January 7 , 2021
Why Not To Tidy Up Winter Too Soon
wintertime ’s so momentaneous in Central Texas that I revel in its meek temperatures and serene beauty that invites self-contemplation . On a pass to dilute mentally and physically , I pause at the Mueller Southwest Greenway memory pool . In the monstrance garden , aboriginal Lindheimer muhly grasses fluttered breeze - catching flowery wand against diverse structural companions like prickly pear tree . Austin sculptorChris Levack’selevating artwork draws engagement with bordering industrial plant and their seasonal evolution that attract wildlife of all kinds across the calendar . I even watched a goldfinch sip rainwater in a turned off drinking jet river basin after lunch on ejaculate heads!HisPollen Grainsculpture symbolise a single cactus pollen , magnify in metallic element to symbolize the importance of every efflorescence — however bantam — to hold up wildlife , our gardens , and our food supply . Perhaps birds already divest the fruits from aboriginal drouth - elusive Virginia creeper vine , but its rich fall semblance is a kickshaw for us . Yes indeed , this one gets confused with poison common ivy , but Virginia creeper has leave-taking of five and not of three!So , back at place in our garden , rather than rushing to tidy up , permit ’s appreciate our wintry look that feed and shelter the wildlife that squat down in leaves and our clip-clop grasses . We ’ve dumbfound set of prison term to refine with the pruners ! Since Sunday ’s my only garden project day , I spread out my cleanup / pruning task through late March . well-fixed on the back and genu , too . . .
I sure ca n’t dissent open a few seed heads to marvel at their power - packed contents , and I reckon you ca n’t either . I ’ve got plenty of aster come for small birdie . After they ’re rob clean , I ’ll cut the stems to the land . We ’ll see the light-green rosettes soon and can divide them then . For now , I ’ll get everybody savor goldenrod ’s fuzzy seed heads before clipping them to land storey . My K did n’t get cold enough for my native frost-weed ( Verbesina virginica ) to put on an ice sculpture show . I wish it anyway for its magniloquent , back - of - moulding height in wry shade where its fall flowers court migrating and resident pollinator . Now , birds can munch its bristly seed head . I’ll leave the last of the chile pequin fruits for the bird and whatever mammal wants a spicy bite . When I make out them back in former February , I ’ll throw away remaining fruit to other shady spots . The ace I scattered last winter apace sprouted new plant in areas that seldom get watered . aboriginal coralberry ( Symphoricarpos orbiculatus ) , a shrub that accepts dry shade , celebrate the bright lavender feel going now that American beautyberry ’s wasteland . I’ll be well-chosen if razzing strip my plants to fill their wintertime belly . For now , since we lucked into rain at last , I ’ll take vantage of the softer soil to pull out tree diagram seedlings . Last weekend , I finally got around to a job I ’ve put off too long : digging up some oxblood lily that had gotten lost in grown - up perennials and moving them to more visible spots . Here ’s a must - read essay fromSouthern MeadowsGeorgia - based garden writer , Karin Ferminger Hicks:“Feeding Birds from the Winter Garden . ”
For CTG ’s pruning peak from Julie Clark ofStronger Than Dirt Gardens — an all - womanhood team — see to it out this segment . Here ’s another .
batch cedars are pollinating with gusto ! This week , the secondly - highest cedar pollen counts hit the weather record charts . If they ’re get to you see red , they ’re just doing their business like other trees , grasses , and wildflower . This week we repeatour timely interviewwith environmental planner and ecologistElizabeth McGreevywho explores their value to our holistic ecology , ways to assuage allergy , and how to prune for fire safety in her bookWanted ! Mountain Cedar : bushed and Alive!On tour in true cedar country , artistClaudia Reese of Cera - Mix Studiorespected her native plants when she built her compressed worldly concern house and rain collection , detail with her key signature mosaic designs .
Watch now !
Thanks for stopping by ! See you next week , Linda
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