Blog
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A Two-Week July Vacation
Vacations are fun, and what is also fun is seeing what the garden did during my time away (without it being watered!). I was recently gone for two weeks in July 2025 and this is what caught my eye when I got back. Sunflowers had grown A LOT. I will need to cut some of… Continue reading
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Pond Volunteer
In the pond are two pots of Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis). At some point volunteers arrived in each of the pots — I don’t see them in older photos of the milkweeds, so I don’t think they were original passengers. One is blooming and one is not, but they look like the same thing. Both… Continue reading
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More Happy Signs Of Fungal Activity
I know very little about fungi, and I don’t have a good way to identify what I find. However, as long as it is not destroying a valued plant, my general assumption is that fungal activity in the garden is a good thing. Mushrooms and their companions are part of the decay process that converts… Continue reading
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Prickly Pear Is Growing Well
On May 16, 2025 I planted a young Prickly Pear cactus, grown from a mature plant that is in San Antonio. I think this might be a Spineless Prickly Pear (Opuntia ellisiana), which has been derived by cultivation (so not a true native), but I may have to study it more as it grows to confirm… Continue reading
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Common Spotted Whiptail
This was the first year (two years since starting a wildlife habitat garden) that I caught sight of a Common Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis) lizard. This particular one may or may not be in the subspecies of Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis gularis). I have had glimpses several times this spring and summer, but these… Continue reading
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Stages Of A Passionflower Bloom
Yesterday I wrote about my Scarletfruit Passionflower (Passiflora lanuginosa) since it has now started blooming for the first time. One of the new things I’ve learned about this plant is that the blooms, which are plentiful, are each only open for a day. After the previous post, there was rain that evening which knocked away… Continue reading
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Scarletfruit Passionflower
Last fall I was gifted a seedling of Scarletfruit Passionflower (Passiflora lanuginosa). It froze back completely during the winter, but survived and is now growing strongly. I am aware that this plant can grow aggressively and I only have a small trellis for it, so I will have to watch it and keep it contained… Continue reading
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Finch Eggs Have Hatched
After a Barn Swallow nest was constructed in our porch and later abandoned, it was taken over by House Finches. I have a mirror on a stick that I can use to look into the nest any time mom is not sitting in it, and if I want to take a photograph then I briefly… Continue reading
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Mexican Olive, Tree Or Bush?
In the fall of 2023 I planted a Mexican Olive (Cordia boissieri) tree. That winter during the one freeze event we had, the tips of some upper branches froze. The following spring, new growing points formed just below the frozen tips and the tree continued to grow taller and wider. A year later, in January… Continue reading
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Fish And Tadpoles
My ecosystem pond was installed in November 2024, so it’s still very new. Eventually, I hope that there will be a reasonable balance between plants, animals, and insects. However, I expect that adjustment to take a year or two, with some learning on my part as well. One thing I already know is that there… 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 