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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
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Finally, Rain
We had not had rain since September 5. Finally, on November 5 we were blessed with 2.08 inches overnight. One of my goals here is to minimize rain run-off, so I’m always interested in how rainfall behaves when we get it. The garden isn’t mature enough to capture water as well as I want yet… Continue reading
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Not Native, But Helpful Nevertheless
My preference is to plant things here that are native to the area. By doing so, those plants should be accustomed to our soil and climate and should not need amendments or supplemental water once established. Sometimes I have made exceptions to choosing true natives, however. For instance, climate change is causing some plant ranges… Continue reading
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Next Year’s Bluebonnets Are Beginning To Emerge
I have not added any new seeds to the wildflower meadow this year, but there are plenty on the ground from natural seeding that occurred earlier. Encouragingly, there are several new Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) rosettes that are already appearing. These will stay small through the winter and then grow bigger in the early spring. In… Continue reading
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A New Tree Added, On Arbor Day
There are two oak trees in the front yard planted by the builder. Presumably eventually they will be big enough to shade the front yard, but they are growing very slowly and that time seems a long way off. In the meantime, I am using the sunny front yard as an annual wildflower meadow (currently… Continue reading
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Increasing The Size Of Tree Circles
I generally try to give a tree mulched clear ground around its trunk up to at least its drip line, i.e., the edge of its canopy. This is most important when the tree is in a turf environment so that its roots don’t have to compete with water-hungry grass. Back in August 2023, I expanded… Continue reading
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Cenizo Is Finally Blooming After More Than A Year
Cenizo aka Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) was one of the first things (2023 spring) that I planted in the bed in front of the house, what I now call the pollinator garden. It was a little thing then (back left with the grey-green leaves)… …and look at it now! One of the common names for… Continue reading
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Mama Spider Has Gone
For weeks I have been watching with interest a large Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) who made her home just outside our garage door. I have seen her enhance and repair her large web, eat insects that she wrapped in silk, and produce two egg sacs two weeks apart [first, second]. The photo above was… 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 