Gardening with Texas Native plants & Wildflowers. Part 4

County Agent - I will check out and let you all know. I think a Silk Tree is a Mimosas - I am still not sure. So I might plant them in that side field I told ya about. never hurts to ask for free trees - right? Let Yall Know Mitch

Had to take my cat to A & M today for a check-up. Mimosas were blooming everywhere. It's a tree that really stands out. Believe me, I wish I had them on the ranch instead of yaupon. Beats me why anyone would deliberately plant that stuff.

I haven't heard of any tree giveaways by the state, but Austin does. Maybe other large cities do too. Check with the Texas Forestry Service. You can buy trees from them at a very reasonable price. The selection is not very extensive and the trees have to be ordered late summer/early fall. I believe there are some application for ms that have to be filled out.

Free trees are given away every Arbor Day. Do a google for info. Easy to get on their mailing list.

Emailed both C.A. and TFS and will let you know what they say. TFS on line said you have to order 50 of any one tree - 50! So I asked about only one or two of a couple will let you know if not I may share the wealth they are cheap - two years old but low cost. All right I have to ask what is ms??? bettydee - need an app for ms?

Thanks Mitch

Ooops! Put a space where there shouldn't be one. The word is forms.
Veronica

Ah now that I understand - sorry dumb teacher here who cannot type! LOL

I liked the mystery better.

Yaupon hollies are taking over the land where my cousin lives east of Seguin. Every few feet you will see a yaupon holly. You can't walk through them. I was amazed when I saw this. They must like the sandyish soil there and a lot of the seeds must sprout. He is having to dig them up with a backhoe. I told him that he ought to give them to a nursery or have a nursery come dig them up. They are pretty expensive here.

We have a lot of them here. Some get up to about 15 feet high. They are one of the more common wild plants.

So trois do you have a few babies for postage? hint hint - they cost a lot here to! I am sure we could get rid of the weeds . . . :->

I have never noticed babies. Bring a truck and dig up all you want. Sell the rest.

$10 membership tree deals can be found here. Ten trees for 10 bucks!

http://www.arborday.org/Shopping/Memberships/Memberships.cfm?CFID=2571318&CFTOKEN=33002901

I have tried those 10 for 10 deal - only one made the winter and did not last the summer. They are really really small. However I did find some good plum trees for family on there.

All right Trois - LOL might take you up on that is nothing else happens.

Not a problem. Come on down.

Yaupon become small trees here. They spread by sending lateral underground roots in all directions and form thickets. If you ever pass by, drop by and take all you want. Sexes are on different plants. Until they get to blooming size you can't tell them apart. Males don't produce berries, but you need at least one male to provide the pollen. You need to find an isolated clump of each. Chances are the small plants around the larger one are connected to it. If you know the sex of the large yaupon, you'll know what you take home.

During fall of 2003, the berries on several of our yaupons were an TAMU maroon instead of the usual red. I thought I had mutants (sports) and began to envision $$$. This past winter, they were all red. Must have had something to do with the weather.

So how far away are you guys? Guess I should ask for gas sake before i get in here over my head.

Hello Everyone, this is what the Texas Parks and Wildlife plants database has to say about
Yaupon Holly.
I must say that mine is about 25 feet tall, has made no runners, and does fruit without a companion for polination, although I think that the other shrubs in the neighborhood do the job for me. I have nothing but good things to say about it. Here is the link.

http://tpid.tpwd.state.tx.us/species_report.asp?species=50

Trois, is this the other creamy fluffy flower that you talked about a while back?
This is a native called Illinois Bundleflower, ( Desmanthus illinoensis ) also known as Twistpod, because of the shape of the seed pods, not much of a flower but the pods are very interesting and the foliage is very pretty. It is much sought after by birds.

And a picture of foliage and buds.

That looks like it. Is this a sensitive? Ours is, but not as fast as some of the others.

Yes, it is sentive to touch and light, the leaves fold up at night.

Thanks for the information.

Mitch,

I'm 65 miles southeast of Austin.

I am 16 miles NW of Galveston, in Galveston county.

LOL - well IF I can get a trip to head that far I will take up your offers - I love that part of the state just mgiht have to do it.... Mitch

We all need to discover more of this large "back yard" (TX) anyway. I envision some day (if gas money allows) just travelling around the state visiting DG'ers and their gardens. It would be a lot of fun!

I agree.

I remember trying to calm my father down when gas went to 35 cents/gal.

(sigh!) Them wuz the days. Times wuz simpler then... ;-)

Interestingly that was often said then, too! LOL

Bettydee:


I love the mexican hat flowers. Are they originally from Texas? I see them growing here in Tucson late winter and early spring. What is the best time to plant them?

In the back yard we had blue dicks, mexican evening prim rose, globe mallow, little yellow and little white daisies 1/2" in diameter. The blue dicks were a real surprise.

This September I'll be plants more wild flowers. I have some seed, but always looking for more.

Regards:

60bugs

Hello 60bugs, and welcome to the thread, we hope you will be a regular. Josephine.

Here is a lovely little blue native flower, Erect Dayflower or Widows Tears, ( Comelina erecta )
This is a very prevalent plant, some might call it a pest, but can be very pretty early in the morning, usually closes by early afternoon. I once saw a field covered with these flowers and it was beautiful. The name, widows tears, refers to the fact that they last a short time.

Oh, I love that! Of course I collect every blue flower I can get my hands on! Save me some if you have any, please!

Mel

I certainly will Mel, I will pot up some for you. Josephine.

This is the only Salt Marsh MG to bloom so far. Usually it is August, but this is a dry year.

That is really pretty Trois, do you think it would grow here?
I have a feeling that it will need special conditions, my book says it grows along river and creek banks, beaches, dunes, and along edges of coastal marshes, so it doen't look like it.
Oh well, I guess we can't have everything.

This one is growing on the edge of a driveway, high and dry. I have never been able to find seeds for this plant. When the flower goes, the whole plant seems to go. This one was at the same place last year, but it was wet and 2 feet tall.

Hi 60bugs,

Mexican Hat, Ratibida columnaris, is not endemic to Texas although they are found almost everywhere. They are best planted in the fall in zones 7 - 11. Just barely cover the seed. I looked up blue dick. I can see why you were surprised. They are beautiful.

Trois, how high is your water table? If Salt Marsh Morning Glory is like all the other morning glories, the roots can go down to 6 feet and spread out even more. It could have its feet in water. It is a pretty flower.

I love blue flowers, too. The Erect Dayflower here are usually growing up through other plants under tree canopies. I love the way the royal blue petals contrast with the gold stamen.

During the rainy season it is about 6 inches. Usually it is about 12 to 15 inches. Now, it is down several feet.