First water lily bloom of the season

Our first bloom!

And HA! Just TRY to photograph gambusia! 

 

Sprucing up the stock tank

 Since we were up near Cedar Park last Saturday, we drove the extra few miles to the Hill Country Water Gardens and Nursery. I needed to get some more submerged grass to replace what had died over the winter. Diane, who helped us select plants there last May, helped us again! I purchased four bunches (which is a LOT) and this time tried potting some. I'd rather keep it growing instead of having to buy it now and then. The rest I'm letting free float in the water.

Over all, the stock tank is doing well. The water lilies died back but are re-leafing now. I cut back the lemon barcopa because it'd gotten pretty leggy. And the horsetail rush is fine. So far, so good! Now we're considering a small, in-ground pond, nothing fancy, with a "rock beach" so turtles can walk in if they want. Another project for James!
 

October 2012 in our Wildscape

Blooms galore!

The sky's dark, and more rain's on the way. Thank you, Lord! I decided I'd go outside and shoot some photos before everything gets wet and soggy.

Cowpen daisy, upclose

Cowpen daisy

Salvias

Salvias

Trailing lantanas and salvias....beautiful!!

Annual asters (Symphyotrichum subulatum)

Mexican bush sage

'Indigo Spires' salvia

Firebush

Salvias salvias salvias

I heard a noise, something talking to me, while I was shooting. I looked up, and at first I thought the squirrel was climbing down to visit me. But it didn't.

Gray scrub sage and 'Henry Duelberg' salvia

Salvia, green santolina, four-nerve daisy, lemon verbena, mealycup sage

Turk's cap and mistflower

Fall aster

Shrimp plant

Galena salvia

View of back yard from the side

Climbing snapdragon vine (my new favorite native!)

Salvias

Drummond's woodsorrel

Salvia 'Otahal'

Inland sea oats

Salvias

My fun stock tank pond for a grand finale!