Rewilding My Lot

In the days between April 18-22, 2026 we received 5.39 inches rain, which is more than we have had in the previous four months combined.

This was a soaking that the ground sorely needed and fortunately was not as damaging as the 8.6 inches that fell in four hours last July 5. For the most part the garden was delighted to get so much moisture this month. There was almost no standing water, and what there was didn’t last long. I hope that the ground absorbed most of the water that passed over it.

Here are some things that I have noticed in the few days following the rain.

There were several new fire ant mounds. Ugh.

In the north side shade garden where water running off the roof can land heavily, a lot of the annual plants have leaned over. The plants are still very alive, just not upright.

The center part of the wildflower meadow, which had been looking parched, has really perked up with a lot of new growth.

The single Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana) fruit is growing bigger.

The Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) plants that are going to bloom this year are several inches taller.

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Most of the plants here are very happy to have finally had rain. Here are some more highlights.

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is growing new leaves.

Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye (Viguiera stenoloba) has more blooms than I’ve ever seen.

Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea) is growing right underneath a place where there is heavy roof runoff (hence the stones), apparently unpeturbed.

The Texas Bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis) that were mowed mid-growth, and so are slower to bloom, are vibrant.

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is growing strongly.