Rewilding My Lot

In mid February in central Texas, it’s still too early to say whether we’ll get another freeze this winter. In January we had a single night in the 20s F, and a few days later a more extended period of freezing with overnight temperatures in the teens F.

For several of the deciduous perennials here, these freezes were the signal for leaves to die and turn brown. Some of those brown leaves are still attached, but others quickly blew away.

The shrub that this year takes the prize for first to produce new green leaves (that I have noticed) is White Mistflower aka Shrubby Boneset (Ageratina havanensis). This was planted less than a year ago and is still just a few inches tall. It did bloom last fall, though.

I’ve intentionally left in place the volunteer Bluebonnet plants that are close to its stem — they are annuals so they won’t be there very long, and the nitrogen-fixing activity in their roots will fertilize the soil after they die.

There are already other plants in the garden that are showing signs of new growth, so I expect many more leaves and buds soon. If we do get another freeze before spring properly arrives, then some plants may have to start their recovery again, but such is the way of nature.