Views of the Neighborhood – April Showers Bring May Flowers

May 5, 2024 · by John W. Howell · in Uncategorized · 76 Comments

For Cinco de Mayo, we are going to take a look at some of the blooming plants that have benefitted from the April rains. We are catered by Bambino of Austin. Our entertainment is

Menu

PIZZA PIES

GLUTIN FREE – 13-ish inches parm & lemon choice of marinara or cacio é pepe ranch

ROSSO – tomato, garlic, olive oil, oregano
ADD cantabrian anchovies –

MARGHERITA – tomato, mozz, parm, basil, olive oil

MI SCUSI – tomato, mozz, smoked scamorza, parm, olive oil, basil, sesame seed crust

COPPA CABANA – house coppa, orange marmalade, mozz, oregano, chile

LITTLE STINKER – lion’s mane, mushroom conserva, fontina, taleggio, mozz, kale, garlic, red pepper flakes

CACIO E PEPE – fresh mozz, fontina, pecorino, black pepper, lemon

UNCLE FRANKIE – tomato, fennel sausage, sweet peppers, broccoli rabe, chile bomba, red onion, parm

PRETTY… PRETTY GOUDA – gouda, challerhocker, mozz, gold potato, arugula,
red onion, marjoram

NO, YOU DA BOMB – tomato, chile bomba, garlic breadcrumbs, double parm

JOE MARS aka “THE TRACKSUIT” – tomato, Fra’Mani pepperoni & cupping pepperoni, mozz, ricotta, basil, hot honey

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get rolling.

Our first stop: Society garlic.

Blue Bonnet seed pods with caterpillar.

Purple Salvia

A beautiful pink Oleander.

Yucca bloom.

Yellow lantana

A nod to Dan Antion’s menagerie.

Pink salvia

Mexican hat (cone flower) wildflowers

Pink lantana.

Need help with this one.

New Guinea Impatiens

A budding Magnolia

Well, that’s it. Let’s relax and enjoy the food and an oldie. I hope you have a terrific week.

76 comments

Darlene · May 5, 2024 - 5:03 am ·

I love those yucca blooms. I don’t believe they bloom every year.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 7:17 am ·
  
  Around here after they bloom they go over the rainbow bridge.
  
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  1. Darlene · May 5, 2024 - 7:20 am ·
    
    We have them here but they seem to go dormant for a couple of years and then revive themselves. I don’t have one but my neighbour does.
    
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    1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 10:09 am ·
      
      They are beautiful. We have an artichoke agave but no yucca.
      
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GP · May 5, 2024 - 5:40 am ·

I envy the person with the magnolia tree. There is no scent so intoxicating!

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 7:18 am ·
  
  That is my 80th birthday tree, GP. You are so right they are intoxicating. 😁
  
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  1. GP · May 5, 2024 - 12:29 pm ·
    
    I do remember that now!! You’re lucky !
    
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    1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 12:51 pm ·
      
      I am. Thanks, GP.
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
Liz Gauffreau · May 5, 2024 - 5:44 am ·

Ah, lovely olean–squirrel!!

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 7:19 am ·
  
  Ha ha ha. 😁
  
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  1. Liz Gauffreau · May 5, 2024 - 11:01 am ·
    
    Chortle . . .
    
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    1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 12:13 pm ·
      
      😊
      
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Annette Rochelle Aben · May 5, 2024 - 6:32 am ·

Thank you for sharing these beautiful sights, great music and a cute squirrel!!

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1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 2:19 pm ·
  
  Thanks, Annette. I had to pull you out of the spam folder. (Why I don’t know)
  
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Charles Yallowitz · May 5, 2024 - 7:30 am ·

So pretty. We started getting flowers, but now we have a cold snap. Plants seem very confused.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 10:07 am ·
  
  Those cold snaps are brutal. We are lucky we don’t get them.
  
