Lantana and Other Blooms

 Bandana lantana. Not sure the variety, but so pretty!

"Aurora" putting on a show in the rock garden!

'Desperado' Texas Sage

'Desperado' Texas Sage

Been getting some peaches since about mid-week - delicious!

'Elberta' peach

Beautiful Sky Tonight!

Looked like the Lord was about to return!

Garden Sculpture: "Aurora" by Ironmonger Artworks

These may not be the best pictures since my sunflowers always look wilty at the end of the day, but I was so excited about the acquisition of my fabulous new garden sculpture today that I couldn't wait to put these up! (Updated with better pics where the sunflowers in the background weren't wilted!)

I first saw Ironmonger Artworks several years ago at the Llano Estacado Wine & Clay Festival. With the renovation of my back yard this year, I thought one of his pieces would be perfect for the rock garden and had planned from the start of this project to treat myself to one of his sculptures. 

And then he was not at the Wine & Clay Festival this year - BUMMER! (It was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.)

So I stalked him online until I tracked him down, lol...!

I had a hard time deciding between this and one other piece, but finally settled on this one. This piece is called "Aurora" which is the Latin word for dawn. It is made from leaf springs which are the springs used in vehicle suspension systems. I love how this turned out and think it is absolutely perfect for this space! It's exactly what I wanted! 

The artist, George Gray, is a mechanical engineering professor here in Lubbock at Texas Tech University where he teaches metallurgy and other topics.

HERE is a story that Texas Country Reporter did on him, and HERE is another interesting piece from The Fabricator which includes this bit:

He calls his work “Upcycled Steel Transformations,” a process that he describes as taking old, worn-out scrap components, cleaning them up, and welding them as a part of a metal sculpture. Essentially, Gray said, he’s giving these pieces a second chance at life, much like the one he was given.

LOVE IT!! 

7/14/2021 Update: A few more pictures. Also, after looking at a ridiculous amount of "rust patina" pictures online, I have decide to let this develop a natural patina instead of putting a protective clear coat on it. I'm excited to see how it develops!

 

Artist's signature on the base:

Update 7/16/2021: Slight rust accumulation after 1.5" of rain the night before.

 
Added this very heavy 24" x 24" concrete paver as a base last night before the rain.

Landscaping Revamp Update

 Before pics on 4/23/2021 compared with today on 7/11/2021. Yea!!

 

 

 

These Agave pots above are filled 2/3 of the way with crushed cans and a mesh liner to keep the roots from staying too wet.

Rock garden is filled with Mexican feather grass, red yucca, cosmos, hardy ice plant, spineless prickly pear, and a random zinnia. Rosemary and Mexican petunia in the background along the fence.

Bonus pics!

Sunflowers

The volunteer sunflower patch really started blooming today!

Floral Arrangement Courtesy of Storm

Big storm last night took out my large zinnia plant. At least I was able to "rescue" it by turning it into a floral arrangement!

At least my storm damage had a pleasant end result, unlike these poor people in Lamesa...

SUPERthrive Experiment

I ordered some SUPERthrive on the recommendation of folks in my Lubbock Gardening and Plant Lovers group. I'm going to run an experiment on the Blanket Flowers along the front walkway. They are part sun / part shade in the summer, but they struggle with the heat, wind, and dry air.

Will treat them once a week with 1/4 tsp. / gallon water.

First treatment 6/24/2021 - These closest to the camera get the most full, late afternoon sun.