🎶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.
But was it a sage young fawn? It would give excellent context if (s)he were.
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Young and sage are difficult word pairs. Most youngsters are unsage. 😁
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Sage and onion pairs well, though 😂
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Lovely photographs. Love all the “looks” of the sage…and the little fawn too. Great post. Thank you. Blessings.
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Thank you, Suzette. 😊 Blessings back to you.
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Deer with sage…Curious blend, dear John! Thank you!
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Yes it is. This little fawn popped up as I was heading home. 😊
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I think the natural versions look the best. (I feel the same way about azalea bushes.)
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I agree. If you trim sage lightly you get more blooms. The severe trim seems to limit the flowers. Thank you, Liz.
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You’re welcome, John.
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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.
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Thank you, Dan. Ours is still in the recovery mode. It was pretty neglected for years. Have a great week. 😊
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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!
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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. 😊
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Beautiful tour, John. I’m not sure I like the fully trimmed. The natural is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your Sunday!
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There are more blooms on the less trimmed for sure. It seems a light trim really works. Thanks, Jill.
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I agree! Yours looks great.
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Thanks, Jill. I should have a before picture. (I don’t)
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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.
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It does look like lilac for sure. Thanks for coming along. 😁
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From afar, of course…
And thanks for bringing us!
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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. 😏
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Hahaha. That would be a laugh for sure. Thanks, GP.
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Lovely pictures, John. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne. 😊
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Such beautiful plants. Do they smell as wonderful as they look, John? Enjoy your Sunday!
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You have to get close but they have a herbal scent. Thanks, Lori.
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Just like humans. Some managed to get a haircut and others are still shaggy.
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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!!
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Not sure it could stand the winter weather, Debbie. My guess is no.
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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
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I thought you got some rain last week.
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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.
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No this is a shrub. The cooking kind is a plant. I’m allergic too but try to ignore that fact.
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The different choices about trimming or not trimming these sorts of bushes is interesting, John. I would go with natural personally.
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Me too, Robbie. Ours was natural but out of control so we needed to trim it a little to encourage growth in the middle.
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I understand that, John. We prune our roses and our fruit trees.
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Yes. The same concept.
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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?
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I did not know that sage was the official state shrub, Linda. I just love them. Thanks.
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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.
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Seems like an important distinction. I’m surprised the legislature could come to grips with a decision. Thanks again, Linda.
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‘Pretty as peach’ I would have said but I suppose we will have to settle for ‘sage.’ Pretty pictures.
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Hahahaha. Thanks. 😁
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Not boring. Nothing better than blooming sage after a rain. I prefer their natural shape!
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Me too, Jo. Thanks.
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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. 🙂
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Thank you, Diana. We love the skies too.
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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!
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Thank you, Jan. The scent is in the air for sure. 😊
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Beautiful tour, John, but we’re out of ingredients for mimosas! Next time though because a mimosa sounded really good. 😉
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Yes it is a good drink for a stroll. You have to be careful with the Baccarat crystal though. 😁
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Yes, easy on the champagne. 🙂
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Hahaha
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When I saw the title of your post, I immediately thought of that song. Photos are lovely as usual.
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Thank you, Joan. 😁
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Very pretty tour, John. I really like the natural and natural trimmed. Those blooms are beautiful!
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Thank you, Mae. 😊
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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.
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Thank you, Jessica. We are in a hilly part of the state near water so we have a lot of green. 😊
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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!!
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Hahaha. Great story, Geoff. Since I’m a transplant to Texas (2001) there isn’t away to feel misappropriationed. 😁
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Phew
I wouldn’t want my next entry visa blocked
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We Americans are simps enough to overlook any insult.
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It’s beautiful in bloom!
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Thank you, Deborah.
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I wasn’t familiar with Texas sage, John, but it’s beautiful.
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It is beautiful, Teri. Thanks.
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Very pretty, John. Nature is never boring.
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Great photos John!
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Thank you, Mark.
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Yours is looking great, Boss.
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Thank you, Marc.
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Thank YOU Sheriff
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😁
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