tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40476656215275952012012-02-16T13:43:34.354-06:00Organic and Xeric Gardening plus Some Observations of Criminal TrialsIrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.comBlogger4161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-76963036261677799652011-11-09T16:35:00.000-06:002011-11-10T09:52:49.574-06:00

fall aster, basil, potatoes, chard, tiny lettuces, and plumbago in one of back vegetable beds I was going to wait until I'd weeded the vegetable beds to post any photos, but since I've been such a delinquent blogger lately, I decided to post what's been going on here, warts and all. at least they're taller than the weeds: chard, red winter kale, dinosaur kale, red cabbage, golden beets

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-21713874074433909352011-09-27T17:25:00.000-05:002011-09-27T17:25:04.566-05:00

Trailing lantana's thriving with a little supplemental water. It's almost October, but Austin's drought and heat continue to break records. It's difficult not to get discouraged with this continued daily hand watering routine of both drought-tolerant plants--"tolerant", not "impervious"--and vegetable seedlings. I guess I'm just stubborn, but I keep plugging away. Small successes go a long

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-31520638230069419352011-09-17T13:13:00.000-05:002011-09-17T13:13:43.401-05:00

Blackfoot Daisies We finally have a 30 percent chance of rain today, but I'm not holding my breath. That it's only 90 degrees at 1 p.m. is a breath of fresh air, however! Austin has had 85 days of triple-digit heat this year, record-breaking. Mind-numbing. And continued exceptional drought and hideous wildfires. So please forgive my tardy post and lack of botanical names in today's post.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-11393701631609320392011-08-15T12:38:00.001-05:002011-08-15T12:38:26.030-05:00

bougainvillea Unfortunately, very little has changed since last month's bloom day except that it's even hotter and drier. If I'm counting right, today will be Austin's 61st day of triple-digit heat. Sigh. Be sure to check out other garden bloggers' blooms at Carol's May Dream Gardens. leadwort plumbago groundcover ruellia and artemisia garlic chive and plumbago I couldn't

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-14487206532718708722011-07-29T17:47:00.002-05:002011-07-30T11:57:00.736-05:00

cenizo (Texas "Silverado" sage) Looks like tropical storm Don is not going to grace Austin with any rain on this dry 45th day of triple-digit heat, so I'm celebrating my truly drought-tolerant plants. Plants that are surviving in full sun in this exceptional drought with NO supplemental water. Amazing.  artemisia "Silver king": This artemisia spreads fairly quickly and ends up two to

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-6950759119691954512011-07-15T21:18:00.000-05:002011-07-15T21:18:12.088-05:00

zinnia from mislabeled seed packet I really meant to post something between bloom days, but 32 days of triple digit heat have somewhat fried my motivation and creativity. Please escape Texas' heat and visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see less dusty gardeners' blooms. I shot this four days ago: my beloved rugged spider lily, hymenocallis 'tropical giant' Evolvulus glomeratus 'blue

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-14133447404119287212011-06-15T15:59:00.000-05:002011-06-15T15:59:13.360-05:00

The coleus I planted in this cool planter was ripped out by squirrels  within hours. Today is this year's 11th day of triple-digit heat. Mid-June! And of course, Austin's still in an exceptional drought. I think the term "exceptional" is a little too cute for what is the most severe level of the drought o'meter, but no one asked me. Please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see other garden

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-24648196251401800462011-06-01T16:17:00.002-05:002011-06-01T18:42:44.734-05:00

Black Prince, Green Cherokee, Lemon Boy, Black Krim, Sungolds,  Habanero, Serranos Despite the fact that Austin's drought has returned to the most extreme level, "exceptional"--we had two 100-degree days last week--we've managed to grow some darn pretty tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. I'm thrilled, especially because the Sungolds are the only variety I've grown before. The Black Prince

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-21226260729433604142011-05-19T15:47:00.000-05:002011-05-19T15:47:42.090-05:00

Vitex tree Yep, I'm four days late posting for garden bloggers' bloom day, but I did shoot these photos on the 15th. Carol at May Dreams Gardens invites bloggers to share what's blooming in their gardens on the 15th of each month, so make sure to check her blog to see blooms from all over the place. I thought these balloon flowers were annuals, but these came back from last spring! gray

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-72148517227206321262011-05-01T19:26:00.000-05:002011-05-01T19:26:24.119-05:00

Sometimes these things just hit you. Why do we keep ignoring these overgrown, not-entirely-healthy rosemary plants? Suddenly, I'm almost blinded to the cheery larkspur and big pot of white bougainvillea because all I see are rosemary monsters. Vitex tree is blooming and larkspur from MSS are hanging on. I'm a big fan of rosemary, but not when it gets huge and woody and diseased. Although it's

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-82135743402782499872011-04-16T19:11:00.001-05:002011-04-17T12:40:05.262-05:00

first-ever larkspurs from seed I'm positively giddy about my first-ever larkspurs from seed that MSS gave me. I'm going to blame being a day late for garden bloggers' bloom day (GBBD) on my larkspur fever. Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting GBBD on the 15th of each month. It's a great place to see blooms from all over the world. Part of the allure of the larkspurs is that they

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-65853743589706478672011-03-29T19:31:00.000-05:002011-03-29T19:31:15.716-05:00

Husband Kurt decided to make our new tomato beds fancier by using some blackline (natural gas pipeline) as stakes. Originally, Kurt had used the blackline for curtain rods, but he replaced them with homemade copper pipe curtain rods: So the sturdy blackline rejects were just hanging out in the mudroom. The beauty of them as tomato stakes is that you can screw on additional lengths to accommodate