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coldhandboyack · May 5, 2024 - 7:48 am ·

That’s one thing I love about Idaho. We actually get four seasons. In Nevada we got two. They were Too Hot and Too Cold.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 10:04 am ·
  
  I think we get several. My favorite is Hell’s Back Porch.
  
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Marcia Meara · May 5, 2024 - 8:15 am ·

We just got back from our morning mile through the neighborhood, and I must say, while I saw some pretty plants and other interesting things, including several budding magnolias here and there, nothing quite so colorful as your photos. (Oh, yeah … there was one bright red hibiscus that really popped out! That one was definitely a winner for us.)

Thanks for sharing, John. I always enjoy these tours through your neighborhood! Have a great rest of your day! 😀 ❤

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 10:01 am ·
  
  I’m so glad you liked the tour. We have not had much luck with hibiscus. Maybe too hot I hope you have a super week. 😊
  
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circadianreflections · May 5, 2024 - 8:25 am ·

I loved the Caterpillar. It made me smile. Your neighborhood Spring flowers look beautiful.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 9:58 am ·
  
  Thank you, Deborah. Spring is here for sure. 😊
  
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Debbie · May 5, 2024 - 9:03 am ·

Ooh, the pink of that oleander is just so vibrant! And I didn’t realize lantana got that big (but then, everything’s bigger in Texas, right?!?) Love the squirrel and the magnolia bloom, too.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 9:57 am ·
  
  Yes, everything is bigger. Thanks Debbie. I hope you have a super week.
  
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Jennie · May 5, 2024 - 9:11 am ·

Welcome spring! Thank you for the tour of you neighborhood’s beautiful flowers. Love Mel’s song!

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 9:55 am ·
  
  Mel’s is a classic. 😁
  
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  1. Jennie · May 5, 2024 - 7:27 pm ·
    
    Yes, it is!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 7:41 pm ·
      
      😊
      
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noelleg44 · May 5, 2024 - 9:17 am ·

I’ve never seen a yucca bloom – it’s lovely. I did appreciate the caterpillar – quite magnificent. And if it’s pizza today, I’ll take the Uncle Frankie – something new to try with fennel sausage.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 9:54 am ·
  
  All good. Glad you enjoyed the post, Noelle. 😊
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. noelleg44 · May 6, 2024 - 8:36 am ·
    
    I think that might have been a Monarch caterpillar.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 1:25 pm ·
      
      Actually a spotted moth.
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
shoreacres · May 5, 2024 - 9:29 am ·

Your caterpillar is a salt marsh moth: Estigmene acrea. It turns into a pretty white moth with black spots. I’ve only seen the moth twice, but the caterpillars are everywhere just now. I found one crossing the parking lot at work a week or so ago.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 9:53 am ·
  
  Nice. Thank you, Linda.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Author Jan Sikes · May 5, 2024 - 10:16 am ·

Beautiful flowers, John. I love the caterpillar on the Bluebonnet seed pods. And a nice nod to Dan Antion’s Smokey. 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 11:49 am ·
  
  Thank you, Jan.
  
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T. W. Dittmer · May 5, 2024 - 11:37 am ·

Great pictures of those beautiful flowers, John, and a nice song from Mel. Up here, we’re still looking for the bluebird and listening for his song.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 12:14 pm ·
  
  Ha ha ha. Thanks, Tim.
  
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Dale · May 5, 2024 - 11:50 am ·

You are rather knowledgable about the blooms in your ‘hood! They are right pretty, too. Love me some Mel Tormé… perfect for a lazy Sunday.

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 12:15 pm ·
  
  He is perfect, Dale. Thanks.
  
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  1. Dale · May 5, 2024 - 12:40 pm ·
    
    😊
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
The Coastal Crone · May 5, 2024 - 1:24 pm ·

We could use some rain around here. Your neighborhood is looking good with those blooms. Interesting to see the bluebonnets seeding out. I really enjoyed the pink oleander and yucca. Bambano’s was a good choice.

