May 30 , 2023
Swinging into Summer
Whoa , where did May go ? The twenty-four hours absolutely vanished as CTG hit the route ! On one stop , we plume up with John Hart Asher in Travis Heights where hisBlackland Collaborativeproject trip the light fantastic into its first natural spring . Clouds darted in and out as manager Ed Fuentes and spellbind Steve Maedl and I trailed John Hart through the prairie , where pot and wildflower provide habitat for birdie , pollinators , and other wildlife against a sensible horizon where we depend 17 expression cranes . Early spring flower are going to seed , so we basked in mid - to - tardy time of year treasures include dreamy daisy - alike American basketflower and whorled - flush bee balm ( Monarda citriodora ) , often called lemon tree mint or lemon tree Monarda citriodora . These annuals should reseed next year to modify the tapestry their own way!Annual clasping coneflower dominated some views on this Clarence Day , but other - to - tardy summer lovers were elbowing in . This one ’s stretch disk flowers resemble a velvet pincushion , a marvel called fasciation , an abnormal activity of a plant ’s growing tip that can lead to this atypical shape . On the run , I spot a hummingbird common snowberry clearwing moth moving even faster onbee balm ‘ Peter ’s Purple’rag mop flowers . This one ’s a cross between nativeMonarda fistulosaandM. bartlettii , aboriginal to Mexico . Like all Monardas , it ’s a hit with all kinds of bees and genuine hummingbirds . In a minute striptease along my family , Salvia microphylla‘La Trinidad Pink ’ unite ‘ Peter ’s Purple ’ ( among others ) to entice hummingbirds and butterflies . One author credits Yucca Do nursery ( now closed ) for introducing it from Mexico . I ’ve had this deciduous perennial since 2009 , so it ’s seen the good and speculative of Texas weather condition . I ’ve got three different motley in deviate sunlight : morning , afternoon , and a snatch of both . I cut it back hard in late February when I do all the aster in this seam . It helps to clean up it up a bit in June to produce more flowers subsequently . My garden ’s been through so many droughts that it yawn and takes it in stride . But it ’s gleeful when even a bit of rain comes topple down . ‘ Pam ’s Pink ’ turk ’s cap grow at least 2 ’ when my back was turned , and already , it ’s pump out felicitous meals for hummingbirds and butterflies . Silvery - leafedDicliptera suberecta — normally called Uruguayan firecracker plant — will before long entice the same crowd with flaming vasiform efflorescence . Inland ocean oats is on overdrive in this timberland ’s edge border along the fencing .
New video recording next week!We head to New Braunfels where Kathleen Scott forge around HOA rule to make a native plant garden from excoriation . See you then , Linda
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