Monday, February 26, 2018

Meadow sorta mowed


 Instead of mowing the Meadow this time, James took his weed eater around. We think we're going to have a fabulous wildflower season this year. (Fingers crossed.)

Saturday, February 24, 2018

FIRST BLUEBIRD EVER!

We are SO excited! Our first ever eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)! A small bird in the birdbath caught my eye so I grabbed the binoculars. Aw, just goldfinches. No biggie. THEN THEN THEN I saw a flash of blue, and it landed on the street sign (photo below). 

"JAMES, THERE'S A BLUEBIRD!" I yelled and ran down the hall for my camera. I managed to get one fairly good image of him. What a handsome fellow!

Carolina wren
A fun photo to throw in....Look, no bird cage needed!

Monday, February 19, 2018

One super bad mistake

 
I know, James. I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW. 

I should NEVER have planted those agaves or whatever they are in our "cacti garden" back in 2009. But it WAS a nice idea at the time, right? (See the photo below. Wasn't it lovely?) Well, I've seen learned that agaves are wicked wicked wicked. They reproduce like mad rabbits and take over the joint. I hate them. Anyway, I decided that today was THE DAY. I decided I'd go out there to the Meadow and take'em out.
BIG HA!
April 2009
Before Sheryl got to work
Take a look at me after two and a half hours of "taking them out." Not a pretty sight, wouldn't you agree?
As you can see from the photo below, I jumped ship. Yes, I got some out. But it was after much hacking and huffing and puffing that I was able to remove what I did. But I have a feeling that they've all sent out vibes to amp up their reproduction speed. Grrr.



They're trying to bump out my red yucca. I hate them.
After Sheryl jumped ship. Much work still remains to be done. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them.

Signs of spring

 Ten-petal anemone
 Our fragrant honeysuckle is blooming for the first time! Confession: it's not a Texas native.


Saturday, February 17, 2018

Madrone update

Not a very good photo, but our Texas madrone child is doing well!

First daffodils!


Merry Christmas cactus!

A year or so ago, my mother passed along a Christmas cactus to me. It's blooming for the first time, and a blossom opened fully this morning. I'd never seen a flower up close. It is AMAZING! Don't you agree? I just had to share. 

I set the pot outside for the day to see if anyone will stop by and pollinate.