Old Man Winter Hasn't Killed Everything!

If you're familiar with Austin weather you know that one day it can be an amazingly sunny spring day in the 80s and then when you wake up the next day, it's freezing cold and sleeting. We've had a particularly crazy end of winter/start of spring this year. 

The schizophrenic weather doesn't really bother me. So long as it's not 110 degree at 8am, I'm pretty good. What doesn't react as well to being lulled into a couple days of spring are my plants. Last year, my wife and I designed and planted our entire front yard in mostly native plants with a couple outstanding specimens that we thought we'd try to set ourselves apart from the row after row of St. Augustine yards in our unimaginative conservative hood. 

I'm happy to report that things are looking good for the Mexican Plum that we put on the side of our house. It has bloomed! We got it from a wholesaler and when it arrived it looked dead, but we planted it and loved it and this year's freeze/heat/rain hasn't wiped her out. With a little more love this year, she should be feeding birds and squirrels a plenty. Sorry for the poor pic, but the phone is old. 

What I do not think will survive is my Mexican Bird of Paradise. It is still brown and isn't in a particularly protected area of the yard. The great news. My Ocotillo lived and is showing the first buds of the season. Love that plant although they are not often found outside the desert. She should reach 6' this year. A truely beautiful plant if you ever decide to put in any Xeriscaping. 

I hope your plants are doing well this year! 

Joe