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-54099578026741820822011-03-15T15:45:00.000-05:002011-03-15T15:45:01.318-05:00

young Mexican Plum tree's first blooms I missed the last two garden bloggers' bloom days because I had nothing blooming except some rosemary and petunias. Most of this month's blooms are new transplants I planted in the last two weeks. Check out others' blooms from all over the world at Carol's May Dreams Gardens . I wish this cilantro would wait a little longer to bolt, but its flowers are

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-63823450509836398562011-03-08T16:29:00.002-06:002011-03-08T17:55:46.801-06:00

strawflower in the new vegetable beds I'm known for my affinity for blue, purple, and white blooms to provide visual coolness during our hot, dry summers, but I'm now adding orange--hot Austin summer orange--flowers to the four new vegetable beds husband Kurt added to our side yard this weekend. It's those darn marigolds' fault. They started it. I'm not sure if marigolds actually deter pests

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-49131235714110998232011-02-28T18:53:00.000-06:002011-02-28T18:53:57.399-06:00

Since that last freeze didn't kill our huge front sidewalk agave, husband Kurt removed it this weekend. Be still my heart! That agave was just too big and drew too much attention away from some of the other cool spiky plants. today: balance somewhat restored last Friday: monster agave with pups hogging all the attention phase one of removal process agave carcass in the back yard tiny

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-55776999136939423212011-02-13T20:15:00.001-06:002011-02-13T20:17:08.142-06:00

I'd sort of hoped the freezing weather would kill this agave, which is just too big now.   Austin had several windy days in a row last week in which the daytime highs barely hit 31 and nighttime lows were in the teens/low 20s. The week before that we had more freezing temperatures and measurable snow, which is extremely unusual for Austin. Our 1941 house has its original wood frame windows,

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-9238359745204563592011-01-30T16:55:00.005-06:002011-02-13T11:30:39.275-06:00

Finally, my gardening and trial-watching overlap. Thursday 27-January-2011, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (D-IA) decided the U.S. Dep’t of Agriculture (USDA) will fully deregulate genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready® (RR) Alfalfa. While I am upset and depressed about this move, I’m more grateful than ever to have an organic vegetable garden and more determined than ever to be a

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-27012696228625282172011-01-12T15:22:00.000-06:002011-01-12T15:22:07.924-06:00

Saturday night, we finally got enough rain to break in my new rain gauges, a little more than half an inch. It arrived just in time to offer some protection against the past two nights' hard freezes. Something about these two weather events solidified my resolve to practice more tough love, especially in our lawnless front yard, which is filled with established drought-tolerant plants. If the

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-75197808856408216672010-12-13T19:42:00.000-06:002010-12-13T19:42:15.494-06:00

Second (small) beet harvest Caterpillars weren't satisfied eating the beet greens and moved on to the beets themselves. Austin's officially in the severe drought stage again. I don't think it's rained since September. The fat, woolly, black and orange Giant Leopard Moth caterpillars have been eating everything in sight. And yet, I've managed to grow some cool-weather vegetables, and I'm

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-37419798914042347912010-11-23T15:07:00.000-06:002010-11-23T15:07:51.072-06:00

I didn't thin all the carrot seedlings as thoroughly as I should have, as you can see from this curly duo. But overall, I'm thrilled with this season's early group of little "Carnival Blend" (from Botanical Interests) carrots. I, like many other Austin gardeners, doubted that those seeds I planted the first week of August when the weather was consistently in the upper 90s and dry would actually

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-57221633555931347442010-11-15T17:32:00.000-06:002010-11-15T17:32:58.216-06:00

 Cooler weather but precious little rain has led me to water my vegetable garden and a few potted plants but allow the rest of the yard to fend for itself. So I don't have a big bloom showing this month. You can find other garden bloggers' blooms at Carol's May Dreams Gardens blog. Also blooming are blue and white plumbago, lavender, trailing lantana, a few blackfoot daisies, and ruellia.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-41725484931211321842010-10-30T15:11:00.002-05:002010-10-30T18:12:24.925-05:00

Husband Kurt and I finally put up a few Halloween decorations today and will celebrate our 11th anniversary tomorrow. Meanwhile, I've been harvesting (all from seed) several quarts of kale and chard, one big bowl of baby lettuces, a couple of handfuls of green beans ("Contender" and "Royal Burgundy"), the last few cherry tomatoes, and a few banana peppers. Tonight I'll make a big pot of curried

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-23565057825838758792010-10-16T12:12:00.002-05:002010-10-21T15:56:42.329-05:00

marigolds in the potato patch Not much new to report this month except that the delicious cooler weather has helped lift my spirits, as well as those of several almost-dead plants. It's still dry, though, so my hoses and watering cans are getting quite a workout. You can see blooms from all over the place at Carol's May Dreams Gardens. blackfoot daisies don't mind the lack of rain

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-70229137496133889722010-10-10T16:32:00.000-05:002010-10-10T16:32:42.954-05:00

Gregg's Mistflower with Monarch butterfly I actually have been doing some gardening that does not involve obsessing over vegetable seedlings. I potted some cool-weather annuals, transplanted some perennials, and sowed my first Larkspur, Sweet Pea, Bachelor Button, Viola, Nigella, Flax, and Scabiosa (ugly name, no wonder it's also called Pincushion Flower) seeds. new Gregg's Mistflowers As much

