Flies, oh my!

Talking about spiders will always be my favorite subject. But I do venture out to other topics. Two evenings ago, I presented "Texas Flies, Oh My" to members of the Bexar Audubon Society of South Central Texas in San Antonio. In July 2024, they invited me to give my spider presentation, which I did. Once again, Patsy Inglet this week gave me a nice introduction. 

 Afterward, members John Huston and his wife chatted with me briefly about their black solider fly larvae, which have taken over their compost bin. During my presentation, I'd briefly mentioned how these larvae are used commercially to recycle waste, make animal feed and even control house flies. At first, I thought they'd purchased larvae to get started. But no, the black soldier flies just showed up and deposited eggs. I asked John if he could send me a photo and video, which he kindly did. With his permission, I'm sharing here. 

Meadow mowed

Lunch With The Masters

 

That was me! Yesterday, I presented my "Spiders of Central Texas" program at the McLennan County Emergency Services Education Center in Waco. I was the August speaker for "Lunch With The Masters," a monthly series that the McLennan County Master Gardeners host. My invitation to speak stemmed from a hearty suggestion given by member John Sponenberg, who has followed this blog from nearly the beginning. 

 

Darn, John, why didn't we think to get a photo of us together? I'm so glad we finally got to meet in person! And yes, I'll do better at posting more here. 

 

UPDATE An email from Laynie M. with the chapter: "I have to tell you what a great hit your talk was. Yesterday we had a work day at one of our gardens, and everyone was on the lookout for spiders. Then when one of the ladies found one, they all had to come over and see if it was a boy or a girl!"

 

My work is accomplished.  

Last woolly ironweed...

This is the story of our last surviving, full-blooded woolly ironweed (Vernonia lindheimeri). We planted our original one in October 2013 in the back yard. A year later, we planted western ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii) in the front yard. When the deer began to eat those, I attempted an ironweed rescue and planted the westerns on the other end of a small bed where the woolly ironweeds lived. (Are you keeping up with which ironweeds are which?) Well, the western ironweeds ADORED the back yard. In fact, they fell in love with the woollies and produced a hybrid. Well, the hybrids took over and crowded out the woollies. This past spring, I noticed one surviving woolly and decided I'd swoop in and rescue it.

Finally, that happened today. But it was a JOB! In the top photo, you can see how long the root was. I poured water into the hole and dug and dug and dug and got it out intact. Then I replanted the woolly WAY across the yard, where hopefully it can grow and reestablish the species in our yard. Stay tuned!

New digs for the woolly.

Circle shows where the woolly was growing, surrounded by hybrids.

Western in the foreground, hybrids in the back. 

Milkweed transplant

This is a photo of one of the many plateau milkweed (Matelea edwardensis) vines that grow on our rural land. When I spotted what I thought was a seedling vine, I decided I'd dig it up and take it home. Why not? 

 

WOW, look at the root! It's older than I thought. And it sure is true how milkweeds establish thick tubular roots. Somehow I managed to get nearly all the roots of my "seedling." I've put it in a pot with dirt that it'd been growing in. That should help it feel at home when it gets established. Then later I'll find a place in our back yard to plant it.  

 

UPDATE I am sad to report that my little milkweed died. I failed to keep it watered because we've been out a lot this past month, helping my mother move out of her house. Win some, lose some. 

Notes to myself

Last Saturday I collected just a few seed heads from American basket-flowers (Centaurea americana) that grow along County Road 102 not far from Blanco. I didn't take many. Later I tossed the seeds in the Meadow and my flower corner in the Pasture.

Another treasure on the land

James recently found what's likely the nest of a black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla) on our rural land northwest of Blanco, Cool, eh?