The first Mexican Buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa) seedling that I planted in front of the house in 2024 did not survive. I was gifted a replacement that was planted in 2025.
This little tree started last winter just 7 inches tall. I protected it from the freezes with mulch against the trunk, preventive watering, and a bucket covering on the coldest nights.
I’ve been watching this baby tree for signs of recovery, and finally in mid-March I saw that. In several places, tiny leaf buds have appeared.
As I was examining this piece of ground daily, about a week before seeing the Mexican Buckeye buds and about three inches away, I noticed another short woody stem. At first I thought it might be another shoot from Mexican Buckeye roots, but it didn’t look quite right for that.
In the end I decided to dig it up and pot it. Whatever it turned out to be, three inches from another tree that I want is not a good location. So this would give me a chance to remove it before the roots get too extensive, identify it, and then decide what to do with it.
The ground was nice and moist after recent rains, so the seedling was extracted without too much disruption. It was so young that actually it was easy to identify as a Live Oak, because the acorn was still attached. This makes sense, since there are two Live Oaks just feet away, and they both produce acorns. These were trees planted by the builder, so I don’t know exactly what kind they are — they might be Escarpment Live Oaks.
I don’t have room for another Live Oak here, but I will take care of this one until I can find a suitable home for it.
Rewilding My Lot 
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