texas mountain laurel
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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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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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Phaon Crescent
Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is the host plant for Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon) butterflies. For several weeks I have been seeing many of these small butterflies, although I haven’t spotted any caterpillars yet. There are nibbles on Frogfruit leaves, however. Maybe caterpillars are doing that? This butterfly also visits other nearby plants, although in this case on the Texas… Continue reading
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Ten Days Absent, And Caterpillars Had A Feast
I was away from the garden for ten days and a quick scan when I returned suggested that most things looked pretty happy. However, one thing that I would have caught earlier had I been here was another batch of Genista Broom Moth (Uresiphita reversalis) caterpillars eating new leaves on my little Texas Mountain Laurel… Continue reading
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Too Much Of A Good Thing
The Firewheel aka Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) that I seeded last fall have grown so well that in some cases they’re crowding out other things. One of those was my valiant little Texas Mountain Laurel tree (photo above). I cut back some of the surrounding plants to give the tree more space, and to give me better access… Continue reading
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My Texas Mountain Laurel Tree Continues To Surprise Me
My little Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) was the first tree that I planted here last spring. For any plant, I expect the first year after installation to be primarily spent growing a healthy root system, and I don’t mind if it doesn’t bloom in its first season. However, this particular tree’s first year has been filled… Continue reading
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New Spring Growth: Texas Mountain Laurel
My little Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) tree was one of the first things I planted here in spring 2023. Until I came to Seguin, I was unfamiliar with this tree, but it is very popular here and elsewhere in central Texas. The progress of this tree has not been straightforward, and when it’s more… Continue reading
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Short-Term Effects Of The Freeze
In the past week we have had five nights of below freezing temperatures, with the lowest recorded here of 16.0 F. I expected to see some wilting, blackness, or loss of leaves and we certainly had that. With native plants, that is almost never a concern, and it’s just a part of nature cleaning up.… Continue reading
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Tree & Shrub Growth Report, January 2024
I think that about once a year I will take approximate measurements of the trees and shrubs that I have here. Like children, when you see them every day, sometimes you don’t appreciate how much they’re growing (or not). The measurements were recorded on January 6, 2024 and the photos were taken a day or… Continue reading
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My Propagation Station
I don’t have a greenhouse, nor am I experienced in plant propagation. However, occasionally I encounter new opportunities to try. The easiest situations are when plants self-seed, or grow runners that root. I have had success with moving baby plants of Salvia and Frogfruit to new locations, either by just digging them up in one… 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 