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Texas Gardening

A couple of new plants bloom ...

roselee z8b S.W. Texas

16 years ago

I bought this little tree at Schumachers a couple of years ago because I was intrigued by the idea of a tree with ferny compound leaves that is evergreen. I had forgotten the name of it, but with the blooms to go by I'm pretty sure it is a Teneza (Pithecellobium pallens) also called 'Ape's earring' for some unknown reason.

It's a fast growing, graceful little tree and the flowers are very fragrant ...

Right under the lens of the camera a little honey bee flew in and oblivious to everything else started working the fluffy balls.

I like how the picture captured her pose with the outline of her legs, but alas, her wings are showing signs of her hard work ...

Another first bloom in the yard is on the Aztec lily orient red (Sprekelia formosissima) given to me by a friend.

Scott Ogden says it ranges across Mexico and blooms spring and fall. The orchid like flowers seem very large for the small amount of foliage ...

An Austin rose you don't hear much about is Lillian Austin. It flushes several times a year and the blooms are so large they remind me of the crape paper flowers used to decorate during fiesta week.

A spreading rather than tall rose, it flushes several times a year, has a tea rose fragrance, and the foliage is very healthy ...

You may have noticed the tiny wild bee on a petal above. He worked the center of the rose for about 10 minutes.

All for now ...thanks for looking!

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Comments (11)

carrie751
16 years ago
Although the flowers are gorgeous, the bee captures my heart. My neighbor has just put up four hives. I am so excited because he has no flowers, and I know where they will be hanging out.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
16 years ago
In my quest to change my yard over to plants that actually LIKE shallow, rocky, black alkaline clay and hot dry weather I've planted three Texas Anacacho Orchid Trees.

One selection was purchased at Rainbow and has beautiful white bark, white flowers without the long stamen, and the new foliage is lime green. Another selection was purchased at Schumachers. Chip, the owner of the nursery, said he counted scores of different butterflies on it at one time.

The blooms on this selection are light pink and fade to white. I saw a light purple one at the botanical center, but have not seen that color offered for sale.

Butterflies are very attracted to both selections.

Here is a link that might be useful: Anacacho Orchid Tree
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roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
16 years ago
Carrie, how nice your neighbor has bee hives. I love hearing and seeing the activity of bees. There have been a lot of bees in my yard from early this year, where last year I didn't see a one until early summer.
bossjim1
16 years ago
Very pretty, Roselee. I especially like that Aztec lily. I just added that one to my list.
Jim
carrie751
16 years ago
How pretty the orchid tree is, Roselee. Makes me want to move farther south so I could grow one.
denisew
16 years ago
That Aztec lily is georgous, but probably wouldn't stand our cold winters here north of Dallas. I'll just appreciate them in the pictures you post here. ;-)

Your rose is very pretty too. I like that color combination - the salmon pink with the yellow centers.
sam_mocotx
16 years ago
I love the rose it is very pretty.

Sam
red_geranium
16 years ago
Very interesting, Roselee! I really do like that unusual tree, soft and pretty. I can just imagine an inquisitive chimp draping a puff ball over their ears! How tall and wide does that tree get and how fast is it growing? Is it a legume?
red_geranium
16 years ago
http://www.delange.org/Tenaza/Tenaza.htm
Thanks!
sunny43
16 years ago
Hi roselee what camera and lens are you using to get such a terrific micro shot of the bee?
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi Sunny! The picture was taken with the macro setting on a Cannon Power Shot A710 IS. The camera was purchased last year. I think the current model is A720.

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