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| Iceberg Rose bloom early stage |
As winter's cold icy fingers loosen their grip on South Texas, well not that icy, but it was winter, the Butterfly Hotel welcomes it's first spring. The first climbing roses were planted in the fall of 2011.
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| The Iceberg Rose has a subtle delicate beauty |
The rest of the climbers and the rose bushes came to the garden just before Valentine's day 2012. The Butterfly project's were all planted after the first of October last fall.
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| The Iceberg Rose more direct light |
This beautiful white, "Iceberg Rose" is the first to announce the arrival of spring. This bloom is a solitary arrival. It's beauty so great I think it needed this dramatic, first rose of the year, entrance to ensure appropriate recognition.
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| The Iceberg Rose blossom side light |
With only one bloom developing, without feed or special care our Iceberg is the earliest bloomer and the healthiest of the original five.
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| The Iceberg Rose and a year and a half. |
Today is March 10 and last night we had our first significant rain and ozone replenishment in a couple of months.
I expect all five senior roses to begin blooming within the next ten days.
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| The Iceberg Rose quickly becomes a favorite with just one look. |
I will give them all rose feed and a dose of what Robbie Will's witches brew as soon as the ground has soaked up the rain. I expect the last of our cool nights, (45 degrees or cooler), to end by what I consider the first day of South Texas Spring, March 15. After that I expect lots of blooms and spring planting will begin.
I will try to do rose garden updates as time permits. When I can find background or history on these Texas antique roses I will include that as well.
Last fall, I had run out of sunny areas for roses. The rest of the backyard was shaded by 15 young oaks. At that point the Butterfly Hotel concept came about.
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| One of the neighbors |
San Antonio is a stop over place for the migrating Monarchs. The plants butterflies like are good for hummingbirds and honey bees as well. I enjoy watching and photographing all three. So it's a good deal for everyone involved.
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| Pretty Mexican planters brighten up the winter |
Last week I counted, with roses included, 178 new plants since October 2011. The seeds planted over the winter have not come up so I don't know what the count will be by late spring.
The pictures you are seeing in this portion of the article were photographed from the chair on the patio, March 10, during what I hope to be the last week of winter.
These year round bloomers are a delight on gray winter days. While I had the camera out I thought I might add a few shots of our other back yard pals.
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| Butterfly or moth ? Don't know but it sure is pretty. |
Above you will see the one of our first visitors. I'm not sure what this is but I really don't care. I'm just glad to see them.
A few honey bees have stayed around all winter. The bees love to work in these year round bloomers. I will try to get pictures of all the critters. That's not so easy.
This winter I've spent a good deal of time in anticipation of spring. I am in the garden daily now, pacing, waiting, looking for what I know to be just around the calendar corner.
After the blooms begin and the air turns warm and moist I will be on watch for the first of the butterfly hotel guests.
Sometimes anticipation outweighs the experience. I wonder...no..not if the Iceberg is any indicator.
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| Mollie Bob Boykin Boykin and her babies |
This article brought to you by the usual suspect @:
John B. Boykin
"The Hard Hat Photographer"
Photography and Media Relations
San Antonio Midland Williston The World
Life's purpose is not to arrive at the grave with the body in good shape. Hell no, you want your body worn slap out, skidding in sideways, eyes bloodshot, hair smoking and all the while hollering "Yee Haw !! ... What a ride !!"
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