Window on a Texas Wildscape

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

What's blooming

The downy phlox for the first time!

Wren parents with smarts....I think

We finally figured out where the wren parents built their nest...inside this old wash tub. The ceramic pot planted with ice plant is sitting on top of a rock that sits on top of a cinder block. Which is where the birds built their nest. Smart, right? But how are they going to get up and OUT from the bottom of the tub and FLEDGE?

I tried and tried to get a shot down inside of the kiddos but didn't have much luck. We think there's at least four, maybe five, baby birds.

Carol, a SNAKE!

Photo by JAMES

James has sharp eyes, too. Awhile ago, he spotted something in our big flame acanthus....a rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus aestivus). He/she was probably getting ready for bed. Then WE showed up. Poor thing. Anyway, I was tempted to go holler at Carol, our neighbor next door. She LOVES snakes. NOT! Instead, I decided I'd dedicate this post to her.

In the meantime, the grumpy snake slithered off. He/she moved faster when James tried to catch him/her by the tail. Poor thing. Sweet dreams, and come back soon (but not when James is around....or Carol).

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

MORE new additions? Yes!

Our native plant friend Linda Chang came to see us today, and she brought her close friend, Charlotte (if I can use your last name, Charlotte, let me know). We had a fun plant swamp. Except WE can out far, far ahead of Linda and Charlotte! Look at what we snagged! My goodness, do we have a lot to plant! Especially since we just got back from the Boerne plant sale last Saturday. Okay, here's what they gifted us with....THANK YOU, Y'ALL!!

Linda, photo above,
   Tickletongue (Zanthoxylum hirsutum)
   Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
   Pipevine (Aristolochia fimbriata) non-native

Everything else, from Charlotte:
Bush morning-glory (Ipomoea leptophylla) (photo above)

Celosia 'Flamingo Flower'

Salvia 'Lollie Jackson' (Named for native plant collector Lollie Jackson)

Salvia 'Teresa'

Pink mint (Stachys drummondii)

Salvia 'Karwinskii'

Salvia 'La Trinidad'

Salvia 'Karwinskii'

Charlotte also gave us a fragrant mistflower. Since we already have several, we're going to share it with someone else.

Lost Ladybug Project

Another find for the Lost Ladybug Project: Twice-stabbed lady beetle (Chilocorus stigma).

Picnic table redo and some beetles

This old picnic table dates back to the original owners of our home, the Bendeles. Ag-shop students made it a verrryyyy long time ago. Yesterday, James took off the rotted planks and replaced them with new ones. Then he stained and painted everything. While I was out there, three BIG beetles flew past and landed in our vicinity. Were they attracted to the smell of the paint, we wondered?

I had to go back in my blog to see what kind of beetles they were– Texas eyed click beetles ~~big-eyed elaters~~, which I observed last year about this time of year. Aren't they pretty? They STILL remind me of ironclad beetles!

APRIL 5, 2016 UPDATE–We concluded that the paint fumes attract these big beetles. Two more showed up today while he was working. They like to play dead, just like ironclad beetles do.