My father always kept a barometer on the wall in my family’s kitchen. Looking back, I am not sure he ever read it. I am sure I don’t know how to read one, or, for that matter what it means exactly.
The barometer in this vase is a plant. The small purple flowers with grey foliage come from the Barometer Bush. I know this plant as Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens). I wanted to add some color to an area where my greyhounds hang out and did some research to be sure it wasn’t toxic to dogs (one of them will eat nearly anything).
Happily, they are non-toxic and I learned they are native to Texas, super drought tolerant and called Barometer Bush because they are well known to flower before a storm. This one did not live up to its name as it is flowering a few days after receiving a downpour of 2 inches of rain. And they bloom in winter in their native habit. Go figure. Here they are, growing in unamended sugar sand; the dogs run by them daily, pile sand on them and dig them up. It is safe to say this is a tough plant.
As for the rest of the flowers, the Summer Solstice has brought nearly daily thundershowers so all the native wildflowers are lush with foliage and flowers. The Tropical Red Salvia has the seeds stripped off of every seedhead, the seeds must be really good right now. And the birds must be happy.
The red and peach spikes are Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea), the white spikes are Sweet Almond (Aloysia virgata), red clusters are Heirloom Pentas (Penta lanceolata), white flowers at the top are Sweet Begonia (Begonia odorata), white flowers at bottom are Bridal Bouquet Frangipani (Plumeria pudica), yellow flowers are Beach Sunflowers (Helianthus debilis), the ferns are Boston in back and Asparagus on the side. Both volunteers in the garden.
I am enjoying the scents of Frangipani and Sweet Almond from the vase. The glass vase was found on the side of the road while walking the dogs. The Greyhounds are still digging up the Barometer Bush – maybe they are wondering when it will rain.
The Shrub Queen 
I like your collection of colorful flowers. I tried to grow Texas sage, but it was too wet here for it to grow in the clay soil. I think it is happier in Hill Country.
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Thank you, Texas Sage is native to the San Antonio area, I think. Not surprised it did not like your gumbo-as it loves my beach sand.
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It’s a pretty plant, and if it survives that tough treatment (and isn’t invasive) definitely a winner! A lovely vase too. 🙂
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It is so far a winner, surprising tolerant of dog destruction. Thanks and Happy Monday.
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Lovely arrangement, the Barometer plant is so pretty, I’ve never seen it before.
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Thank you, Liz. Amazing – a new plant for you..admittedly obscure, there is also a green foliage variety.
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Lovely colourful flowers
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Thank you
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Always interesting to read about native and heirloom plants and we never know what to expect in your weekly vases, Amelia! Is this period of thunderstorms an annual event, part of your normal weather pattern?
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Yes, laughing – I never expect anything in my vases. It just happens. The storms are normal our rainy season runs June through November.
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Ha! My own Leucophyllum is also unimpressive when it comes to signaling anything. Ditto with the rain lilies (Zephyranthes). Your greyhound looks very pleased with himself. Your tropical arrangement, as always, is flamboyantly beautiful.
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Ha, indeed and same here. The greyhound is always pleased with his digging adventures and thank you!
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You’ve outdone yourself this week, Amy! So pretty – the begonia looks like a constellation of stars overlooking a tiny ‘garden.’
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What a amazing comment
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Thank you!
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Wow Eliza, I had to scroll up to look again at the arrangement – and yes – what a perfect poetic description. I loved the vase before and your comment makes me see it in a new way – perfect!
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It just struck me so looking at it. I generally don’t consider myself a poet! 😉
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It is pretty poetic, Eliza!
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🙂
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Lovely! I like the collar of Frangipani at the neck of the vase. Summer is kicking the door down here.
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Thanks. That’s a great way to put it. Summer is doing just that. Happy Monday.
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So much to enjoy in your vase this week Amy. I am bowled over by Eliza’s comment and can see a whole garden in there now.
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Thank you and thanks for following!
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Is that frangipani the closest to pure white that they get? My colleague down south has several different cultivars, including the common species that grows into the larger tree with the big clusters of small mostly white flowers with yellow centers. I prune them and process them into cuttings while I am there, but I am never there to see them bloom. There is what he describes as a ‘white’ one that is tall and very lanky. I prune it when I can, but it does not make many branches, and does not give me many cuttings. I have never seen one that is more white than yours is, so I sort of suspect that is what his looks like.
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That is a Bridal Bouquet P. pudica – different species than the usual Plumeria and the closest to pure white, the leaves are different, more spatulate and the form of the plant is columnar. I have it in front of a 6′ fence – it is 6′ tall and about 2′ feet. I get a bunch of cuttings when I prune it – rehomed 15 this spring.
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