Tree Corner: Anacacho Orchid

Spring is a constant surprise in the garden. A plant that died back to the ground over winter regenerating out of the soil, flower suddenly bursting into full bloom, various wildlife searching for food. One of spring's best shows is the anacacho orchid tree. This is a beautiful tree to plant in a small space, as it only gets 6-12 feet tall. These are native to canyons in west Texas. I see them everywhere in Austin, and they definitely do better in an area that is somewhat sheltered, although mine is on the northeast side of my house. It is in an area of the garden that gets some early morning sun, but shaded later in the day due to the large pecan trees and the house. I have it planted next to my screened porch, nestled in among several shrubby boneset shrubs. I can gaze at it from our kitchen window in the mornings as I make my breakfast, and it makes an attractive focal point in the garden. It's a relatively early spring bloomer. As I write this now, there are only two blooms left on the tree, but at its peak it was covered in delicate white blooms with a lovely scent for a good 4-6 weeks. 

Here are some close-ups of the blooms, which are a popular spot for many pollinators! I took these photos at the end of March. 

I also love the delicate little oval-shaped leaves. It has weathered the increasingly hot summers well, and has not really required any supplemental watering since it has gotten established. It's about 8 feet tall now, and I think I planted it about 6 years ago. The first few years it didn't get a lot of blooms, but now it's a sight to behold. 

Butterflies and pollinators!

 The butterflies are out in full force. I have observed the fritillaries flirting, and their caterpillars munching on the passionflower vine. The red admirals have come for the shrubby boneset and blue curls. It's a party in the garden. 

Fritillaries engaged in a mating dance

Gray Hairstreak on Shrubby Boneset

Red Admiral

Clouded Yellow on Blue Curls

Common Buckeye

Red Admiral on dill

Planting in shade

Shady Corner 

So I'm trying to create something in this little patch of the garden. 

This is a shady patch, and last season I planted an oak leaf hydrangea. I see these all over Austin, and they're gorgeous. Typically hydrangeas struggle mightily here, because they are just not suited for the hot dry summers. But oak leaf hydrangeas should do well in Central Texas in the shade, and the ones I've seen around town are beautiful. They don't do well in alkaline soils either. I've never had my soil tested, but we are clay-laden here in East Austin. This is a shady part of my property, north-facing. It was almost decimated in last summer's 105+ heat spell. I managed to keep it alive with regular waterings. This is what is popping up this spring: 

Just the one stalk, whereas last spring I had 4-5. These get to be 6-8 feet tall, with beautiful cone-shaped white flowers. I had plentiful flowers last year. I am praying I can get this one to be more established. Maybe this season it'll do better, since this is its second year here. 

Since it seems to need more moisture, I'm planting other moisture loving shade plants around it. I got gulf penstemon, wood fern (which I planted last fall, which died to the ground over winter, but is now popping back up), and once again, I planted another gold columbine. I have tried three separate spots in my garden with good shade, and every time columbine has died off. 

I also transplanted a Texas persimmon. I have another in my yard that has done really well; fast growing, producing lots of persimmon in the fall. They are now popping up everywhere. So I thought I'd give it a go in this spot, since they seem to do fine as an understory tree in a shady location. I am trying to create a bit of a privacy screen from my neighbors, whose window is just above our fence. I wasn't sure if it would survive transplanting, but I'm seeing little green leaves starting to pop out. 

Container plants

Container Plants on my Porch 

I managed to kill all my tropical container plants over the winter during our weeklong deep freeze in Austin. I wanted to replenish my supply, and add some greenery to my screened in porch. I promise to take better care of this batch of plants. 

In the front, birds nest fern, followed by monstera in the middle, and alocasia silver dragon in the back. 

I'm probably taking a risk with these plants. Upon further research, I'm finding that the silver dragon requires a lot of humidity, an environment like that of its native rainforest. This porch is north facing, with very little direct sunlight, mostly dappled light through the pecan trees in the backyard. But the humidity will be hard to come by in a few short weeks. March is a weird month in Texas; it lulls you into thinking you can have a rich, green, damp garden. I always have high hopes in March, only to have them dashed by late June. To monitor this plant for problems, I will keep an eye out for yellowing leaves (signaling root rot) and curling leaves (signaling too little moisture). I think I will place that pot on a tray with water, to help with ambient humidity. And I'll probably have to bring it inside during the hottest summer months, as well as the winter, naturally. 

