Blog
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Adjustments Around The New Pond
Once the new pond had been installed, I took a whole day to make various adjustments around it. There were several projects that had been waiting until I knew exactly where the pond would be. The installers had made a nice neat pile of soil and mulch around the pond. I then proceeded to move… Continue reading
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Leveling Where I Walk Around The Meadow
The ground as the builder left it here is horribly uneven. Last year I had several yards of topsoil delivered and did one round of leveling front and back, but I knew it wasn’t going to be enough. One reason was that the volume of substance needed to truly level this lot would be cost-prohibitive.… Continue reading
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Pond #4: Construction
Finally, I have a pond! The construction took two days (the hole had previously been dug). On the first day, a mound for the waterfall was built and the pump equipment was installed. A liner was laid and large “moss rocks” were placed. On the second day, smaller river rocks were added. Then the pond… Continue reading
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A Few More Seeds In The Meadow
I was very pleased with the wildflower meadow’s first year. Any appearance of the plants I seeded would have been satisfactory, but the quantity that grew exceeded my expectations. The three plants that were seeded in quantity — Texas Bluebonnet, Firewheel aka Indian Blanket, Spotted Beebalm aka Spotted Horsemint — are likely to come back… Continue reading
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Rain After A Drought Triggered Seed Germination
For two months in September and October we had no rain, and then two inches fell at the beginning of November. That one rainfall triggered a mass germination of seeds that were in the soil here. Some of those seeds may be weedy things that were already in the ground before I got here, but… Continue reading
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Trying Again With Chile Pequin
Early in my time here, in spring 2023, I planted a Chile Pequin (Capsicum annuum). This is a small drought-resistant shrub with spicy berries that birds like. However, this plant didn’t survive and I think that was somewhat my fault. At that time I was too inexperienced to realize that a new plant here does… Continue reading
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Clearing Excess Frogfruit From Near The Wood Pile
One of the first things I did here once the Bermudagrass had been removed in the back yard was to create a pile of logs and to let a Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) plant scramble over it. Then I pretty much left it alone to be occupied by whatever wildlife wished to use it. In the… Continue reading
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Adding More Wildflowers To The Back Yard
In spring and summer of 2024, there was a significant display of native wildflower plants here that had volunteered or been introduced by seed that I sowed in the previous fall. For now, I will keep at least half of that area for the same purpose. I presume that by now there is a considerable… Continue reading
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Adjusting Pathways And Reclaiming Land
Most of the mulch pathways that I first laid here last year are still in a good location and all I am doing to maintain them is periodically to add more woodchip. (The City of Seguin very helpfully allows residents to take as much as they want.) There is one strip, however, where I had… Continue reading
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Boosting The Seed Bank In The Tall Grass Area
I have designated a small area at the back of the garden for mid-height prairie grasses. This is developing quite nicely, and I currently have there: Although the grasses that are growing are producing seed themselves, I decided for one more year to add a little extra seed for Little Bluestem and Sideoats Grama 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 