Blog
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New Spring Growth: Texas Mountain Laurel
My little Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) tree was one of the first things I planted here in spring 2023. Until I came to Seguin, I was unfamiliar with this tree, but it is very popular here and elsewhere in central Texas. The progress of this tree has not been straightforward, and when it’s more… Continue reading
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Volunteer: Broadpod Whitlowgrass
Broadpod Whitlowgrass (Tomostima platycarpa) is a volunteer here and will be invited to stay. It’s a member of the mustard family, native to Texas and a few other states. Most of the time, the scientific name for plants is the most reliable way to tell exactly what you’re dealing with. The same plant often has… Continue reading
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New Spring Growth: Mexican Mint Marigold
In Houston, I had a pot of Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida), which I brought to Seguin when I moved. It’s a plant that is native to Mexico and Central America, and which has adapted well to Texas. The leaves have a fragrance similar to tarragon and anise, and other names for this plant include… Continue reading
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New Spring Growth: Gregg’s Mistflower
I planted a Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) last fall in my front pollinator garden. It grew well, flowered for months, and fed many insect visitors. This is a plant that I may need to trim back later if it starts to overgrow other things, but for now its vigor is welcomed. I see a lot… Continue reading
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Volunteer: Prickly Sowthistle
Note: I originally identified this as a Common Sowthistle, but I have been corrected by others in iNaturalist who know more than I. Various kinds of thistle are common volunteers here, and often invasive (meaning non-native and aggressively populating). My approach differs according to where I find them. In the front yard I pull thistles… Continue reading
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Volunteer: Curvepod Fumewort
This colorful and early blooming plant is a volunteer, but a welcome one so I will allow it to stay and seed. Curvepod Fumewort (Corydalis curvisiliqua) has also been called Scrambled Eggs, although I haven’t been able to find out why that name. You can buy seeds for this plant, but I don’t need to! Continue reading
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New Spring Growth: Fall Aster
I introduced a new small Fall Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) plant last year in my front pollinator garden. Over the winter, it froze back, but I am already seeing vigorous growth from the ground. I just love seeing plants wake up in the spring! Continue reading
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Not A Vegetable Gardener
I have never been a particularly successful vegetable gardener. The principle reasons for that have included ignorance, a lack of sunny growing space in my last garden, and poor interest on my part. Once I became more aware of nature, I was much more motivated to generate spaces that encouraged wildlife, and that meant sharing… Continue reading
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Digging The Swale Deeper
At more or less the lowest point in the back yard, I dug a shallow hollow, or swale, to temporarily capture water during heavy rainfall. I would rather have water sink into the ground than run off the property and into the street. I still haven’t decided whether this will be a permanent feature of… Continue reading
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My New Favorite Weeding Tool
For years, my favorite weeding tool has been this one (photo above). I’ve used it so much that I’ve significantly worn the prongs down. Its thinness means that I can push it deep into the ground to pry roots out without too much disturbance of other plants nearby, and it is strong enough that it… 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 