October 2015

August Survivors

I realized a little late that the sprinkler system wasn't giving plants enough water. I've planted drought-tolerant things, but even they need extra water the first two or three years. 

Still, against all odds, some things have done fine, and others are quickly improving with hand watering. 

Turkscap

American Beautyberry

Ruellia (Katie's)

Milkweed and Texas Lantana

Cosmos

Morning Glory

Daylily Stella d'Oro

Had to chop down the coneflowers. 

Coralberry did fine too. 

Looks Like Autumn

Pear trees are flaming, and the old Pecan tree is throwing pecans at us like crazy. A nice welcome for our first Autumn here.

Dec. 2

Old Elm in front. 

Phase 2

Phase Two landscaping is going in this month thanks to help from Steve Huddleston.

Flagstone edgings around all beds, front and back yard. Here we've added a bench and AC screen, planted a lot of Coralberry and Turk's Cap, a little Abelia Twist of Lime, a Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum and a Yaupon Holly.

Possumhaw Holly in foreground.

Another view of Yaupon, and vines all along fence ~ Coral Honeysuckle and Carolina Jessamine.

Other side of the Possumhaw, and view of other AC screen and new plantings by garage. (I moved the two clematis vines here from the intense heat of the west sideyard, and added white Salvia Greggii, some Snakeherb, and more Katie's Ruellia. Also moved Abelia Kaleidoscope here.)

An Abelia Edward Goucher (to eventually hide the gas meter) and Salvia Leucantha were added to butterfly garden. Compost bin and G's digging area moved slightly, and Coralberrys planted here too.

Holly ferns were moved from under old pecan tree and planted under Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum. Turk's Cap and Katie's Ruellia planted under pecan. Crossvine planted to grow on iron fence.

Millstone

Granddaddy's gristmill stone came to live at our house. 

First step to somewhere. 

And So We Begin ~ Back

May ~ planted butterfly garden with Abelia, parsley, fennel, Monarda, honeysuckle, Russian sage, coneflowers, lantana, lemon verbena, Gregg's mistflower, and butterfly weed:

June ~ Planted south side of studio/garage with Crossvine, white daylilies 'Royal Frosting,' small yellow daylilies 'Stella d'Oro,' lyreleaf sage, Katie's Ruellia:

Added Columbine and a pot with Autumn fern, English ivy and sweet potato vine:

Pot in early August: (lost fern to too much sun)

Also planted area under old pecan with 

 Dwarf Wax myrtles, pigeon berry, wood ferns, and Darrell had already planted Holly fern:

Planted a bed for the birds with Crossvine, American Beautyberry, Pigeonberry, and lyreleaf sage: