Nature Along the El Camino Real
Blog of the El Camino Real Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists, Milam County, Texas
by Donna Lewis
Hello my friends, it’s been awhile since I posted a blog.
So, yesterday I took my camera out for a short walk and look what I saw!
Great things to make me happy. Nature is a great healer.
So remember who we garden and work for.
[We are so glad to see Donna back to posting! Welcome!]
by Catherine Johnson
On the way home from Washington-on-the Brazos, a group of Master Naturalists stopped by to visit the Antique Rose Emporium garden, which was stunning. The new owners are continuing to add structures, add educational programs, and partner with NPSOT to stock many native plants.
One of the caretakers told of how they created a continuous flowing “creek” around the Cypress trees. Available outdoor seating and refreshments help provide a peaceful experience in a Shire-like setting.
Happy May Day! Celebrate with flowers!
By Carolyn Henderson
Turks Caps are easy to grow from the little red apple-looking seed pods they put out in late fall. I have verified that through an experiment I decided to undertake last December 2022.
I harvested the seed pods from a very large, pink Turks Cap at the El Camino Real Master Naturalist Wildscape at the Bird and Bee Farm on FM 334 with the hope of growing some in my yard. Turks Caps naturally have a vivid red flower. These had been modified to bloom a light pink. The one at the wildscapesits right next to an even bigger Red Turks Cap.
I googled how to process the seed pods. It was recommended to put them in the refrigerator whole until late February or early March. In late February of 2023, I then did as recommended and removed the seeds from the red pod. Each pod produced quite a few seeds. I planted 16 of them in seed starter packs. I should add that I also took a baby plant from the Pink Turks Cap and put it in a pot at the same time I took the seed pods. I planted one full pod in the flower bed where I intended to put all of them. It is a heavily shaded bed which Turks Caps are known to like. The potted one was getting 6 hours of sun a day.
All of them grew. The potted one grew very tall since it had a head start, I think, and bloomed a lot. Butterflies and bees are very fond of the blooms. I moved the starter plants to a flower bed in my front yard in late March. The full pod plant grew at a faster pace than the seeded plants, but all of them did grow. They grew the most in the shadiest part of the bed.
The whole pod plant bloomed first of the ones in the bed. About half of the others bloomed in the fall. The blooms were all pink – at first. To my surprise, I went to water them one day, and one in the shadiest part of the bed was also blooming red at the same time it was blooming pink. The potted plant had pink blooms throughout the season. The others native gene pool came through. It would appear that they can be planted in any manner I tried.
All of them were still alive up to the freeze. I fully expect them to come back in the spring – even a small one my son weedeated down because he thought it was a weed. It re-sprouted quickly. What I really want to see is what color they bloom.
by Donna Lewis
On Christmas Eve I walked around outside after we had three inches of rain during the night. I wanted to see what everything looked like. The sun was out.
I found a little Black Oil Sunflower blooming that had been dropped by a bird. It was right beside one of my bird feeders. Nothing else blooming but that little flower.
Of course, the warm weather and rain has made many Gulf Coast Fritillaries wake up from their winter nap too early. But this one little flower held the hope of a much-needed sip of nectar.
The flies and bees were also trying to be first in line for a drink. I wish I had more for them.
Maybe they will be lucky and find more flowers in the fields around our home.
It is always amazing to see nature at work. Who are you gardening for?
by Donna Lewis
Sunday, November 12
Yes, it’s misting and chilly outside this morning. The trees love it.
The holidays are close and there is excitement in the air.
There are also some little gems still out in the garden that are so beautiful. Soon, they too will slip slowly into their winter nap.
Here are some of the gems: a Snailseed vine, a water bowl for the dragonflies, raindrops on a pipevine, a Pink Salvia, a Mexican Petunia, some Yellow Bells, and a rare Salamander.
Go outside and find all the treasures of Mother Nature. She is always there for us to see, and make us feel better.
Remember who you garden for.
