Equinox Project!

I've had a nasty patch of nandina that keeps coming up from under my neighbors yard. 'Said' patch has been removed 3 times over the last few years...always thinking I got the heart of the plant but nay...today I think I got it...isn't that color beautiful?...like agarita, so yellow.

It even looks like a heart. I actually think it's a pretty, but common little plant and I love the berries but it's so invasive, so difficult to get rid of that I took the step that I've sworn never to do...I donned gloves and touched a sponge soaked with RoundUp to it's severed root stem. I feel kinda sick about it but digging wasn't working and my neighbor doesn't mind it so...

I've had a plan for this area for two years now, ever since we lost the Red Bud that was at the center of the nandina patch. Today, the equinox was the day that all the work got done!

Loving spouse and I hit Lowe's and bought cedar, PVC pipe and all the hardware to set up two planter boxes. I'm not a fan of straight lines, especially the square as a design feature...but, it fit the space and I've always wanted a convenient way of using shade cloth and a place to grow winter greens safely and also be able to lock out the nasty squash vine borer early start stuff... shoot, so many versatility's...plus it's easily dismantled and moved!

One box constructed...look at that proud smile!

All along the fence I carefully snipped the roots, but still we lined the box with cardboard and probably won't plant until fall...I half expect the battle to continue, that patch was there when I moved in 14 years ago, it's the last of the invasives in my yard! Yea!

After the second box is constructed it was time for the classic prairie wagon hoops.

We just got the 10ft. 1/2 inch thin plastic ones...they are sturdy but bend easily enough...I picked the stuff and place and got to do all the design/bossing around but loving spouse wielded the power tools on this project!

It takes two to get it done quickly...not two Boston Terrorists, though they seem to approve.

So satisfying to see it all come together...

And this is what it looked like this morning:

I honestly didn't think we'd finish that fast, or we would have gotten soil! Hmmm, soil. Last time we used Natural Gardener, I think it's time to give Geo Growers a try!

I hope you all are having a wonderfully productive spring and a very happy equinox to you all,

Happy Gardening!

Bloom Day March 2011

What a beautiful today. 64, light breeze and sunny. I hope you all are having a wonder-filled bloom day, Thanks to Carol of May Dreams Gardens for hosting GBBD and being the inspiration behind the sharing. Welcome to my zone 8b garden in the heart of Austin, Texas, in the tenth year of my marraige to the love of my life, in this hear yard...Thanks for stopping by.

Rosemary and my favorite "hell zone" plant, hymenoxis.

I get so excited just before the buckeye bursts into coral blooms for a short visit.

Hello Martha Gonzales, the first rose to bloom this spring.

We are hoping for a beautiful crop of apricots due to the snowflake blossoms just fading now.

Oh peaches, you will be welcomed freshness in my morning yogurt smoothie, and Margaritas.

The Mountain Laurel in her gorgeous hues has perfumed my front yard like a sweaty palm holding purple Sweet-Tarts...that's what it smells like to me anyway.

By this afternoon, the cross-vine had opened a few of her flashy blossoms...she's calling to the hummingbirds, but we haven't seen one...yet.

Oh Lady Banksia, you are my buttery-popcorn favorite cheer right now...but you are oh so hard to photograph in all your showering delights

Old Blush, this is the first blossom, but this afternoon...over a dozen opened up.

Lady Banksia

It just doesn't translate...she's anchored the West side of the house.

Terrible photo, I know...but both figs are lookin' great...and this is after a transplant!

The simplicity of the arugula flower...the remaining plant from the entire winter garden, lost this year to weather...first time ever in my yard.

Loriapetilum or Fringe flower, from the Hazel family...so, since I have a new neice named Hazel...this is her flower and I'm reminded of her sweet spark when I see it.

Well..here's the rest of my list:

Iris

Autumn Sage

Oxalis

Spider Wort

Carolina Jesamine

Fernleaf Verbena

Daffodil

The more exciting things in my garden have to do with what made it through the winter without help. I didn't pamper, other than watering thoroughly before the worst of the freezes and pushing the leaves up around the base of things. I brought my house plants in, but that was really it and I thought I'd lose more. The most surprising things that are coming back are the brugmansia and the Philappine Violet...I just figured they'd had enough. Part of being saved has to do with the many microclimates in a dense suburban yard and

enriched soil...which I am really bad at keeping up with.

I hope everything is magical in your yard!

Happy Gardening!

Love in the Garden

Me and Greg

So, this is Greg and I standing in front of our Mountain Laurel that we planted on this day, ten years ago March 11, 2001...it was a Sunday back then. After we planted the tree, we went to Stubb's Gospel Brunch with our closest friends and family, came home and got married in the backyard.

That's how slow a Mountain Laurel grows.

I love you sweetheart,

Happy Anniversary and Happy Gardening!

March! Already?

Spring onions and compost tea.

