gregg’s mistflower
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Starting The Spring Trim
On the last day of February 2026, future temperature forecasts for the next 7-10 days are at least 63 degrees F for the lows and 72 degrees F for the highs. So I am going to proceed as if we will have no more freezes this winter and jump into spring preparation. As usual, I… Continue reading
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More Spring Awakenings
Spring is my favorite season. I enjoy watching the garden wake up and our central Texas weather is usually comfortable at this time of year, so I spend a lot of time outdoors. Deciduous perennials, if they had not already lost their leaves before the January freeze, had all of their leaves die during that… Continue reading
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Two Kinds Of Mistflower
Very early after I arrived in Seguin, I planted Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) because I knew that it was a butterfly magnet. It is particularly beloved by Queen and Monarch butterflies, but many other pollinators visit it as well. This is a photo from a year ago, on a day when I happened to see… Continue reading
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Signs Of Spring
Spring is my favorite time of year. Almost on a daily basis I can see new life forming, either for the first time or emerging from its winter rest. This year, just when we thought we were finished with freezing nights, we had another round in February. So a few things that had already sprouted… Continue reading
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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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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 -
June Pruning Advice For Native Plants
Drake White, Owner and Founder at The Nectar Bar, is very knowledgeable about Central Texas native plants. She recently posted with recommendations for June pruning. This is what she said, and I’ll follow her list with notes about my own plants, almost all of which are in my pollinator garden near the front porch. (Some… Continue reading
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New Plants For The Front Pollinator Garden
If you want to skip the preamble, I have a list of plants further down this post. Last year I planted several native plants in the flower bed in front of the house to make a small pollinator garden (replacing builder-installed plants that were not wildlife-friendly). I was pleased with the growth of the plants… Continue reading
barometer bush, beebalm, bluebonnet, cenizo, chile pequin, fall aster, flame acanthus, gregg salvia, gregg’s mistflower, gulf muhly, horseherb, lantana, lyreleaf sage, mealy blue sage, native plants, pink evening primrose, pollinator garden, prairie verbena, scarlet sage, silver ponyfoot, skeleton-leaf goldeneye, smallflower desert-chicory, straggler daisy, texas sage, texas toadflax, tickseed, volunteer plant, yarrow, zinnia -
New Spring Growth: Gregg’s Mistflower
I planted a Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) last fall in my front pollinator garden. It grew well, flowered for months, and fed many insect visitors. This is a plant that I may need to trim back later if it starts to overgrow other things, but for now its vigor is welcomed. I see a lot… Continue reading
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Skippers On The Gregg’s Mistflower
Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) grows equally well in Seguin and Houston, and I was already familiar with it when I planted it here. The flowering season is very long, and it is a major butterfly attractor. On this particular lunch-time visit to my pollinator garden, there were at least three butterflies that I could see… 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 