May 5 , 2021
We Fought the Zone and Native Plants Won!
For the fun of it , I pulled out my garden journal annotate “ Christmas 1999 , ” a gift from an Austin PBS colleague . My first debut : “ 6 calendar month without pelting . ” Then on January 19 , 2000 : “ Broke record 90 ° since 1953 . ” In July , after it strike 107 ° , Austin ( and other communities ) imposed required water confinement for the first time in my adulthood . My aboriginal perennial coneflowers go along with “ whatever , ” welcoming my garden ’s first Monarch butterfly stroke this week . As temperatures climbed every year , we started pushing geographical zone , planting citrus , sago ribbon , non - aboriginal succulent , and various tropicals that did exquisitely for a long time . We fought the zone ( USDA Zone 8) until the zone fought back in winter 2011 and 2017 . We suffered loss and optimistically try again .
I sure did with bound - fragrant star jasmine vine , and it make ! Until February 2021 . Yes , it ’s come back from the roots , but it may be time to take the mite and move on . In 2017 , I drop off some firecracker fern ( Russeliasp . ) , but the one that made it are jump back fast from established roots next room access to crinum lily . aboriginal to Mexico and Guatemala , their fiery , tubular flower are surefire hummingbird beacons . Hummingbirds and insect pollinators already discoveredSalvia microphylla‘La Trinidad Pink ’ , another with roots in Mexico that did n’t mind the deep halt . It become morning and afternoon sun . Salvia ‘ Silke ’s Dream ’ is a crossing betweenS. microphyllaandS. darcyi . This one get forenoon sunshine and a bit of afternoon sun . This one and all microphyllas benefit from vigorous trimming in winter , pruning after spring ’s flower flush , and even more pruning in recent summertime if we get rain . My bay laurel had towered over the shed since I ’d been negligent about pruning . After the freeze , I hired out to chainsaw it down to greenish ontogenesis and get it off the roof . It ’s take a hop so fast that I consecrate — and you have it in authorship — that I ’ll be honorable about keep up with it . Native Barbados cherry is returning slowly , but it wo n’t take long to fulfill out . Silver bush germanders took a hit , but mine are coming along just fine . They really needed mold anyway ! To the left , ligularia bounced back fine . To the right , sparkler sedge is still thinking about things . But , aboriginal flora danced through February ’s blast . Winecup blossomed the best in years , while native recurrent Zexmenia ( now classified as a Wedelia ) jump in . They crowd the path partake with native inland sea oats and every bit durable non - native Jerusalem sage and daylily lean over to join the party . Zexmenia loves dry time , sow generously , even to this blazing hot afternoon curb bed . Many pollinator love it , but this bee gets extra point for hanging on during an specially up-and-coming breeze . perchance it was the same bee atop native perennial Achillea millefolium until I showed up and it wanted me to buzz off . evergreen plant yarrow and summertime - sleeping pink evening primrose continue the pollinator highway in a neighbour ’s front grounds . Native roughleaf dogwood looks good than ever as a chain link fence screen , entice lots of pollinator to those flossy flowers . This stretch against a neighbour ’s yard get high - contrast morning and good afternoon sun for a few minute each round of drinks . Underneath , native evergreen White avens ( Geum canadense ) populates this forest edge blot . Even with little irrigation in summertime , it remains evergreen for me . In the same sun / shadowiness conditions , native chile pequin promises hot fruit this summertime . Never have I lost one to freeze out , but now I know that it can deal 9 ° for me . At theWildflower Center’sfall cut-rate sale , I ’d nabbed a few more Texas bluegrass ( Poa arachnifera ) that stay green under the blow . Although tiny , they celebrated their new constantly house . Native snake herb ( Dyschoriste linearis ) edge many of my bed that alternate shade with intense sunlight . I feared its survival of the fittest , but their roots are show and it pump back tight . This one spreads with vigor , which is just what I want for an easy care groundcover . Its spring lavender blossom are tiny to attract humble pollinators . In another seam it companions withMexico - aboriginal mountain pea plant ( Orbexilum sp.).Both are drought - tough evergreens that spread with muscularity . NOW , to celebrate our aboriginal plants , here ’s an event you do n’t require to miss on May 13 ! The Wildflower Center andAustin Classical Guitarhave cooperate in an online multimedia system presentation titled “ Flowers of Life . ” Brazilian player , composer and improviser Gabriel Santiago link up Director of Horticulture Andrea DeLong - Amaya who will read take texts , including from Lady Bird Johnson . It ’s innocent but you must show . Thanks for stopping by ! Linda
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