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-9679102881024481742010-09-29T19:25:00.002-05:002010-09-30T09:36:02.207-05:00

red spider lilies--first time (in 21 years) appearance, I think My first time growing beans, "Contender" variety I'm so grateful for Austin's recent much cooler temperatures. Being able to sleep with the bedroom window slightly open and still needing a blanket is fabulous! But, still I must remind myself to water the oregano and plumbago we relocated last weekend because they're now in full

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-13692993256637437102010-09-16T10:11:00.001-05:002010-09-16T10:16:37.727-05:00

white gaura I don't really have a good excuse for being a day late for the bloom day party, but I do have lots of blooms to show, thanks to the recent heavy rains from tropical storm Hermine last week. Make sure to check out other garden bloggers' blooms at Carol's May Dreams Gardens. Thanks for hosting, Carol! leadwort plumbago my huge plumbago appeared out of nowhere, Scarlet

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-13860408060576565792010-09-12T14:34:00.000-05:002010-09-12T14:34:27.609-05:00

I'm not even sure how many basil transplants I planted last spring--at least 11. Convinced tomatoes would be a pain, I was determined to successfully grow lots of basil. However, now I needed raised-bed room for lettuce and chard seeds, so yesterday I harvested the basil from nine plants, yanked those plants out, and added them to a compost pile. former basil bed before weeding/prepping for

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-38762501465133321802010-08-30T18:14:00.000-05:002010-08-30T18:14:47.070-05:00

I'll admit it: these days and days of near-100 temperatures and no rain are getting to me. I'm getting a little tired of hand-watering the vegetable seedlings (all from Botanical Interests seeds) two or three times a day. But the quality of the light has changed, reminding me that Fall will actually arrive at some point, and that makes me happy. green bean (bush) seedlings, "Contender" and "

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-64634815089893043422010-08-15T12:47:00.000-05:002010-10-17T17:05:06.615-05:00

blackfoot daisies and silver ponyfoot Last year at this time, we'd had 50-something days of triple-digit heat and exceptional drought. I'm thrilled that this summer we've only had a handful of triple-digit days, plus we got some decent rain. But let's face it, 101 is still miserable. See Carol's and other bloggers' blooms at May Dreams Gardens. pink rain lilies (Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea')

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-5653269958237396802010-08-08T15:18:00.000-05:002010-08-08T15:18:58.373-05:00

carrot seedlings I had planned to prune the summer tomatoes in hopes of a fall crop, but instead I decided to settle for my potted Sun Gold cherry tomatoes and blah Juliets and focus my energy on starting the cold-weather vegetable beds.  Although it feels strange to me to sow winter seeds now in triple-digit heat--last year I didn't begin until mid September--I decided to throw caution to the

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-41802970182572976652010-07-26T18:02:00.000-05:002010-07-26T18:02:14.204-05:00

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that my tomato yield has been so puny this summer, considering I started the plants out in too much shade. Then we were in Portugal for a few weeks, and although we did have a great housesitter who likes gardening, it's just not quite the same as watching over them yourself. Then the stinkbugs began their siege. Then the squirrels chomped my one and only heirloom.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-43380745785406805252010-07-15T10:53:00.000-05:002010-07-15T10:53:22.866-05:00

 No triple-digit days yet, but with lows of 77, highs of  97, and 65 percent  humidity, it's pretty miserable outside. Fortunately, we got some rain in the last two weeks, so some plants aren't too miserable. Make sure to visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see blooms from other parts of the world. Texas sage (cenizo) This island of Turk's Cap is much perkier this year. Society Garlic

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-30878959507210019172010-07-09T13:50:00.000-05:002010-07-09T13:50:09.541-05:00

Spider Lily (Hymenocallis 'Tropical Giant') Four of the past eight days, we've had big soaking rains in Austin. And the rain cooled things off, especially yesterday afternoon, when it got down to 77 degrees. In July! I'll probably be complaining a little bit next week when it's back up to 98 with high humidity, but for now, I'm grateful and so is my garden. This is my first time

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-26548066273283227272010-07-02T20:57:00.003-05:002010-07-03T12:02:44.224-05:00

The maximum verdict of 10 years in prison plus $14K in fines was announced by the presiding juror today around 4:25, after the jury deliberated for more than 5.5 hours. There were nine sheriff's deputies positioned in Judge Flowers' courtroom for the reading of the sentencing verdict.  I've never seen the presiding juror choose to read the verdict rather than allowing the judge to read it.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-21816723671979804242010-07-01T23:10:00.003-05:002010-07-02T07:00:15.948-05:00

Today's testimony didn't end until 7:15 p.m., after the defense presented its case and both sides rested and closed their evidence portion. The prosecution began this morning by showing snippets of statements Laura Hall made for CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" show. I apologize now for any errors, but I'm really tired now. Then audio recordings of 19 phone calls Hall made from jail, which were

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-42113085282474945952010-06-30T20:53:00.000-05:002010-06-30T20:53:01.333-05:00

Today I was especially looking forward to hearing any new testimony I hadn't heard during Laura Hall's or Colton Pitonyak's 2007 trials, and that finally happened in the afternoon session, when some jail witnesses and jail psychiatric counselors testified. The first senior psychiatric counselor from Travis County's Del Valle jail testified that in September 2005, two inmates made statements

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-20612009645220873242010-06-29T20:39:00.004-05:002010-06-30T07:02:12.557-05:00

Why is a re-sentencing trial happening? An appeals court upheld the 2007 conviction of Laura Hall for misdemeanor fleeing apprehension and felony tampering with evidence associated with the 2005 murder and mutilation of Jennifer Cave; however, the court overturned her 5-year sentence based on its finding of prosecutorial misconduct during the punishment phase of the 2007 trial. Colton

