tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post3276302873110741212..comments2024-01-28T20:40:57.124-06:00Comments on austin agrodolce: Anticipating AutumnTexasDebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-24176220312435104082015-09-28T07:55:50.453-05:002015-09-28T07:55:50.453-05:00David/DHB: It isn't the heat - it IS the humi...David/DHB: It isn't the heat - it IS the humidity - and you've got precious little of that to deal with comfort wise at least, though what a plant experiences as comfort versus what we humans do...I think we're on opposite ends of the spectrum on the humidity front.<br /><br />Honestly I'm not seeing tons of butterflies but the bees are out in numbers - all types. Lots of birds, lots of lizards, potentially we'll have a butterfly resurgence in the weeks to come as the temperatures even out (and go DOWN!) and local plants gear up for Second Spring. I'll never learn the Latin names - I just put 'em out there because some folks like to know. As for plants and butterflies I'm fine with the "common" names - if and when I even remember those! Have a lovely week and thanks as always for dropping in! TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-28796960362634709632015-09-27T21:11:20.396-05:002015-09-27T21:11:20.396-05:00We are also having the summer that won't quit,...We are also having the summer that won't quit, but at least the humidity is back to rock bottom, so the swamp cooler works. The sheer number of butterflies you must have - gray hairstreak on the kidneywood, wow. Nice color compliments, but I can imagine the scent of the blooms. I haven't met a creosote, mariola or beebrush I walk or bike by that I don't get tempted to rub the leaves to get a sniff...it seems with our low humidity, everything has to be right to smell plants without doing that...the high elevation helps only a little.<br /><br />Here, everything looks to have shut down. Even our lingering monsoon season didn't include rain, and that makes a difference. Except coral vines...and even here they spread too much, at least by roots...sheesh!<br /><br />I'll learn the Latin names for insect yet, thanks to your blog...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-87359824649209204192015-09-26T07:38:45.226-05:002015-09-26T07:38:45.226-05:00Donna: Thanks for dropping in! We are on very dif...Donna: Thanks for dropping in! We are on very different schedules garden wise but that's part of the fun of the blogosphere (for me). I enjoy the chances to see and hear what is going on right this minute in a garden (and in that garden's caretaker's mind) hundreds if not thousands, of miles away. I find that every bit as amazing as climbing into a plane and flying overhead to visit in person (and my desk chair is a lot more comfortable!).TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-59150700162413399622015-09-25T19:08:42.670-05:002015-09-25T19:08:42.670-05:00It's great to see blooms in your garden and so...It's great to see blooms in your garden and so funny to see the Obedients as mine are long gone. I do like the Texas Kidneywood...such an interesting and critter loved plant.Donna@Gardens Eye Viewhttp://gardenseyeview.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-84443824859351663882015-09-24T07:17:01.315-05:002015-09-24T07:17:01.315-05:00Michael: Anoles are quite well designed to sneak ...Michael: Anoles are quite well designed to sneak up on their intended prey, that's a fact. There have been times I've caught an anole hidden in a plant in a photo that I didn't notice until I started the editing process. And I flatter myself to be looking pretty carefully when I aim the camera. Not so much, some days...<br /><br />I suppose you are just far enough north of here that there are a few breaks between plants that we can use without much trepidation and the ones you will find reliable year in and year out. That said, this kidneywood gets a bit of protection from winter's worst (in a bed close to a pool that provides temperature mediation of the soil there). The way our winters have swung so wildly the past few years it is partly a matter of luck, getting new plants established without losing them to a run of atypical cold. Then of course summer arrives and wants to bake it all as a prize for surviving. Plants growing in Texas all deserve medals if you ask me (as do their caretakers!).TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-88180440356107439772015-09-23T23:01:26.866-05:002015-09-23T23:01:26.866-05:00Sometimes I scroll through pictures before reading...Sometimes I scroll through pictures before reading the words around them. It was not until my second time through that I noticed the anoles. They blend in very well. Love the kidneywood. I planted one that did not survive its first winter. I think it succumbed to a combination of cold temperature and wet soil. I have not tried another. My bee brush is a reasonable substitute. Michael - Plano Prairie Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10288991916201553454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-59546668428981785812015-09-22T08:22:58.778-05:002015-09-22T08:22:58.778-05:00Debra: We don't use that Privet word around h...Debra: We don't use that Privet word around here - The Hub and I are agreeing to disagree on that topic for the moment, enough said there.