Amaryllis
Posted: May 9, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Automatic Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Year-round gardening 12 Comments
Most of the Amaryllis I have planted in the garden have stopped blooming. They send up leaves, but no flowers.
This one, which was tagged Specialty Amaryllis “Fairytale”, has been blooming for several years and usually, the “fancy” ones are the weakest. Not only did it make four gorgeous flowers, but it also sent up another bud.
When the first flower stalk was finished, I had four more Fairytale candy-stripped flowers for a couple more weeks.
All is Right in the World
Posted: April 22, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Automatic Gardening, Caterpillar, Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbird, Southern Gardening, Subtropical Gardening 18 Comments
At last, the garden beds are full and bursting with color.
Many of these flowers would have been blooming earlier but were knocked back by freezing weather.
Thankfully, the Amaryrillias bulb did not turn to mush and it put on a beautiful display. A second stem with buds is coming up.
A variety of caterpillars have hatched.
And the hummingbirds have come back. All is right in my backyard world.
More Spring Blooms
Posted: April 25, 2022 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Automatic Gardening, Blanket Flowers, Gulf Coast gardening, Poppy, Purple Cone Flower, Salvia coccinea, Southern Gardening, Subtropical Gardening 22 Comments
I saw these poppies at a local botanical garden many years ago when I was just beginning to learn to garden in this climate. I didn’t even know what kind of plant they were, but it was love at first sight. I went into the office to inquire about them and the docent gave me free seeds. What a day! I have been growing these beautiful poppies for close to 28 years.
The lavender Salvia coccinea has made some very healthy blooms after a dose of fertilizer.
I find that volunteers like this Purple Cone Flower sometimes do better after they plant themselves where they want.
A spring favorite here is Blanket Flowers.
The Amaryllis that I bought last year surprised me and bloomed again with four big flowers.
Looking for Spring
Posted: March 14, 2022 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Automatic Gardening, Azaleas, Black Eyed Susan, crocosmia, Gulf Coast gardening, hardy begonia, Philippine Lily, snowflakes, Southern Gardening, Subtropical Gardening, violets, Year-round gardening 17 Comments
We had another colder than usual winter this year although it was not as bad as last year’s. Nonetheless, the majority of my plants froze and they are finally starting to come back for the second or third time. Violets were the first to start popping up.
Other plants are finally pushing their way out of the debris-covered beds. The cold has kept me inside and unmotivated to do much, but the leaves do give some insulation so maybe it wasn’t too bad to put off cleaning the beds. Peeking out of the leaves are a Philippine Lily, Amaryllis, and a Hardy Begonia.
Other early bloomers are a crocosmia, one of the Black-eye Susan’s and just a few Snowflakes.
The replacement Azaleas are not doing well and my usual beautiful display is not happening. The sun is coming out and the freezes are going to stop. It is time to head out and whip the garden and me back into shape.
A Spring Day
Posted: March 24, 2020 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, American Robin, Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, bees, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, iris, Monarch Butterfly, Monarch caterpillar, nature photography, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 18 Comments
Today is a beautiful Spring day and some new flowers decided to open. The Amaryllis that I got at a plant exchange put up two stalks and all four flowers opened at the same time.
This Iris was found in a mulch delivery many years ago.
These big bees are everywhere. I haven’t been able to photograph them, but there are Robins singing in the trees. They are probably refueling for their trip north. The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds have arrived.
Happily, the next generation of Monarch butterflies are in the making.
I’ve had several Monarch butterflies floating around the garden. This one seems a bit beat up. Maybe it made the flight from Mexico. Can you see the caterpillar on the leaf?
I hope you can find some beauty in your day.
Currently Blooming
Posted: March 29, 2018 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Automatic Gardening, Black Eyed Susan, Brunfeisia, Canna, Clematis, Coreopsis, Drimiopsis maculata, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Gulf Coast Penstemon, Salvia coccinea, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Today and Tomorrow, white soldiers, Year-round gardening, Yesterday 18 Comments*************************
I have been a bit worried about whether or not my perennials and reseeders would come back this year after all the harsh weather. Butterflies and Hummingbirds are starting to arrive and there was not much for them to feed on as the freeze took most of the flowers. I have been relieved the past week or so to see my plants returning. The following photos are of plants that have faithfully grown in the Automatic Garden for years.
I have a large collection of Amaryllis, but they have not bloomed over the last few years. I was thrilled to find this one blooming.
This little Coreopsis has started to put out a few flowers.
Clematis do not enjoy our climate, but this one is in a pot on the shaded patio. It really liked the cold spell and has put out several blooms.
The White Soldiers (Drimiopsis maculata) have been a prolific and are planted throughout the gardens. This patch sat in water for days.
Old faithful, my red Saliva (Coccinea), was completely mowed down from the freeze and is just starting to come back.
This small shrub was started by seed. The original Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfeisia) was accidentally cut down recently.
The red Canna was a passalong and I don’t think any amount of bad weather could kill it.
For nearly 20 years the Back Eyed Susan has been reseeding itself.
Bees and hummers are happy to see the Gulf Coast Penstemon flowers. This plant is also a passalong and does so well that it needs to be thinned every year.
The Columbine aquilegia has not done well lately, so it was good to see several plants blooming this year.
Speaking of faithful, the rabbits are back and appear when I am out in the yard to remind me to put some seed down for them.
Of course no good deed goes unpunished and the rabbits ate my new Coneflower down to the ground.
Into the Woods
Posted: May 5, 2016 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Automatic Gardening, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Year-round gardening 9 Comments
Into the woods it went. A lonely Amaryllis. How did it get there? Did the mother plant send out seeds? Probably not as the bulb is really big.
I have a feeling it was transplanted by that bushy tailed rat we call a squirrel. It was probably burying the Amaryllis bulb for a snack on a cold winter’s day.
Most of the Amaryllis in the garden aren’t blooming any more, but this one is sure happy in the woods.
In fact, it is so happy that it has started to reproduce and two more are on the way.
When It Rains…You Get Rain Lilies
Posted: June 5, 2013 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Gulf Coast gardening, Rain Lilies, rain water, Zephyranthes 2 Comments
Day two after a rain shower.
Day three and they are in full bloom.
*******************************************
Rain Lilies (Zephyranthes) are in the Amaryllis family. They are so interesting as they almost always bloom three days after it rains. Rain Lilies can tell the difference between sprinkler water and rain water. Only water from Mother Nature will make them bloom. This one blooms in the spring although some are fall bloomers. Rain Lilies also come in yellow and white. There are wild ones that grow here on the Gulf Coast and have a wonderful scent. They reproduce by seeds and offsets. If the flowers are snapped off before going to seed, they will continue to bloom several more times. Their leaves are evergreen and look nice all year, which is just perfect for the Automatic Garden.
Amaryllis
Posted: May 5, 2013 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Easter, Gulf Coast gardening, May Day, nature photography 1 Comment
When the stars, moon and sun are lined up, amaryllis become Easter lilies on the Gulf Coast. Because of the climate, they can be planted in the ground and take care of themselves. Some will even reproduce. So, when Easter comes later in April and the spring time is warm, amaryllis will bloom beautifully just in time for Easter. Needless to say, this year Easter was early and spring was cool. The amaryllis celebrated May Day instead.
Automatic Gardening & Real Gluten Free Food 