Yellow Bells or Esperanza...either name is fine with me.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants & Wildflowers, part 17
I love them both Linda.
LindaTX8, Maypop is Passiflora incarnata, I believe.
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASIN
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PAIN6
Asclepias incarnata is a swamp milkweed. I love those passifloras!
Great photography LindaTX8; my passion flower vines just barely started growing & no signs of flowers yet!
It's been in the fifties in the mornings here so far this week. Yesterday morning it was 53 degrees when I got up.
Carloln, I know the right genus name, but once in a while my brain goes on vacation without me! I think the rain recently got those vines blooming!
Mine are just about ready. This is my first year and can't wait to see them. They are in a nice place by the patio so I can enjoy them up close.
LindaTX8, I figured you did. I was really mainly posting for lurkers.
My neighbor's was blooming pretty nicely about a month ago. I haven't peeked over there in a while. I guess we've been wetter than y'all, so they got going earlier...or maybe just a different variety. I love 'em, and wish I had one myself. Neighbor says that they send out suckers which can be harvested, so I may get one if I keep bugging her.
Deb, your BoP will be blooming in no time. They really are a hardy plant, and so beautiful. Hummingbirds love the blooms.
Carla
That sure is pretty!!!
I don't know if you guys know this, but the Bird of Paradise, Caesalpinia gilliesii is not native to Texas,
when I planted mine I thought it was, and so I have two of them, which I am going to leave in the garden until they die naturally, they are so pretty, I just can't take them out.
I am really trying to plant only natives, but sometimes it is not easy, here is the link.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CAGI
Josephine.
Aww Josephine, it must be a native or it got here as soon as it could!!!
LOL
Well I guess it would be confusing since that website appears to give it a native status. I've been admiring it thinking I want one too!! Even so, from what I have read, it has naturalized very well & does not require fussing or watering. That makes it a good candidate, right? It is very attractive and tropical looking.
allwild818, where it says "Native Status: L48 I", that last "I" means "introduced." The USDA web site is confusing as it shows maps that are where it grows, not where it is native. You have to look at that teensy Native Status line to tell.
Look at Bermuda Grass for example: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CYDA First glance makes it look like it's native to most of the country. Nope. It's introduced.
You are right Carlo, it can be confusing. Another one is Texas Star Hibiscus, Hibiscus coccineus
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HICO2
as you can see it says it is native to the US but when you look at the map it doesn't show it in Texas.
To compound the confusion some people claim that it is native to East Texas because it's range extends to the swamps.
In any event I got that one thinking it was native too, so I am keeping it because I love it.
At one point point both USDA and Wildflower.org showed it as native but the they took it out.
Josephine.
Edited to add the right link.
This message was edited May 20, 2009 8:47 PM
Just wondering, how did they determine Texas Star Hibiscus, is not a Texas native. If it is found in Louisiana swamps and is a native there, why is it not a native of Texas if it is found in our swamps. The differnce between Louisiana and Texas is a matter of a few feet in some places.
You are right about that AJ. I guess they think that with time the Hibiscus spread it's range into Texas,
but it was not found in Texas at the time of the early botany explorers.
That is the best I can figure it out.
They finally decided to get the butterfly garden going at Whitley Road Elem. In April the superintendant's wife died of cancer. She was a teacher and headed a foundation to give grants to teachers, and she also assisted teachers in many other ways with her time. She loved butterflies and they all got together and decided to make it a memory garden.
Guess who is alone out there digging the last couple days... (Not complaining so much, it would be nice to ahve more muscle to help out.) Kevin and I also matched all of their contributions, and I persuaded the Mgr at Lowe's to give us a 50% discount on whatever we could buy from there. I am now trying to get more money for tilling and some good top soil. I still have most all the plants some of you donated and they are staged to be put in.
Another thing is, some of the teachers took it upon themselves to *buy* plants for the garden.. sheesh! Not native, and not even butterfly plants!! This challenges all of my abilities to be tactful... Especially when one of the teachers said she spent $120 at one of those tent plant stores on the highway!! We could have done so much more with the cash.
They have set the dedication ceremony for next Friday the 29th!!
Keep me in y'alls prayers. It's going to be a rough week. I have wanted to do this for at least 6 years, and I am loving this chance to put in a real working garden for the kids. This is my youngest son Ben's last year there, but I will keep working in this garden regardless of his being there. I am hoping to do more schools, and now we might have an example to entice other schools in the Keller ISD.
Well, I'm off to work now!
Debnes
Hooray and Halleluia !!!! I am so glad it is finally happening !!! Keep us up on the doings, and pictures too.
Josephine.
Great Deb! Glad you are finally going to be able to do what you planned for. As for the annuals donated....most people don't know what natives or bf plants are. Just put them in areas that are visiable but wouldn't be hard to replace next year. They will fill in until the perennials take over. Maybe create a grouping of containers near the entrance for them. People want "instant" color and flowers and aren't willing to wait to see what some natives can do. They don't see what we do when we plant a scrony little vine that will soon harbor caterpillars.
By them making it a memory garden, sort of dilutes the "butterfly" statement you wanted to make. But I know you and the family will turn it into a beautiful thing. Pictures please!!
I've noticed that some native plant people here in Texas grow plants native to Texas and then add a few that are native to Mexico but not Texas. In a way, that makes sense to me. It just seems to make more sense than adding plants that are only native to NE U.S. areas, for instance.
Deb, have you asked for help? NPSOT chapter or master naturalists come to mind. Sometimes they will take on projects and ask for volunteers. A list of needed plants would be a good idea, if you haven't already done that with the school and other organizations.
