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What Do You Call A Group Of Butterflies?
On my way back from the mailbox one day, I saw a group of three Queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies, and one other of a different kind, all on the Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) in my front pollinator garden. That got me to wondering what is the collective noun for butterflies. I found several lists that include… Continue reading
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Germinating Texas Mountain Laurel Seeds
Last year I attempted to germinate Texas Mountain Laurel seeds. I had no success, but supposedly this is not unusual. They are very hard seeds that in nature take years to germinate. My son (Dan Rossiter) did some of his own research and found a method that for him has a high rate of success,… Continue reading
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A Spectrum Of Colors In The Pollinator Garden
Ideally in the pollinator garden in front of the house, there will be blooms from early spring until late fall, and in a variety of colors. Different insects and birds prefer different colors. Sorted by flower color, this is what is currently in the garden (blooming in late July unless stated otherwise). This list doesn’t… Continue reading
beebalm, bluebonnet, cenizo, chile pequin, common sunflower, fall aster, flame acanthus, gregg salvia, gregg’s mistflower, gulf muhly, horseherb, lantana, lyreleaf sage, mealy blue sage, pink evening primrose, prairie verbena, scarlet sage, silver ponyfoot, skeleton-leaf goldeneye, sneezeweed, straggler daisy, texas sage, tickseed, yarrow -
Mockingbirds Are Fierce Nest-Defenders
In a new housing development with no mature trees, there is not much opportunity here for birds to build nests yet. However, I’ve spotted one that is about half-way up a neighbor’s 12-foot oak tree. I can see the nest from our back patio. Here’s a close-up of the photo above, where you can see… Continue reading
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Pleasant Seed Surprises
Nature often surprises me in the most delightful of ways. I have recently discovered three examples of plants growing from seeds that I spread last fall, and which I was no longer expecting this year because I hadn’t seen them until now. Spotted Beebalm in the front native flower meadow In the center of the… Continue reading
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Three Sisters Beans, And Her Siblings
The Three Sisters project has been an interesting one, although it is clear that I don’t have the dedication needed to be a good vegetable gardener. The mounds have been watered every day, although probably not enough, and perhaps I have not been vigilant enough to defend them from pests. Nevertheless, growth is still happening… Continue reading
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Redwhisker Clammyweed
I first encountered Redwhisker Clammyweed (Polanisia dodecandra) while volunteering in Seguin’s Park West pollinator garden. It was a volunteer in that garden itself, but has been allowed to remain for now because it attracts the very tiniest of bees. I believe I have at least two of these volunteers here. One has handily placed itself… Continue reading
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Texas Mountain Laurel Growing Back After The Last Caterpillar Feast
I have to be constantly watchful for Genista Broom Moth caterpillars on my small Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) tree. These caterpillars are immune to the toxin that this tree produces, so they have little competition. Unfortunately, while I was recently away for ten days, there was a significant infestation that destroyed all this tree’s… Continue reading
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Activity In The Front “Lawn” Frogfruit
There is Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) in the front lawn area, outside of the native flower meadow area. In that location, it’s mixed with Bermudagrass and lies close to the ground. There are a lot of blooms at the moment (they are short enough to escape the mower), and the quantity and diversity of insect visitors… Continue reading
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Desert Willow Has A Seed Pod
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) is the feature tree of the back yard. It is, and will probably always be, the largest tree behind the house (although it is currently only about 8ft tall, so still a baby!). It was also the first tree to establish, in terms of blooming and overall growth. Another recent milestone… 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 