Happy garden surprises

I LOVE it when native plant friends that died and disappeared return unexpectedly. Look what I found today – a healthy and very happy Brazos penstemon (Penstemon tenuis)! I looked back through my archives and found this species mentioned as far back as 2014. But I couldn't find the post that would have documented exactly when we planted it and where we got it. Oh, well. I was just thrilled to see it back! Since it's a perennial, I hope it remains

Last week, I found two scrambled eggs (Corydalis aruea) growing in between the rocks in our stone patio. I decided against pulling and transplanting them. So I put out signs so visitors wouldn't step on them. Yes, I know – silly me. But it's worked so far! And then yesterday, what should I discover but a healthy and happy scrambled eggs growing in a nearby bed! Yay! Scrambled eggs is an annual so I hope to have them reseed in the better location.

 

No more high-rise dilemma

More than two years ago, we spotted a hackberry growing WAY UP in one of our live oaks in the back yard. We knew it had to be removed, but I worried about how and by whom. Well, this afternoon, the deed got done. By James. He'd assured me that he could do it and not kill himself. But still, I worried. Sure enough, he got the ladder just right, pulled up our handy-dandy Extractigator by rope, and almost managed to yank the good-sized tree out. But it broke near the bottom. James sprayed the stem and area with black pruning paint. I'm so glad that chore got done. Now I don't have to worry about our live oak and James. 

(April 21, 2023)

 

Little ol' worried me.

 

Welcome, Class of 2025!

 

 

 

Notes to myself

 

I'm so happy! Our neighbor JJ had this tomato variety last summer, and I LOVED the little tomatoes. So tasty! This year neighbors Sarah, Greg, Toby and Waylon found them and bought me two plants. Thanks, y'all! I put them in pots yesterday. Let the growing begin!

 

 

UPDATE April 4, 2025

 

We bought another tomato plant and a dill (for the butterflies) today at the Blue Barn – 'Jet Star' tomato and 'Bouquet' dill.

Balloon day

 

Earlier this month, I was out in our gardens in the back yard, and what should I spot? These brand new little spiderlings about to float away and embark on their new life. I'm pretty sure they are an orbweaver species, but I don't know what one. The evening was extra breezy, like so many days we've had so far this spring. So fun to watch everyone scramble around and get ready for their ballooning take off. That's how spiders disperse – they send out a little fan of silk to catch the wind and whisk away.

 

First hummers 2025

We were sitting at supper tonight and a black-chinned male hummer showed up at the feeder I’d put out two days ago. A second hummer arrived, and the two immediately started fighting. Let the games begin.

Stock tank update

This post is for Robert, who recently left a comment on "How we made our stock tank." As you can see, our plants have not yet greened up for spring. A few days ago, we brought up our one pot, which we lowered last year in the tank for overwintering. So the horsetail rush and lemon barcopa look really rough. 

Whittle down to one pot in the middle of the tank – that's what we had to do to keep critters from knocking them over, Robert. As for algae, we don't have a problem with that. Right now, the water is crystal clear. But it switches between murky and clear for reasons I don't know why. 

I look back on how our stock tank USED to look in past blog posts...so pretty! I miss that. But I don't want to give it up altogether so hence the lone pot of plants in the middle.

  

Goldie, one of our two original goldfish, is still with us. In 2023, I found the other one on the ground, lifeless and gray. Weird. In April 2024, I bought a new goldfish friend for Goldie. A few months ago, it just vanished. No clue where that one went. Probably a coon or bird, I guess. And yes, we still have some gambusia, too.