Mid-Summer Days/Nights

The dwarf water lily has grown. We finally had a little rain so the water level went up, and the lily pads got up on the edge of the little pond - some culprit ate leaves from the edge - hope this does not continue. Some leaves form tiny baby plants in their centers that begin to grow when the leaf dies. There are a few tiny plants floating around but not sure how they will attach roots to anything. The rain also got the frogs excited so there are frog eggs in the water. The water is pretty clear, without the water lily I think it would be like pea soup from algae in the heat of the summer. The Rosy Reds are happy. There were some bigger silver colored minnows in there but haven't seen them lately, they could easily still be in there.

This moth had about a 4" wingspan. He is resting on the new screen door that is supposed to keep out kissing bugs. But we found a kbug the other night while watching tv - need to seal all the cracks. Are they coming in the chimney? Surely they don't actually live in house? (Need to get a cat have had mice lately - that can attract the bugs.) Sent it to CDC, also recently Dr. sent blood test to CDC since I was bitten on Mothers' Day night. No results yet. Bummer in any case 

Early Summer

Dwarf tropical water lily - Dauben. Always wanted a water lily so now there it is - seems pretty happy growing very fast. Note cactus blooms - all the cactus are happy and blooming. Also note pony tail palm, it is well over 30 years old. It was about 8' tall but froze down one year when it got into the mid teens, it was in the barn and froze anyway.

Hoya is really blooming now. But aphids show up about once a year - fairly easy to get rid of. Spray with very diluted dish soap, then spray with water hose a little later. Moved it to a location that will hopefully allow the fragrance onto porch. Petunias and osmanthus also scent the porch. Had a few stunted Easter Lillys that were wonderful.

First time to plant cosmos, bad culprits below loved it. Had to put up ugly fence. Token garden includes tomatoes, basil, cayenne peppers. Also zinnias and a delphinium in pot.

Magical Aloe Vera blooming. 

Magical Morning Glories just starting - suffered at first bc of bad culprits below... had to replant.

Bad baby culprit - ToughButt wouldn't have allowed it. These little things have almost no fear. Also baby squirrels have found the bird food. On a better baby note - there are a bunch of baby birds around, including blue birds. They love the yard w short grass to catch bugs.

Spring 2013

Tough little bluebonnets dealing with hard conditions this spring. Didn't post flower pictures so far this year bc it has been so dry. We did have a little rain last week.

Eastern Bluebird eggs in one of the nest boxes my brother and I put up this year. This is the second round of eggs in this box. We have had a few nests that had babies in them w feathers - hope they made it - bet they did.

Mourning doves in nest by kitchen window. First time any bird has made it this far in this location - usually something gets the eggs or babies. Saw one of these fly out of nest the other day. There are now a new set of eggs in the nest.

This is its first bloom - four years old, a unique plant. Grown from seeds that came from plants that a friend gave me - this is the only survivor of maybe 50 or 100 that I tried. If I had a hundred plants to decide if they were beautiful enough, I might x this one. But as it is, think I'll keep it.

Heavenly Retreat

Heavenly Retreat up around Cushing, Texas. Had occasion to visit, it was truly a retreat from the events transpiring.

There are a number bluebird houses along the fence around the house. And you can watch all kinds of birds at the feeders.

Feeding the cows on a foggy morning.

Collard, Mustard, and ? greens, spinach, and onions in the winter garden.

Lucky the red cow with her offspring Oreo. Both have white on head. Lucky is the last cow from Winedale farm which were all red. She is getting old but still doing ok. White on face resembles inverted question mark - so somehow that gave rise to the name Lucky.

Birdhouses

Converted from ag to wildlife exemption this year - built 13 of these birdhouses for eastern bluebirds (some other kinds also). The stove pipe is supposed to keep varmints out. Off in the distance a few more are visible.  Hopefully they will turn grey and blend in before very long.

It's been foggy in the mornings lately. Spider webs catch the fog on the cactus.

Chili Piquin

in the right conditions these little beauties grow wild under the trees. With just the little rain we've had, 2012 was a good year, some years I don't see any. they are somewhat hot. also called bird peppers? If they are not picked soon they will all disappear, have never seen it but think birds eat them.