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-19873160450024585782010-06-23T11:05:00.000-05:002010-06-23T11:05:59.324-05:00

We're back home from our Lisbon trip, but it's too hot to do a proper home garden assessment right now. Maybe after I catch up on watering, I'll feel more like taking pictures. But not today. So here's the last of Lisbon.  In the apartment we made our own salads and ate them with tasty Portuguese sheep cheese and white wines. really big bottle tree outside the modern art museum

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-38169347903894210492010-06-15T02:57:00.000-05:002010-10-17T17:05:06.616-05:00

Day 15 here in Lisbon and we’ve done plenty of exploring. Not pictured here, but we’ve seen lots of oleander, gray santolina, bougainvillea (purple, pink, and orange-ish), and lantana (confetti, purple, and red-orange-yellow). Please visit Carol’s blog at May Dreams Gardens to see other blooms from all over the place! Sorry for not including botanical names but we have limited internet access, so

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-10037027772285293202010-06-07T14:02:00.008-05:002010-06-21T08:32:01.994-05:00

Greetings from lovely Lisbon—our first visit! We’re staying in a vacation apartment rental in the city center overlooking the busy Rossio square and have great views from three sets of double full-lite doors. We’ve never done the international apartment rental thing before, but this one’s working out well, especially because we can sleep late and make our own breakfast in the kitchenette.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-55185760294191245462010-05-25T12:37:00.004-05:002010-05-25T12:56:07.570-05:00

Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima)I love the cheery wave of Mexican feather grass, but I'm also enjoying a few other windsurfers blooming now that I doubt will make it until next month's garden bloggers' bloom day post. All are drought tolerant and need lots of sun. Vitex tree (Vitex agnus-castus)gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri)Provence lavender (Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence')

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-47035796826616577482010-05-18T16:34:00.006-05:002010-05-18T17:15:49.885-05:00

Friday afternoon we noticed that there was a crack in the largest branch of our 80+ year old American Elm and that it was hanging down a little lower than usual. I called and left a message with an arborist, thinking it could wait until this week. It didn't wait. Saturday evening we heard that awful sound of an electrical transformer blowing and our electricity went out. The cracked branch was

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-85654971783181417072010-05-15T14:07:00.012-05:002010-10-17T17:05:06.617-05:00

santolinaOver the past 24 hours or so, Austin finally received a good rain--my rain gauge indicates 4.5 inches--so some of my blooms are a little battered right now. [EDITED May 17, 2010: In my excitement about the rain, I read the centimeter side of the gauge--doh! So we actually got 1.8 inches, not 4.5 inches.] Not complaining! Visit Carol's May Dreams Gardens blog to see blooms from the rest

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-18484635368225599872010-05-11T12:46:00.012-05:002010-05-18T17:28:32.149-05:00

This is my first attempt to grow potatoes--Yukon Golds--and although it's a small yield, I'm very pleased. They were delicious sauteed in butter with a little salt--very creamy. I should have a handful more ready in a few days. I think I'm getting so few because the potato plants didn't get enough sun because my huge American elm leafed out earlier and more profusely this year from winter and

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-1036783979649025752010-05-04T21:20:00.004-05:002010-05-04T22:07:33.423-05:00

Linda Lehmusvirta, producer of Central Texas Gardener (aired on Austin's PBS affiliate station, KLRU), suggested I post tonight's dinner recipe. We'd already eaten ours at that point, so my only picture is what was leftover in the pan! This is fairly spicy but has lots of extra healthy stuff included, like ginger, garlic, and turmeric. I'm not used to writing out recipes because I always taste as

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-10312011207633793532010-04-27T14:25:00.005-05:002010-04-27T14:44:32.636-05:00

Byzantine gladiolusThese weren't in their full glory on garden bloggers' bloom day (April 15), but I couldn't resist showing them now. Most of my front yard garden flowers are native or adapted and drought tolerant. As much as I appreciate them, not many are very showy, so I really look forward to the week or two my heirloom Byzantine gladiolus blooms. They came with the house, so someone planted

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-42528978415468614182010-04-16T12:59:00.005-05:002010-04-16T13:14:46.867-05:00

'Mahogany' nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) seedlingsPam at Digging invites us to show off our foliage the day after garden bloggers' bloom day. Check out her blog to see hers and others' foliage standouts.plumbago's slowly coming back after a tough winterinland sea oats are lusher than I've ever seen themMexican feathergrass and bush germanderthis biggest agave survived the cold winter pretty well,

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-8777022590487840932010-04-15T10:30:00.010-05:002010-10-17T17:07:10.172-05:00

society garlicMost of my salvias are a little behind bloom-wise, but they did make it through last winter's hard freezes. victoria salvia peekingOverall, things are pretty lush, but we still need today's predicted rain! Visit Carol's May Dreams Gardens blog to see other blooms from all over.trailing verbena "21st Century Blue" phlox"Miss Tilly" balloon flower (platycodon)byzantine gladiolus just

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-7484058889052983942010-04-03T20:49:00.019-05:002010-04-04T11:32:36.245-05:00

At the moment, I'm lounging inside enjoying a chalupa, wine, and West Virginia versus Duke (go WVa) basketball. [EDITED 11:45 pm: ugh, cocky Duke won; well then, go Butler on Monday!] And I definitely earned this relaxation today. I pulled out all the bolting lettuces and weeded four vegetable beds, which included mountains of chickweed. While I was doing that, husband Kurt was doing our taxes (

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-20339833993857467792010-03-31T18:15:00.008-05:002010-03-31T18:48:26.867-05:00

