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Standing Cypress: Two Expected Forms And A Few Extras
I introduced Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) by seed in 2023 and 2024 and have a solid population now that is propagating on its own. I sowed seed twice because this is a biennial plant with a two-year lifecycle, and I wanted to have blooms every year. So now, in fall 2025, there are primarily two Continue reading
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Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonfly
It is rare that I can get close to a dragonfly. However, they do seem to like perching on bamboo poles and I happened to be standing right over my baby Mexican Buckeye tree when a Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) landed on the marker stick that is next to the tree. There then followed several Continue reading
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More Shade Plants On The North Side Of The House
The area to the north of the house is quite shady, and this year I’ve added some plants into that location that should be happy there — the builder-installed Bermudagrass certainly isn’t happy, but I’m fine with that. I have previously planted Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) and Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata) behind the AC unit, and Continue reading
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Confused Wildflowers
When annual plants have finished here, I shred them and lay the resulting material down as mulch. Often there are seeds in what gets put down, and sometimes those seeds grow. One of those places is the strip next to the house on the north side. Here, the Bermudagrass doesn’t grow well in the shade Continue reading
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Maximilan Sunflowers At Full Height
Last year I transplanted one Maximilian Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) from a friend’s garden. In September there were buds and in October there were flowers. I didn’t note the height of those blooms, but from the photograph angles I would guess that they were no taller than 6 feet. These are annuals, so last year’s plants Continue reading
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Adding Mealy Blue Sage To The Meadow
There are a lot of Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) plants in the back garden. In the summer of 2024 they grew from seed that I had dispersed the previous fall. These are perennial plants that bloom from spring to fall and are particularly popular with large bees. Here’s a brief video of some bee Continue reading
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Wildflower Meadow Nearing The End Of Its Season
The current status of the wildflower meadow in front of the house is that much of the area is empty and the flowers that remain are mostly yellow and white. Primarily what is growing at the beginning of October are Beach Sunflowers (Helianthus debilis), Yellow Sneezeweed (Helenium amarum), Lindheimer’s Doveweed aka Woolly Croton (Croton lindheimeri), Continue reading
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Frogfruit Is Teeming With Wildlife
I use the groundcover Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) in several ways here. It serves as a lawn substitute in the sunny front yard, it occupies shady places beside the house or fence where grass is less eager to grow, and it rambles over my woodpile. Frogfruit tolerates traffic and mowing, and attracts a wide assortment of Continue reading
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Indiangrass Is Now Blooming
The latest of the grasses in my mid-height prairie grass area to bloom is Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans). This grass has blue-green leaves and golden brown seed heads. The other grass companions in this area are Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), Gulf Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), and Curly Mesquite (Hilaria belangeri). The Curly Mesquite Continue reading
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Bonus Wildflowers Beside The House
One of the areas in the garden that I am newly developing this year is the narrow strip of land that is on the north side of the house. Because of shade, the builder-installed Bermudagrass is not doing well. However, Bermudagrass is not helpful for the environment and I have no intention of encouraging 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 