Phlox divaricata.

i'm very happy with the phlox divaricata (louisiana phlox) i bought last march. it started blooming about ten days ago and is still going. it's a great looking groundcover by the front door; if only i had twelve plants instead of two.

p. divaricata can be propagated by division in the fall; hopefully i'll remember to do it.

Pardon the Interruption.

our internet provider has finally resolved the connectivity issues that had been plaguing our corner of the neighborhood for 10+ days. regular blogging will resume this afternoon.

Cavorting in the Catnip.

bevo (left) and bronte (right) taking advantage of their catnip patch. for some reason, darin always scolds me for letting them wallow in the patch. i thought that was why we planted it in the first place!

March Mosquitoes

bah humbug. the mosquitoes have arrived. time to break out the benadryl.

Weed Catalog.

embarassing as it is to admit, these are some of the weeds growing (and thriving) here:

• nutsedge -- cyperus esculentusL.
  
• indian strawberry -- duchesnea indica
  
• bedstraw -- galium l., possibly g. aparine (stickywilly); see also http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu/answers4you/grasswee/broadlf/bedstraw.html
  
• dollarweed -- hydrocotyle l., possibly h. umbellata; see also http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu/answers4you/grasswee/broadlf/dollar.html
  
• yellow oxalis -- oxalis l., possibly o. stricta (common yellow oxalis)
  
• pink oxalis -- possibly o. violacea (violet woodsorrel)
  
• starwort -- stellaria l., possibly s. media (common chickweed); see also http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu/answers4you/grasswee/broadlf/cchick.html

then there are those that are in the grey area between weed and desirable plant, depending on individual taste.

for now, i choose to call these desirable. i have three reasons: 1) they appear on their own in my yard and are, therefore, free of cost; 2) assuming i have them correctly identified (and i think i do), they are native to this general area; and 3) they are attractive.

• dichondra (ponysfoot) -- dichondra l., possibly d. carolinensis
  
• false garlic -- nothoscordum l., possibly n. bivalve (crow's poison)
  
• wild violet -- viola l., possibly v. sororia (common blue violet)

February Flowers.

• azalea
• crinum
• crocus tomasinianus
• cuphea hyssopifolia (mexican heather)
• gelsemium sempervirens (carolina jessamine)
• ipheion uniflorum "wisley blue"
• justicia spicigera (mexican honeysuckle)
• lavandula multifida (fern leaf lavender)
• narcissus tazetta "erlicheer"
• pentas lanceolata
• plumbago auriculata
• salvia elegans (pineapple sage)