We create reasons not to do what we know is the right thing for us. Such is life! There are few wildflowers here, but some are so much better than nothing. I revel in those sweet blossoms, because while I'm losing myself in their beauty there are no problems in the world. And no drought!
I like all of what you said LindaTX8, and so true! I'm trying to talk my other half out of ANY turf and into just letting the landscape do it's own creating and we can put in the stepping stones and just manicure the natural creation to it's fullest beauty.
I think this fall, I'm going to blanket my flowerbed with bluebonnet seeds and poppies and see what happens. We're working on an area in our backyard that I hope to extend the width of our fence line over the next couple of years. I'd like to have nothing but wildflowers in one section of it just for fun. Of course, we'll have to dig out that horrid creeping English Ivy from one of our neighbors, manage to contain the honeysuckle the other neighbor has planted on our fence, and get rid of a couple of crepe myrtles, but until we get to that area of the bed, they can stay because they do provide some interest in the yard.
Yes, having wildflowers can be a lot of work, but it is certainly worth it.
Josephine.
the bluebonnets are just coming up along a roadside near us..but slim pickings as it's not as much as usual..I am going to try to take my dogs out & get some photos with them sitting in it..so I am appreciative of the advice of snakes..I'll walk around first to "scare them off"! hahahaha
I don't usually have trouble with snakes, but I used to carry a stick...on the theory that hitting the ground or something might scare off any snakes or critters that I didn't want to meet. Of course, I usually knew the difference between a place where snakes are likely to be and a place less likely for them to be.
The Bluebonnets aren't much here either, it has been too dry all though fall and winter, but we'll take whatever we can get, right?
Josephine.
So far the only bluebonnet blooming is in my yard, where it gets enough water. But these wildflowers on my property are Fendler's Bladderpod, which manage without any care at all.
Those are so pretty Linda, but I lost the one you gave me, it never did anything, wrong soil I guess.
That's too bad! I wish I'd seen more of those in the wild to know what they like. Mine are on a typical Hill Country hillside with the junipers. Otherwise, I've only seen them uncommonly found overlooking creeks or roadsides, but also in the hills. But I've heard they grow in various parts of Texas far from the Hill Country.
BTW, I lucked out at that S.A. plant swap because someone traded me a Manfreda maculosa (Texas Tuberose, Spice Lily, host plant to the Manfreda Giant-Skipper and hummingbird nectar plant). Within a couple of days, it put up a big scape and will soon bloom..how lucky am I? I'm reading up on it so I can figure out where to put it, hopefully I won't make the mistakes I made last time when I started one from seed. I'll post a picture later of the blooming plant.
Josephine, maybe your soil didn't have enough caliche in it for them.
That is most likely it, I have gray clay.
Caliche?? That's a new one for me... maybe that's my problem also.. I know I have a lot of nitrogen as I had a soil sample done in a few places of my garden.. but Josephine is right we haven't had much rain..... I noticed the bluebonnets in my area come up AFTER we had that mighty good drenching a few weeks ago! hahaha
I don't really think good nitrogen content and caliche go together, as far as I know. Mine has a slightly yellowish tinge, but there are other shades of caliche. If you've noticed a lot of plants dying, then you might have it. Also, if you can dig deep holes without explosives, heavy equipment or extremely strong, persistent laborers with the right tools, that's not it.
http://desertgardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/caliche___hard_desert_gardening
Oh, and one site says that it's possible to use beneficial weeds to break caliche up somewhat over time. I have some of those...caliche-resistant native plants!
Linda.. thank you.. I don't have that so I am relieved. My garden is "home made" & I used "Dino Dirt" which is REALLY good!! Even after 4 years!
LOL Linda! I grew up in south Texas (San Antonio) and spent lots of time in the hill country. I'm very familiar with caliche. I'll never forget my dad digging holes to plant trees for my mom. 6" down, he hit hard rock caliche. Took using a pic axe to break that stuff up, plus loads of manpower and time. He must've really loved my mom because he dug four HUGE holes for her. That was at least 25 years ago and the trees are gorgeous now.
It was that time of year, we went to the nurseries again. When you turn into the entrance at Natives of Texas, you go by their pond (or whatever that is)....very inviting!
One thing we picked up was a little bitty Madrone. But this is a bloom on one of their big Madrones, in their garden area. And we got a small Texas Mulberry. I've always wanted both of those. I figured since we're replanting around that shed, we may as well put some things in that I really want!
Treasures everywhere there! I saw this and I've never before seen such a gorgeous healthy-looking Clematis texensis in my life! In the background was some Scarlet Penstemon.
This message was edited Apr 4, 2009 2:00 PM
And of course I couldn't help myself...I had to stop by Medina Gardens Nursery in the little town of Medina also. I had bought a little Texas Barberry from them last year and it managed to bloom a little this spring, even made a couple of berries. But I'd never seen a mature plant in bloom...wow! Theirs is amazing!
Lovely plants Linda, you people in the hill country are so lucky!!!
Very pretty.That clematis is a beauty.
Manfredo maculosa blooms with Tx betony behind. They have NO scent; sorry Josephine.
Thank you they are beautiful, looking forward to them.
Josephine.
Those are beautiful dmj!
How wonderful to find such nice natives at the nurseries too! I have enjoyed all of the posts.
The Mayapples are blooming now.
Oh! that is so neat!!
Very pretty, both of them! The Manfreda I just got a couple of weeks ago is going to bloom, still in its pot! I can't wait!
Just discovered more treasures in the 'prairie' area - a blue skullcap and Texas sage. I have relocated some of these to the sloped rock garden since I noticed some were already growing there and seemed to be pretty happy. Does anyone know if the skullcap is perennial in 7b? I am guessing that it is because I find some that are just beyond seedling size and then some that are pretty good size. Also, what is the bloom period for these? I see that they are beginning to bloom now, but when can I expect it to stop? Thanks. Stacey
How many different self sown natives are in this pic and what are they?
What is the name of this one.
What is this one? There is mud splatter on the white of the flower.
This is a pretty yellow flower.
Wildcat, the second picture Pink Evening Primrose, Oenothera speciosa
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OESP2
the third picture Pale Evening Primrose, Oenothera pallida
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OEPA
The fourth picture could be a regular Dandelion or a Texas Dandelion, can't tell without seeing the foliage.
Josephine.
Stacey, some of the Skullcaps are perennial and some aren't so it depends.
I suppose by Texas Sage you mean Cenizo,
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LEFR3
that one is perennial and blooms on and off for a long period.
Josephine.
Actually not the cenizo but Salvia texana, a small 1 - 1 1/2 foot sage with blue flowers. I'll try to post a picture tomorrow. Stacey
I've had Cedar Sage for years and it has never looked like this! What do you think? I keep thinking that I DO have a Hot Lips Salvia greggi. But it's in the front yard and this is in the back! Could they have crossed?
The American Smoke Tree blooming...I think I first saw these at UTSA in San Antonio and then I wanted one...and later found it at Natives of Texas. I liked the oval leaves. Kind of an unusual little tree that grows slowly...and has greenish yellow blooms.
This one is a naturalized native I planted from seed last year. I am really happy to see it doing well. It's Narrowleaf Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Painted Lady & Buckeye butterflies are supposed to use this plant as a caterpillar host. I hope to see that happen this season!
Planted this one a few years ago and finally seeing some decent blooms on it! Yaay!
Aesculus pavia, Red Buckeye
