Three Jalapenos - Oil Painting, More of our Spring

"Three Jalapenos" is an original oil painting, 8 inches by 10 inches, painted after a grocery store trip. I just had to use them in the studio! It's available on my web site for $200.00.

Jean Levert Hood ©2010 "Three Jalapenos" Oil, 8 inches by 10 inches

Our Prickly Pear bushes are just starting to bloom! Buds are plentiful this year, I'm looking forward to some good photos later next week. Most of the blooms here are bright lemon yellow, although we have peach, orange, rose and soft yellows.

The agarito flowers have left the bushes loaded with berries!

This beautiful Spring has me planting again and I'm later than I have ever been! I do love to dig in the dirt. My herb garden was pretty much destroyed after last summer's record breaking drought and heat followed by the coldest winter I've seen in my 30 year here.

I'm babying a tiny lavender plant that survived and but the oregano is getting huge already. I planted catnip in a pot for the 1st time last Spring, it's doing great. My Plumbago is coming back and I have 2 salvia struggling to return. So, I need lots. Rosemary, more lavender, thyme, mint, sigh. Basil, sage, tomatoes, peppers and zinnias are planted and I'm hoping for a wonderful crop. My antique rose is showing off it's 1st bloom now and the coming buds are plentiful.

It's been a while since you've seen our deer and antelope, oh, and yes, a duck. They're all happy with lots to eat out there right now. Green is everywhere!

Remember the plant I'd never seen before?

I still don't know what it is and no flower has ever emerged! Those little spikes just turn brown and that's it. Maybe that little spike is the flower! It's still doing well. I'll keep an eye on it and see if it makes it through the summer heat.

This spring is continuing to be nothing short of amazing. To actually have a spring here is amazing! Often it is two weeks long and we slide headlong into summer heat. My patio swing has been such a treat in the evenings. The birds are singing, wildlife is abundant, and my kitties are waiting for pets and brushing. Life is good.

Jean Levert Hood, ©2010, "Clay and Flowers," Oil on linen, 16x12

This piece is now in the Eagles Wings Art Center in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Ribbon Cutting for Bob Butler's new Gallery is this Tuesday, and the Grand Opening will be May 15th. I'll tell you more about it later.

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They wanted to enjoy the wildflowers. Truly, I think it's that they grab any excuse to haul out the beach chairs and glitter sunglasses.