Yukon Gold potato seedlings (above)! I guess they're a little bigger than "seedlings" now, and I'm so excited that my first experiment growing potatoes is looking good so far. While I've been cooling my heels waiting to move my potted tomatoes and peppers into the ground (this weekend, I hope), I bought a few new plants. Another first: soaked and sowed Mahogany Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-19838024810910647322010-03-23T12:29:00.005-05:002010-03-23T12:35:54.177-05:00

freckles romaine lettuceDespite our unpredictable spring weather--down to 34 last weekend, up to 80 today--it's been warm enough overall that most of my winter vegetables are bolting (producing seeds and flowers instead of leaves.) I tend to let the flowering ones go until the last second when I absolutely must reclaim their spots for tomatoes. red sails leaf lettucenot-quite-bolted purple

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-7947454550633236002010-03-15T14:44:00.009-05:002010-10-17T17:07:10.173-05:00

grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum)Last month I skipped garden bloggers' bloom day because rosemary and pansies were the only things blooming. This warmer month is much cheerier, as am I. Visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see who has what blooming where.verbena in the vegetable gardenloropetalum in the other vegetable gardena white salvia I planted in September (I've forgotten what type it is.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-7606171607656377872010-03-10T16:50:00.004-06:002010-03-11T19:35:15.680-06:00

As much as I've enjoyed our 75-plus degree weather yesterday and today, I don't quite trust that it's really here to stay--at least not enough to plant my tomatoes in the ground yet--so I potted them. The forecast indicates a low of 45 tonight, so I'll bring in my potted tomatoes tonight and let them back out for tomorrow's sun. I have Juliets, an Old German, a Valley Girl, a Sun Gold, and a

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-82310143686629309772010-03-01T12:36:00.008-06:002010-03-03T12:22:22.069-06:00

I sowed these "Chef's Choice Blend" [REVISED 3-3-10: cauliflower--forgot to identify them Monday] seeds from Botanical Interests in early September, and although this heirloom variety doesn't seem to produce large heads, it sure produces pretty, tasty heads.I harvested these yesterday and there are still three others not quite ready to harvest. My chard, kale, lettuces, parsley, oregano, sage,

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-42483379827370439652010-02-17T13:05:00.005-06:002010-02-17T13:38:34.757-06:00

Last weekend I harvested our remaining beets and carrots--lots of carrots. I never thinned them as thoroughly as I've heard one is supposed to, but that didn't seem to bother these 'Purple Haze' and 'Scarlet Nantes' varieties. Not wanting these beauties to sit in the refrigerator, I made a huge pot of carrot-ginger soup and froze half of it.I also saved a handful for roasting and salads this week

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-74579227922189846802010-02-12T17:38:00.007-06:002010-02-12T17:54:01.405-06:00

pruned purple fountain grassLast weekend husband Kurt got into the zone and went to town pruning pretty much everything in the front and side yards. Early Happy Valentine's present to me! Tomorrow's forecast is nice, so I'll REALLY have no excuse to not weed the vegetable gardens. Although I'm embarrassed how overgrown I've allowed them to become, I'll probably be brave enough to post before and

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-47806542164554467482010-02-08T14:27:00.006-06:002010-02-10T12:40:28.473-06:00

Outside state District judge Flowers' courtroom, lots of television cameras (including the 48 Hours Mystery crew) were set up to get their shots of Laura Hall walking into the courtroom. Hall smiled and said "hi everybody" but admitted she was nervous. When asked how she felt walking into the courtroom, she said, "Last time I hyperventilated, but I know I'm in good hands... as soon as Sawyer (her

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-14561492949096282562010-02-08T12:20:00.001-06:002010-02-08T12:56:52.082-06:00

March 4 is the next hearing. I just got back from this morning's rather dramatic hearing and need to decipher my notes now about the hearing itself and my brief unexpected conversation with Laura Hall. Details soon.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-15215579789281671822010-02-03T21:30:00.002-06:002010-02-03T21:31:54.033-06:00

While I was at Boggy Creek Farm this morning, I asked owner/farmer Carol Ann about my current puney broccoli production, making sure to tell her that the leaves were big and healthy but the buds were tiny. When I explained I'd planted it from "Di Cicco" variety seed, she immediately raised her eyebrows and told me Di Cicco is an heirloom variety that only produces little bitty buds like mine, not

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-15774738580376039992010-01-29T18:08:00.003-06:002010-01-29T18:16:06.036-06:00

I'm not really expecting big heads of broccoli or cauliflower from my five plants, but I am pleased to see these little (approximately 2-inch diameter) buds! Plus we can eat the broccoli leaves even if no more heads emerge. Maybe I'll only plant one broccoli and one cauliflower next fall because I've never had great luck with either, and they take lots of room. I think I'd rather use that space

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-92161881354392952142010-01-20T17:28:00.004-06:002010-01-20T17:37:28.225-06:00

Yesterday afternoon I headed out to the vegetable garden to resume my long-neglected weeding tasks but got distracted (funny how easily that happens when one's supposed to be weeding) by what appeared to be baby sorrel. I'd seeded some sorrel in that area quite awhile ago and never saw any results and pretty much forgot about it. I tore off a tiny leaf and tasted it: yep, definitely sorrel--cool!

