April 15, 2026
When the silver Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis our. silver) starts blooming, its Cheeto-like panicles seem to glow amid the frosty fronds.
Leaning in for a closer view is hazardous. The stiff leaf stems are armored with thorns.
Thank goodness for zoom lenses.
One of my favorite native plants, purple skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii), is bushy and flowering again, as is stripey ‘Bright Edge’ yucca behind it. Or rather, the yucca was trying to flower. Deer snapped two of its bloom stalks like asparagus spears last night. They’ll be back for the rest tonight. Eat them, I don’t care. I’m just grateful they don’t eat purple skullcap.
In the back garden, my biggest beaked yucca (Yucca rostrata ‘Sapphire Skies’) is flowering in a big way.
I bet each bloom spike is 4 feet tall.
Beside it, ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate is covered in smoldering flowers.
Pow!
I’ve got two other Yucca rostrata in the back garden, and the taller of the two is flowering. The yellow bloom spikes in front belong to a yellow variety of our common red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora). They show up beautifully against the dark coyote fence.
Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera), a native wildflower, adds more yellow in the stock-tank planter.
There’s a maroon-and-yellow variety in there too, which I like better.
The three soap aloes (Aloe maculata) in the chimney bed have been flowering steadily for over a month with sequential candelabras of blooms. As each one fades, I cut it off, and soon another appears.
‘Desert Dusk’ red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Desert Dusk’) adds its own darker red to the mix, and there’s Galeana sage (Salvia darcyi) starting to blaze up in the middle-back.
‘Desert Dusk’ hesperaloe’s flower spike with ‘Frosty Blue’ whale’s tongue agave — a song of ice and fire. Yes, with a nod to George R.R. Martin.
Book Tour Events
Heads up, Central Texas gardeners: I have ONE more speaking event for the launch of Gardens of Texas. And huzzah — it’s free! Come see me, get gardening inspiration, and if you like, purchase a signed copy of the book. Here are the details:
April 18, 10:00-11:30 am – Cedar Park
Presentation: Cedar Park Parks & Rec event
Register for this free talk (limited seating); select Gardening 101: Gardens of Texas
NEW LOCATION (2nd change): Senior Center, 408 Ridgewood Dr, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Drawing from the visionary landscapes in Gardens of TexasI’ll share how resilient gardeners are embracing change, shifting their plant palette, nurturing wildlife, and finding deeper joy in the process. I’ll have books for sale and signing at the talk. Free and open to the public.
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Digging Deeper
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star Stateis here! Find it on Amazonother online book sellersand in stores everywhere. It’s for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.
All material © 2026 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibi
