Primadonna

Unbenounced to me, I made the front garden for Her Highness. She perches behind shrubs, makes love to the catmint, captures hawk moths and bees in mid flight, and uses rocks for covert operations, all to our entertainment and delight.

Agave Pups

Agave parryi truncata, started by Carey at Southwest Gardens, has nearly doubled in size since planted in April. This is a faster grower that some, so highly appealing to those of us who struggle with delaying gratification (guilty). I love its icy blue tint.

Agave parryi 'neomexicana', nursed to the age of two by Kelly Grummons, has recently sprung three pups (two visible here). It's only been in the ground for year three and appears to love this high spot in the southeast corner of the front yard. Too bad the Aurinia saxitilis (or Alyssum saxatile, which, by the way is in a sorry state) is overshadowing it. I'll dig up that beast this fall in order to let the Agave take center stage. The ugly neighbor was not worthy of this photo.

Exhale

Having just yesterday finished an involved project at work, I can finally exhale and meander around the yard. I am aghast at what a wreck the back has become! Buddha and Buddleia, living in harmony, provided a moment of delight in the midst of the rubble. A butterfly would have completed the picture.

Prairie or Rockery (that is the question)

My garden is having an identity crisis. It wants to be a rock garden but its designer is in love with the soft edges of the prairie (as in the DBG prairie garden, above). What'll it be? Whimsical, romantic, and airy? Or craggy, technical, and intricate? Need one choose? Or maybe one could balance both, like accomodating both emotion and intellect.

Pentstemon Alamosensis will hopefully flower next year

Watery Reflections

What a perfect night it was last night at DBG. Colors were beautifully illuminated at mid evening.

WANTED: Amorpha canescens (Leadplant)