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-38629096776878516572010-01-15T12:16:00.006-06:002010-01-15T12:52:33.792-06:00

Considering last week's hard freezes, I was afraid I'd have to resort to drawing a picture of a bloom today, but my efforts to relocate pots and cover plants paid off, for the most part. Good thing I like pansies. Check out other garden bloggers' blooms at May Dreams Gardens--thanks again to Carol for hosting!miniature rose, 'Red Cascade'one lone marigold

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-1883109783458558142010-01-07T13:43:00.007-06:002010-01-07T14:43:10.144-06:00

For the next couple of days, Austin will be lucky to see temperatures climb above freezing, with lows predicted in the upper teens. Yesterday I lugged a dozen potted plants into the somewhat breezy shed, figuring that provided slightly more protection than leaving them outside covered with a sheet. I made room in our unheated little mudroom for a few of my favorite potted plants, but I had to

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-69641075286150750832009-12-28T01:11:00.008-06:002009-12-28T23:29:22.395-06:00

True confessions. I wasn't too interested in gardening until about 10 years ago. But once husband Kurt and I decided we WERE interested, especially because we had a blank slate front lawn with which to work, we were motivated. Methodical and slow, but motivated. We vowed not to buy a lawn mower, although we did pay a guy to mow parts of the lawn for several years. Not the most thrifty move but a

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-28804441958952827642009-12-18T18:48:00.004-06:002009-12-18T18:54:19.163-06:00

In person, I'd seen Christmas balls hanging from large agaves and liked the look but didn't feel good about piercing my plants with those hooks. Then I stumbled across this idea online somewhere and did my own version. Cheers again, y'all!I had a few leftovers, so I added them to the light pole/fire hydrant corner agave.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-33883443906906772352009-12-16T15:10:00.007-06:002009-12-16T16:51:44.805-06:00

our huge old sycamore Pam at Digging now invites us to start celebrating our foliage the day after Carol's monthly garden bloggers' bloom day. I agree that blooms shouldn't get all the spotlight!my neighbors' huge old sycamoresgray santolina and rosemarypotted olive tree with rosemary and Mexican feathergrasslavenderLike the olive tree, santolina, and lavender, softleaf yucca is in the gray/blue

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-70526886338962559932009-12-15T10:01:00.008-06:002010-10-17T17:07:10.174-05:00

Austin's had two freezes in the past few weeks (!), so many salvias and other perennials look rather brown and mushy at the moment. Mine are all fairly established and should bounce back fine in the the Spring. That said, I only have a few things currently blooming and some of them are repeats from last month. I'm still happy to have any blooms right now. Be sure to check out other gardeners'

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-47193537614537820742009-12-10T16:01:00.012-06:002009-12-13T18:49:08.493-06:00

I try not to stray from gardening, house, or trial topics here, but my gardener/landscaper friend Jackie and I were comparing cocktail notes yesterday and she thought my gin comparison information was blog-worthy, so here goes. Husband Kurt is actually the bigger gin fan, but recently he put me to a blind taste test and it turned out my favorites were the same as his. Junipero, from Anchor

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-49082070044412269642009-12-03T18:29:00.005-06:002009-12-03T18:41:13.605-06:00

I was skeptical yesterday when the weather people said we might get two inches of snow tomorrow, and now they've revised their forecasts to "up to a half inch" of snow tomorrow. Sounds like MAYBE a few flurries to me. I'm much more concerned about tomorrow night's predicted low of 25 degrees (F)! It took me almost two hours today to cover the vegetable beds and a bunch of assorted other plants.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-57668455403844171042009-11-29T12:06:00.004-06:002009-11-29T13:40:50.413-06:00

romaine (Parris Island Cos in front, Freckles in back)Except for my broccoli, whose leaves are being eaten by some worm I can never catch, my fall vegetables are doing well. My lettuces are particularly happy. I still have jalapenos and anaheims producing, too. I already harvested a bunch of my basil and froze it, but I still have plenty going strong, at least until tomorrow night when it is

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-42838599249115856992009-11-22T16:57:00.005-06:002009-11-22T17:07:14.035-06:00

I'm brand new at propagating plants from stem cuttings, but I'm game. Several days ago, I gently stuck some cuttings from my potted Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) and Pineapple Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides 'pineapple') in seed starter soil mix and placed them in a mostly shaded spot (above photo). They got some rain Friday, so I decided today was the time to put baggies over

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-81537374114379699672009-11-15T11:20:00.008-06:002010-10-17T17:07:10.175-05:00

Silverado sage, Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue'), silver ponyfoot and blackfoot daisies, Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha) The weather here has been beautiful lately. Two months ago, I couldn't have imagined we'd finally get moderate temperatures and enough rain again to bring our front yard garden back to life. And positively lush, too! Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-26012992283202179052009-11-12T12:39:00.006-06:002009-11-12T13:04:24.099-06:00

paperwhite narcissusI don't know if it's the combination of our drought and recent rain, but several of my plants are blooming when they normally don't.This paperwhite narcissus (fighting the lantana) didn't bloom until mid-January last year.Red Cascade miniature rose (currently my only rose because it seems foolproof) usually blooms in the Spring.This Provence lavender sometimes blooms in

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-45754306081796220932009-11-11T22:07:00.007-06:002009-12-05T15:42:21.643-06:00

I am not worthy, but THANK YOU to The Curious Holts of wabi-sabihomeandgarden for including me as a recipient of bloggers' Honest Scrap Awards. There are more than two dozen fantastic Austin-area garden blogs, but here are three of my more offbeat favorites: Hungersauce, The Bearded Gourmand, and Austin Agrodolce. And, in the spirit of the award's requests, here are some honest things about me:-

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-89670374789415330372009-11-06T17:51:00.004-06:002009-11-06T18:03:46.187-06:00

