Immigrants have come to the El Camino Real Wildscape, and no one knows how they arrived. A few bright red Common Poppies and what appears to be some type of Larkspur have produced vivid early blooms in one bed of the wildscape.
Manager Catherine Johnson assures me that no one planted either of those to her knowledge. Seeds of them could have been in the dirt of other plants bought and planted, or perhaps a bird carried a seed and dropped it off on its way through the area.
The Larkspur is a little puzzling because no one is sure what it really is – not even iNaturalist. When I tried to identify there, it said it was pretty sure it’s a Larkspur, but wasn’t sure which one. It looks most like a Forked Larkspur which is spottily found across the United States, but that one is mostly found in Western Europe. If you know the identification, let me know.
The rooster in the picture showed up because he took his job too seriously at his prior home. I’m told he will be travelling on down the road soon. He is pretty, though.
It was too cold for most bees and butterflies, but a few did crawl around. One red wasp was making a nest on a gardening tool in the decorative mailbox storage. The awning is repaired, and the Malabar Spinach is beginning to grow again.
A few Master Naturalists or those soon to be certified showed up to work on the place. Some pulled up weeds, while another dug up overgrown sages, and planted something else. The sages went home with members to be planted in their gardens. What is in overgrown abundance is Sunflowers. If you want some, they are all over the wildscape.
A week of warm weather should have many things blooming soon.
The last few months have been busy with ice storms, native plant nursery tours and work at our chapter’s Milam Wildscape.
The tour guides Mandy and Brandon taught us about wholesale plant operations and we were able to view many beautiful Texas native plants. The interest in using natives in landscaping is increasing and both businesses are expanding.
Trip to Joss Nursery
Volunteers at our Wildscape have been working to prepare for upcoming educational programs and tours. Hope to see you there.
Wildscape Work
Thank you to Gary Johnson for driving us to Native Texas Nursery and to Patricia Coombs for taking pictures at Joss Nursery.
A Turks Cap with pink flowers was planted at the El Camino Real Master Naturalist Wildscape last year. Due to its prolific growth, which was over six feet tall and wide, and it being covered in many pink flowers, it was the wonder of the season, including with me.
I was determined to grow some myself! Catherine Johnson, site manager, felt compelled to give me a “baby” plant that had sprouted up under the big plant just in case my attempt to grow some from seeds didn’t pan out. I should point out that a few “baby plants” of another species had not made it at my house.
One of the reasons I really liked this plant was that it likes shade. It can grow large even if it’s in the shade most of the day. My front yard was covered in shade all day long due to some very tall and old Live Oaks that run across my front yard. Notice I said “was.” It is not quite as covered now. The freeze/ice of 2021 and freeze/lots of ice of 2023 has severely pruned those trees to the point of blue sky now being visible when one looks up.
I have planted a few other things from the Wildscape that are alleged to be shade tolerant, and they are to a degree, but they are stunted in growth by too much shade. A Flame Acanthus reached about 12 inches tall and finally put on two blooms last year. This pink-flowered Turks Cap was in shade for a good part of the day, and it grew like crazy. It did get chicken poop fertilizer, so that probably helped.
So, I took about 10 of the small, red apple-looking seed pods late last fall. I did some research on how to grow them from seeds and proceeded to try all versions. There were basically three different methods suggested by different people. First, it was suggested to stick the whole seed pod in the ground. I did two in that manner. I put one in the ground and one in a small potting container. Neither has come up yet.
Second, it was suggested to open the seed pods, remove the seeds and clean them of any of the pod then dry them in the sun. After the drying, it was suggested to pot them in very small containers and put them in the sun. I did eight in this manner. I started them inside in a window that doesn’t get much sun. The weather was staying pretty moderate, so I moved them outside. I watered them periodically, and left them out during the freeze. Nothing has sprouted yet.
Third, follow the cleaning advice in the second version, then put them in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for the duration of winter. I used a zip lock bag. Plant them in late February or early March. Two weeks ago, I purchased a container made for starting seeds that would fit on my kitchen window – the only window that is accessible and gets several hours of sun in my house. I took some dirt from the empty flower bed where I intend to plant them if they grow and planted them. I dropped several seeds into each section of the container. I had seeds left, too. This window is in my kitchen, so I’m paying close attention to them.
My first positive sign of growth was the “baby plant” that I put in a large flowerpot last year. It is back! I should note that it is in a sunnier area.
My eureka moment came on Tuesday this week! One of the refrigerator seeds has sprouted. I excitedly yelled “Yea!”, which caused my son to come into the room to see what was wrong with me. He reminded me that I had not invented something new. But I had grown it from a refrigerated seed.
I’m hoping it really will like all the tree shade in my front yard.
This little beauty was traveling fast across our back pasture. It took me about 45 minutes to catch up with him to get a photo. I am not fast anymore.
This is a male Tiger Swallowtail. All the males in this species are yellow. The females can be yellow or black. his second color form is called dimorphic coloration.
These guys are fast. If you sneak up behind them while they are on a flower you can get a photo.
Right now, there is nothing flowering in my garden. He was on a Hen-bit in the pasture. Not much nectar anywhere right now. One of the flowers they like that is easy to grow are Coneflowers. I think the ones in my garden are still underground. I hope this guy can survive until more flowers are up.
The Swallowtail is known to gather at mud puddles sipping the salts and minerals they need for reproduction. When the caterpillar first appears, it looks like bird droppings. Icky, but helpful in evading predators. We will probably not see their chrysalis because they lay their eggs in treetops. I am just not tall enough…
This butterfly is so beautiful as it flows across the pasture.
Right now, the butterflies of all kinds are waking up, so keep an eye out for them.
Just when the caterpillar thought its world was over…it became a butterfly.
The El Camino Real Texas Master Naturalist training class was treated to a great program about bugs by Wizzie Brown, entomologist for TAMU AgriLife Extension in Travis County. Even the long-time members learned many new facts about Texas bugs. Ms. Brown’s favorite bug is a roach. That happens to be my least favorite. I’ve attached the ways to connect with her.
The Travis County AgriLife Extension office does blogs, programs, and YouTube posts about all things Texas nature. Many of these will give you AT hours while enthralling your interest in nature. If you email Ms. Brown, you can get on the email list that gets everyone notified of what is available. Kathy Lester, student trainer, emailed all the PowerPoint screens to everyone. The talk was even more informative.
Meeting in progress
At our regular meeting, March 9, Debbi Harris will teach us how to compost with worms.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 