Lantana and a lesson in patience

It’s spring fever. That is what the 
 name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want — oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

 Click on picture for larger                                                                                         
 This is an example of patience.  The front flower bed has
two low growing lantana plants.  The tiny picture is proof
that you have to wait, and wait, and wait....
I was tempted to pull out this "dead" plant but thought I'd 
just wait and see.  This is all there is so far.
The plant below, planted at the same time. Same care and  
and same weather conditions.
Why one is bursting out of the ground 18 inches next to
 the tiny plant is nature doing her thing.

These were planted last spring and did very well. They were actually the same size by fall.
Winter was cold and wetter than years past.
I am going to leave the small plant to its own growth time table and will water and feed both the same.
We will see.

Another view of plant above. Note tag.

In June as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them. ~Aldo Leopold

 This is the oldest lantana in my yard.  It was 4' tall and 5' wide last fall.  Managed on no extra food or water. Just what nature gave it.  Impressive to say the least.

I left this plant alone this spring.  Only tried to clear leaf piles caught in the stick looking plant.  It was difficult not to cut back the "dead" sticks.  Patience won.
What a fascinating lesson in same.
The green stems are all coming out of the "dead" sticks.  They actually snapped off when tested.  Still, I waited.

Tiny green things started at the base of branching sticks.  Then, wonder of wonders, started sprouting up and up

Hoe while it is spring, and enjoy the best anticipations. It is not much matter if things do not turn out well. ~Charles Dudley Warner                                                            

Will watch dead looking branches to see what happens.

Front garden slow start

Gardening is the purest of human pleasures. ~ Francis Bacon

 

Mid morning will be in full shade by 2PM

9AM

These pictures are to help me determine
how much sunlight each section of

The area closest is in the most shade

the garden gets.  Some is dappled, some
is sunny most of the day.

The few plantings seem to be holding
their own.  The Lantana seems to have
adapted and looks as if it is going to do
well.

I thinka dwarf  Nandina may be best suited. It is growing  in a part shade location and still thriving.  Even though I prefer blooming plants, this looks like the best choice.

The rose bush on the far end needs to come out.  Hopefully, this fall or winter I can get it moved.

Butterflies

Don't forget to click on the photo for larger view

I appreciate the misunderstanding I have had with Nature over my perennial border.  I think it is a flower garden; she thinks it is a meadow lacking grass, and tries to correct the error.  ~Sara Stein, My Weeds, 1988

Today is Wednesday

I think this is the first day in weeks I have not spent at least a few hours taking pictures.  It gets too hot too soon! 102 for today.

Fingers now scented with sage and rosemary, a kneeling gardener is lost in savory memories.  ~Dr. SunWolf


 I have a memory of rosemary several years ago, quite a few in fact.  The stories are not intertwined in the memory, but every time I brush the plant in my garden, memories come flooding back.

Years ago, hubby and I drove to Fredericksburg on the bluebonnet trail.  While walking about in a park in the city, I spotted a bush and wandered over to it.  I didn't even know what it was, but determined I would have one.
It was the beginning of my love affair with rosemary.  I have a plant of one sort or another since then.

In the midst of this writing, hubby came in and told me that the Lantana was full of butterflies.  Well, what can I say?  He watched the spectale while I took pictures. Probably of the same butterfly as yesterday.

 

Coffee.  Garden.  Coffee.  Does a good morning need anything else?  ~Betsy Cañas Garmon, 

In less than 15 minutes, I had several lovely pictures. Not like a week ago when I was struggling to catch one!

This is the ubiquitous flower that has captured the butterflies