While most plants wilt, others do bloom...
With high temperatures and no rain many of the plants at Horsetail Haven are slowing down their growth and entering summer dormancy.  While not as dramatic as the winter dormancy seen in Northern climates, plants are now showing less growth and decreased blooms.  There are exceptions though, two heat lovers just starting to flower are the butterfly vine, Mascagnia macroptera, and a double form of the butterfly pea vine, Clitoria ternata.  Despite similar common names these two vines are impossible to confuse.  A member of the Malpighiaceae Family, the butterfly vine is a vigorous grower with ovate, leathery, shiny dark green leaves and bright yellow five petaled flowers.  The common name arises from the seed pods which really do look like tan colored butterflies.  The botanical name also is descriptive of the pods with "macro" meaning large and "ptera" meaning wings.  The origin of the butterfly pea vine name is less obvious, Ann Marie really can't see a connection with butterflies at all.  This member of the Facaceae Family has thin, green leaves and exotic looking blue twisted flowers with white splotches at their centers.  This vine does best in deep shade and starts blooming when the Texas heat wilts other plants.  Regular watering is required for constant bloom.

Pretty Pellies
Ann Marie is very fond of the group of plants which some of you may know as "geraniums" but are more properly called Pelargoniums.  Some of the interesting species in the collection at Horsetail Haven include:
Pelargonium gibbosum
Commonly called "The Knotted Pelargonium", this interesting plant has succulent stems with enlarged joints that give it another common name of "The Arthritic Pelargonium".  It is easy to grow and roots quickly from stem cuttings.  The leaves are a pale blue green and the flowers are a greenish yellow with the five petals common to the Genus Pelargonium.  It should be brought inside during the winter.

Pelargonium dichondrifolium
This plant was obtained at the recent Herb Society of America conference in Atlanta.  The group is very fortunate to have two Pelargonium experts, Joyce Brobst and Caroline Amidon, who donated some of their plants as a fund raiser for one of The Society's programs.  This particular plant has a rosette form with deep green, round leaves and a wonderfully spicy but fresh scent.  It appears that it will be free flowering with small white five petaled blooms.  It will be container grown and brought inside when frosts threaten.

Pelargonium echinatum
Another of Joyce and Caroline's contributions, this was a plant Ann Marie was delighted to find after viewing a beautiful specimen in bloom at the Atlanta Botanical Garden's arid garden.  It has grayish green large leaves and stipules that become hard and somewhat "spiny" as the plant ages.  The plant in the arid garden had lovely white flowers and Ann Marie is looking forward to seeing the blooms on her own plant, it has buds!  It will be grown in a clay pot with a gravel mulch and brought indoors during the winter.  One common name for this plant is "The Sweetheart Pelargonium" due to the heart shaped, red colored blotches at the center of its upper petals.  In Pelargoniums, author Diana Miller, states that the blossom color may vary from white through shades of pink to purple.

Pelargonium grossularoides
This Pellie is hardy when planted in the ground in Austin, Texas.  It has deep green, rounded leaves and tiny magenta flowers.  It is drought tolerant, disappearing at times but reviving with spring rains.  It is one of two plants commonly called "The Coconut Pelargonium" and does have a fruity scent.  It reseeds freely.

Pelargonium panduriforme
This plant with a pungent scent and deep green, oak shaped leaves provides a nice visual contrast to a grouping of container plants.  In the spring it has large, hot pink flowers.  Place it where it is protected from summer afternoon sun to avoid burned edges on the leaves.  Prune frequently after blooming to control its lax growth habit.