a report from the garden

I took a machete to the rose bushes today, chopping off new growth that popped out after the last freeze. It certainly didn't seem right, but I was told they would do so much better with a big cut back. Later I will fertilize and supplement as weather warms. I almost mowed all of them down last summer when it all got of hand in the heat and rain. I'm going to start again and try to keep up with it this year.

The sweet peas which I planted in pots this year look good, and I am hopeful about having at least one fragrant bouquet. They were a big favorite of my mom and grandmother, but mice and rabbits eat mine as fast as they grow when they are in the ground.

The pansies and violas a are making a comeback after the big freeze--planted in pots, too, because of the rodents.

sun dog

a cool morning after some rainy mild days

a sun dog formed in the icy crystals of a contrail

looking north

After several days of fiercely cold temps we have retuned to mild temperatures in the 70's.

The sun came out for a while and colored  the tan landscape.

Two white crowned sparrows, winter visitors, sang from the tree top near the deck and hooded mergansers swam in the pond.

I used the mild weather to cut back frozen perennials and plant sweet pea seeds.

baby, it’s cold outside!

3 days of this kind of weather after weeks of balmy 80's

elegant stinkhorns

The coral horns showed up distinctly across the winter brown and sparse grass on the gray overcast day. The smell identified it before I got close enough for the photo. Argh! A stink horn-- one of many species of fungi that have shown up in the few rainy days.

Copied from Wikipedia:

"Mutinus elegans, commonly known as the elegant stinkhorn, the dog stinkhorn, the headless stinkhorn, or the devil's dipstick, is a species of fungus in the Phallaceae family. A saprobic species, it is typically found growing on the ground singly or in small groups on woody debris or leaf litter, during summer and autumn in Japan, Europe, and eastern North America. The fruit body begins its development in an "egg" form, resembling somewhat a puffball partially submerged in the ground. As the fungus matures, a slender orange to pink colored stalk emerges that tapers evenly to a pointed tip. The stalk is covered with a foul-smelling slimy green spore mass on the upper third of its length. Flies and other insects feed upon the slime which contains the spores, assisting in their dispersal. Due to their repellent odor, mature specimens are not generally considered edible, although there are reports of the immature "eggs" being consumed. In the laboratory, Mutinus elegans has been shown to inhibit the growth of several microorganisms that can be pathogenic to humans."

farewell golden hickories

paradise lost

This monstrosity sprang up on the neighbor's property to the south of us---a saw or chipping mill-- logs are brought in and ground into shavings. It runs constantly with a loud whining noise like a super dentist's drill piercing my consciousness whenever I am outdoors, drowning out bird calls and anything natural. The debris is burned in an eternal fire filling the air with choking smoke.

To my east another neighbor has a firing range/hunting lodge where the sound of gunfire echoes day and sometimes until 10 at night.

Usually the prey are animals released from traps and often wind up here wounded and struggling.

So much is changing in my peaceful hideaway.

still trying

The yellow leaves of a crepe myrtle tree discarded long ago still push up bravely through a debris pile. It was growing in our yard years before we moved here, and was moved twice before it was finally banished to this no where land at the bottom of the hill. While photographing the hickories I noticed its out of place color and felt a twinge of regret. Such a hearty soul.

a most peculiar thing

The Walmart parking lot----filled with people, cars and activity.

And this bold crow strutted across the roof of a truck while shouting a caw to the whole scene. I stopped and talked  for a while, but it worried him not.

A most peculiar thing.....

glowing hickories

Hickories in our woods yesterday--a dark and unseasonably warm day. All that changed a few hours ago as temperatures plummeted with rain and wind. 

white by the gate

Camellia "white by the gate"

Perfect even after the freeze and wind

winter roses

Autumn has been mild and pleasant so far, but a freeze is predicted for tomorrow.

So I picked these 3 roses to rescue from the biting wind and killing cold. Like a new mother I can't stop taking photos and admiring their form and color. 

It will be months before they bloom again.

End.....and a false start

As the last persimmon clings to highest branch on the tree ..... the apple tree sends forth abortive spring blossoms.

No killing frost yet, a 2 month drought, and record breaking heat have the plant world confused.

sweet olive overload

The almond/apricot scent of sweet olive hangs heavy in the autumn air. My grandson played with the water sprinkler one afternoon, and the grateful  shrub, thirsty in our current drought, gulped it up and thanked us in flowers.

When I turned on the porch light to check the outdoors before going to bed, I was thrilled to see them like snow flakes on the tree.

a pretty "poison"

At least it was for the tree.......

These stunning honey colored mushrooms grew in clusters through my yard a few weeks ago.

I took photos and admired the form and symmetry. It turns out the fungus was the  reason for the death of the tree near the mushrooms.

