Friday, June 1, 2012

Sarah's Garden

Red Knock Out Roses and Blue Plumbago

Welcome To My Garden
It's time for 
Favorites on the 1st
Alison @ The Polohouse 
has invited us to share our gardens.

Golden Thryallis with Red and Yellow Firecracker Ferns
Gardens here need plants that can tolerate 
our hot, dry summers and minimal water.

White Petunias Mixed With Colorful Annuals
Much of our garden is planted in perennials that are
suited for such conditions, but I also 
like to mix in a few annuals each season.

Orange Daylily
Our heirloom orange daylilies will 
greet you as you come up the front walk.

Blackfoot Daisy
This sweet little daisy like flower 
is one of my favorites because it can 
take our hot summers and needs little water.

Purple Coneflower
Coneflowers, a drought tolerant charmer, add 
both texture and fabulous color to the garden.

Purple Aster
These hardy purple asters put on a 
showy spread each fall, but you can see 
they have offered up a few blooms 
for my late spring garden.

Bluebonnets ~ Texas State Flower
This is a look back at the beautiful 
bluebonnets we had blooming in the early spring.

Shell Ginger, Aralia, Dwarf Yaupon
Our back garden is mostly filtered 
light and shade with much of the beds 
planted with various evergreen shrubs 
that offer a variety of leaf textures in shades of green.

Shell Ginger Bloom
The shell ginger is native to Indonesia 
and normally freezes back in the winter. 
In the rare years that it doesn't freeze back, 
we are treated to these gorgeous blooms in the spring.

We are in luck, because this spring
the ginger is full of amazing white flowers 
that open to show a gorgeous red and yellow mouth.

Sago Palm
The sago palm puts out new growth each spring.

Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are one of my favorites, 
but most varieties are difficult to grow here.  
The oakleaf hydrangea is the exception.  

The blooms are clusters of 
white flowers which fade 
to a soft pinkish-brown.

Agapanthus and Geraniums
Colorful geraniums are scattered 
among the agapanthus that produce 
these tall stems with clusters of blue flowers.

Previously I had all white geraniums 
in this spot, but this year I planted a mix of colors.

This variety is deep pink with lighter pink edges.

Foxtail Ferns, Geraniums, Impatients
Impatients grouped within a bed 
of foxtail ferns add a pop of color here.

Our back garden space includes 
two water features that mirror each 
other and these wonderful stone urns 
that are planted with various 
evergreens accented with colorful annuals.

As seasons change or plants need replacing
the contents of the urns change. 
Deep lavender petunias 
recently replaced winter white cyclamen.

The deep color of these wide 
trumpet shaped flowers makes 
this common plant appear very regal.

Often the mix within these urns 
simply evolves as something new is needed.

A new addition this spring is a trio 
of ceramic planters filled with succulents.

This beautiful large jade plant was a 
Christmas present from my husband.

As were the unusual coral cacti.  

The succulents have added a 
new visual interest to the upper terrace.

Just above blue daze spills out of a wall 
planter while this terracotta 
hen is home to more succulents. 

Thank you for joining me in my garden today.  
More gardens await you at 
Also joining


62 comments:

  1. If THIS is how the garden walk starts out this month...... OH MY WORD! We are in for a TREAT!

    Sarah!
    Your gardens are magnificent!
    I love the fountain wall and layered tiers there. The urns, the succulent collections, (have never even seen nor heard of a coral succulent).
    Your colors are glorious and I just spied an arch top garden gate in a wall with an iron door too? Love those architectural details in a garden.

    Just fantastic.
    It would be hard for me to ever leave that sacred spot! Your ginger orchids are amazing. So tropical.

    Loved this tour.
    Thanks for taking me along.
    I will be back again to study your photos again today!

    xoxox
    Alison

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, Sarah, your garden is stunning! I'm going to have to try those oakleaf hydrangeas. I love the blue ones, but I can't keep them alive (or blue!). I really love the combination of the plumbago with the knockout roses. Hmm. Maybe I need to add plumbago around MY knockout roses! Thanks for the tour!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, Sarah! I have garden envy! I LOVE LOVE your choice of plant material.
    I'm sitting here wondering if some of those plants will make it here in zone 7b.
    Your containers are stunning, (love the urns) and make me want to run to the garden center to duplicate your combinations. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Daylilies and daisies are so faithful! It's wonderful to see your beautiful garden! Your pond and urns are fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. All I can say is that your garden is magnificent...Your flowers seem to thrive in each and every corner of your garden...Gorgeous...would love to just stroll through your garden all day and take in all of its beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The fountain is amazing, I just had to share your garden on my Pinterest acct. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sarah, your garden is truly beautiful I would so love to be walking through it with you at this time of year.
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sarah, your garden is spectacular! I love day lilies. I have a friend who grows them.