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 1:50 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Jo. The bluebonnet seeds are amazing. I thought that oleander was one of the nicest I’ve seen.I hope you have a super week.
  
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Cindy Georgakas · May 5, 2024 - 3:34 pm ·

Everything is beautiful and bright, John just like Cinco de Mayo and Greek Easter today too. 🌸🌺

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1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 7:44 pm ·
  
  All of that Cindy. Thanks. 😊
  
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  1. Cindy Georgakas · May 5, 2024 - 9:10 pm ·
    
    Of course, John 💕
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 9:33 pm ·
      
      😊
      
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Sue Dreamwalker · May 5, 2024 - 5:30 pm ·

Beautiful flowers and Loved the Squirrel…. And thankfully our weekend has been sunny also here in England… Makes a change from those April showers!..

Thank you John for sharing those delightful blooms xx ❤

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 7:44 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Sue. I’m so glad you have sun. Have a great week.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. Sue Dreamwalker · May 6, 2024 - 2:31 am ·
    
    😊🌞🌞🌞😊
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 6:47 am ·
      
      😁
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
srbottch · May 5, 2024 - 7:26 pm ·

One ‘Uncle Frankie’, please. Wow, such a high caterpillar. I would have expected the ‘Velvet Frog’ to be singing from the salvia. He had a very funny appearance in a Seinfeld episode.

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 5, 2024 - 7:42 pm ·
  
  I mist it. I’ll look it up.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. srbottch · May 6, 2024 - 6:15 am ·
    
    It was the episode in which Kramer got novocaine
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 7:08 am ·
      
      Thanks
      
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Dave Williams · May 6, 2024 - 5:56 am ·

Lovely to see colors of spring flowers to bring brightness after the gray of winter 🌞

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 7:05 am ·
  
  Thank you, Dave. The scene is a welcome sight.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
robertawrites235681907 · May 6, 2024 - 6:58 am ·

Hi John, that’s a great shot of the caterpillar.

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1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 7:11 am ·
  
  Thank you, Robbie. 😊 The Producer did that one.
  
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  1. robertawrites235681907 · May 6, 2024 - 7:49 am ·
    
    Nicely done
    
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    1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 1:23 pm ·
      
      Thank you, Robbie
      
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Bruce@WOTC · May 6, 2024 - 10:07 am ·

Wonderful flowers all, John…but I do think that caterpillar stole the show!

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 1:44 pm ·
  
  That was The Producer’s shot. You are right it stole the show. Thanks Bruce.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Rhonda · May 6, 2024 - 11:34 am ·

I just watched your book trailer for The Last Drive. Well done!

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1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 1:49 pm ·
  
  Why thank you, Rhonda. Glad you enjoyed it.
  
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Teri Polen · May 6, 2024 - 5:15 pm ·

I planted lantanna for the first time last year, and they were beautiful. Bought some more for this year, and just planted them last week.

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 6, 2024 - 9:31 pm ·
  
  Ours regrow. They look like sticks a winter then come back. It might be too cold for that where you live.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. Teri Polen · May 7, 2024 - 1:41 pm ·
    
    I was hopeful they’d come back this year, but we’re not in the right zone.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · May 7, 2024 - 2:51 pm ·
      
      Yeah… a little too chilly.
      
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Tails Around the Ranch · May 7, 2024 - 12:28 pm ·

Lovely tour, John. I think that mystery yellow blooming plant is Zexmenia or Wedelia but I could be wrong. Enjoy May’s flowers.

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 7, 2024 - 2:56 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Monika.😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
dgkaye · May 7, 2024 - 4:21 pm ·

And what beautiful May flowers your April showers have brought. 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 7, 2024 - 4:35 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Debby. 😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorryless · May 9, 2024 - 3:27 pm ·

So the rumors are true! Bloom IS a boom!

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · May 9, 2024 - 6:03 pm ·
  
  Bloom is boom for sure,
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. Sorryless · May 10, 2024 - 4:52 pm ·
    
    🙂
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person

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