CactGuy

Last night I decided to try doing a linocut print, so tonight I did!

For my “return” (I did printmaking in high school), I decided upon Manfreda variegata, commonly known as the Texas Tuberose, a member of the agave family.

I used an unbacked linoleum, which explains the mediocre edges on the prints, but I’m excited to do more this summer! Overall, I learned I can do finer details next time, the linoleum needs to be backed to make the printing process easier, and that I need to work on my ratio of black to white.

More downtown Dallas outside El Fenix

Many of the liatris, blazing star, bulbs are starting to sprout. If they do well, it could really change the look of this area by summer!

Agave effect

Susan’s new garden: Cylindropuntia, Oreocereus celsianus, Agave, and miniature roses.

Here is the view looking out from the patio.  You can see the muhly and other ornamental grasses quickly taking off.  I can’t wait to see how the cholla looks once they fill in.  I have 8 Kniphofia ‘Echo Mango’ to plant and received my 40 Liatris picata ‘Blazing Star’ bulbs today as well.  We are still trying to agree on where they will all go.  I am considering the torch flowers mixed in amongst the ornamental grasses in hopes that it will create several layers, but also provide a dense grassy area around the windows.  For the ‘Blazing Star’ bulbs, I will most likely place them along the fence line behind the Mexican plum, Yucca, and agaves to really make their blue-green stand out - but not today.  We are paying back for the beautiful weather that we received the last few weeks with a cold, rainy, and gray weekend.

My friend Cathy sent me more pictures from her recent family trip to the border, and she shared a story with me that I just have to pass along.

When I asked about her family’s garden and plants she shared that her father had worked on the railroad and would collect a wide variety of plants - not just cacti and succulents - and bring them home to her mother. Over time it was like a botanical garden just outside the door of her home. Man, talk about a romantic movie-quality vision - I love it! Thanks for sharing, Cathy.

It is finally here!  Not spring (Okay, yes it is …) but the one year anniversary of panorama shots every three weeks in my garden!  While I work on the animated gif, here is today’s shot and the shot from one year ago (3/28/2012).

So, what is different from a year ago?  Where to begin …

Everything is much bigger - especially the Agave salmiana and the Opuntia engelmannii.  Spring is setting in much slower - the grasses, trees, and turf are far behind last year at this time.  There are a lot of new plants from cacti, small succulents, and yucca.  I have added the new cholla wood architectural pieces, too.

That’s all for now - I have March Madness to watch - but more to come later!

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