I like gardening, but...

The winter really did a number on the yard. All of the sago palms were frozen and are completely brown. I'll have to cut all the fronds and let them start over. The gingers died back and now the stalks are falling over. So I guess it's time to get moving and clean things up. 

There are already signs of Spring popping up. Mounds of oxalis, also know as pink wood sorrel and windowbox sorrel, are beginning to bloom along the sidewalk. Some folks think it's a weed and should be drowned in chemicals. Not I said the little red hen. It's a cheerful and beautiful little gift from Mother Nature.

Oxalix rubra

Azalea blossoms are starting to pop and one of the first this season was my favorite - the George Lindley Taber Southern Indica azalea. Mine is still on the small side, maybe 2' x 4'. They can reach 4-6' in height and width when mature.

George Lindley Taber azalea

Roses in March is not the norm for most gardeners. I'm lucky enough to live in a sub-tropical climate and my Joseph's Coat climbing rose has blooms all year. Not a great many, mind you, but at least 1 or 2 all the time. I love how the blooms are clustered for an instant bouquet.

Joseph's Coat climbing rose bush

The toad has resurfaced. I still don't know where his permanent home is but today I caught him climbing out of the empty Oriental planter on the patio.

Southern toad (bufo terrestris)

Southern toad (bufo terrestris)

A northern mockingbird has decided to sit on my porch roof every morning and sing me a wake-up song. Well, I like to think he's singing to me. More likely he's trying to impress a girl mockingbird. Either way, he has a lovely voice and makes waking up a little easier. Did I say he was loud? Yeah buddy!

Click the caption to hear a mockingbird sing

Northern mockingbird (mimus polyglottos)

Sunday Dinner in the Yard

The squirrels ate themselves silly yesterday. I quit putting a new corn cob on their feeder when I got to the 5th one. Two of them fought all afternoon over who got to sit in the Moon Maiden feeder. There was more chasing than eating.

 

Aftermath

The ice storm did a real number on several plants in the yard. I was so excited to finally see blooms on the ginger last year and now I have to cut it all back because the ice and cold weather froze it completely. It's amazing to me though, that even dead, the stalks put off a lovely spicy smell when I cut them. There might not be any blooms this year but there will be lovely green foliage for the cat to hide in.
 
The camellias were in bloom when the storm hit and some of them never recovered. Two of my favorites did, though. One is red and white and looks like a peppermint candy. I have looked at websites and through books on camellias but have never been able to decide exactly what the name of this variety is, so I just call it the Starlight peppermint camellia. Many of the blooms only opened halfway and many more just froze solid as buds. The few that did open, however have been especially beautiful because of their scarcity. The solid red, double camellia bush did the best overall because it had already started opening when the ice hit. Most of the blooms acted like it was just cold storage and when the ice melted they carried on as usual. I'm thankful that anything managed to bloom this year.


Camellia on ice

 

The bush recovered nicely

 



 My "Starlight Peppermint" camellia

 

              Southern Toad

I was cleaning up around the gingers yesterday and found this little guy. Needless to say he was thoroughly pissed at me for disturbing his home under the pot of dead ferns. I left him to his own devices for a bit and he must have found a new abode because I haven't seen him since.


    

 

 

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