That is a beautiful thing that you are doing Debnes.
That would be great if you could find some power assistance, since you barely have a week to put it all together.
I used to enjoy going to an arboritum in Spring, Tx that had a butterfly garden. I would lose time in there... just watching the butterflies and bees swarming the blooms in spring and summer.
I was hoping that one of you may readily identify this beautiful flower. We saw it growing between Jacksonville & Palestine...the weekend of the Jax RU. I've looked around a bit with no success so far.......
(I'll post other pics as fast as I can....good ol' dial up) Thanks in advance! Lee
another view
one more
Lee, I believe it is Prairie Larkspur, very lovely and a lucky find;
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DECA3
Josephine.
Thank you, Josephine! exactly right! I was certain that one of you, more experienced,,....would probably identify it easily....and I'm so thankful for your knowledge and graciousness and willingness to assist those of us just now learning about the beautiful natives of Texas. These were such a brilliant blue,....they stood out against the greenery along the highway. As usual,...Dee patiently waited as I stopped the truck to examine and photograph them. Thank you for the link, too! You are soooo kind! :~)
BTW - should I post this in the Native Plants thread (blue section)? I didn't see it when I reviewed earlier....at least,...I don't recall seeing it! Lee
Of course Lee, all pictures are important and appreciated, even if there was already a picture, your would be different from the others and different details.
Also thank you for the Passiflora lutea
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PALU2
and the Clematis crispa,
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CLCR
They are both plants that I much wanted to have and I am thrilled with them.
Josephine.
Nice find Lee!
Thanks to all of you DG moral supporters for me at the memory garden. You guys really give me a lift, as I know you all truly understand what kind of work this is. (Labor of love for sure.)
Kirby and I worked on it a couple hours after 6 last night, and today more help came. One of the teachers, her husband and two boys came and helped me plant today. I had prepared the ground as good as possible and set plants where they were to go, and they helped plant them. They left after working 2 hours. I got some more tilling in and planted the left side plants. Mulched a bit, watered everything in really well, and swept up.
It's a north facing courtyard...
Keep in mind some of these plants were donated without consulting me, lol!... Here is a list of what's there so far:
(left to right)
left side
1 Elderberry
2 Mexican Firebush
1 Turk's Cap Hib.
Canna
middle
48 Sweet Potato Vine
48 Vincas
24 Begonias
2 Asters
2 Salvia greggii, Purple
(Still want some Cherry Red S greggii, and left space for 4 of them)
Sedum, Autumn Joy
4 Daisies
1 Candletree
1 Hardy Hibiscus
Salvia farinacea
1 Amorpha fruiticosa
4 Duranta erecta
2 Passonvines (on the back lattices)
right
Blue Crown Passionvine
1 Asclepias curassavica
4 Lantanas
2 Ruta grav.
1 Fennel
1 Dill
**Still need an idea about where to plant an Aristolochia pipevine.** I still have room for more native butterfly plants along the back.
As the non-natives and not-butterfly plants die out, I will put in good natives as soon as I can get my blistered hands on them, lol.
I hope this pic comes out large enough for y'all to see this stiched 3 shot pan. The garden is not curved, I was just standing in the middle on all 3 shots...;-)
This message was edited May 24, 2009 8:04 PM
That looks wonderful Deb, I imagine you are pretty tired, but you did a great job, it will be neat to see it grow, Congratulations.
Josephine.
On Saturday while at the Festival of Flowers, I had the opportunity to hear the author of Remarkable Plants of Texas talk about some of the plants covered in his new book. It was really fascinating and I think the audience was really enthused about it. His name is Matt Warnock Turner and I'll post a link to some info about the book here. I'm hoping to buy his book sometime soon.
http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/turrem.html
Thanks Josephine!
Hoping to get more host plants to stash around in there, and some good native shrubs and flowers.
Sounds like a wonderful book Linda.. I would like to get my hands on one too.
Oh, I forgot....if anyone wants to see his interview on Central Texas Gardener, it's online:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmDu9nWB72Q
Deb, why don't you start a new thread for the school garden, that way you can keep us updated on it and request some of the items you need etc. Please post more pictures there too. It is looking wonderful and it is a very nice area for it looks like.
I went to a school carnival this past week and they have a garden that PTA put in years ago. It has been left to overgrow for years it seemed. The grass, weeds, and non-native plants have overtaken it. I thought about volunteering to help clear it out, but it is way too much for me to ever do. Your family is doing a great thing!
Great interview Linda, thank you for posting it. I have to have that book. It is amazing how much we don't know about the wonderful plants around us.
Josephine.
Toward the back side of the new shed area, I planted my new Littleleaf Mulberry or Texas Mulberry, Morus microphylla. I assume it needs to be protected against deer, so I caged it. Even though I've always referred to this kind of plant as Littleleaf Mulberry, I'm considering calling this one Texas Mulberry, because the leaves look bigger than what I've seen in the wild. Whether the nursery just selected plants with bigger leaves or it's bigger because it's a small plant, I'm not sure.
That is neat Linda, are the leaves velvety on the underside?
Josephing...When you have time part 18 needs to be started. This is moving very slow even for DSL.
Blooms on my Carolina Buckthorn earlier this month.
All right Sheila, very pretty, mine is still tiny, where did you get yours?
Click here to go to the new thread; http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/993950/
This message was edited May 26, 2009 12:34 PM
I've been watching this plant that is growing now on the front part of the property. Looks like a Calliandra! I'd like to have a Calliandra conferta...I already have Fairy Duster (C. eriophylla) in my yard, which I got years back at a nursery.
Very neat Linda.