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. 

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.

Black Swallowtail Cats!

10-14-14 found four black swallowtail caterpillars on my fennel this morning. How can I not have noticed them sooner?

First Monarchs

First visiting Monarchs I've seen. There were two partaking of mistflower nectar. I'm so hopeful that in future years when the garden has expanded and matured we'll feed a lot of butterflies. 

Making the Butterfly Garden

Planted May, 2014:  Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', Italian Parsley, Bronze Fennel, Monarda 'Marshall's Delight', Coral Honeysuckle, Russian Sage 'Longin', Purple Coneflower, Texas Lantana, Lemon Verbena, Gregg's Mistflower, Yellow Honeysuckle.  Added in June: Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), and two Coneflowers 'Magnus'. Also added a limb that fell from the old pecan tree.