<br /><br />As to coral vine it is labeled "invasive" in Texas without further specification though as you note, it does not seem to spread so easily in our particular area - perhaps it is a greater problem in areas that don't get freezes where birds can feed on the seeds and spread them all winter? I'm discovering several plants I've been growing for decades are now considered invasive. It's discouraging, to say the least! TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-66069836472779784432015-09-22T07:36:26.735-05:002015-09-22T07:36:26.735-05:00Jenny(RockRose): Thank you! I appreciate the head...Jenny(RockRose): Thank you! I appreciate the heads up. Good eye and you're absolutely right. That flower most definitely does not have three petals. That said, I was looking at information on the several varieties of commelinas and while I can't quite say what it is so much as what it isn't, I'm still reasonably happy to have it on board here. <br /><br />I have spaces where a native ground cover can run a bit - it will be mixing in with other ground covers* as companion plantings - I use them a live mulch in certain spots. I'm reading these little beauties feed birds/squirrels/deer their seed so I'm good with that as well. I totally understand how misplaced a plant like this would be in certain/many settings...but here? I'll be happy to let it play, especially out front where deer grazing can keep it contained. (*right now it is in with horse herb and wood sorrel)TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-48939123388070051572015-09-21T08:57:07.747-05:002015-09-21T08:57:07.747-05:00Thanks, Deb. Love systems theory and yes. I am not...Thanks, Deb. Love systems theory and yes. I am not so quick anymore to believe a plant is a problem just because it is called invasive. I think we have to look at the context and make an assessment. I recently was reading a report made by some official habitat restoration people where the subject of invasives was brought up. Their theory was that not all invasives are equally bad. If they still play some role and aren't spreading like kudzu then it is probably fine to just leave them. Better to leave a mature mulberry that is feeding birds and caterpillars and providing shelter than to cut it down and leave a gap for example. They even said a little St. Augustine grass growing along a creek bank is nothing to get in a flap about. That grass is holding onto soil for now and will be replaced over time naturally. Is Coral Vine truly invasive here? I have never seen it growing wild. I tried to start some from seed here and failed so it can't be all that easy to grow. The same can be said for a lot of other garden plants that I think have been given a bad rap. Now privat ... that's invasive!Debrahttp://mylandrestorationproject.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-78565121384532263922015-09-18T16:19:16.730-05:002015-09-18T16:19:16.730-05:00Among all your beautiful blooms I fear I may be th...Among all your beautiful blooms I fear I may be the bearer of bad tidings. I may be mistaken but I think your day flower is of the false variety and yes you will have it for ever and ever and ever and ever. Check to see if it has 3 petals; 2 the same and one smaller. I can only see two in your photo and I know that it is more obvious in the Virginia variety. I rejoiced the first time I found it. Now I shudder.Rock rose https://www.blogger.com/profile/00348711150803587369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-23985677362954539712015-09-17T13:14:55.899-05:002015-09-17T13:14:55.899-05:00Thanks, Shirley. Kidneywood trees are great, aren...Thanks, Shirley. Kidneywood trees are great, aren't they? So quiet and unassuming with their delicate leaves but once they bloom...they are all party all the time. A real star in the landscape and everybody with space ought to have one (or get one ASAP). It is definitely worth checking your baby tree for blooms - that fragrance can't be beat. TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-80905292364185178972015-09-17T12:33:57.065-05:002015-09-17T12:33:57.065-05:00As usual your thoughts are intriguing. The Kidney...As usual your thoughts are intriguing. The Kidneywood is a great tree for the garden. We have one that is still a bit small at 3-4' to bloom but I might just run out to check after seeing this post!Shirleyhttp://rockoakdeer.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-74097477949230819682015-09-17T08:10:59.316-05:002015-09-17T08:10:59.316-05:00Kris: You've had an incredibly tough year and...Kris: You've had an incredibly tough year and the protracted heat and humidity have certainly not done you any favors. As gardeners here discovered, even some tough hangers on will simply not stand for years of inclement conditions and finally just call it quits. It is the plants that hang on past that point we've often adopted as our new favorites. And most of them (not surprisingly) are native to the area, having developed coping techniques across decades to deal with the vagaries of Texas weather. <br /><br />As to the anoles, some days they are carrying most of the load to provide delight in a Central Texas garden in the last blasts of summer/early autumn.<br /><br />Hoping the rains will visit you -gently- to help break the heat and finish filling your barrels soon! TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-76905613896236910512015-09-17T08:01:28.056-05:002015-09-17T08:01:28.056-05:00THGM: Thanks. Honestly that butterfly totally co...THGM: Thanks. Honestly that butterfly totally cooperated for once. It was so busy it didn't move for minutes at a time, plus it was up closer to eye height, all making it easier to get a better shot. You will love your kidneywood more with each passing year I'm betting. The one here is a definite favorite. I consider putting it in one of the best choices I ever made, hands down.TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-79870339129859394512015-09-17T07:58:04.941-05:002015-09-17T07:58:04.941-05:00Tina: That's it precisely - gratifying. To r...Tina: That's it precisely - gratifying. To realize that just when you are about to give up on the garden for the year these few plants have hung on and are either bouncing back into higher gear again or are gearing up for their first run of the season. Certainly we've all suffered our share of losses this year and for me at least, that makes it all the more exciting when these survivors showed up ready to rise and shine.TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-57150601979439144052015-09-16T23:40:18.243-05:002015-09-16T23:40:18.243-05:00I loved this post, Deb. Your "also-rans"...I loved this post, Deb. Your "also-rans" definitely deserve their time in the spotlight, especially when you show them in communion with the creatures in your garden. I always enjoy photos of the charismatic anoles. <br /><br />The biggest surprises in my garden have been the premature demises of plants I thought were reasonably well established and the poor performance of others, like my Coreopsis 'Redshift', which didn't even warrant a Bloom Day mention this month. Of course, a lot of this is probably due to the water restrictions added to the weather mix this year.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-33095076621108282822015-09-16T21:07:03.374-05:002015-09-16T21:07:03.374-05:00I agree that the kidneywood plants are putting on ...I agree that the kidneywood plants are putting on a great show right now. My new one (planted this spring) is putting out blooms and is covered in local wasps and bees. It keeps me motivated to go outside and smell it. It's also all over the neighborhood in 'wilder' areas along the creeks. I'll have to keep an eye out for the butterflies- beautiful pic!Toni Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03747347910632489330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-40997792429744932012015-09-16T17:19:49.105-05:002015-09-16T17:19:49.105-05:00And what add-ons you chose!! LIke you, I haven...And what add-ons you chose!! LIke you, I haven't written about all the photos I've taken, because, well, just how many posts about oxblood lilies and spider lilies need to be published? But I'm so glad you posted about these gorgeous bloomers. I love Kidneywood--a beautiful native tree, I wish so much that I had room for one! Coral Vine comes into its pink beauty now. I moved mine in early spring, assumed that I wouldn't have any blooms this year, and found a few yesterday. I was impressed that there were any. I'm sure the bees will, or have, found the flowers. The obedient plants are also grooving up as are the goldeneye. Oh, it's just all so gratifying!Tinahttp://www.mygardenersays.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-31442964288731766342015-09-16T15:34:21.356-05:002015-09-16T15:34:21.356-05:00Debra: Thank you. Our kidneywood is small - bare...Debra: Thank you. Our kidneywood is small - barely six feet tall and only 3-4 feet in diameter. It is more a large shrub than a tree. It is one of the few purchases I made long ago that I never once regretted. Because speaking of regret...<br /><br />I discovered Coral Vine is now considered invasive (and I say "now" - probably happened long ago and I'm just reading it.) That vine has been growing here for decades. Now I'm "supposed" to destroy it so it won't be spread by birds. I've never seen birds on it - just pollinators and anoles. Decades from now will the invasives be considered naturalized? Natives, even? Designations do get tricky, long run. A handful of plants on the invasives list I bought decades ago from reputable nurseries. At that time they were typically labeled "well adapted to our area". <br /><br />As to the lack of novelty in words/images - there is this saying in system theory people need to hear a message multiple times before it sinks in. I arbitrarily say 37 times, but the point is, even when people are listening they don't always "hear". And even when they are looking, they don't always "see". It is our job to make them look, make them listen, until the messages get all the way through their barriers. Or not... We do our work - they have to do theirs. Thanks as always for reading and commenting - I am so happy to have you as part of this blog's regulars!<br />TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-81714533914103394792015-09-16T14:37:55.578-05:002015-09-16T14:37:55.578-05:00As always: ty for the beauty. And an extra thank y...As always: ty for the beauty. And an extra thank you for championing the Texas Kidneywood. Every year I come to appreciate it more and more. I wish I had room for one. The coral vine is really pretty. It is getting tricky finding the words and images. Austin has so many bloggers and has had so for a long time. But I found a little quote yesterday that I passed on to my husband who was saying something like: Why should I make music any more; it has all been done and said before?<br />"Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again." --Andre Gide. Debrahttp://mylandrestorationproject.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com