by Donna Lewis
Hi everyone, this is the last photo essay of the year for my pollinator garden here in Milam County.
As you may know, we have had one overnight freeze to date. That’s pretty unusual, but we all know there is no normal for the climate lately. We just go with what happens today. Always a surprise.
As you can see, the blanket of leaves is starting to cover my friend over. The winter blanket that Mother Earth provides her plant and animal creatures. Last year it looked sparser than it does this year. It was about 58 degrees today when I took these photos. That’s crispy for me.
I do not do cold well.
My garden is a living friend of mine. She looks different every year, an amazing feat by any standard. I have planted almost all native plants here in the 14 years or so before she was born. I am always anxious to see what she will look like in the next year.
Sometimes she has more yellow and orange highlights, or some years there is more purple and red. It depends on her mood.
The colors call to the butterflies and birds that come to it for everything they want: water, shelter, food, and nectar depending on their individual needs.
I do my best to learn as much as I can so I can provide what they come for. They also provide me with what I need. Peace and beauty.
By the way, “Sly,” one of my neighbors’ horses, is always waiting near the corner of the garden on his side for his daily apple or carrots. He likes peace also.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 