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!