Plants Coming Alive in January

January, it is freezing out there, yet. . . many of the plants in our Texas native backyard are beginning to get ready for spring. I thought everything would be dead / brown. . . but no. I believe I found Bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis), Wild Onion (Allium canadense), Bluebell Gentian (Eustona grandiflorum), Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana), Hill Country Penstemon (Penstemon triflorus), Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis), Wine Cups (Callirhoe involucrate) and many more plants green and thriving. I think I even found Black - Eyed Susans coming up!

I was even able to divide the Hill Country Penstemon and the Obedient Plant easily. I like their root system. All I did was slice through the rootball and remove the section I had cut. Interesting . . . because up until this time all of the other native plants that I dug up all had exposed roots that I had to quickly get more soil around and water. That was not the case with these plants. My thought on the Obedient Plant was hmmm.... we don't have clay soil here. How come the root ball felt like a solid clay clod? A question for the experts. I even found babies growing outside of the desired area. I will have to transplant those this spring. I'm ready.

New Plants Emerging!

At this time of the year you need to grab your garden tools and get out in the garden. Many Texas native plants are just beginning to sprout from the seeds dropped this year. They are getting ready for spring blooming. I discovered a plethora of Tahoka Daisies (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia), Rock Roses (Pavonia lasiopetala), Wild Onion (Allium canadense) and Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus wrightii). These are very easy to dig up and give to your nearest school or neighbor. Other plants could be divided.

Cyathus olla - Bird's - Nest Fungus Growing in Our Yard!

We just found this fungus growing in our yard today, October 4th, 2009. Look in the lower right-hand corner to see a miniature bird's nest with egg looking doodads in them. I found a link that supplies information about this unusual fungus. Check it out. As I understand it, it only lasts for a few days. . . maybe a week. It is so cool.

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljune96.htm

Native Plant Landscaping Front of Home

I love the look of the yard. It contains mostly Texas native plants: Blackfoot Daisy, Drummond's Skullcap, Penstemon spp., Mexican Feather Grass, Mealy Blue Sage, Square-bud Primrose, Devil's Shoestring ( not in photo), and some adaptive plants such as: Bulbine, Bi-color Iris, and Society Garlic. I am proud of this. Spring will bring out Bluebonnets, Rain Lillies, Silver Ponyfoot, Frogfruit and many more! Not much maintenance right now except a few weeds here and there.

Garden Certifications

Get Certified!

We have the following certifications: Certified Wildlife Habitat by NWF, Monarch Waystation see www.monarchwatch.org, Texas Wildscapes by TPW, Backyard Wildlife Habitat, and Certified Butterfly Garden see www.naba.org. We are currently working on obtaining the "Best of Texas" certification. There are some fees involved usually less than $50.00.

• Backyard Wildlife Habitat - National Wildlife Federation (To get this you need to provide food, water, shelter for the wildlife in your area, place for the animals to raise their young, and reduce chemical use on the plants. ) Apply for certification today!
  

• Monarch Waystation Program - Monarch Watch (You much have a garden no smaller than 15 square yards that gets at least six hours of sun a day, grow a variety of milkweed in low-clay soil that drains well. Nectar plants should be close by.) Milkweed Plants - Grow a number of milkweed species. Check the certification site to see the whys.
  

• Texas Wildscapes - Texas Parks and Wildlife ( You need at least 50% native plants, provide food for the wildlife year round, shelter, and a reliable water source. Fee is $15.00)
• Certified Butterfly Garden see www.naba.org

• Best of Texas Backyard Habitat - Texas Parks and Wildlife (Fee is $28.00)

Best of Texas Backyard Habitats
National Wildlife Federation
Gulf States Natural Resource Center
44 East Avenue Suite 200
Austin, TX 78701

HOT Summer Blooming Native Plants

It's August and 100+ Degrees! Yes it's HOT and we don't get much rain in Austin, Texas. But in my front and backyard. . . I have a plethora of blooming plants of many colors regardless of the weather. Just to name a few: Passionflower, Flame Acanthus, Bluebells, Yellowbells, Turk's Cap, Blackfoot Daisy, Pink Skullcap, several sages, Ruellia, Coral Honeysuckle, Texas Lantana, Prairie Verbena, Senna, many types of Hibiscus, Tropical Milkweed, Bulbine, Calylophus (Squarebud Primrose), Fall Obedient Plant, Mistflowers, Mealyblue Sage, and my favorite bushes, Purple Cenizo Sage) bloom on and off with the change in humidity.

Wildlife love the plants. I do not know where they come from, but they are here. A Giant Swallowtail butterfly visits daily right after lunch. Many types of bees, hummingbirds, birds, beetles, and moths also fly in for a snack.

Passionflower - Passiflora incarnata

This incredibly beautiful, but quite invasive Passionflower was not planted on the arched trellis, but there it grew anyway. I have seen this vine tear a trellis apart and almost get a choke hold on a nearby tree. Don't plant this on a fence (like we did) that you share with a neighbor who does not like flowers. Hate for people to feud over these delightful blossoms and vines.

Other vines growing on the trellis are: Alamo Vine, Coral Honeysuckle, and Morning Glory. Originally, just the Coral Honeysuckle was planted on our trellis.