The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Well, you may have noticed my lack of activity on here as of late. Believe me, it isn't because I've had a lack of material. In October I went home to Colorado because my little sister was about to have a baby, and I wanted to be there for both the baby shower and the birth, which were scheduled about a month apart. Long story short, I went to Colorado, endured some family drama, saw my sister showered with presents like I have never seen, took some time to go visit an old friend in Ohio, spent some time with my parents, and managed to be there when my beautiful sister gave birth to her first-born son, James. Things didn't go quite as planned-James wasn't on quite the same page as the rest of us-but in the end, everyone emerged slightly overwhelmed, but happy and healthy overall, and what more can you ask for?

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day-January 2012

Happy New Year to all you Garden Bloggers out there (and to anyone else who stumbles upon this post)!
If you are paying any sort of attention at all (and thank you so much if you are) you may have noticed that I haven't garden blogged (or blogged at all for that matter) since September. I wasn't here during October and November, and I totally forgot about GBBD in December until the very end of the day. So, I did get out and get some pictures for my records, but I just wasn't up to putting together a post.

Well, it's a new year and time to get back in gear, right? OK!

Leading that charge are my little tomatoes. I don't know what variety they are, but they grow wild out here, and they are teeny tiny, about 1/2" in diameter when ripe. Left unchecked, these plants will sprawl in a most unruly manner. Maybe the pot will contain this one a little.

One of my favorite blues, Lobelia.

One of my most reliable volunteers, snapdragons.

Hardy Ice Plant (Delosperma) always adds a nice splash of color.

This little guy made a surprise appearance the other day. I planted this Gazania sometime last April or May, and since then it has been hanging on, but just barely. It puts out a few sad, spindly leaves here and there, but I wasn't sure if it was going to bloom again. I didn't even see the bud sneak up, just walked out one day and, lo and behold, there it was! 

When I got back home in November, after a 6-week absence, this lavender was looking a little...mostly dead. I wasn't sure if it was going to make a comeback or not, but a little pruning and a little water, and it has made a spectacular comeback.

My Alyssum are flourishing in the pot with my lemon tree.

For sentimental reasons, this Clerodendrum quadriloculare is one of my favorite plants. The leaves are a dark green on top and purple on the bottom, and it grows like a weed. Literally. I have to pull up runners from all over my yard, but I wouldn't dream of getting rid of it. 

I have two smallish pots out on my back lanai, under our awning. One drains, one doesn't-I can only assume this means that one pot has a crack in it and the other one doesn't. Anyway, the non-draining pot gets a little swampy in the winter months, and the miniature roses that I've always keep in those pots don't always fare so well. Finding myself in need of yet another miniature rose, I spied these Fiesta Olé ™ Purple Stripe Double Impatiens. They have the same general look and feel of miniature roses, but they are good in the shade and need lots of water. Perfect! So far (2 months?) they are proving to be pretty hardy.  

My Euphorbia leucocephala-this plant is on my back lanai as well, getting more shade than the ones in my front yard, and is in the prime of its winter white.

This one is in my front yard and starting to fade a little. Amazing how much difference location can make.

Although not my favorite plant, I do love the flowers on my Lantana. There's something whimsical about them that I find charming. 

Chive flowers are understated but kind of pretty in their own right. 

Even with all the things blooming in my yard, sometimes I break down and buy flowers at the store. When I discovered this composition on my counter today, it made me laugh. It seems the people in the house are not the only ones who like wine!

Another store purchase to brighten up the powder room.

Thanks to everyone who went on this garden tour with me, and thank you, as always, to our Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day host, Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Head on over there and see what else is blooming today!