🎶The sage in bloom is like perfume . . .deep in the heart of Texas. 🎶
A half-inch of rain and the Texas Sage (Cenizo Leucophyllum frutescens) started to bloom this week. Ii does so several times in the year. I thought I would check out some of the blooming shrubs. According to the producer, I have to post a “potential borning” warning. Okay, so now that that is done, grab your mimosa, and let’s go.
This is a natural bush with no trimming.
Another natural.
A younger version.
Fully trimmed.
Back to natural.
Here are some that are trimmed to produce deep blossoms.
Trimmed to a natural look.
Untrimmed.
Tightly shaped.
Here’s mine. looking much better than last year.
A baby sage just getting started.
Teenage fawn who just happened to be there.
Well, that’s it. I hope you have a great week.
Fiction Favorites 
But was it a sage young fawn? It would give excellent context if (s)he were.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Young and sage are difficult word pairs. Most youngsters are unsage. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sage and onion pairs well, though 😂
LikeLike
Lovely photographs. Love all the “looks” of the sage…and the little fawn too. Great post. Thank you. Blessings.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Suzette. 😊 Blessings back to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deer with sage…Curious blend, dear John! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes it is. This little fawn popped up as I was heading home. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the natural versions look the best. (I feel the same way about azalea bushes.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree. If you trim sage lightly you get more blooms. The severe trim seems to limit the flowers. Thank you, Liz.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yours looks like it has a dog’s head and a puppy crawling over its left shoulder. Anyway, I think I like the less-trimmed more than the tightly trimmed. Sunday is a good day for boring, John.
Enjoy this day, and I hope you have a great week.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Dan. Ours is still in the recovery mode. It was pretty neglected for years. Have a great week. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love beginning the day with a tune. Thank you for the tour. Isn’t it amazing how still a deer can stand? And with the slightest motion from human trespassers, they disappear. Have a wonderful Sunday!
LikeLiked by 2 people
This little one let me take a picture and its mama was off to the left giving me the “Mama stink eye.” I was able to pull away with nobody getting spooked. These deer are pretty tame. Thanks for the wish and I hope you have a blessed day as well. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful tour, John. I’m not sure I like the fully trimmed. The natural is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your Sunday!
LikeLiked by 2 people
There are more blooms on the less trimmed for sure. It seems a light trim really works. Thanks, Jill.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree! Yours looks great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jill. I should have a before picture. (I don’t)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with Liz – natural has more pizzazz… Then again the one that is trimmed to produce deep blossoms almost looks like a lilac tree!
Lovely walk, John. Thanks for taking us along.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It does look like lilac for sure. Thanks for coming along. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
From afar, of course…
And thanks for bringing us!
LikeLike
It seems from the picture that your hedge could easily be made into a topiary dachshund, but I suppose Lucy and Twiggy wouldn’t be too thrilled with that idea. 😏
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahaha. That would be a laugh for sure. Thanks, GP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely pictures, John. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Suzanne. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such beautiful plants. Do they smell as wonderful as they look, John? Enjoy your Sunday!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You have to get close but they have a herbal scent. Thanks, Lori.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just like humans. Some managed to get a haircut and others are still shaggy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to Google this one, John, and it sounds ideal — drought resistant, needs no fertilizing, blooms profusely with lavender or white flowers particularly after a monsoon, and is lovely to boot. Wish I had some here!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not sure it could stand the winter weather, Debbie. My guess is no.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning, John!
Our Ceniso blossomed last week but didn’t live up to its name “barometer bush”: we didn’t get any rain. 😦
Enjoy your Sunday,
Pit
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought you got some rain last week.
LikeLike
They look kind of cool. Is that also the kind you cook with? Out here, the stuff is an inedible bush that I’m also allergic to.
LikeLiked by 2 people
No this is a shrub. The cooking kind is a plant. I’m allergic too but try to ignore that fact.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The different choices about trimming or not trimming these sorts of bushes is interesting, John. I would go with natural personally.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too, Robbie. Ours was natural but out of control so we needed to trim it a little to encourage growth in the middle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand that, John. We prune our roses and our fruit trees.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. The same concept.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shrubicide is a terrible thing. A little trim is find, but whoever took a hedge trimmer to some of those — well! They’re such a beautiful native plant — did you know it’s our official state native shrub?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I did not know that sage was the official state shrub, Linda. I just love them. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, but there’s a complication. The sage is the official state NATIVE shrub. After the legislature, in its wisdom, named the crape myrtle the state shrub after lobbying from some town or other, the native plant people pointed out that crape myrtle isn’t native, and was an especially bad choice. In order to avoid interminable wrangling over the issue, they created a new category — state native shrub — and plunked the sage into it. Your tax dollar at work.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Seems like an important distinction. I’m surprised the legislature could come to grips with a decision. Thanks again, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Pretty as peach’ I would have said but I suppose we will have to settle for ‘sage.’ Pretty pictures.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahahaha. Thanks. 😁
LikeLike
Not boring. Nothing better than blooming sage after a rain. I prefer their natural shape!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too, Jo. Thanks.
LikeLike
A pretty splash of color, John. My parents used to live in the high desert of Colorado, and it was amazing what a little rain would do. I love your blue skies. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Diana. We love the skies too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely love Texas Sage, John! I love picking off a leaf or two and crushing it between my fingers and smelling it. The fragrance is like nothing else! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jan. The scent is in the air for sure. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful tour, John, but we’re out of ingredients for mimosas! Next time though because a mimosa sounded really good. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes it is a good drink for a stroll. You have to be careful with the Baccarat crystal though. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, easy on the champagne. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I saw the title of your post, I immediately thought of that song. Photos are lovely as usual.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Joan. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very pretty tour, John. I really like the natural and natural trimmed. Those blooms are beautiful!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Mae. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to admit – being from Aus, I have visions of Texas being all desert and tumbleweeds. This is so lush and green! Just beautiful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jessica. We are in a hilly part of the state near water so we have a lot of green. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh goodness now for a confession and an apology . Growing up I learnt one couplet from the song you quote at the top … ‘ the stars at night are shining bright, deep in the heart of Texas’. My parents used it all the time. Why? It was their way of pointing out if someone’s fly was undone. If one of other suddenly sang those two lines everyone in the know would check their flies to see if they were a touch over exposed. No other words, no pointing needed. We still understand it even if the song itself has long passed from memory. I need to apologise to my Texonian friend for such an egregious cultural misappropriation!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahaha. Great story, Geoff. Since I’m a transplant to Texas (2001) there isn’t away to feel misappropriationed. 😁
LikeLike
Phew
I wouldn’t want my next entry visa blocked
LikeLiked by 1 person
We Americans are simps enough to overlook any insult.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s beautiful in bloom!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Deborah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wasn’t familiar with Texas sage, John, but it’s beautiful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is beautiful, Teri. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very pretty, John. Nature is never boring.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great photos John!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Mark.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yours is looking great, Boss.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Marc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank YOU Sheriff
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person