Another garden tour

This morning, we hosted members of the Native Plant Society of Texas/Lindheimer chapter from New Braunfels. The weather was PERFECT for wandering through our gardens. Thank you for coming, Al, James, Peggy, Sara, Mickey, Bob, Susan and Jeff!

First a bee, then a nest, then....

Awhile ago, I spotted a bee and immediately dropped my limb debris. I walked over and discovered the coolest nest made of tiny pebbles. I took LOTS of photos of the bee, working away on the nest. Experts on iNaturalist so far say my bee is a member of the Tribe Anthidiini (mason, leafcutter, carder and resin bees). My bee is Dianthidium, specifically (I think) the Texas pebble bee (Dianthidium texanum). Here's a similar nest.

I walked back over to check on her and observed a SECOND bee hovering nearby. When she came out of the nest, he jumped on her. What was going on, I wondered. Well.....

A little hanky panky, that's what was going on.

 But not for long. He finished, then flew off. And she went right back to work. So interesting to watch! Not to mention the cool nest.

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UPDATE JUNE 13, 2019

Photos below show how she's enlarged her nest.

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UPDATE JUNE 19, 2019

Photos below show an entrance.

Indian-turnip

This morning, James drove me down RR 1623 so I could get some shots of this new-to-me species. It's Indian-turnip (Pediomelum cuspidatum), obviously a cousin to our famous Texas bluebonnet. Pretty, eh?

New additions

Welcome to our Wildscape! Additions from the Mostly Native Plant Sale in Boerne. 

Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana)
Mexican silktassel (Garrya ovata)
Purple horsemint (Monarda citriodora)
Texas honeysuckle (Lonicera albiflora)

Plus a Salvia greggi 'White'
Dragon's blood (Sedum spurium)
Crassula sedum (ride-along...looks like Crassula muscosa)

Another plant sale!

 

Last Saturday, the Cibolo Nature Center's Mostly Native Plant Sale at the Kendall County Fairgrounds opened to gray but dry skies. As always, James gamely escorted me there.

We got to see our friends from Natives of Texas nursery in Medina–owner David Winningham and Pablo. I always hear Pablo before I see him–I love his friendly voice and laughs!

One of my favorite booths is the one hosted by the Boerne chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. They always have a tremendous variety of natives, not to mention familiar faces.

One of my plants that I purchased at their booth included a ride-a-long. What was it? So a group of chapter members huddled together to come up with an ID for me. Finally they announced it was in the pepperweed genus of Lepidium.

We briefly parked our plant purchases here. 

Beekeeper Mike Mendez from Austin shared his passion with visitors. Kids especially loved his hive display.

 Adios until next time!

Very hungry caterpillars

 

 

I took a video of one pipevine caterpillar, chomping down on a swanflower. Around here, the butterfly mamas lay so many eggs that the larvae run out of foliage to eat. I transferred the one above to the swanflower. In the meantime, James spotted a larva starting the chysalis process (photos below).

Yesterday afternoon

Taken earlier today

Images below May 9, 2019