"We just moved to Texas a year and a half ago and renovated our old ranch house, so this Fall is the first time I've been able to garden, now that the construction guys and trucks have left and I can trust my stuff won't get trampled.
We came from Southern California - and I presumed a very, very similar climate as when we looked at the ranch, much of the same flora grew wild here. Of course, the last year here (2006-2007) has been highly unusual weather, so we still don't know for sure, but how often do wild plants lie?
Aside from gardening, which is really a little ways down my list of loves, though it is gaining now that I have a "real" garden with beds and a fence and everything (in CA I had a few bricks stacked, a board across the top and a few straggling pots...not very pretty nor hardy), my loves are DONKEYS donkeys and more donkeys. Oh, and I guess my molly mule and our horses, too. *grin* In other words, if it's equine, I probably love it. I'm studying (late in life) to get my BS moving on to the seemingly far away PhD so I can research cognitive ethology of the equids. I do this because training for horses is lagging far behind that of other species (in still using too much dominance, and forcefulness that is really not necessary), yet my studies show there is every reason to believe that horses, donkeys and mules are more intelligent and sensitive than our dogs and cats that we treat so much better on the whole. So I strive to live by example and eventually hope to make this world a better place for those that have my heart wrapped around their hooves.
As for my garden, I'm trying vegetables this Fall - and even entered the neighborhood pumpkin growing contest. Lucky for me, it's a totally informal thing. I'm not winning, but I guess I'm not losing either - some people's plants have died, but mine is thriving. I just left it potted too long (I started it from seed in a pot rather than the garden, because the garden wasn't ready yet).
I'm trying for the first time to start a cut flower garden, as I adore having flowers in the house and that can get expensive, since I tend to (of course) pick the prettiest, usually most exotic (read: expensive) blooms! I'm growing - or attemping to - this fall, among others, roses and camellias, too.
I got a great education about and love for Camellias when I lived in L.A. and worked at a mansion there owned by the son of the original owner, who was a Camellia afficiando. Ralph Peer is the name, in case there are any other Camellia buffs here. What a beautiful garden that house had. And I had never thought about Camellias much before, but what a splendid way to bring flowers to the house in Winter! I'm trying mine in a beautiful shaded meditation garden we built just outside our bathroom window, so I can soak in the tub and admire it.
Aside from four donkeys (two Mediterranean Miniatures, two Mammoth Jackstock), I live with my husband, our inherited ranch dog, Kit, four horse geldings (all QH, except one has some Arabian in him), and my wonderful trail mule. Oh, and our ranch manager, and her menagerie, including kids. The wildlife watching could be better - unfortunately our dog's presence keeps most away. She's an avid and skilled huntress.
Looking forward to a good home page here!" |
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