Pond Hardy Lily has first bloom of the season

If I had to identify one favorite feature in my garden, without even a close second it would be my beautiful pond.  I have spent thousands of hours gazing into the pond with coffee, friends, children, garden tours, and evening coctails.  Fish are so colorful swimming in and out of the tunnels I have created for them.   I have 3 full grown koi and about 30 various kinds of goldfish.  Garden plants provide shade for them in the summer and my yellow hardy waterlilly, ‘Joey Tomocik’, just bloomed this past weekend.  I spent my time in the yard cleaning filters, waterfall and pumps to prepare for summer ahead.  It is all a labor of love and an enjoyabe time in my pond in a bathing suite. 

I have had the yellow water lilly return now for 3 years.  The tropical lilies often come through the winter with less vigor year after year.  The picture of the purple water lilly seeds offerd by Anazon are a tropical lily but very beautiful.  I have grown it years ago.

Dazzling Caladiums - plant NOW

Last night as I was watering my recently planted caladium bulbs in the dark, I decided I would blog about these wonder bulbs today. Growing caladiums are one of my favorite things about living in Texas. I grew up in Salt Lake City where the soil never warms enough to grow these tropical bulbs. Caladiums light up the shadiest nooks in the summer garden and are wonderful in containers. Each tuber provides an impressive foliage cluster 12-18”T all summer long. They are only hardy to zones 10-11.


Plant 2” deep after April 15th when the soil temperature warms up to at least 75 degrees. Consistently hot weather (day and night) is necessary for germination. The hotter the temperature, the faster they will grow. Bulbs can be planted in any direction. They will orient themselves as they sprout. If shoots are present when you get your bulbs, they should be planted upright for faster growth. Lack of water during germination can result in initially smaller leaves, hence my evening watering.

Although all caladiums will grow in the shade, some will do just fine in more light. Sun tolerant varieties include Aaron, Candidum, Lance Whorton, Festivia, Fire Chief, Florida Cardinal, Florida Sweetheart, Gingerland, Miss Muffet, Pink Beauty, Red Ruffles, Scarlet Beauty, Pink Symphony, Rosalie, White Wing, Postman Joyner.

One last tip, the larger the bulb, the more leaves; the larger bulbs are worth the extra money.

With Mother's Day coming up, an ideal gift for the mother you love who loves bulbs of any kind, buy her a bulb auger!  She will love it!

North Texas Great Gardening Weather

It is hard to complain about anything right now. Mornings are cool, the sun is up early, birds are flying high and singing an early wake-up call. I here their song and wake up with a smile on my face.