Monday, November 20, 2023
Monday, November 13, 2023
Notes to myself
Yay, we've been getting some rain. So yesterday I tossed out some of this seed in a pathway. We'll see what happens next....
Madrone update
It's been awhile since I've posted an update on our Texas madrone (Arbutus xalapensis), gifted to us in March 2017 by Mike Prochoroff at The Madrone Way. She looks mighty good, considering the awful summer we had with next to no rain.
I sent Mike a link to this post. Here's his kind reply:
"Six years in the Earth! She looks beautifully healthy, vigorous and well-adapted. You've done excellent, considering the ice storms, heat and drought since 2017. I still link your blog page for folks planting for the first or second time. I remember y'all were going to bring in Hill Country soil and I'm sure that contributed significantly to her strength. These recent photos are an astounding reflection of your talent. More and more successes make me smile, too. Thank you for helping!
"I have seen several of your stories and wondered how you were doing. The yaupon tea story was interesting, and I, of course, bought a box next time at the store. It was way on the bottom shelf, but I bought two and next time they were on the shelf above. Then a couple of months back I saw your Scooter Cheatham story — great writing and photography about a very interesting character in Texas botany. Keep writing, even though hard because writers are just by themselves. Somehow solitude draws the power like roots pull water, nutrients and (I think) electricity from the Earth. Like the first burst of dawn, it will keep getting you up in the morning."
"I have seen several of your stories and wondered how you were doing. The yaupon tea story was interesting, and I, of course, bought a box next time at the store. It was way on the bottom shelf, but I bought two and next time they were on the shelf above. Then a couple of months back I saw your Scooter Cheatham story — great writing and photography about a very interesting character in Texas botany. Keep writing, even though hard because writers are just by themselves. Somehow solitude draws the power like roots pull water, nutrients and (I think) electricity from the Earth. Like the first burst of dawn, it will keep getting you up in the morning."
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Daffodils and irises
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Last Saturday, we visited the Arnosky Family Farm's Blue Barn, mostly to admire the fields of marigolds that Pam and Frank planted. It was also the third annual Texas Marigold Festival in Blanco. In addition to a marigold bouquet, we also bought nine daffodil bulbs – three of each of the varieties below. We planted them in the back yard. No, they're not native, but I enjoy having a few.
For his birthday this year, I ordered some black bearded iris rhizomes from American Meadows. He saw some in Arkansas and feel in love with the blooms. After they arrived in August, we stuck the bags in the refrigerator, then pulled them out last week to plant in the back yard (where the deer can't eat them). The varieties are 'Raven Girl' and 'Senor Jinx.' Fingers crossed!
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| 'Senor Jinx' |
UPDATE March 2, 2024 Blooms!
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| 'Carlton' |
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| 'Martinette' |
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