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Barbados Cherry Is A Late Bloomer
I planted a Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) in 2023. I didn’t realize until I got it home that it was a dwarf variety, so it’s likely to grow in a shrubby form and only reach a height of 4 feet or so. It’s a pretty little thing, and one of the latest to wake up Continue reading
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Finally Down To The Dregs In The Rain Barrels
Behind the house there are two 55-gallon rain barrels that capture water from the roof. There are no gutters on this house, so I’ve located the barrels to collect water falling from two places on either side of the patio where there are corners. As a rough estimate, an inch of rainfall will fill one Continue reading
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Making A Shade Bed On The North Side Of The House
There is very little shade here. In this new development there are no mature trees and the gardens on my property face east (front) and west (back). However, there is one region next to the house on the north side that gets very little sun. In addition to the major shade provided by our house, Continue reading
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Making Shade With A Mini Dead Hedge
In the spring of this year I built a shade structure for a new tree out of bamboo poles and a pillowcase. That was prone to blowing down so I’m trying a new idea to protect one of my new Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) plants while it gets established. I’ve known about “dead hedges” for a Continue reading
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Mexican Olive And Some Of Its Occupants
My Mexican Olive (Cordia boissieri) tree has frozen back severely in its two winters here. This year I thought I had lost it completely, but it has made a remarkable recovery and produced over six feet of growth from the ground in only five months (I finally saw new shoots in April 2025). This tree Continue reading
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Lindheimer’s Senna Blooming For The First Time
I planted a small Lindheimer’s Senna (Senna lindheimeriana) in October 2024, so it’s been here less than a year. In that short time it has already grown a couple of feet taller and a few weeks ago I saw flower buds. I walk past this plant most days and until this week I’ve only seen Continue reading
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Frostweeds Joining The Garden Tribe
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) is an interesting plant that caught my attention when I first moved to Seguin. It grows to a few feet tall and blooms in the fall, which is a key time for migrating pollinators (such as Monarch butterflies) who need food to fuel their journey. A distinctive feature of this plant is Continue reading
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Weightlifting In The Garden
A huge benefit to me is that the City of Seguin offers free woodchip mulch for its residents. I have made much use of that in building pathways and tree circles at no cost besides the effort of hauling it home. Early in my time here I bought four sturdy reusable bags for this transport. Continue reading
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Dragonfly Behavior
I don’t write much about dragonflies even though they are a common feature here, because I find them almost impossible to photograph well. They move quickly, don’t like being approached, and their wings are almost transparent. It’s hard to get a proper focus. Dragonflies and damselflies are very similar and the main way I know Continue reading
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Mid-Height Prairie Grasses
Around the perimeter of the back garden is a 6-foot border of short native grasses: Curly Mesquite, Blue Grama, and Buffalograss. This gives me a walkway around the edge, and maintenance access to the fence without disrupting the other plants. At the back of the garden there is a small area that I have designated 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 