First daffodil

Spring's coming!!

Daffodils and ball moss

The daffodils are about to bust open!

Ball moss seeds have been floating in the air like fluffy snowflakes the past few weeks. Some get stuck on the chain-link fence, and I couldn't resist photographing one.

Readin' up

I've been wanting to pull out reference books and information on native plants so we can better prepare for the new growing season. So this afternoon is The Day! I'm reading over plant lists and mulling over LOTS. 

For one thing, I KNOW I'm going to the Mostly Native Plant Sale, set for April 2 in Boerne. Hosts are members of the Boerne chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. And I've already queried David Winningham at Natives of Texas and asked if he might bring some spicebushes to sell. Yes, he responded. In the meantime, check out his website for information on which native plants like shade and/or sun. He's also got an online catalog of the natives he has in inventory. Can't wait for the Boerne sale! James and I visited Natives of Texas several years ago, but we weren't as up to speed on natives back then as we are now.


Back to the books!

Gettin' ready!

I'm not much of a REAL gardener, but I did plant some seeds this afternoon in bedding trays. We'll see. I planted some native seeds I found, like possumhaw, Mexican persimmon, coreopsis and coneflower. I also planted beans and yellow squash. I CAN grow squash from seed, that I know! 

James planted some flowers and carrots. Wish us luck!

Tiny stuff

Found some awfully tiny beauties in the back yard this afternoon. The flower measured less than an eighth of an inch. The orange-gold lichen covered a piece of leaf. And the reddish leaf stood out among its green siblings. So beautiful!

Pretty in purple

More pruning today..as I was working on our 'Eyelash' salvia (Salvia blepharophylla), I noticed the pretty shades of purple on the dead foliage. Camera time!! 

This afternoon, I also pruned the turk's cap, blue mistflower and some lantanas. I need to look up and find out how or if chile pequins, butterfly bush and white mistflowers (fragrant, too) should be pruned. There's a lot to take care of!

The purple martin house goes UP

Here we go. Time to try a third season to start our martin colony. These time, we're trying decoys. Scouts are arriving daily in Texas, according to the Purple Martin Conservation Association's Scout Arrival Study. Wish us luck!

UPDATE MARCH 11, 2011–Carrol Fuchs called me today and told me that HIS MARTINS HAD JUST ARRIVED! Still keeping our fingers crossed!