Celebrating a bit of bloomin’ for April and I’m loving my back garden’s bloomin’ bits.

The fuchsia bloom spike of Hill Country penstemon (Penstemon triflorus) is almost drowned out by the loud red of the Martha Gonzales roses.

I was attempting shots of busy native and honey bees–no joy there– but the shrubs and flowers posed beautifully and smiled winningly for the camera. The yellow Engelmann’s or Cutleaf Daisy, Engelmannia peristenia began blooming in full force during the past couple of weeks.

It’s a good perennial  to accompany the pond path with its sparkly daisies that flower from April to July and its year-round, attractive evergreen foliage.

Nearby, Gulf Coast Penstemon,  Penstemon tenuis are also at full-bloom speed.

Honeybees are particularly fond of this native penstemon and I’ve also seen a variety of native bees working the blooms as well.

This small area of the large back garden receives decent sunshine for much of the growing season.  The potted American century plant, American agave oversees  blooming perennials and shrubs during spring, summer and fall.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), grey foliaged, not-yet-in-bloom Heartleaf skullcap (Scutellaria ovata), and Gulf Coast penstemon front the potted agave, while a stand of autumn blooming Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) serve as its backdrop.

These unknown variety of Amaryllis came from my mother’s garden.

My mother’s Amaryllis grows with Gulf Coast penstemon, Knock-out roses, and poppies.

The Amaryllis don’t attract pollinators (that I’ve noticed) but they evoke fond memories of my mother, who was an avid gardener and who loved flowers of all kinds.

In her last garden, she mixed her amaryllis with blue-bloomed Plumbago, Plumbago auriculata  and it was a stunning combination.

In searching for a small tree to add some height to a narrow part of my garden, I chose Goldenball leadtree,  Leucaena retusa.  I think it was a good decision!

The yellow-puff balls charm the gardener while feeding bees and butterflies throughout April.  Goldenball leadtree is an airy, open little tree and thrives in part-shade.

I’m pleased with my April garden and thank Carol at May Dreams Garden for hosting this monthly bloom frenzy known as Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day.  Join in and share your garden pretties, then click over to her lovely blog to see and learn about blooms from many places.