There are so many different kinds of wildflowers blooming right now . . . I don’t know their names but some look just like tiny little white bells, others I call wild verbenas simply because the leaves look like verbena leaves even though the flowers don’t – and then there are little blue-ish flowers that look remind me of violets. All the peach and plum trees are full of blooms with what seems like hundreds of bees everywhere.   I find it hard to believe that it’s been reported the number of bees are dwindling. Couldn’t tell it around here. We’ve got honey bees and bumble bees both. The bumble bees can be agressive if you get in their territory – so I stay clear of them. Lady Bugs seem to be everywhere as well – and they’ll fly right up and land on you. I’ve heard they are good for a garden and yard so I leave them alone.  

I’ve started cleaning out the garden along with the flower bed next to the picket fence. I’ve planted some Sweet Peas there – and will keep my fingers crossed that they make it. I love Sweet Peas – but have terrible luck growing them.  

 Also, set out some Zinnias and potatoes. Haven’t decided what else I’ll grow this year – probably the standards – tomatoes, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers, green beans, maybe some okra. I did see an advertisement on television for a ‘Survival Garden’ – advertised as having enough seeds to plant an acre with all the popular veggies. Kind of reminds you of the 1940′s Victory gardens, doesn’t it? I can’t imagine advertising vegetable garden seeds to television viewers – especially if they live in the city. They have to be clueless as to how big an acre is and how much WORK it would take to maintain it. (I know I was.) We’re talking, tilling, weeding, planting, fertilizing, weeding again, etc. etc. I’m hard pressed to keep my small garden/yard going and it’s pretty much on auto-pilot. I plant it and if it makes it . . . great – if it doesn’t, it gets replaced with something else. My days of coddling flowers (i.e., city style) are through. I probably lost a few plants this winter thanks to that 13 degree night, but at least I know that the ones that survived have got to be hardy. And if I’m looking to replace something, I’ll certainly look for some more of those plants that survived.

I figure it will take me at least a month or two to get things back in order, but that’s OK – I’ll enjoy being outside listening to the birds and the bees, smelling the new clover, and pretty much just being thankful for all my blessings.

For those that enjoy driving through the Texas Hill Country during Bluebonnet season (they should be blooming around the end of March) – you can get more information about the different festivals and trails on This Is Our Texas - the weather will still be pleasant and there’s so much to see. Don’t forget the camera!

Left Old Henry Farm and checked out the La Bahia show just up the road. Rows and rows of tents plus a couple of old buildings full of stuff. There were a lot of garden type antiques, i.e., chairs, chase loungers, tables – so if you have an old iron patio set hang on to it – they were selling for over $500! There are a lot of shows between Round Top and Warrenton that run for about 10 days. Not all shows have the same schedule. If you are looking for information, visit Texas Antique Mall Show Calendar.

We headed back to the car so we would have enough time to take a leisurely trip home as we wanted to get some pictures of the bluebonnets that were in full bloom. Of course the kolaches we had bought that morning in Caldwell had warmed up sitting in the car so that when we opened the door we were hit in the face with the tantalizing smell of yeast and assorted fruits – apple, pineapple, raspberry, and peach – and we just had to eat a few of those on the drive home. So much for putting some in the freezer.

If you have time in the next couple of weeks, take a day to see some of the Texas countryside that is in bloom. You’ll find useful information about wildflower events on This is Our Texas, Events page.

There are some beautiful drives between Sommerville and Round Top off Texas 390 as well as in the Brenham, Chappel Hill area. I’ve been enjoying the wildflowers here in Texas for as long as I can remember, but the flowers this year seem to be more plentiful with a more intense in color.