Does your garden have a signal of spring? The first flower to bloom or tree to bud out? In my little garden, it's often the "Homestead Purple" verbena or the occasional brave iris. This year the winner is an Avalanche narcissus (also called Seven Sisters) that just joined my motley crew last fall even though it's been cultivated in this country since the 1700's. There was a "Feedback" iris in the race, but it couldn't quite get opened in time to claim the lead. And as much as I appreciate the color it brings to the garden, my flowering quince is a dependable late winter bloomer so I don't really think of it as heralding spring. Like a lot of other Austin gardeners, I'm grateful for any plants that have managed to survive a broiling hot, dry summer followed by a winter full of snow and sustained freezes. All of the "antique" roses are happily putting out new growth, and most of the herbs appear to wonder wh
If you're particularly interested in rainwater harvesting, see these posts: "900 and Counting" on 4/28/08, "First Crop" on 4/10/08, "Ongoing Saga of the Rain Tank" on 3/2/08, and "The Debate" on 2/7/08. Vermiculture was covered 8/12/08. Pond construction was covered in "The Heart of Our Garden" on January 22, 2008.