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/rbogren/articles/page1479764911631

moon rings

It was overcast during the "supermoon". So I had to settle for frosty moon rings.

summer warrior

battered by the north wind

chilled out of the sky

trees and vistas

The tallest tree in the first photo is a sycamore I planted 30 years ago.

It came in a packet of bare rooted native seedling trees from our state forestry service. It was probably a foot tall then. It

amazes me how much it's grown!

The second photo is of the vistas that return after the hay is cut and baled. It's been first a very wet spring and then hot summer. It was a jungle out there.

We can breathe again 

orchid joy

Some of my window sill orchids are lighting my days

fall morning

A bit cooler in morning for the last few days so I was able to walk some.

I love the pattern on the discarded hay tool.

The early morning sun shines through the mature grass waiting to be cut.

Cypress vine blooms on the pasture gate attracting migrating hummingbirds that guard it like gold.

A new calf that anxious mom is hovering over while she keeps an eye on me.

another plant surprise

It's been a long hot summer---still record breaking heat everyday. My journeys have been few and opportunities for photos scarce. While stooping down to turn on the faucet this happy face grinned up from a slightly overgrown shade garden. I have not grown this flower for 20 years or more! Some how a seed survived and found things just right.

Nature is always finding ways to surprise us!

stone bottom rivers

Visiting in central Texas again this week--

The Hill Country.

Stone bottom rivers flow through the arid hills. The water is usually crystal clear and the bottoms scoured of vegetation and sediment. Since I grew up in southern Louisiana where there are no hills to encourage water to rush along and no rocks, and water is generally murky, sluggish and filled with mystery, I can't get enough of the bubbling clarity of these waterways.

The downside, however, are the great flash floods that can occur without much warning. Some of the great floods of a year ago are still evident in some of the twisted trees and debris piled up on the banks. Homes, bridges and roads were washed away on a few chaotic hours.

crossing the mighty Mississippi

At Baton Rouge....

Swollen from recent rains, but not as bad as it was a month ago when spillways had to be opened to lessen the threat of floods.

Tug boats push barges loaded with cargo and to the extreme lower right a casino operates on a replica steamboat.

Baton Rouge is north of New Orleans (where the river is wider and river traffic ever busier).

It is the state capital and a big refinery town where petroleum is processed.

frosty morning

After a day of fierce storms, tornadoes, we awoke to a frosty morning and the return of the deer. They have been absent  for several months. There were 5 of them though only one shows in this photo.
More crazy wind today, but clear skies.
March is preparing to roar its way into spring.

another chance

That's a rose shaped succulent growing on the concrete surface of our patio near a bench where I keep my cacti and succulents.

A few days before I had been lamenting the loss of the parent plant due to rabbits and bad weather. Then
I noticed some green growth near the bench and realized that somehow a small piece must have fallen out before the big plant died and had quietly struggled through the winter to produce this tiny plant.

Thrilled to have another chance with it and amazed that it showed up so near to the time of my wishing I had another.

we mow around wild flowers

Tex-Mex fifties style

 

A ceiling hung with hubcaps from classic cars of the 1950's, Formica tabletops, and much memorabilia from that era make for great ambiance while eating a spicy Tex-Mex meal.

Blue corn tortillas stuffed with veggies and topped with queso and a rich chili sauce -- the refried beans and Spanish rice as side dishes --is one of my favorite meals in Austin.

To wash down the peppery fresh salsa and chips I chose dos Equis -- I don't always drink beer, but when I do.........

time to leave

Another season of purple martins has come and gone. I wait anxiously for them in January , in the midst of winter, wondering if they will return. The first stalwart scouts return to the Louisiana coast then. Generally they won't make an appearance at my place until about Valentine's Day though.

Mostly it's one or two mature birds ----others will follow later when insects begin to fly.

We've had a few years without them lately due to predators--hawks, raccoons and snakes. This year we added the tub like guards to the poles and it seemed to work. There were 3 pairs that raised young.

It's already time to go---the journey to Brazil is a long one, and there are stops along the way as they gather into ever increasing flocks sometimes roosting in groups of tens of thousands .

dependable flowers

Since I have not been able to do much work in the outdoor gardens this summer, I have had to enjoy some old friends , the potted plants.

The blooming cactus is about 45 years old and started from one tiny "barrel".  It now fills a 18" pot. The blooms last only one day, smell heavenly and take absolutely no special care on my part to produce. I never move the plant---it endures drought, freezes and neglect. Such a joy!

The geranium is only a few months old.  I have to replace them often. They don't thrive in the hot Louisiana summers. The glowing neon fuchsia is my favorite. I can't resist them.

This is the third year for this supermarket orchid to bloom.  Some fertilizer, but not a lot of pampering, and it gives me these glowing flowers in late winter.
Encouraged by this over achiever I bought more plants, but none have bloomed a second time. I'll give them a bit more time---and then they may have to make room for something else.