Shrimp plants

Our shrimp plants–which share the corner bed with our American beautyberry–are still blooming profusely. Even the three yellow shrimp plants–transplanted by James in mid summer to save them from browsing deer–are doing great. I was surprised they survived the trauma of moving.

Winged visitors, pretty and otherwise

Whenever I'm out watering the Wildscape, I always love to watch whatever's working alongside me. Like yesterday, I spotted a bee of some sort trying to get water out of the bird bath. I snapped a quick photo of it.

Later, I spotted another bee at a nearby birdbath and got some good closeups. After thumbing through my Field Guide to Common Texas Insects, I've concluded that my visitor is a southern yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa). What's more, according to the University of Florida's "Featured Creatures," this yellowjacket is a worker, not a male or queen. Biologists look at the abdomen's stripe markings.


On our lawn furniture, I spotted someone else enjoying the sunshine. Talk about shy! It took me some time and patience to get even this shot of a red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) sunbathing. I've always thought these were such pretty butterflies...

American beautyberry

Our American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) lives in a shaded corner of our backyard. Darn, I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure we planted it summer '06. So far, no pretty purple berries. The past week or so, the leaves have begun to look puny, not their usual bright, healthy green. Uh oh, I worry as I water. No more beautyberry? Too much water?

What are we doing wrong?

Turns out nothing. According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, beautyberries have "yellow-green fall foliage." That's a relief! It's really a pretty plant.

Non native but still pretty...

Requirements for a certified Texas Wildscape call for 50 percent or more native plants. We adhere to that as much as we can, and I'd say we have at least 75 percent or more. Some plants were already established in the yard when I arrived on the scene in 2002. I planted a few myself, such as these pretty chrysanthemums. They're special because my dear friend, Mary Malone, gave them to me soon after we moved in. I planted them in the front yard, and they've been blooming each fall ever since!

Death of a milkweed...

Alas, yes, I must also report the sad failures in our Wildscape. The native butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) officially bit the dust this past week (left photo...you can't even see what's left because it's so DEAD) . We planted it late in the summer by the blue mistflowers. It seemed to do well at first, then it petered out. Darn.

Last year, we planted a butterfly weed with yellow blooms, and it didn't come back. The queen caterpillars sure loved it, though. This past spring, we planted a variety with red and orange flowers (also near the mistflowers), and it's doing pretty well. Hopefully, it'll come back next spring, but I doubt it.

We'll just keep trying!

Beautiful white glory

By the passionflower vines, James planted morning glory seeds last summer. The seeds sprouted fine and grew but didn't bloom. Until just last week or so. It's hard to snap pictures because the white flowers are high atop the wooden arbor James put up. Wish they were easier to see!

She's still on duty

Yes, the green lynx mother is still guarding her brood. Yesterday, I spotted her with a bee so she hasn't quit dining yet either. The spiderlings haven't fledged as well. That's them in the top right of the photo.