Kim!! You are always so sweet about my plants! If I EVER get to it I will post pics!!had planned to work out in the beds all day today...but, life threw us a little curve. I have been dealing with sinus/allergy junk for a few days again...my throat has been killer...but this morning *gross alert*, I woke up and my left eye is blood red, super swollen and matted shut! Yucky, I know...it didn't stop throbbing and burning till after 6! so..I have been dealing with that and trying to do school. Also, my oldest one informed me that he has been up ALL night with a stomach virus!!!
Poor baby! He didn't even ask me or dh for help! it was bad too...he had diarrhea and vomiting all night...and when he gets it, he hardly EVER throws up...but he made up for it lst night! he slept til 7 tonight!!
We have a Ortho appt tomorrow for his impressions for braces!!!! We can NOT miss this! I hope he is well and we don't have to cancel or it'll be at least 2-4 weeks before we can get back in!!!!
Jen....best thing for you to do is look around at your area nurseries...most anything they sell will grow in your area. Just drive around and look at good yards, see what you like...don't be afraid to ask people what plants they have if you just reaaaaally fall in love w it and can't figure out what's what. I would think my stuff would work for you-just ask a nursery person if you are in doubt. A shrub that is evergreen and spreads nicely is an Indian Hawthorne. They bloom white or pink and are just great little plants. Very hardy.Google it...I have several in my beds...they don't need babying either...so once you get them in watered and they are established you don't have to do anything to them...Lots of people use Japanese boxwood shrubs,but I didn't do them at this house because EVERYBODY does them!! I am not sure if that's the case in your area! Another good shruby plant is the plum delights...I have some in the back of my beds-they are my taller bushes and sort of the backdrop...they bloom really pretty pink flowers..and the actual leaves are a purplish color-hence the name plum. but....I think I am going to be taking them out and replacing them with Hydrangeas!!! The plum delights have to be pruned or they get wild and leggy...my Granny had hydrangeas and I always looooved them!! they are an old fashioned type plant that people havegotten away from, but they are mking a comeback! I planted a varigated leaf type 2 years ago and I love it! this is when I first planted it...its not a typical shape, and the leaves are varigated,but it blooms those big pretty mophead flowers!!
Something else, for your focal point is a Crepe Myrtle...again, my Granny had a huge one and I always loved it. I have planted them at every house we have lived in! I can't be without them!!! I have one in the front bed, and 3 in my 2 big beds by the pool. There are several diff types and colors...your local nursery will be a big help with this! Be bold and different! Find what you love to look at and it will make tending to it easier and a lot more fun! When you do your beds make sure you build them high enough!!! Get good soil...it's sometimes expensive, but worth it!
And for all of you...I have found the absolute BEST mulch to go on top! It's called Nature Scapes....geez louise!!! I have fallen in love with it!! It comes in Red, Black, and I think Brown. I personall love the Black...it really sets off any type of landscaping or colors you are wanting to notice. chokes out most of your weeds and holds in water without causing root rot.
If you have a sunny area, plant vincas for your small plants...they drop seeds and spread-and they love heat and sun. Pretty good for Texas!!! Also, if you like roses, get some Knock-Out Roses...I am told you can't kill them-mine survived our frosts and hard freezes this year.
If you have shade, put the hydrangeas there-morning sun, afternoon shade. Or for little bedding plants for color, do impatiens. They looove shady spots, or in pots on your porches...they are beautiful!!! Ok...that's all I can think of right now! LOL... I know in the night I will think of something else and think, Y didn't I tell her about this! If I can do my beds and have them thrive anyone can do it!!! the trick is don't overdo anything! I have found they like minimal attention...most things anyway. Things like ferns in hanging baskets are beautiful but they need soooo much water they always die on me. I am tooooo busy to worry about that much watering need for a plant! once you plant a bed, put the sprinkler on it and saturated it....skip a day unless it's scorching hot, then water it again.... I try to plant things when I know rain is on the way...then it's free!!! But after about 2 weeks, I just forget about it until they look dry or droopy...saturated again with a sprinkler....after that amount of time mine are rooted and doing well. Oh!! I know...Mexican heather,,it dies back in winter and comes back in spring...It's a beautiful green leaf with little purple flowers...low to the ground and just great! Also, Abelia. I think I spelled it right...it's a bright green and doesn't flower, but I am in loooove with these!!! Ok...that's all for the Southeast Texas Gardening Hour. LOL
you can hop on the Eurostar and be in Brussels in a few hours...I'll meet you there!
Hope you all have a happy Disney day!
...we got behind on Friday too--Nana came in and of course, they can't concentrate with her here...so this will b a looooong school day!
Happy St. Patty's Day Snowbirds! 
