Blog
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A “Plague” Of Grackles
Since the pond was installed in the beginning of November 2024, gradually I have been seeing more bird visitors coming to drink or bathe, although generally only one or two at a time. Then suddenly at dusk on Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 2024), there was a thundering on the roof that sounded like heavy rain… Continue reading
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Aquatic Plants
I’ve never had a pond before, so learning how to manage that environment will be a whole new thing for me. My goal is to build an ecosystem that relies as much as possible on biology and the interaction of different organisms to maintain a healthy equilibrium. One part of that ecosystem will be plants,… Continue reading
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Adding To The Succulent Collection
There is a small rock pile here, which serves several different purposes. One is to be a distinctive visual feature that is home to succulent plants. Another is to be a habitat for small creatures that might like to shelter in rocky crevices. And perhaps most usefully for me, it is a place to store… Continue reading
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Clover “Cover Crop”
In front of the pond I have planted some short perennials so that the view of the pond from the patio isn’t blocked. Earlier this year (before the pond), that area was packed with Firewheel aka Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella), which grew to over 3 feet tall. Therefore, the ground in that area likely has… Continue reading
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Fish!
I have no intention of having an elaborate collection of fish in my pond — that’s not its purpose. However, having some fish present might help to reproduce at least some of the biology that naturally happens in streams. I have added six little Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) to the pond, chosen because of their… Continue reading
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Thunder Turf Repairs
Around the edge of the back yard is a border of Thunder Turf, which is a mixture of three short native grasses. In the second year here, this area is now largely established, although a portion of it did get severely trampled during pond construction (see photo above). Mid November is usually too late to… Continue reading
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Butterflies Clinging On In A Stiff Wind
I was visiting my front yard, as I often do, and happened to notice something odd in one of the oak trees. On closer inspection, it turned out to be two Queen butterflies clinging on in a strong wind — the weather report said 16mph with gusts of up to 30mph and standing there I… Continue reading
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Some Bluebonnet History, And An Experiment
This post leans heavily on information from this page about bluebonnet history from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Texas actually has at least five state flowers and they are all bluebonnets. In 1901, the state flower was officially defined by the Texas Legislature as Lupinus subcarnosus (“generally known as buffalo clover or bluebonnet,” according to… Continue reading
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New Plants In The Ground After The Pond Was Installed
Fall is the best time to be planting in Central Texas, because that gives the longest time for plants to get established before the hot summer. As soon as the pond was finished, I wanted to get new plants in the ground quickly. Here are the perennials that I chose (there will be annual seeds… Continue reading
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“Bird Poop Caterpillar” Is Growing Nicely
A couple of weeks ago I planted two new Common Rue (Ruta graveolens) plants here, and one of them came pre-populated with a Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) caterpillar [post]. This caterpillar also carries the nickname of “bird poop caterpillar,” which seems apt. The disguise is really very good, and I even had to look closely to… 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 