Views of the Neighborhood – More Plants

~ John W. Howell

Since not much is going on around the neighborhood, The Producer and I went out searching for signs of spring. Come walk with us.

As we get started we should read the famous signboard in front of El Arroyo restaurant in Austin. Pretty much describes Texas weather.

Yeah, this morning, lots of fog. Sure sign of spring

Views of the neighborhood

Last week we saw a couple of puny artichoke agaves. Here is the grandmother of all artichoke agaves. It is about eight feet across and I guess it to be over thirty years old. Not spring but thought you would like to see a big one.

Views of the neighborhood

Here is a bush that is beginning to bloom. The Producer and I cannot identify it. It is not a Forsythia. Any ideas? It is very prolific and looks like its branches grow up and then cascade down the plant.

Views of the Neighborhood

Here are some red berries of a Hawthorn. Not sure if it is a green bark Hawthorn or not. It looks like it started as a shrub and then trimmed to look like a tree.

Huge agave. Not a sign

A sign of spring is trimmed Crepe Myrtles. They flower from new growth so they need to be trimmed each year. These have been trimmed to within an inch of their lives. There is some debate about whether trimming them this radically produces the best results. Some people call this kind of trimming Crepe Murder. A swing by in a few weeks will tell the tale.

Views of the Neighborhood

Here is a Crepe Myrtle that has not been trimmed as yet.

Views of the Neighborhood

A yucca in bloom. Not necessarily a sign of spring since they can bloom anytime.

Heavenly Bamboo showing its berries

Deer out and about without worrying about those nasty bucks chasing them. Yup. A sign of spring.

Views of the Neighborhood.

The ever-popular Rosemary. Blooming blue flowers.

I hope you enjoyed the walk. Here have a margarita. You’ve earned it.

 

83 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – More Plants”

    1. Thanks, Darlene. The flowers on this one are single blooms not a chain. The Broom plant flowers are chains. Thanf you though. You wouldn’t have been able to tell by my photo. 😀

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  10. What a wonderful collection of plants. I’m almost certain your yellow flowers belong to a shrub/vine called winter jasmine: Jasminum nudiflorum There’s an almost identical bush growing at the corner of TX16 and Spicer Loop in Kerrville, and another one along the river in a Kerrville Park. It’s a January bloomer that’s described as a trailing, viny shrub growing from a central crown. As a shrub, it typically grows to about 4-5′ tall with arching branches, and spreads by trailing branches that root as they go along the ground. Compare the flowers with online photos and see if they’re a match. There clearly are some arching branches at the top of this one.

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  12. How does a gardener move a great big agave ? Usually not with a great big shovel – and very carefully. The easiest way to move a succulent is to take a cutting and NOT plant it right away. Now on a great big agave you might be able to get away with a smaller part of one of those 4 foot long leaves. The tips of the leaves can be pointy. Once the portion of the leaf is cut off let it air dry for a few days until it heals over. Then put the cut end against some soil, Then just wait. There might even be time for several and several more trips around the neighborhood.

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    1. Good tips, John. I had so many Agaves at the coast. I’m not sure I want any. (Several blood transfusions from the plant sticks) The way I removed them when they got oversized there was to wrap a chain around them and the other end to my Fj40. Put 4 wheel in low-low and drive away. If I want them here I will follow your tips.

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  13. Good morning, John,
    Your post reminds me that I really need to get out and trim our Crepe Myrtles – and a lot of other trees.
    Have a great Sunday,
    Pit

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  20. These are wonderful, John — thank you for a look at early Spring. Of course, ’tis still winter here (but thankfully, no snow on the ground!) and quite cold. Nothing much spring-like about that. Loved the deer and all those plants!

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  23. Listen up, Buttercup. January and Spring do NOT belong in the same sentence! That is just being mean to us folk north of the 35th meridian North…
    Now, that said, the size of that agave is HUUUUGE!!! I bet having all those deer around is a problem for gardens…

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  26. Look at all the deer! I’ve never seen so many together before – especially in a yard. Because of 70 degree weather, we started having signs of spring, but this morning it’s 16 degrees. Whatever was starting to bloom is probably dead now.

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  30. Your ‘S’ word in January is spring, and our ‘S’ word in January is snow?? Really? 🙂 I love the plants, but I’m a little worried about the crepe myrtle. Please keep us posted, John.

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  31. I have missed so many posts … I don’t know where to start. but I’ll take a day-two to go thru the latest. Finally, getting back after one month vacation 😂😂 ah, how’s life? neighbourhood looks absolutely lovely… its crazy but here is also GREEN, very warm winter. Flowers are on the way, and its only February in Sweden 🙀🤨

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