News About My Garden

I know that many of you are still covered in snow, and have cabin

fever.  I feel a bit guilty that I have moaned about our cold weather

when it is not at all as bad as what y'all have endured.  I suppose it's

just that when you make the commitment to live in South Texas,

you are expecting it to be warm in March and April.  

The weather here has been a bit warmer, but the winds have been

terrible.  It's been as though Hurricane Harvey had been hiding behind

a bush and decided to come out and lash at us once again!  Speaking of

Harvey, I have weeds in my yard that I never had before and I swear it

is all Harvey's fault ;-)  There is some hope though.  Our magnificent

and huge Magnolia tree out in the front yard was battered so hard by

Harvey that I was afraid we would loose it.  Recently, it's leaves were

turning yellow and falling to the ground.  This is not uncommon in the

spring, as magnolia's are not like deciduous trees that drop their leaves

in the fall.  Magnolias stay green and just replace some leaves.  Ours

was dropping yellow leaves like crazy.  My husband even started to

worry.  I assured him that this was a normal event for a Southern

Magnolia and that I had faith that our beloved tree would return to

it's former glory.

The other evening as Bentley and I were returning home from

our walk, I looked at the tree closely.  The bottom third of the tree was

covered with more magnolia buds than I have ever seen on it before.

Each branch was glorified in these buds, but the most encouraging 

sign was a few tiny buds way up at the top of the tree and some new

tiny green leaves.  The top third of the tree's branches had their leaves

stripped off by the hurricane, but miraculous new growth is appearing.

I ran inside to deliver the good news to David.  Nature in all it's glory

had once again returned with the hope of spring.  I'm so happy!

I purchased a hibiscus at my favorite local nursery.  I put it in a big

pot next to the chaise lounge.  Looking at this beautiful flower makes

me long to mix up a tropical drink of some sort!

I tend to put a lot of colorful vincas in pots around the patio.  They 

seem to be one of the few flowers that not only can stand the hot

and oppressive heat that will soon arrive, but also seem to thrive in it.

That's all for now.  For those of you who have not yet seen spring,

please feel free to enjoy the few photos I have so far.  It will happen

for you too.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley