Blog
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Very Careful Application Of Roundup
This is not a post that I have enjoyed writing, but I want my story here to be complete and honest. I never thought that I would use Roundup (a weed and grass killer). However, in tackling the task of removing Bermudagrass from the entire back yard (approximately 3,000 sq ft), I have come to… Continue reading
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I Did Not Know This About Sunflowers
I’ve taken a lot of photos of sunflowers on my property here. But for a change, here’s a beauty at Headwaters at the Comal in New Braunfels, where I have done some volunteer work. Here’s one thing I didn’t know about sunflowers, daisies, and asters: what I had thought was a single flower is actually… Continue reading
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Three Methods Of Bermudagrass Removal
Bermudagrass sod was already installed in the front and back yards here when we arrived. The Bermudagrass in the front will stay, but the turf in the back needs to go to make way for native and adapted plants. I used three different methods to remove (or kill in place) the Bermudagrass sod in the… Continue reading
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We Finally Got Rain
Seguin got a good soaking on Thursday, which was sorely needed. Continue reading
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Composting Is Not Working Well
In March 2023 I got a tumbling compost bin with dual chambers similar to the one I had in Houston. It took a few weeks to fill one of the chambers with compostable waste, and I also included several handfuls of store-bought compost. Then I left that chamber to “cook” while I filled the other… Continue reading
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Robber Fly!
This fierce looking critter (with a body over an inch long) was resting on my new Mexican Olive tree. At first glance I thought it was a spider, but there are only six legs. After iNaturalist ID’ed it as a Robber Fly (genus Diogmites), I had to look again to see the wings which I… Continue reading
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I Dig Ugly Holes Now
Anyone who knows me personally knows that I’m a bit of a perfectionist. So when I first arrived here, I found it satisfying to dig neat round holes for my new plants. Then I began to learn more about the soil here and how roots can behave (from my own observations and the teachings of… Continue reading
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Barbados Cherry
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) is a small tree/shrub that produces tiny pink flowers and tart berries that birds like. It prefers part shade. I’ve planted one in the bed behind the house with other “shady” companions of Turk’s Cap, American Beautyberry, and Frogfruit. At the moment, this west-facing bed is shaded until just after noon,… Continue reading
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A Random Curious Thing
I recently bought myself a small UV flashlight to use on nature hikes in the dark. Scorpions are fairly common here, and they happen to fluoresce in UV light. My first sightings were at Crescent Bend Nature Park in Schertz. I haven’t found a scorpion on our property yet, although neighbors have seen them. But… Continue reading
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Moving The Turk’s Cap
It’s not really a good idea to be moving plants once they’re in the ground. However, I had planted a Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) in a place where it wasn’t happy (too much sun) and in a location that is too close to the lowest point in the garden where water pools in… 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 