Last year, I had good luck with a white bird of paradise. I'm aiming to get another one this year. I killed it in the freeze - it stayed out overnight in 20 degree temps and it was done for. I also killed my night-blooming cereus, which had been doing well. I was pretty upset with myself. 

I also have a coleus and a prayer plant. I was looking for plants that would do well in shady conditions. But I will have to take care about watering this year. 

                 

 

  

Spring Refresh

Updating the garden 

Spring weather means a run to the garden center. I spent an enjoyable morning at The Natural Gardener's, which is probably the best nursery in Austin, both in terms of wide selection and price. I visited with some friends and their children, and the nursery is fun for kids as well. They have goats and chickens, a labyrinth, and lots of display gardens.  

Sun-loving plants 

• White Yarrow - 2-3' tall, spread somewhat aggressively, good for cottage gardens. part shade or sun 
• Tropical Salvia - 2-4' tall, sun, part shade; 
• Pink Skullcap - Low water use, in fact recommended for a rock garden. Good for a border, as it only gets about 10" tall, spreads 12-18" wide. I might put this in my new garden bed that has some black dalea in it. It gets full sun, and needs a good border.

Shade: 

• Texas Betony - 3 ft tall, red flower, part shade, moist soil
• Gulf Penstemon - 18" tall, purple flower, sun or part shade, moist soil, clay. Will reseed. Good companion with yellow columbine. 
• A few more pigeonberry - working on a shady part of the front yard under a newly planted mountain laurel. 
• Coleus for planting in some of my pots. 

Herbs: 

I needed to fill in some more herbs. Also, I like to give over a few herbs to swallowtail caterpillars. I got a few basil plants, but I couldn't find dill or chives. 

Trees: 

I have been wanting to plant another tree in the backyard to screen my view of the alley with dumpsters directly behind my house. Also, after last summer I just want more shade. They had Mexican plums, which have beautiful fragrant white flowers in the spring. 20-25' tall. 

I have a Mexican buckeye which produces a lot of seeds and seedlings. I am attempting to transplant a few of the seedlings to a few other spots that can use more trees. I think they're fast growing once they get established. But, also, they'll probably require a lot of maintenance given how prolifically they reseed. They are multitrunked as well, and in some spots I'll probably need to do some pruning to keep them manageable, near the house. 

Can't wait to get these all in the ground! 

Jumping back in...

 I haven't posted in a loonnnnggggg time. 

Life has rolled along. Not tranquilly, exactly, but in a blur, like the landscape passing by through a train window. Moments of joy, boredom, anxiety, contentedness, sadness, all rolling past so quickly that I haven't really registered much of it. I suppose I'll have to reckon with it at some point. 

This is why I'm thankful for my garden. It's the work that makes me slow down, be present, meditate on the slow progress of a young tree putting out a new branch with a few small leaves, or the sudden burst of weeds after a thorough rainfall. 

So. 

I planted a lot of new things in October, once the rains returned after the brutal heat and and drought of the summer. It was a relief to see the rebirth of life in the garden as the fall asters and gregg's mistflower and the white mistflower all bloomed and attracted buzzy pollinators. I did not notice as many butterflies this year, however. A handful of monarchs, and almost no queens. 

That's it. What new story is nature weaving for us, amidst climate change and human turmoil? 

Sunset walk

One thing I have come to appreciate in Texas is the dedication to preserving native plants, especially the wildflowers that make the prairie so distinctive and beautiful.
The Mueller development (just south of my neighborhood) used to be the Austin Airport. When it moved further south some 20 years ago, the land sat vacant for a while, but was purchased with the goal of creating an ambitious housing development with mixed use. I feel so lucky to have purchased a home a  mile away, in easy biking distance (and occasionally a long walk) to restaurants, movie theaters, swimming pools, and beautiful parks. There are a series of water retention ponds on the southern end of the development that have been planted with native wildflowers and trees, and it's practically a little nature preserve with all the wonderful birds, insects, and wildlife attracted to the little area.