Monarch Butterflies in the Garden

Toad Lily

Fall into Place

The Fall garden is starting to take shape. We have planted most of our veggies and herbs. Luckily, the early freeze did not do any damage. Thank goodness for Frost cloth! 

Here is a look at our  lettuce bed. I try to choose a variety of green and red leaf lettuce, however my favorite is Arugula. Just makes me crave a salad every time I look at this bed.

Variety of Lettuce

This is the first year that I decided to plant Strawberries. We will see how it goes since the local squirrels love to eat fruit. 

 

Sequoia Strawberry plants

There have been a ton of butterflies when the sun comes out and the temperature warms up. 

We have some new additions to the garden including this bottle tree. I'm sure it will be full of bottles after the holidays are over;-) 

Some of the new plants recently planted include a variegated Abutilon or Flowering maple. I believe this variety is "Thompsonii".

 

Also new to the garden is this Heartleaf Skullcap. 

 

The Beautyberry was planted this past Spring. The gorgeous purple berries disappeared fast thanks to the Mockingbirds.

 

The Agastache was added this past summer and it pairs nicely with the White  and Blue mist flowers in bloom.

The Pentas were planted last year. They behave more like perennials than annuals.

Bees just adore the Fall blooming Coral Vine.

 I just don't have the heart to pull up my Cherry tomato plants yet. They are huge and blooming again!

 

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my garden. 

Hummingbirds - Fall Migration 2013

Fall migration is here! I've spotted several migrating hummingbirds this past week, including a male Rufous and a Red Ruby-Throated male. Both of these birds dominated the feeder while they were visiting to the point the little female hummers could not get a drink.

I've also seen Hawks and Warblers moving through the area. Seems a bit early for hummingbirds to migrate, but they are here. Get those feeders ready! 

Twas the Day before Migration

Twas the day before migration, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a titmouse. 
The feeders were hung in the trees with care,
In hopes that the migrating hummingbirds soon would be there.

The birders were searching for tripods lodged in the shed,
While visions of Orioles danced in their heads.
And mamma with her binoculars, and I in my cap,
Had just settled in for a migration nap.

When out in the lawn arouse such a clatter,
I sprang from my birding chair to what was the matter.
Away to the window, I like a flash,
It tore around the yard and made quite a dash.

The sun on the breast of a Red Throated Ruby
Gave the lustre that rivaled royal jewels beauty.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a territorial male and a female who decided to disappear.

  A little odd bird, so lively and quick,
I knew it in a moment, from its music and frolic.

Now Rufous! now Black Chin! now Ruby Throated and Allen!
On Buff Bellied! On, Anna! On Costa, drinking my sugar water by the gallon!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now fly away! Fly away! Fly away all. © 2012

~ A Rambling Wren Original Poem

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Queen butterfly on Bottlebrush Bush

Coming in for a landing!

Queen butterfly on Vinca

Sunbathing in the Morning light

New plants for fall

The fall weather has me in a planting frenzy. Here are a couple of new plants in the garden:

Coral Nymph Salvia

Love the pale pink blooms on the Coral Nymph Salvia. The blooms resemble hummingbirds in flight. This plant is known to reseed itself. I wouldn't mind having a couple of these around the garden. 

Bear's Breeches

This is my favorite new plant. It is called Bear's Breeches. The large glossy leaves provide some structural element to the garden. It also sends up a large bloom spike with pinkish white blooms on it in the Spring.  Per Wikipedia, the leaves of this plant are considered by historians to have been the design inspiration for the Corinthian column capitals of Greco-Roman architecture. Interesting!

Smooth Leaf Salvia

Smooth Leaf Salvia was added in a partly shade part of the garden. It doesn't have many blooms, but it has large glossy leaves. It is suppose to be a fantastic hummingbird plant. If anyone has any experience growing this plant, please let me know.

Philippine Violet

Philippine Violet is an excellent part shade plant. Although it mostly blooms in the Fall, the round glossy leaves are beautiful. This one fits in nicely in a corner of the garden. Can't wait to see it fill out.

Jewels of Opar

Although this is not a new plant to the garden, it has reseeded itself in a new spot. This is a pass along plant from my Grandmother.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Lavender Lady Passionflower

“The Earth laughs in flowers.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I must have flowers, always, and always.”
― Claude Monet

I see Red

When I added a couple of plants to the garden this fall I realized that most of them had red blooms or berries.

I prefer cooler colors like pink and blues, however lately I seem to be trending towards red. Maybe because it is the color hummingbirds prefer. 

