gulf muhly
-
Sleeping Bee? Spider?
There are three Gulf Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) plants here. This (third) year has been the first time that I’ve seen all of them bloom fully and they do look very attractive with their feathery pink seed heads. One cool morning just after dawn I was eating breakfast in front of the house and happened to Continue reading
-
Another Prairie Grass
The mid-height prairie grass area is developing quite nicely. There are established populations of Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and Gulf Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). There is also some intruding Curly Mesquite (Hilaria belangeri) from the Thunder Turf grasses nearby, which I have allowed to stay until now. However, for Continue reading
-
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
-
Trimming The Clump Grasses
Around the perimeter of the back garden there is a strip of Thunder Turf, a blend of three short native grasses. Those grasses grow low to the ground and get mown a couple of times a year. Toward the back of the garden there is an additional area for native grasses (the triangle in the Continue reading
-
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
-
Working On The Tall Grass Area
Early on in my time here, I set aside a portion of the back garden to be an area for mid-height native prairie grasses and the one I particularly wanted to grow was Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). I introduced that by plant and seed. Sometimes I plan one thing, but nature, increased knowledge, or random Continue reading
-
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 -
A New Gulf Muhly Has Joined The Tribe
Gulf Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is a native plant, although as the name implies, it prefers the moister climate of the gulf coast where I first encountered it in Houston. (On average, the annual rainfall in Houston is 20 inches more than in Seguin.) Last year I learned that Gulf Muhly will certainly grow here, but Continue reading
-
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 -
A Lacewing Breakfast Companion
I try to eat as many meals as possible outdoors. I can choose my location, front or back, depending on the time of day and whether I want sun or shade. On this crisp December morning I was joined on the porch bench by a Green Lacewing (Genus Chrysoperla, exact species unknown). Here’s a closer 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 