"Speckles" butterhead lettuceIn this case, horseherb was the main culprit. I like horseherb as a groundcover in other parts of the yard, but I most definitely did not like it smothering my veggie seedlings. It was my fault for letting it get so out of control. Aargh. Usually I do my weeding quietly with a big glass of iced green tea, content to focus on the task and listen to the sounds of the

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-61130814158570141242009-11-03T14:59:00.008-06:002009-11-04T11:23:19.808-06:00

EDITED Wed., 11-4-09: Treefolks called and confirmed what Caroline and Pam suspected: they're both Mexican Plum trees!While I was out voting today, the people from Treefolks' Neighborwoods free tree program delivered our two "small stature" trees. Unfortunately, they left no identification on the trees. (I've left them a phone message.) The choices (none of which I have any experience) were

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-63871485152726403492009-10-31T10:46:00.005-05:002009-11-01T10:01:35.593-06:00

we put up a few decorations last weekHusband Kurt and I kicked off our tenth wedding anniversary last night with an incredible meal at Wink restaurant, known for its inventive use of lots of local and organic ingredients. I run into chef Eric at the Boggy Creek Farm stand allot, and he's really cool. But today is our actual anniversary. We got married in Seattle, shortly before we moved back to

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-36949754290405100002009-10-28T17:00:00.009-05:002009-10-28T21:19:30.314-05:00

Before I continue with today's observations, let me explain that the charges were dismissed "without prejudice", which means the charges against Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott may be refiled at any time--there's no statute of limitations for murder--but the state would still have to return to a grand jury if they refiled. The state maintains its position that Springsteen and Scott "are

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-81998360115529298512009-10-27T20:29:00.015-05:002009-10-28T15:08:34.994-05:00

At today's (postponed for months) Yogurt Shop Murders pretrial hearing, defendants Michael Scott and Robert Springsteen walked into state District Judge Mike Lynch's courtroom with free will instead of being led in from holding cells by sheriff's deputies. They walked out of the courtroom with free will and as truly free men for the first time in more than 10 years, after Judge Lynch signed an

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-28791710498789752712009-10-26T11:54:00.007-05:002009-10-26T12:19:14.439-05:00

Yesterday I was more aggressive about thinning my baby lettuces and beet seedlings and ended up with this season's first salads!pre-thinning (left side is leftover summer basil)I reserved the little regular-variety and freckles-variety romaine leaves for husband Kurt's beloved Caesar salad. Separately, I tossed together all the butterhead and leaf lettuces, along with some beet seedlings.I still

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-84406387801818040432009-10-15T13:25:00.011-05:002010-10-17T17:07:10.176-05:00

ornamental black pepperI confess: I'm feeling VERY lazy today, but I did wade through the heat and 90 percent humidity to snap some photos. (And I DID walk the dog this morning--yea, me.) Many Austin gardens are unusually lush right now because we finally got some long overdue rain! Go to Carol's blog, May Dreams Gardens, to see other gardeners' blooms today.rosemary, cenizo, victoria salvia,

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-6326700091023685512009-10-13T22:52:00.017-05:002009-10-13T23:39:52.194-05:00

A few weeks ago, Meredith at Great Stems published a great, informative post (with lots of interesting comments) about the love/hate affair many of us Central Texan gardeners have with our native horseherb--her post says it all! I commented about how much I appreciate horseherb in my garden yards as our main groundcover. Meredith was interested in seeing it used in a lawn, as she'd observed it

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-18757166248536208642009-10-06T15:09:00.009-05:002009-10-06T17:14:54.910-05:00

Today I spoke to a helpful man at the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and learned that their board has approved local Rollingwood residents James David and Gary Peese's application to drill a well to pump 800,000 gallons (annually) from the Trinity aquifer for "domestic irrigation needs" for their two-acre estate. David/Peese originally asked for a million gallons and

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-39296715207008600882009-10-01T15:56:00.005-05:002009-10-01T16:21:01.888-05:00

Now that we've received some much-needed rain, my ruellia (Mexican petunia) is particularly perky and bloomy, but it's also been a real trooper during our two-year drought. I gave it very little supplemental water this summer and it still managed to bloom some. This native can be invasive but is really easy to thin. Some people think it looks too "weedy", but I appreciate its colorful blooms and

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-41992874337646212722009-09-22T17:23:00.005-05:002009-09-22T17:42:26.592-05:00

A month ago, I really didn't imagine we'd ever see a day like today until maybe November. But I was SO wrong: it's 65 degrees (F) right now and has rained 3 inches in central Austin in the past 15 hours! We finally had custom wood window screens constructed and installed a month ago but haven't had a chance to air out the house and enjoy them until today. The talented John Hindman of Red River

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-18645542945780625382009-09-20T15:18:00.005-05:002009-09-20T15:35:07.451-05:00

red sails leaf lettuce seedlingsBecause our raised veggie beds aren't boxed, they don't always translate well in photographs, appearing to be shallow blobs. SWEET husband Kurt spent last Sunday adding tons of our homemade compost to the beds, mixing and turning them, then fluffing them up into respectable looking raised veggie beds. What was I doing last Sunday afternoon while he toiled? Watching

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-41345519337851500962009-09-14T20:36:00.011-05:002010-10-17T17:07:10.177-05:00

first time my Society Garlic has been presentable since MarchHooray! Austin finally got some measurable rain last weekend and cooler temperatures. I know it will get back up into the mid-high nineties later this week with no rain, but I'm still blissing out on today's cloudy, upper-seventies, driving with the sunroof open and the windows down weather! Thanks again to Carol at May Dreams Gardens