    I would love to sit with you in your back garden and enjoy the pretty fountain! :D

    Thanks for your kind words today. They mean so much to me!

    xo,
    RJ

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sarah, I so enjoyed the pictures of your garden. You must have a bright green thumb (or two) because it's gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sarah, your garden is just lovely! Your urns are gorgeous! I can only imagine what it will look like as the seasons progress! Just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sarah,
    Your garden is amazing. After the first images I thought you might live in Texas (our oldest son and daughter-in-law live in Austin). But then seeing some of the more tropical plants I am curious, what state do you reside in? You're not a fellow California gal are you?
    Very pretty.
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sarah,
    Your gardens are lovely!!!The urns and pots with annual plantings are exquisite! The water features are divine! Thank you for sharing your beautiful gardens with us!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well you have my tongue hanging! I'd love to see more pictures, especially of the water feature and how it fits in to your landscape!
    Your planters are all fabulous! You really do a wonderful job on selecting your plants ! Love the succulents too and those coral cacti is unreal! The blue daze spilling out of the hen planter is so cute. Love the plantings by the big tree in the filtered light!
    Are Bluebonnets a form of Lupines? I love their color!
    I can't wait to see your pedestal urns as the plants fill out more! Those are fabulous!
    I really enjoyed all your plants! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sarah!
    Your gardens and flowers are gorgeous! All the flower and foilage filled urns are just beautiful! Really a nice treat to tour your amazing landscape! Have a lovely Texas weekend!
    Miss Bloomers

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, Sarah, thanks for sharing all your beauty in your yard!! It's so colorful and inspirational. Thanks for the tip on the hydrangeas. I have tried to grow them but have always failed.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sarah, your Texas garden could not be prettier. I especially love the urns. I use petunias all the time here in Georgia too because of our heat. The Sago Palm is wonderful. I have never grown one here as most folks here kill them or maybe the winter climate does. hugs, olive

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh Sarah, the colors in your garden are stunning! I'm going to have to learn a lesson here, plants that can take dry hot summers. Seems ours get worse every year.
    I think a lot has to do with having a green thumb, you certainly do! I love your fountains and all the wonderful urns. I'm mad for urns! Beautiful post………

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a beautiful garden you have! I miss the sago palm and the bluebonnets, being in OK.
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, how beautiful this is. I love plumbago and hydrangea and your's are abundant. Thanks for showing us around. xx's

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow! Gorgeous gardens that just go on and on, Amazing, all the color! and I love all the planters and the water feature is stunning. You have quite the green thumb, or maybe 2 green hands! I'm now following, so I will be coming back to ogle your gardens! Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  22. WOW, Sarah, your garden is breathtaking. I don't know what I like best, everything is so beautiful. Ginger grows well here but I haven't seen the Shell Ginger around here. I will have to try and find some. It is awesome.
    Thanks for sharing your fabulous garden.
    Have a great weekend, Ginger

    ReplyDelete
  23. One word. . . .GADZOOKS!!!!

    You have an over the top array of plants!!! I feel so garden impaired now!! Seriously, your plantings are spectacular!! I so loved taking the tour!

    Happy Pink Saturday!

    dana

    ReplyDelete
  24. WOW! Sarah I never dreamed your Gardens were so beautiful. Probably because I do not recall ever seeing them. So pretty and this early! Can you come help me?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your garden is gorgeous and I love the succulents!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh my Sarah! You have some serious gardening going on at your place. I truly enjoyed your photos and the opportunity to see your lush gardens.
    I may not comment often but I am always lurking around. ;-)
    Vicki

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow its a very good post. The information provided by you is really very good and helpful for me. Keep sharing good information..

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh dearest! YOUR GARDEN IS DIVINE!!! I am so impressed; I was just over at ALison's and your gardens are so ESTABLISHED not only in the plants, but the architecture of the whole space. The lovely stonework and fountains and walkways are splendid and so well done! It has taken us YEARS to do things ourselves and if there would be ONE thing that I would like a professional to do as opposed to DIY, would be to have pavers put in, to get that CLEAN look as you do!

    THANK YOU for visiting and come back next week for a virtual tour of PARIS!!! Anita

    ReplyDelete
  29. You have the most exquisite gardens, Sarah! And your photos do it justice. So many unusual cacti and I love the water features and your stone containers. Truly lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Sarah!
    Your garden is beautiful and the succulents are outstanding. Thank you for sharing.
    ~Clara

    ReplyDelete
  31. What an absolutely gorgeous garden and yard. I would love to spend some time just enjoying all the beautiful flowers. Thanks for sharing.

    Jocelyn @
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  32. I can't hardly think of enough adjectives to describe the beauty I saw in your gardens. Its a truly amazing spectacle of grandure. Do you open your gardens for tours in the spring and summer? If not you should. Happy Pink Sat.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sara, I'm blown away by your garden! You've been hiding it and I'm now loving everything I see!!!! Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful features - such a splendid fountain/pond, amazing urns and pots - and those cacti are amazing! All the blooming flowers and shrubs look so healthy and gorgeous.

    This was a real treat this morning - so I'm off now to work in my own but know I'll never in a million years get it to look as spectacular as yours!

