I'm especially pleased that my one Esperanza plant (also called Texas Yellowbells, I think) has decided to bloom. I've had this one for a while and it's mostly sat quietly in the corner. These are its only 3 flowers, so it isn't like all the other brash and beautiful esperanzas blooming all over town, but it gives me hope for the future.
I've also been seeing a lot of these nice green scarab beetles around. Ain't he cute?
He's sitting atop the "coastal hay" that I'm using to cover my new veggie garden beds. When I went to Callahan's (a cool spot in Austin for buying all things cowboy, from hats to spurs and baby chicks), they were out of straw bales. Apparently, it has been a bad harvest this year with the drought and they don't grow much of the stuff around here. So, I'm giving coastal hay a try as mulch for the time being. But, wow, Callahan's. What a neat place.
I hear they may have straw over at the Natural Gardener...
I hear they may have straw over at the Natural Gardener...
6 comments:
I love Callahan's. It's where I get my stock tanks and cattle panels. Don't I sound like a rancher? Ha!
Yes, you do!
I saw that they have the cattle panels (which I think people also call hogwire and horsewire), which I was happy about. I've gotten those kinds of things from the fencing place next door (can't remember the name), but they are only open in the morning on Saturdays...
Be sure the costal hay you get has not been treated with herbaside. Some I got killed several plants, roses and a small tree after having used hay from the same source for several years.
Hey, I saw two of those beetles and they were...well...you know. Together. In that way. But it was really pretty with all of the iridescent colors- in a buggy porno kind of way.
The Esperanza does give you hope, doesn't it? I love mine -- they are long established and very big bloomers -- yours will be too. The beetles are cute -- that color seems so unlikely in nature, but I guess not! And I totally forgot about Callahans. I hadn't been there in years, but it is a cool place - I'll have to make it a point to get back over there.
Replies:
Coastal hay: thanks Anonymous for the tip. Ugh. I don't want herbicides in there! I'll be sure to ask next time.
Bonnie: I'm laughing OUT LOUD. Thank you. Apparently, in Southern Mexico, they find beetles like this one and probably even more colorful. Women attach chains and a pin on them with glue and wear live beetles on their person as jewelry.
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