Two summers ago, we bought a giant bug zapper. Many of the larger bugs fell on the ground instead of into the bottom dish. It didn't take long before we had diners every night and a hierarchy established. The opossums were at the bottom. The skunks in the middle and the racoons were at the top. The armadillos came and went as they pleased. This went on for 2 years. Then late last year, a Great Horned Owl stuck its beak in to get something out of the bug dish and got the shock of its life. He did a backward summersault and landed against one of the truck's tires. For the next 30 minutes, everytime he tried to move, he pitched forward. Then he would right himself and lean against the tire for a while longer. He managed to scare all the diners away that evening. On his last attempt, he made it into the air. Unfortunately, he shorted out our bug zapper so no more free dinners.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants & Wildflowers Part 8
Trois, Mitch, and Veronica, those are neat stories about wildlife. Aren't animals fun?
That must have been something watching that Owl trying to recover.
We once had a Hawk bang itself a gainst our patio door trying to catch a bird. We thought he was dead, but after about 15 minutes he woke up and took off.
That was the first time we saw the full plumage of a hawk up close.
Hello Everyone, It seems that with this long, dry, and very hot period, all we do is work to keep plants alive, the round of watering seems never ending.
Hopefully this month will bring some rain and cooler weather, and also the fall bloomers. I am looking forward to the Maximillian sunflowers, the Goldenrod, and the Purple Asters, they surely make a striking combination with a little sprinkling of white Heath Aster.
Right now we have Mexican Petunia, Frostweed, Turk's Cap, Lantana, Partridge pea
and Four O'clocks blooming.
Yesterday I found this adorable Silve-leaf nightshade bloom, it looks like tissue paper, and such a pretty color.
Silver leaf Nightshade, Solanum elaeagnifolium. Very humble and common, but with a special beauty.
Hello Everybody, last Sunday we went to the Fort Worth Botanic gardens and got a lot of neat pictures, many of the Cactus from their Cactus Garden, I will be posting some as I get them identified.
This one is very pretty, not a cactus, but a flowering tree.
It goes by many names, Jerusalem Thorn, Palo Verde, Retama,
Parkinsonia aculeata, a lovely native tree.
And Horse Bean. I have one of those that has been blooming since early May. I love this tree. Except the thorns.
trois
Thank you Trois, how nice that you have one. I don't have one of those, may be some day.
Josephine.
Here is another interesting plant we found at the Cactus Garden
Corn Cob cactus, Escobaria tuberculosa, a Texas Native.
There was a lovely one growing on a neighbor's fence line near the road. Every few years, the county goes by and, using a shredder, prunes everything outside the fence lines. Now that poor tree looks as if every branch has exploded.
Have either of you had a problem get into this thread? This was the first time in a week that I have been able to get on. When I click on the thread, transfer of data slows to nothing and lock my Netscape.
I haven't had a problem. Have you posted the problem on Daves Garden Forum? (When you are able to get on?) Sometimes they have suggestions.
It could be time to start a phase 9.... too large to load...
mel
This message was edited Sep 16, 2005 8:16 AM
I will start another as soon as I have a chance.
In the meantime, I found this Lindheimer's Senna,
Senna Lindhiemerianawhich I had been wanting for a long time, my plant hasn't done great, but has survived.
This one at the Botanic Gardens was really pretty, so I thought to take a picture.
Hello Everyone, thread #9 has been started, to get three click on this link http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/546233/
Let us continue having fun learning and sharing.
Sincerely
Josephine.