Of the 25 Candytuft I planted last May (yes, it was stupid to plant that close to summer, and I didn't want to do it, but I also didn't want my husband to surprise me with something he picked out at the nursery...), only about half survived the crazy heat and then crazy freeze. But they are looking so cheerful. I have another order of 25 coming this week/next week. :-D

I planted seeds (Carnations, Violas, Echinacea, and Prunella) literally 1 day before we got the latest freeze, and now everything except the Echinacea has sprouted, so I'm pretty stoked about that.

Made some design decisions with the husband a couple of weeks ago, that (YAY!) resulted in a firm resolve to get rid of *all* of the stupid Bermuda grass in our backyard. I seriously hate the stuff, and wish I could eliminate it from the entire property. Maybe one day I can, lol!

We had multiple tornado scares Monday; properties 2 minutes/less than 2 miles away from us sustained damage to the north and south of us. So, either the same twister jumped around, or we were sandwiched between 2 different ones. :-O Thankful I have a garden to work in today. <3

Ohmygosh, my Candytuft arrived and I was sooo mad unboxing it!!! >:-(

The entire box of 25 smelled rotten, the roots were dry as straw, and I'll be lucky if 5 of them survive. Grrrr. I'm gonna have to propagate like crazy, I guess. :-( So much for having 6" diameter plants in the garden beds this season. Sigh.

Ooooh! Today, my passionflower vine emerged from dormancy at the root; soooo excited! My baby crepe myrtles (Natchez, Zuni, and Acoma; all around 24"-36" tall) finally sprouted leaves... I bought them dormant and was nervous there, for awhile. lol I have Zuni and Acoma planted in the same hole, with their trunks woven together -- hoping for a really pretty mixed-bloom tree. <3

The roses in the warmer part of the lot are getting their first blooms this week. The ornamental sweet potato vines are starting back earlier than I remember. A passionflower in a 20 inch pot is less than a foot tall but already had 4 caterpillars. The tuberose in pots and in the warmer front yard are starting to emerge. Pink jasmine waited until after the last freeze this year and didn't get their buds killed before they had a chance to open.

I had 3 large Texas rock rose (Pavonia); the powdery mildew got so bad I had to remove them last fall. They used to look so nice and peaceful, gently swaying in the morning breeze.

I use to have Pavonia a long time ago, I can't remember what happened but they're gone.

I went on vacation for about 10 days. At that time, the barely visible red stems of my peonies were just peeking out (or rather, they've been peeking out most of the winter, just waiting and preparing). After vacation and returning home, they are now about 12" tall. Wow! A lot of growing happened in that 10 days.

Oriental lilies and elephant ears are poking out as well.