Pigeonberry

This pigeonberry plant was added in a shady spot in our garden. Love the bright and shiny red berries. The birds had picked off all the berries within 24 hours of planting it. At first I was disappointed, however my husband pointed out that was the reason I picked this plant in the first place. Point taken!

Pigeonberry

This plant is very hardy, a great ground cover and provides fall color. The little red berries are prized by birds including mockingbirds and doves.

Turk's Cap

Three Turk's caps were added in the back garden. The migrating hummingbirds had found these plants within 5 minutes and were fighting over them.

Firebush

This Firebush was added for the hummingbirds as well.

Fall in the Garden

It is the most wonderful time of year to be a gardener in Texas. The 100 degree temps are gone for now and fall rains are very welcomed. The plants seem grateful that summer is over. 

The Lavender Lady Passionflower Vine has put out a couple of blooms.

Lavender Lady Passionflower

The Gulf Fritillaries are still doing their thing.

 The Eyelash leaved sage or Salvia blepharophylla has a couple of blooms on it.

Eyelash leaved sage

The Blackfoot Daisy is still blooming like crazy. It has bloomed continually since I planted it. 

Blackfoot Daisy

The bat faced cuphea looks pretty paired with the potato vine.

Bat faced cuphea

The Blue Mistflower is really putting on a show. 

Blue Mistflower

Tree Planting

A couple of weekends ago, we planted a tree in the front yard of our new home. The neighborhood has lots of gorgeous, mature live oak trees, so I wanted a tree that was different and would be the focal point of our yard. After some extensive tree research, I settled on a Burr Oak. Yes, I know the acorns are huge and it is a slow grower, but I loved the leaf structure, texture on the bark and the deep green color on the leaves. 

(Please excuse the trash cans and garden hose in this picture)

Even though the tree is small right now, I can envision it fully grown, majestic in all its glory in the fall. We are planning on installing a flower bed around the base of the tree. I'm thinking of planting some xeriscape type plants in the bed. Even though it resembles the Charlie Brown Christmas tree right now, I love my little tree. I can't wait to decorate in the fall with the acorns and wonderful fall colored leaves.

Happy Halloween

{http://ieatowls.tumblr.com/}

Coffee Break

 Latte Art

Doesn't this inspire you to want to take a coffee break? 

I'm suddenly craving a latte.

Paging Matt Lauer

Attention Matt Lauer, I made your favorite chicken dish. Have to admit this dish has become a favorite of mine as well. When I first heard the ingredients in this recipe, my initial reaction was Yuck!! I think it was the dried prunes that elicited the response. Once I tasted the dish, my reaction changed to YUM!! The sweet prunes nicely off set the vinegar and complimented the salty olives. This is one of those go-to dishes if you are having company for dinner. Just make sure to give it enough time to marinate.

 P.S. Matt I have leftovers in the fridge if you want to stop by.

I used the Silver Palate's Recipe or you can try Matt's Recipe. I don't think there is much difference in the two.

Kale Chips

  

 

Kale Chips are a healthy easy to make snack. All you need is some Kale (I like to use the dinosaur kale variety), olive oil, salt & pepper and parmesan cheese to garnish. That is it!! First, wash the kale and dry it very well. I usually put mine in a salad spinner to get the excess water off or you could pat it dry with a towel. Then rub your kale down with olive oil. Give it a nice little massage, making sure to get the olive oil into the kale. Season with salt & pepper and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Garnish with parmesan cheese.

It's Raining...

We got just a little shower. Hopefully, this weekend we will get a good and steady rain.

Curried Carrot Coconut Soup

Served with Cilantro and a Wedge of Lime

Wonderful roasted vegetable soup with a Thai twist.

Veggies Ready For Roasting
 

Spice Blend

Caramelized Goodness

Curried Carrot Coconut Soup Recipe:

1 Bunch Carrots peeled

1 Medium Sweet Potato peeled and sliced

1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced

1/2 medium Red Onion, Sliced

1/2 Teaspoon Cumin

1 Teaspoon Yellow Curry Powder

1 Teaspoon Red Curry Powder

Olive oil

1 Clove Garlic, Sliced

2 inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced

1/2 can Coconut Milk

3 cups Chicken Broth

Arrange chopped veggies on a large baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over them and bake and 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. 

In a large soup pot, combine 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, garlic and ginger. Saute for a couple of minutes.

Add your roasted veggies, spice blend and chicken broth. Puree in a blender, food processor or break out the boat motor (hand held blender). Blend until smooth.

Stir in your coconut milk. Serve with a wedge of lime and cilantro.