More verbenas

Our trip to Austin last week also netted some more verbenas to add to a front bed, where two old pink rose bushes live. In the past, I've planted dianthus and petunias around them but would just get frustrated because I couldn't keep them looking pretty and healthy. To heck with them! Now that we're planting primarily natives, I decided to go with different colors of verbenas. They should withstand the heat better and hopefully return every year. We'll see!

White verbena

Verbena 'Perennial Pink'

Verbena 'Pink Canadensis'

Blue Princess verbena
Verbena x hybrida 'Blue Princess'
(Already planted)

Verbena x hybrida 'Wildfire Dark Red'
(Already planted)

Our resident robin couple

In years past, I've noticed an American robin or two hanging out in our neighbors' yard down the street. Now and then, one would visit my yard. Since James and I married in 2006 and have begun to work to create a wildlife habitat here, that has changed. In the past month or so, we've observed a pair regularly foraging in our adjoining lot–which we've now christened as the Meadow. They visit our bird baths and even venture into our back yard. We think they're probably nesting in the live oak grove that shades part of the Meadow.

Yesterday, while I watered in the front yard, one stayed close to me, less than 10 feet away. It didn't seem afraid of me at all. I even wondered if it was hoping I'd give it a little shower. And I did try. But then it did scamper the other way.

Today, while I was out shooting pictures of our new garden additions, I spotted one of the robins in our back yard on the other far side, away from the Meadow. Again, it didn't seem to mind my presence at all.

I just can't help but marvel whenever I see those robins acting so at home in our Wildscape. How cool.

That's our goal, after all–to create a wildlife habitat. For everyone.

Cannas and other new residents

Last Thursday, we HAD to break out of town. So where do you think we landed? But of course–a nursery!

This time, we headed for Austin. After lunch, we found a plant nursery we'd been curious about–John Dromgoole's Natural Gardener on Old Bee Cave Road. We'd heard about it through Tom Spencer's Central Texas Gardener program on PBS. There, we strolled through the on-site butterfly garden (and saw lots of pipevine swallowtail caterpillars), admired some purple martins that live in two houses (it was hard not to feel jealous!), and then browsed through the rest of the nursery's 8 acres.

As always, we came home loaded down with plants. We both agreed that Mr. Dromgoole's nursery ranks as one of our favorites now. Here's most of what we bought:

Chile pequin

(Capsicum annuum)

Coral honeysuckle
(Lonicera sempervirens)

Bicolor sage

(Salvia sinaloensis)

Yarrow
Achillea 'Moonshine'

Mountain sage
(Salvia regla)

Canna 'Tropical Red'
(Cana x generalis)

Canna 'Tropical Yellow'

Of bats and roses

Last Saturday, we celebrated our third wedding anniversary. James, as he always does, sent me a dozen red roses. As for me, I had something extra special up my sleeve...

I called ahead and made dinner reservations at Alamo Springs Cafe, not far from Luckenbach, Texas. I spoke with Missy on the phone there, and she agreed to set up a special table for us. I had asked for a tablecloth and maybe a candle. Meanwhile, James had no idea where we were headed or what we were going to do. I just told him to dress comfortably and throw in some walking shoes. Then off we went.

Along the way, James told me later, he kept trying to figure out where I was headed. Fredericksburg for dinner? A picnic on our 11 acres outside of town? Nope, nope. I just smiled and kept driving. But when I took the turnoff to Grapevine, then he started figuring it out. A picnic at the bat tunnel? I kept mum.

Then I turned toward the cafe. Ah, dinner here! He laughed. As we walked inside, imagine my surprise when I spotted our table.... Beautiful candles, lovely fresh flowers, and a tablecloth! I was so touched (THANK YOU, MISSY!). James was stunned. Together, we enjoyed our meals.

I ordered the shrimp salad, served over spring mix, tomatoes, mushrooms, black olives, and sliced Provolone cheese, all splashed with a tequila lime vinaigrette...

And James enjoyed the Saturday night dinner special:
cheese enchiladas, boracho beans and rice.

Then we shared a slice of German chocolate cake.

By this time, James had figured out the rest of my plans...visit the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area that's right around the corner from the cafe and watch the Brazilian free-tailed bats emerge at dusk.


We got there in time to hike a little and also listen to a bat presentation given by the park manager Nyta Hensley. Just as she was wrapping up her talk, the bats started flying out. It was our first time there to see them (we've hiked the nature trail a few times in the past), and James' first time ever to watch a bat emergence. He shot a video, which I'm sharing.



I think I'd better get to thinking about what we'll do for our fourth anniversary next year.....this one's gonna be hard to top!

Reality TV owl-style

Love owls? Got your own nest boxes, like we do? Then you've got to check out the Screech Owl Cam, hosted by Cathy and Bob Howell of Austin, Texas. But hurry up! The four chicks are getting bigger every day and probably won't be in the nest much longer. The live stream includes audio so you can hear the babies scratching around and making their whistling sounds. The equipment is so good, you can even hear dogs barking in the neighborhood and white-tailed dove cooing off in the distance. (One night, a loud mosquito kept buzzing around in the box!)

Opposite the live video stream is a chat room, where lots of folks "gather" in the evening, sit wine or whatever, and discuss the comings-and-goings of the owl family (sometimes other topics pop up, too). They've even named the owl chicks. There's Hercules, Bev....and I forget the other names.

But talk about cute! The camera's up at the top of the box, looking down into the nest. Every now and then, the kiddos swivel their heads up (so you get great looks at their big eyes) in anticipation of mom or dad delivering a meal. (Yuck–I don't care to see THAT part.)

Reporter Mike Leggett with the Austin American-Statesman wrote about the Howells and their webcam in the April 26, 2009, edition. For the story, click here.

P.S. A big thank-you for this webcam heads-up goes to our neighbor, Trisha Campbell.

Eek, it's an ant!

A while ago, I was sitting in the garage in one of our lawn chairs, reading today's newspaper, when suddenly something tickled my arm. I looked over and spotted an ant....

Wait a minute....is it an ant??

I looked closer. Hmmm. No, I think it's an....

ANT-MIMIC JUMPING SPIDER!
(Probably Peckhamia picata)

Yes, sure enough, I could see him waving his front legs like ants do with their antennae. That's the big clue. Then, if you look at the photo just above, you'll see that he's definitely a spider with eight legs. Oops, seven. He lost one leg. And I keep referring to my spider as a "him." Yes, he's a guy. Those chubby appendages at the tip of his head are call pedipalps. Male pedipalps have club-shaped tips, which are used to inject sperm into the female.

I love spiders.

Happy Anniversary!

Three years ago today, I married the sweetest man in the world. His name is James Hearn.

In a brief morning ceremony, we exchanged vows in front of my parents and a few friends, right in my (now our) back yard (which is now our Wildscape). Several neighbors walked over from their house to be with us. Ever since that beautiful day, I've been the happiest I've ever been.

Our joy together has spread to our yard, which has turned into a Texas Wildscape. We love planting natives and watching nature respond. This past week, painted buntings and indigo buntings visited our bird feeder, which absolutely thrilled us. Even Lindsey, The Teenager, got excited when she spotted the beautiful painted bunting. Now THAT'S encouraging! "We're going to make a birder out of you yet!" I told her over the phone.

Happy anniversary, James! I love you!!