Back at the car we hit the roads. Along the way Jeanne spotted a few gayfeathers (Liatris) blooming.
Our first stop was at Clear Lake. Here a male sports his red stigma as it cools off! Females are paler and have yellow stigmas.
Jeanne watched the Green Heron fly across the lake.
Marsh Fleabane (Pluchea odorata) budding!
A few were open. The three Ambush Bugs (Phymata) waited.
Rushes (Juncus) also were along the shores.
At the south side of the lake there is handicap accessible pier. The lake hosts waterfowl in the winter.
At another stop we saw Killdeer! I have seen so few Killdeer in the past few years these were certainly a welcome sight!
A pond turtle or two were out in the water!
The Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) seed pods were pretty in the sun. However beware that the Mimosa tree is an invasive plant. Do not plant! To find out which things are considered invasives go to https://texasinvasives.org/ for further information.
Though some people find the Trumpet Creeper or Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) too aggressive, I always enjoy it beauty along the roadsides! I tried to grow it in my yard but it failed miserable. 🤷🏻♀️ Hummers are attracted to it and pollinate it. Also it is the host plant for the Trumpet Vine Sphinx Moth (Paratraea plebeja).
At the lovely Hart’s Creek in Greenwood we concluded are drive-about!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know
3 Comments
Do you know why your trumpet creeper didn’t survive at your house? Too dry? Now that I have space I am considering it to grow up our huge dead live oak. Last weekend we noticed it in many places blooming away. Thank goodness it is blooming so the hummers have something.
So after seeing it thrive on its own in wild places in this drought I figure I need to have it. But it is so frustrating when you plant things just to see them die. Awfully hard to water new plants with these conditions, even 3 and 4 yr old plants are failing.
Do you know why your trumpet creeper didn’t survive at your house? Too dry? Now that I have space I am considering it to grow up our huge dead live oak. Last weekend we noticed it in many places blooming away. Thank goodness it is blooming so the hummers have something.
So after seeing it thrive on its own in wild places in this drought I figure I need to have it. But it is so frustrating when you plant things just to see them die. Awfully hard to water new plants with these conditions, even 3 and 4 yr old plants are failing.
I do not know. We also had plant a grape next to it and it did not do well either. Maybe they didn’t get enough water. I just don’t know.
Glad to see a kildeer too. Im surprised Harts creek is still flowing but sure glad it is. Springs are drying up everywhere.