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-72969192545151522522009-09-09T10:34:00.009-05:002009-09-09T12:22:52.958-05:00

Today's the first gray, drizzly day we've had in a long time. Welcome negative ions! This chorus of rain lilies appeared Saturday and continues to sing today. Hallelujah.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-43953212691491592872009-09-07T13:53:00.009-05:002010-10-17T17:09:13.463-05:00

At the moment, restrictions on use of the Trinity Aquifer are not mandated by the Texas Legislature as they are for the Edwards Aquifer. So, during this greater Austin area's second year of exceptional drought, it appears that Rollingwood residents James David and Gary Peese are taking full and for now, legal, advantage of that lack of restrictions by applying to the Barton Springs/Edwards

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-46617106821980047222009-09-06T17:57:00.004-05:002009-09-06T18:09:59.062-05:00

bluebell (Eustoma russellianum)Most of my veggie seedlings are beginning to emerge, so I'll transplant them to their real raised-bed homes later this week. Meanwhile, I bought a few annuals (and put them in pots) to add some color to the veggie garden. We got almost two inches of rain Friday evening, the most we've had since early June, so everything is looking more peppy for now!yellow shrimp

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-44516717765918284992009-09-01T15:54:00.005-05:002009-09-01T16:00:43.454-05:00

The triple-digit heat took a break and also brought us some clouds and breezes this weekend, so I finally got myself out back to weed and prep the overgrown raised beds. I worked in our homemade compost into the existing soil with my hands (and have the roughed-up skin to prove it) and re-set the drip lines. I also let some of the horseherb stay because it seems to serve as soil-cooling "mulch".

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-47082844144861599222009-08-28T14:53:00.007-05:002009-08-28T17:14:48.340-05:00

potted white bougainvillea hanging out with the ruelliaI'm late to my own party! Just realized that August 27, 2007 was my very first blog post, so yesterday was my two-year blogging anniversary. I have no profound haikus to offer. Just thought I'd share.

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-30197581583252925672009-08-24T15:07:00.009-05:002009-08-24T15:34:08.488-05:00

Looks like today will make Austin's 64th day of 100+ heat this year, and I just couldn't deal with any outdoor projects this weekend. Instead, I stayed inside and lost a few brain cells breathing latex fumes as I painted this cute little wooden chair to use as a plant stand for the back yard.the whole gangSee the cool maroon-leafed plant in the forefront of the above photo? It's a Hawaiian Ti

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-44387136496061866622009-08-14T20:45:00.010-05:002010-10-17T17:07:10.178-05:00

Astrophytum asterias 'Sand Dollar'I'm a broken record. Yesterday was Austin's 55th day of triple-digit heat. Starting August 24th, city water use restrictions tighten so that we can only water with sprinklers one day a week between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. I still managed to find a few blooms to share today. Check out other blooms at Carol's May Dreams Gardens blog.rain lilies (thanks Annie!)

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-3617468424622188382009-08-13T15:55:00.007-05:002010-10-17T17:09:13.463-05:00

I just received this breaking news email alert from the Austin Chronicle:The Austin Water Utility will announce this week that due to continued severe drought, "Stage 2" water restrictions will be implemented effective Monday, Aug. 24. Under Stage 2 restrictions, residential users will be limited to one day of watering per week (instead of the current two days), paved surfaces cannot be washed

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-67059057516246473962009-08-05T16:03:00.008-05:002009-08-06T12:31:48.563-05:00

Today is Austin's 46th day of triple-digit heat this year, as well as our second year of extreme or exceptional drought. Our front yard garden is almost 100 percent drought-tolerant plants, with no lawn, and yet I still find myself watering more than I'd like to keep things looking pretty decent. I don't care much now about keeping those things looking particularly good, just alive. I think I

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-11738406523413663302009-07-25T15:53:00.007-05:002009-07-25T19:14:37.755-05:00

I've had pretty good luck with tomatoes, particularly my Cherokee Purple heirlooms, during this beastly summer because they're naturally shaded by a 65-year-old American Elm tree. But even these shaded and watered tomatoes have now finally succumbed to spider mites, blight, and wooly aphids. I harvested some of the larger green tomatoes that were surrounded by spider mites' webs, then cut out all

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-32175311776161124312009-07-15T12:07:00.010-05:002009-07-15T12:35:03.588-05:00

This coneflower reflects how we’re feeling here in Austin after 28 days of triple-digit heat (12 of which were record breakers) and continued exceptional drought. My 65-year-old trees and veggie garden get my highest priority for supplemental watering, so I don’t have much to show this month. Only my hardiest xeric plants have managed to bloom a little. I’ll definitely be looking at other

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-45730633842360705612009-07-07T13:24:00.006-05:002009-07-07T19:14:41.967-05:00

Sometimes I take plant descriptions too literally. I have learned that “drought-tolerant” doesn’t mean the plant will necessarily look great during a drought, and it doesn’t mean the plant won’t need at least a little bit of supplemental water during a drought. But occasionally I run across a plant that seems to truly thrive on neglect. Rosemary, which I love and have lots of, is fairly notorious

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-50153354446954645382009-07-04T13:41:00.005-05:002009-07-04T14:03:04.789-05:00

I didn’t hermetically seal the bird netting around this Black Krim tomato I planted from seed, so a squirrel took advantage. What’s surprising is that the squirrel ignored the unprotected tomato on the neighboring plant! close-up human's view of clothespin and bird nettingbefore: close-up squirrel's view (thanks to husband Kurt for creating cartoon tomato)after: close-up squirrel's viewThis

Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6