    Here's to green thumbs - they do make a difference!
    Love, Mary

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sarah, your garden is magnificent! What a treat to see all your blooms and posies! I especially loved the bluebells and hydrangeas. Thanks for sharing and have a beautiful day. Happy Pink Saturday.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  35. Lovely garden and photos. Coming over from Favorites on the First.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wow, that was beautiful! My favorites are the coral cacti, purple petunia (stunning!), and the oakleaf hydrangea (I'm gonna look for that one!)
    Endearing for me to read that both of your life went on after his grad. school. It reminded me on my own time how many of my school mates divorced, because they grew apart.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am just in love with your blogheader! How very sweet! Your garden photos are lovely, thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a beautiful garden you have! I have never seen the coral cacti, it is so very pretty!

    Thank You for sharing and I hope you have a wonderful night!

    Aledia @ Plum Perfect

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Sarah! Oh, my, goodness, your gardens are gorgeous! Your plants are so beautiful and you have some I've never heard or seen before. Love how you've mixed your colors - just so pleasing. Your fountain is so elegant and fancy! What a lovely garden.
    Be a sweetie,
    shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hello Sarah ~ how lovely to meet you. Thank you for calling in Down the Lane.
    Gosh so much to see on your garden tour, I need to look at again and take it all in. Hope you are having a brilliant weekend over your side of the pond,

    Sarah -x-

    ReplyDelete
  41. My goodness, you have been a busy girl. Your garden is amazing. I've never lived somewhere that grew bluebonnets - they look like they are in the lupine family?

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oh my goodness, Sarah! Your garden is just absolutely gorgeous. That back garden space, incredible! Every photograph was just divine! You've got a green thumb, my friend!

    Hugs,
    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  43. Sarah your gardens are gorgeous! I love, love the bluebonnets. So many flowers, some that I am not familiar with. You have managed to turn your hot climate into a paradise. I also love your urns. I would love to find some to go by my garage. Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden!
    Hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  44. Sarah - Wowza! Your garden takes the cake! Absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  45. So pretty - wish I could lean in and smell the flowers! I have quite the knack for growing flourishing weeds...
    xo Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  46. Sarah, your gardens are breathtaking! Your back garden space with the water feature and stone urns is fabulous. Enjoy every minute of it's beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  47. So many stunning specimens Sarah!! I was in awe of the cacti and a little jealous of the bluebells. I don't think they will grow in NJ. It is all gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Oh My Goodness! Sarah, your garden is gorgeous! Your flowers are stunning and so is that wonderful water feature and the urns. Oh, how I'd love to take a walk through your garden. You have such a beautiful variety of plants (some I've never seen). Those cati are incredible. I'm going to have to scroll back through for another look. laurie

    ReplyDelete
  49. YOur garden is beautiful. I enjoyed the tour very much. You are quite the gardener.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Sarah~ What an beautiful oasis you have created! All your blooms and containers are THRIVING in your Texas heat! How wonderful to have your water features and enjoy the soothing sound of the water~ I could pull up a chair and read until the heat chased me away! I adore your Bluebonnets and a big fan of Oakleaf Hydrangea~ ours are struggling a little this year. Thank you for my garden walk this morning :)

    ReplyDelete
  51. Your garden is simply stunning. The pots/urns are beautiful and everything is so lush. I am charmed by the coral cacti -- how neat!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Hi Sarah!

    I am so envious of your beautiful garden. I would give anything to have such a pretty patio with that fountain!

    I have never seen a ginger plant bloom, so unusual. I also have a coral cactus. It was a gift and stays in a pot up on a ledge, as all my cacti do. I don't want to step or fall on them... Life here in the desert can be hazardous!

    Enjoy your wonderful garden!

    xoxo Bunny Jean

    ReplyDelete
  53. Sarah:

    I don't think I've ever seen your garden before. It is gorgeous!!! Love the water feature. I'm amazed at all you can grow with the hot Texas summers. Very impressive.

    - The Tablescaper

    ReplyDelete
  54. Your gardens are beautiful, Sarah, such variety.
    I grew plumbago one year, but it isn't hardy enough to survive our winters. I love the blues!
    We don't have much blooming yet, too soon for garden parties here! It was 40 last night. Crazy weather we have been having!
    Thanks for showing us all your gorgeous flowers!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Oh my, how lovely! I knew that your garden would be perfect and I was right. Some of your plants are familiar to me and some seem quite exotic. I thoroughly enjoyed this visit!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Sarah, your garden is simply amazing and lush. One would never know you are in hit ol' Texas! Each successive photo just gets better and better..... I'm sure you enjoy the yard to its fullest! :-) Sue

    ReplyDelete
  57. Your garden is so pretty, Sarah! You have such a nice lush assortment of plants! And I love the water feature! Thanks for sharing it! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  58. Sarah, I had to come over to see more of your gardens. I adore the fountains and waterfalls, and the URNS!!! Everything is perfection. XO, Pinky

    ReplyDelete

Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.