Nature Along the El Camino Real
Blog of the El Camino Real Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists, Milam County, Texas
by Catherine Johnson
I was weed-eating and discovered the tiniest baby snakes.
The tail was cut on one, but it seemed to be able to survive. They could not move very far, so I think they were just born.
Where was Mom!?
I found a jar and got them in it. Hubby drove me to a creek for release.
Below are photos of them.
by Donna Lewis
The summer heat and dry conditions make us wonder… what the heck can I plant that will help the hummingbirds and the butterflies? And of course, it has to be something that is easy to take care of.
I have found that the Coral Honeysuckle Vine and the Flame Acanthus bush fit the bill. Both are visited by butterflies and hummers. A two-for-one deal.
The Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a climbing vine that can also grow as a ground cover. It is ever blooming in some years. It likes sandy loams, clay, and poor soils.
How much better can it get? You can grow it in the full sun or part shade. It goes great on an arbor or on a fence like I have it.
By the way, this is not the invasive Japanese Honeysuckle.
The next plant that loves our summers is the Flame Acanthus bush (Anisacanthus quadrifidus). It’s extremely drought tolerant , gets no diseases, and is easy to grow. Again both hummers and butterflies like it.
This bush will die down in the winter. Cut it back in the spring before it starts to green up.
Both of these are great plants for hot and dry conditions. They need no fertilizers and little water once established.
Be adaptable and watch what your garden and wildlife like. Then your garden will be successful in an ever changing world.
I hope you will always see the wonder and beauty in nature.
by Eric Neubauer
I’ve been watching a large population of Hogna wolf spiders growing up on my property since winter. I’ve submitted photographs to both iNaturalist and BugGuide, and people there don’t hesitate to confirm them all as Hogna antelucana.
Nevertheless, I found I can easily sort them into two groups from a fairly young age on. The markings on this species are quite variable in general, but one reliable difference between the two groups is in a lightly colored vee shape near the back of the head. The vee points toward the back and is open at about a 35 degree angle on one type and is pinched shut on the other.
There are other small differences, but they are harder to define and less consistent.
At first I thought it might be a case of sexual dimmorphism, but lately I think there may be two different species.
The third example has the open vee, hard to see because the spider is looking up, and is very dark with none of the warmer tones these spiders usually have. It is the only one like that I’ve seen and perhaps lacks the ability to produce an orangish pigment.
It is one of several mysteries to keeping life interesting.
by Lisa Milewski
Members of our chapter have been participating in a Monarch Watch Milkweed Project, where we each try to grow some plants and carefully monitor them. Mine don’t seem to be growing as well as some of the others’ plants. Maybe I’m over-thinking!
I picked up the plants on May 2. They are antelope horns (Asperula).
I planted them on May 4 in a raised bed garden (formerly my vegetable herb garden that didn’t do well since I am still learning how to get a green thumb.J However, I left the fern leaf dill for the black swallowtail caterpillars which love them are doing well.
They are in mixed soil (1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite).
Since the planting, I have tracked the rainfall and dates I hand watered the plants. I take photos of them every week for my logbook. Here are the most recent pictures:
I’m going to try to add the grass clippings around and not water too much, maybe? Wish me luck.
I told the people at last week’s chapter meeting about Annie the red-bellied woodpecker, who has been hanging around the food pantry in the church building in Hutto where I do a lot of my volunteer work.
We’re hoping to discourage her from pecking away at the wooden cross on the property, but not chase her away entirely. I have really enjoyed watching Annie. These pictures are taken through a dirty window, but you can see her pretty well!
by Catherine Johnson
Last weekend, Bird and Bee Farm reopened again after selling out twice. A diversity of customers from Houston, Dallas and surrounding counties came, all practicing safety rules.
Some plants were for sale, while the Master Naturalist table gave away nature books donated by Donna Lewis as well as nature brochures.
The highlight for me was giving the first tours of the Milam Wildscape.
One gentleman said the giant hibiscus was the prettiest flower he had ever seen. A Houston firefighter is coming back in the fall for native plants from the garden.
I will send out notices on future events and the next quail release. Enjoy some more photos from around the garden, until next time!
Remember when we released quail into the rehabilitated prairie area? They must be doing well, because we found eggs!
Nature Along the El Camino Real 