Something Old, Something New
The purple martins are back, bluebonnets are opening and green thumbs are itching. Create excitement in your Austin garden by adding some "new to you" plants.  Here are three of Ann Marie's recommendations:

Newe Ya'ar Sage  (Salvia 'Newe Ya'ar')
For those of you who have longed for a good culinary sage and had your hopes dashed as summer heat and humidity created fungal problems for Salvia officinalis, this hybrid of Salvia officinalis and S. fruticosa is the one for you.  Created by researchers in Israel, it has been in the Texas market for several years now but sold under a variety of names.  The correct name is Salvia 'Newe Ya'ar' but you may find it under 'Nazareth Sage', 'Silver Leaf Sage' and even Salvia officinalis.  All of these common names also refer to other plants so confusion reigns.  'Newe Ya'ar' resembles the common Salvia officinalis whose silver gray leaves are an elongated oblong shape, but some of the leaves of 'Newe Ya'ar" will have a small "tab" at the base of the leaf.  This "tab" is a trait of Salvia fruticosa that is carried on some, but not all, of the hybrid's leaves.   'Newe Ya'ar' is worth searching out.  It thrives in our summer weather and even tolerates the clay soil that is the bane of many Austin gardens.  It also has lovely spikes of lavender blue flowers in March; in fact, the plants are budding right now!  Add this plant to your garden and you'll be thankful for its attractiveness, hardiness and excellent flavor.

Philippine Violet (Barleria cristata)
If you are looking for a plant to neglect and love this is the one for you.  Neither a violet nor from the Philippines, this native of India is rumored to not be hardy in Austin but it has grown successfully for a number of years at Horsetail Haven, dying back to the ground at the first freeze and appearing again in early spring.  Philippine Violet is an upright growing plant that may reach three feet tall.  It has deep green heart shaped leaves and fantastic neon violet colored flowers in the fall.  Even better than its appearance is the fact that this plant requires very little water.  Grow it in filtered light and forget about it until the flowers open and remind you of its presence.  Plant the chartreuse ornamental sweet potato Ipomoea 'Marguerite' at its base to really make your autumn landscape "pop"!

Crinum Lilies
These old Southern favorites that survive neglect are found throughout older Austin yards but seem to have been forgotten by modern landscapers.  Often introduced into gardens as a "pass along plant", the bulbs are also available through nurseries and by mail order suppliers.  The leaves are large and strappy with clusters of fragrant blooms on tall flower stalks in spring or summer.  Some of the more popular and quick to bloom varieties are the pink flowered 'Emma Jones, the deep rose colored  "Ellen Bosanquet' and 'Milk and Wine', a name applied to several similar cultivars with white and pink striped flowers.  Over time a single bulb will form a large clump so be sure to allow sufficient space in your garden, frequent divisions will reduce bloom.  Plant them in a location that receives filtered light or afternoon sun.  Be sure to mix compost into the soil as crinums do best in a rich soil.  Learn more about these heritage plants in The Southern Heirloom Garden by William C. Welch and Greg Grant  and in Garden Bulbs for the South by Scott Ogden.