As if it’s possible to have too many blooms!  With our mild, wet winter and spring here in  Austin, Texas, it’s been such a treat to have the garden abloom after the hellish 2011 with its heat and drought.  Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting this April Bloggers’ Bloom Day.

Nice companions are the Yellow Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) and Lyre-leaf Sage (Salvia lyrata).  The Columbine is probably a hybrid cross between the A. chrysantha  and A. canadensis.  Note the blush of pink–the true Yellow Columbine wouldn’t have any pink.

New to my gardens this year is the  Englemann’s  Daisy (Engelmannia peristenia).  Such a bright, cheery yellow and cool foliage to boot, it’s beloved by butterflies.

Along with the Englemann’s Daisy, the cultivar, Henry Duelberg Sage (Salvia farinacea ‘Henry Duelberg’) is tall and beautiful,

as is the original, more compact sage, the Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea).  These Mealy Blue Sage are planted with red Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) and Zexmenia (Wedelia texana).

Another Zexmenia,

is beginning its long bloom cycle.

I need a friend for this one Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana)–one is just not enough.

With its scarlet blooms, the Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana) brightens shady spots in  Central Texas gardens during spring.

Sometime in the last year or so, a nice bird planted this Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides) and these are its first blooms.  These have a little pink in them, so I’m guessing they’re actually a hybrid.

My favorite flower, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) signals for me the start of summer: warmth (lots of that, here in Texas) and butterflies.

I love the deep blue of the non-native Majestic Sage (Salvia guaranitica).  For me, it blooms best in the spring.

The Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis), with its dainty, lavender blooms, is lovely planted in groups of three or four.  A favorite of the honeybee, it re-seeds with abandon!

Finally, a childhood favorite, the non-native Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides).  I grew up calling it Confederate Jasmine.  My mother had it planted  in her gardens, along with several kinds of passion-flower vine.  Its beautiful fragrance fills the air–morning, noon and night for a month or so.  Like my mother, I have a number of these lovelies throughout my gardens.

Take a deep breath…can you smell it?  Aah, spring!

What beautiful blooms are in your garden?