Well, it's obvious that I've NOT been blogging, but I have been doing a lot of gardening...even though my goal is to (un)garden in order to help the upcoming renters along...but it's hard, really hard when the weather is nothing short of perfical and that mesmerizing green glow of the new sprout is shining through the setting sun with that flash of faerie dust that makes you think that winter was all a dream. I stood fast this winter, didn't pamper, cover, in other words...prepared for the worst and I lost big time. I am so very sorry that I didn't bring in my 1o year old Stag Fern, RIP you beautiful weirdness...long gone also are ALL my hanging plants...how on earth could they have made it? So, I have lots of hanging baskets if any of you are in the market. I just can't be bothered. The teens are doing their best to drive me insane and I know that we are leaving so I send a metaphorical kiss to everything I pass...I've become an urban farmer, thinking only of what I can eat...and what's tough enough to survive.

Still, I tarry. Pruning everything..as if a renter will? Luxuriating in the miracle of return...why does it mystify so? Something deep inside us all must scream...see you didn't kill me, life goes on! The soul of a gardener cannot be still. Even when I try to take steps away...I can't. Gardening is an addiction to life, the cure.

Happy Gardening!

My Gooey Valentine Garden

I tried to get excited about cleaning the garden yesterday...but just couldn't bring myself to give up a perfect sun-lubber day...and seriously, I didn't have the stomach to face the goooooo.

Goodbye beautiful plants...that I've had for many years....

I can't believe that plants, south facing, in a rock bed, against the house...for Pete's sake, that have never succumbed to the cold...have meeeellllted!!!!

The Peruvian Lilly was knee-high just two months ago....

Lovely African succulents...drained, flat...smoooosh.

More gooo...it just goes on...

3 year old Bulbine, that made it through last winter...remember "the coldest winter on record since the 50's"...sure.

Guess what this is?

Looks kinda like my elbows this year...crinkle, crack, split...

I've nursed this gelatinous bulb for 3 long years...goodbye you beautiful blob of jelly.

See the sun glowing through? Not the way this former forest green zebra plant presented her pattern.

Sago was lost last year for the first time, and ohhhhh, here you go again! Seriously...I have doubts.

The browns of winter...beyond the norm.

Day Lilly...I'm soooo sorry.

No Kale for me!

Wait, is that spring green in the midst of all this terror?

Life!

The winter birds don't seem to mind...thistle please!

So, lesson learned. Texas is changing. 13 years of moderate winters are clearly over. I have to get serious about saving things, even though I'm in the middle of the city...even plants up against my house have not been able to take Global Warming. It's real. It's here. Thank goodness for hard scape and yard art. We are blessed, aren't we? Let's not mess it up.

Happy Gardening.

Petin and Persimmons

Howdy! It's been awhile, and I had fully intended to write a "November Update" but a world of sickness this Autumn has sort of kicked me in the lungs and left me wheezing on the sofa watching the colors change from inside. Super spouse has been keeping the winter greens alive and mother nature has been doing her part...so, what am I good for?

Gathering peppers, chili petin.
I added 5 of these babies to some soup the other day and nearly burned my tongue out of my mouth! Jeebus. They are destined to become infused oils for "Festivus" gifts.

Looks like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree doesn't it? It's our sweet fuyu persimmon just before I relieved her of fruit.

First year's December bounty! We have 4 chili petin and one persimmon tree. My Mom made persimmon pudding for Thanksgiving from the local ones in Kansas, which are tiny by comparison, but very tasty. Mine are destined to be cut into Marinara sauce for spicy Northern Italian pasta dishes this winter. They are currently softening up in the kitchen.

Both of these plants are an excellent addition to your central Texas Garden. How ever you want to call your "bird pepper" petin or pequin...there is a difference you know, one being round vs. pear shaped, and orange vs. red...both come from the Family-Solanaceae, Genus-capiscum
both grow wild and often along fence lines, which is why they are commonly known as "bird-pepper," believing that they had to pass through a bird to germinate...which isn't true. But, if you have it in your garden and watch closely, you'll see that the birds fight over them! They are colorful and draught tolerant and mighty tasty! I've found some interesting suggestions: mash up a few and stir them into scrambled eggs, add 3-5 in your crock-pot with beans, torture foul mouthed children...while at the same time teaching them a valuable lesson,

don't eat red berries!

They rate 30,000 Scoville Units of heat and WILL bring tears to the eyes, so be sure to wear gloves when handling.

I also can't sing the praises of the fuyu enough! They are, as far as I know...fairly disease free and uber low maintenance! Some folks say they are the best fresh persimmon, but I prefer the cooked flavor with garlic and oregano...it's very complex and unique. Try it!

I guess, that's what I'm good for...bossing the family around and doing something with the stuff we grow!

Happy Gardening!

Three For Thursday

Look who we discovered, Randy and I while having a Bourbon on a perfect November night...

Otus Asio, Eastern Screech Owl

Isn't it sweet? The 2009 class of the Travis County Master Naturalists built boxes to be distributed around town...I brought several cedar boards from my old fence to recycle and we pulled the pattern off the internet.

It's been just over a year! He woke up tonight around 5:20 and came up to watch over our yard.

Wildlife Habitat...check!

By the way, birders...you've got 2 days to sign up for the Winter Bird Watch through the Cornell Orinthology Lab...check out this site: http://store.birds.cornell.edu/Project_FeederWatch_s/42.htm

Thanks to The Violet Fern for the suggestion!

Happy Gardening!

Photos by my daughter Autumn Kervella