The Really, Really Special… Plain Old H20

If you live away from the lake, as many of us on the “other side” of 306 do, the terrain is rocky and dry. No water this time of year, even in the hidden recesses of Suche Creek (ok, so we had some hurricane leftovers). Cracks in the soil and brown stubble cover the fields.

What can we do to attract wildlife to our yards and help them through the hot summer months? Water. It’s that simple. Doesn’thave to be large and impressive. A small pond or birdbath will do. The only requirements are that it be clean and permanent, so when the animals and birds come looking, the water source is reliable and constant. Soon after you fill it, ferns and other aquatic plants appear. Moss grows on the rocks. Water skippers and dragonflies and honeybees stop in for a drink.

Our first water feature was a hollowed out rock with a drip line on a timer. We put it in before our house was finished, and for 5 years we’ve looked out our window to see: foxes, turkeys, a hawk bathing, raccoons, porcupines, deer, frogs, water skippers, dragonflies, one very cute small Texas Ribbon Snake, Cedar Waxwings, robins, Painted Buntings, Summer Tanagers, and the list goes on. If you don’t do anything else outside during the entire month of July, build a small, permanent water source.

Our animal friends will love you for it!

The Bad….Sorghum halepense ~ Johnson Grass

You’ve seen it. Sticking up its tasseled head above the native grasses along the roadsides, or out in our back yards. This very aggressive weedy species is found throughout much of Texas. One of the largest grasses, it can reach 6 feet tall. The plant flowers from June to November and produces a natural toxin from its root system that prevents other plants from growing close to it, so it effectively serves as an “herbicide” to the competition. Refer to these web sites for control information:

http://www.texasinvasives.org/invasives_database/detail.php?symbol=SOHA

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/downloads/invasiveplants.pdf

It’s July. It’s hot. All our plants are hunkered down, wilting in the afternoon, barely hanging on waiting for cooler weather. But what can we grow in our gardens that laughs at the heat and loves to show off all summer long?

The Good...Caesalpinia pulcherrima

With common names of Poinciana, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Pride of Barbados and Red Bird of Paradise, this heat loving plant draws oohs and aahs from all who see it. This summer-friendly addition to our gardens is available in local nurseries (I’ve even seen it at Home Depot!), but better yet, is very easily started from seed. Find the hottest, sunniest spot in your yard... seriously.

This plant does poorly in shade, gets leggy and bloom is reduced. I start mine by scooping out a shallow depression in the soil and scattering in 8-10 seeds, covered lightly by soil. A small coffee can of water once a day, and you will see sprouts in about a week. The plants in my yard grow at least three feet or more every summer. They freeze to the ground in winter, but not to worry. A layer of mulch protects them. All mine came back this year and if they survived our 10 degree winter, they will survive anything. Along about the middle of May start looking for new growth, and depending on our spring weather, they should sprout thru the mulch by the end of May. Collect seeds from the large pods that will form in late summer, and you will have a ready supply to share with all your neighbors! A more cold-tolerant, yellow-flowered cultivar is available. Caesalpinia gilliesii is a fave of Viv’s, my gardening neighbor up the street. Her yellow variety sprouted up much earlier this spring than my reds. OK, she gave me some seed so I don’t have to wait so long. Whichever you choose, you CAN’T GO WRONG! Well, the one thing you can do wrong is over-watering. Don’t do that. These plants are naturalized in Texas in spots where there is no water other than that from the skies. Stick one of these in the ground this summer & be happy!

http://www.pcmg-texas.org/pride_of_barbados.pdf