Blog
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The Swallow Nest Has Been Reoccupied By Finches
In March 2025, a pair of Barn Swallows built a nest high in our front porch. Four eggs were laid and the parents were taking good care of them. Not long afterwards, something attacked the nest and stole the eggs, and the swallows abandoned the nest. That story is told here. What was left of… Continue reading
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Mushrooms In Rain Gauge Pot
It is not unusual after extended periods of rain for me to find mushrooms growing out of soil or mulch. Having a healthy fungal population in the garden is a good thing, since this is part of the decay process that provides nutrients for plants. I’ve seen this mushroom before, and if my identification is… Continue reading
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Live Oak New Growth In The Third Year
When this new house was constructed, the builder planted two Live Oak trees of unknown variety in the front yard, probably at the end of 2022. For two years they have seemed healthy enough, producing acorns in the fall and new leaves in the spring. Now that I would consider them established, they get no… Continue reading
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Pussyfoot Has Appeared Again
Last year I had a volunteer Pussyfoot (Dalea obovata) plant. I have just found another one hidden among a mass of wildflowers. This is a useful plant because it is a legume, and thus able to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil via a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria. For that nitrogen to be available for… Continue reading
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Molting Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
I don’t think that I have seen as many caterpillars this spring compared to last year. This applies not only to my own garden, but also in places where I volunteer, and reported by others in the region. Whether this is a temporary situation this year, perhaps because of less rain and fewer wildflowers this… Continue reading
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A Weed For Some But Not For Me
I first encountered Powderpuff aka Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) when I lived in Houston. It’s a sturdy little ground cover with pretty pink flowers and I’ve had it on my list to add to the Seguin garden if ever I found it again. I’ve never seen it for sale, perhaps because it’s too common and… Continue reading
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Returning To The Garden After Nine Days Away
I was recently away from home for nine days, right after a week when we had over six inches of rain. I expected to see changes when I got back of course, but I didn’t know exactly what I’d find. Here are some highlights. Some plants had grown a lot. Sunflowers were about a foot… Continue reading
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The Three “Thunder Turf” Grasses, And An Extra
Around the perimeter of the back yard is a strip of Thunder Turf, which is a mixture of three short prairie grasses: Buffalograss, Blue Grama, and Curly Mesquite. After two years here, I think I am finally becoming able to recognize the components of Thunder Turf, at least when flower/seed heads are visible. My photos… Continue reading
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Bluebonnets Growing In Shredded Mulch
Not long ago, I put some shredded annual plants on ground that is in need of restoration — it’s north-facing, shaded, and eroded from roof runoff. I knew that the material I spread was likely to contain wildflower seeds (especially Bluebonnet and Firewheel aka Indian Blanket) but I don’t mind if they grow for now.… Continue reading
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Red Buckeye Recovery
In April 2024 I planted a small Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) tree. It was just 14 inches tall at the time. By July 2024 it had lost almost all its leaves. This concerned me, but then I learned that this deciduous tree does lose its leaves early in the year. So I figured it would… Continue reading
About Me
Nature Lover.
Inquisitive Observer.
Student Gardener.
I invite you to join me on my journey to convert my sterile (from a nature point of view) new house lot to a healthy and diverse ecosystem, as I make discoveries, mistakes, and hopefully progress. I am not an expert or professional. The project started in February 2023 and the location is Seguin, Texas, USA.
Rewilding My Lot 