 'Parade of Peacocks.'

Some great replenishing rains have come to my summer-weary garden this week, so hopefully it will start perking up again.    

And hopefully I will, too.

Toni :-)

'Fireworks' on the 4th

How about some fireworks on the 4th of July!

Here's a variegated purple fountaingrass I tried this year in a container.  

Its official name is Pennisetum setaceum rubrum (wait for it) 'Fireworks'

I love the brightly colored variegated foliage.

And the soft fuzzy purple plumes.

I put it in a container by itself this year, but I think it would look great paired with sweet potato vine, purple heart, periwinkles, or pentas.

This is definitely a thriller that will add sparkle to any summer container garden.

'Fireworks' is an annul in my zone 7/8 garden, but it is no dud!  It takes the Texas summer heat with ease and makes me go ooh and aah as the plumes shoot up above the colorful foliage.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!  

I hope you get to see some great fireworks :-)

Toni :-)

Today's Forecast

As I was driving down the road the other day, I saw this wonderful quote on the marquee sign of a church...

Today's Forecast:   

God reigns and the Son shines

We got a different glimpse of that today.

The dark clouds rolled in

And the raindrops fell

Yet rays of sun broke through the clouds

And through the raindrops...  

...the sun shone brightly.

Check out SkyWatch Friday to see other beauty from above

Toni :-)

They're So Cute When They're Little

Last month on a stroll through my garden, I spotted something on the coneflowers.   As I got closer, I realized they were teeny tiny baby grasshoppers.

I can almost hear the collective "aaawe they're so cute" out in blogland.

And they are cute...when they are little.

But they grow up to be really ugly yellowish-green eating machines!

The Differential grasshopper, Melanoplus differentialis, 

is one of the most common grasshoppers in Texas. 

Here's one (among many, believe me) on my 'King Humbert' Canna.

The chewing has commenced!

Have I gone bug-eyed over this plague of evil beasts,
or are they chewing holes in the shape of hearts?

Are they only tormenting me further by chewing butterfly shaped holes, too?!

Here are a few pictures of the cannas before the munching mayhem began.

When the grasshoppers have had their fill, I will cut the shredded remains to the ground, and hopefully they will return to their former glory.

In an effort to find a glimmer of good amid the gluttonous grasshoppers, 

I'm linking to Guest Heart Thursday 

Hop on over; it'll do your heart some good.

I'm also linking with Shadow Shot Sunday 2


Enjoy

Toni :-)

Backyard Bling #4 - Luxury Tweet

I've always loved the look of a dovecote birdhouse perched above a long sweeping border of perennials.

Several years ago on a trip to Wisconsin to see my family, I purchased this decorative "dovecote style" birdhouse for about $20.  And if you've ever priced an English dovecote, then you know that that was such a screamin' deal that I could not pass it up.

I placed it among the perennials in a long sweeping bed in my backyard.  

Good to go, right?

This birdhouse has served me well, giving me photo ops even in the dead of winter.

Well, you get what you pay for, 

and let's just say this birdhouse has seen better days.

It lasted about five years, so I would say I got my money's worth out of it.

Since my garden was on tour this spring, I decided a renovation -- make that demolition -- was in order.    Every time the wind blew, I knew this poor little birdhouse was just one step closer to being a pile of rubble on the ground.

So to the internet I went in search of a new birdhouse.   I may have been swooning over the English dovecotes, but the price was just as dizzying!   I kept looking and finally came across Hatterashouse.com.   I found just what I was looking for, placed my order, and within just a few weeks, I received this lovely copper-topped birdhouse!

This picture was taken in April when the 'Little Henry' Sweetspire was in full bloom.

As a side note, the Red Admiral butterflies just loved the Sweetspire this spring.

This birdhouse is not all bling.  It is move-in ready!    I sure hope the birds like their new home as much as the butterflies loved the blooms below.

Now the birds can tweet in luxury :-)

Toni