After the freeze

Yes, we had a freeze earlier this week. I'd watered the day before but not the day of. One of those curve balls that life can throw got in the way, and I didn't go out in the yard for several days. 

At any rate, I was saddened to see the firebush limp and sick the next day. It's a goner for the season, that's for sure. The bougainvillea doesn't look very well, either. Cycle of life, yes, I know. James and I are already longing for spring so we can plant new things and watch the green return. Today, I longingly eyed a big pot of Mexican bush sage, which is on our wish list. The nursery will sell it to me for $5. But I bet I need to overwinter it in our garage. 

Hurry up, March!

So much life

I've been surprised to discover that fall triggers as much color and activity in our Wildscape as spring. Yesterday, I observed an abundance of butterflies, spiders, and insects among the flowers and leaves. What I find especially wonderful and gratifying is that as soon as we plant something new (like our indigo spires), wildlife of some kind moves in! Just look and see...

An unidentified skipper on the blue mistflowers...

Another unknown skipper on the indigo spires...

Lindsey artfully photographed a spotted cucumber beetle on the indigo spires.

Not a great photo, but it shows the brilliant colors of
a spicebush swallowtail that I saw flitting among the Salvia cocinnea blossoms...

A sulphur species on the indigo spires...

A rather large ant species on the esperanza...

CORRECTION This is a broad-headed bug nymph
(Read "ShaZAM!!" February 23, 2011)

Among the indigo spires, I was delighted to find a young female garden spider.
By this time of year, they're usually fully mature and BIG. She's got a ways to grow
before our cold weather arrives. I'm wondering if she'll even have time
to mate and lay an egg sac.

Not far from the garden spider on the indigo spires, I spotted a green lynx thick "with children." She looks ready to lay her own egg sac ANY DAY now! I'm going to keep an eye out for it.

On an esperanza, James found an egg sac. When he showed it to me, we found
the mother–like all good green lynx females–guarding it.

I had to share a photo of the bougainvillea in bloom. And alas, I was going to trash the "red berries" photo, but I decided to post that, too. Why? Because we have to cut it down. Pyracanthas (Pyracantha coccinea) are invasive and should not be part of a Texas Wildscape. It's a volunteer that grows on our adjoining lot.

I'm gonna sweetly ask James to "do the deed" when I'm not around.

Street view

Here's our Pink House from the street. The (non-native) crape myrtle's in bright bloom. This also gives a good perspective of how really old and huge our live oaks are. The last squirrel baby that I rescued (see Aug. 23 entry) was up in the massive oak on the far right side.

This is primarily our "salvia" bed. A pretty heartleaf hibiscus lives on the far left side. We planted it last year, and it's doing really well.

The bougainvillea has taken OFF! It should bloom soon. I was so elated when it came back after we thought it might not survive being in the ground. I treasure this plant because a dear friend–Mark Malone, who died in 2003–and his mother, Mary, gave it to me after I moved into the Pink House in April 2002.

Here are some shots of our plentiful Salvia coccinea and lantanas. We love this bed. You can barely see the birdbath for the blooms.

Hurricane Dolly shares some rain

Yes, Thursday brought nearly 2 inches of rain to our neighborhood! It's amazing to see how nature responds to its own moisture. We've noticed how faucet water keeps our plants alive, but rain makes them FLOURISH. Here's some photos to prove it!

Look how much the bougainvillea has grown!

Turk's cap and blue mist

Salvia coccinea around one of our five bird baths

Firebush's (Hamelia patens) first bloom of the season!

Rock rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)

Surprise in July

Just when you're about to give up, nature surprises you....

Last summer, James and I planted a potted bougainvillea in the front yard. It bloomed and seemed to thrive. At first, I was skeptical about taking it out of the pot. For one thing, it's special (though likely not a "Texas" native)–a dear friend gave it to me in 2002 after I moved into my home here. For five years, I'd kept it ALIVE. That was a miracle in itself. Then, after some discussion, James and I decided to put it in the ground. I was afraid it might not make it, and I'd be so disappointed if it died. But like I said, it bloomed and grew after we planted it.

Naturally, it died back during winter. Anxiously I waited for spring spouts. Come March and April, nothing.

May came and went. Then June. Nothing. James was ready to pull it up. NO, not yet! I kept hoping.

In the meantime, I asked a friend whose mother had bougainvilleas in her yard if they'd come back up yet. No yet, but they would, Andrea assured me. Give it a bit more time. So we did.

Yesterday, I was outside, mulching plants, when I stopped by the bougainvillea. Oh my stars, a couple of green shoots were poking their heads up! I was so elated! I gave it some fertilizer and water, then waited for James to get home.

Needless to say, he was happy, too.