September Rains Flowers!

This month in Bell County we got substantial drought relief from several rain events. Near Salado, over 14 inches of rain fell, and much of it fell in under 24 hours. This total for southern Bell County exceeded the yearly rainfall for 2009 prior to September! Even so, in the Temple/Belton area we went from D4 to D2 (exceptional drought to severe drought). The rainfall wasn't a drought-buster, but it certainly was a reversal of fortune! Statewide, nearly 80% of the exceptional drought area was eliminated in one week in mid-September.

The flooding in Salado was two weeks ago, and it was miserable sitting at home on a rainy weekend. It was even more miserable for the flood victims. But thank heavens for the rain! The last two weekends have been sunny, and this weekend I finally got the grass mowed, did some weeding, cursed the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes, but most of all . . . I appreciated the flowers.

My yard literally came back to life in response to the rains. It's been a stunning recovery. Some plants are blooming in the wrong season, because they couldn't bloom during the drought (and I wasn't watering to make up for the lack of rain). Between last summer and this summer, I've lost very few plants. I'll mourn the Japanese maple, but it was struggling, anyway. I'll miss the Selaginella, but maybe I can find another. Today I'm enjoying the survivors . . . and they are incredible!!!

Barbados cherry (fragrant!)

Barbados cherry close-up

Leadwort (blue plumbago)

Shrimp plant

Heart-leaf hibiscus

Snapdragon vine

Chili pequin

Crepe myrtle 'Special Red'

Salvia darcyi

Mexican oregano

Trailing white lantana

'New Gold' lantana

Salvia farinacea, blue and white forms

Tropical sage, white form

Wild oxalis

Red yucca

Crepe myrtle blossoms with cedar elm leaves and seeds

Leopard spiderwort

Moss on a stepping stone

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

Tropical sage, pink form

Life Is Good . . .

Half day Friday was a great start to the weekend! A quick stop at the biotech campus allowed me to take care of a waste disposal problem. On main campus, the chemistry still that I had cleaned and reassembled was running great. Left work in a good mood. Bought a new shirt. Got the oil changed in my car. Bought groceries. Got a call from two of my sons. Got an invitation from my daughter to join her and a colleague in Austin for dinner. They were attending a CME conference and had a fun evening planned.

We visited Guero's Taco Bar on South Congress. The outdoor bar is a beautiful little venue under the live oaks. It was a perfect evening for sitting outside. Children and couples were dancing to the The Los Flames. We discovered why Guero's is famous for their hand-shaken margaritas made with fresh squeezed limes!

Next activity for the evening was watching the bats fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. That was really fun! There was a gorgeous sunset reflecting on the water. There were boats queueing up on the river and congenial people on the bridge, all enjoying the spectacle of the bats going out on their nightly patrols.



We had dinner at the Shady Grove, sat outside under the colored lights, and enjoyed both the beer on tap and the wonderful food. I had the "Hippie Chick Sandwich" (Thai grilled chicken, grilled eggplant, oven-roasted bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, arugula, tomato & mozzarella cheese served on their famous Hippie Bread w/pesto mayonnaise), and a salad with a most delicious balsamic vinegar dressing. The patio was delightful and the outdoor restrooms were located in the Airstream trailer on the postcard!



Of course we couldn't leave without getting a T-shirt. After all that Austin tradition, who wouldn't want to wear a "Keep Austin Weird" shirt? What can I say? Only in Austin!!!


Guero's Taco Bar

Los Flames

Austin Bats

The Shady Grove

Esperanza

When I drove up to my daughter's house a few days ago, I was greeted by this these beautiful bright yellow flowers growing on a large shrub next to the back door. This plant is called yellow bells or esperanza. The botanical name is Tecoma stans. It's a Trans-Pecos species that grows wild in rocky areas of south Texas. The range extends north to New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and south into Mexico, where it becomes a tree. It's very popular in landscaping, especially the cultivar called 'Gold Star,' which blooms earlier and more frequently than the native species and is more compact.



The foliage is very attractive also. The compound leaves are dark green, shiny and serrated. In nature in zone 7, yellow bells is deciduous and may freeze back severely some winters. The cultivar sold as 'Gold Star' is rated for zone 9, but can be grown here in central Texas with protection during the winter. It's popular for large patio pots also.



The seeds are formed in a long capsule resembling a bean pod, and each seed has two large, thin wings. Yellow bells is in the same plant family as desert willow and crossvine. All these plants have tubular flowers that are very profuse and showy. 'Gold Star' will bloom from spring to frost. The native species blooms from summer to frost and has narrower leaves than the cultivar 'Gold Star,' but it's also more cold-hardy.

The name esperanza means hope. The native species are triggered to bloom during the rainy season in the desert. So the name esperanza may mean the hope that the rains will come. We've definitely had our hopes rewarded these last two weeks!

Heralding Fall

I was absolutely delighted to see my oxblood lilies pop up a few days ago following more than 8 inches of rain over the weekend. These heirloom bulbs are often seen around old homesteads in central Texas, where they survive on their own and bloom in great masses of color in the fall. Known by the botanical name of Rhodophiala bifida, these amaryllids hail from South America and produce three or more blood red blooms atop each stem. The dark green, straplike leaves appear after the blooms and persist through the winter months, adding an unexpected bonus to the winter landscape. Then the leaves disappear, and there is no trace of the plant most of the year until the stems push through the soil suddenly in the fall.

Oxblood lilies can be planted under deciduous trees because the leaves generate energy for the bulbs during the winter, when the trees are bare. The bulbs tolerate, even flourish and multiply, in heavy clay soils. Alkalinity doesn't bother them. They make a dependable, showy display following drought, flood, heat, and cold. This year's record-breaking drought proved it. And my own neglect proved it. I was just too busy getting my sons graduated and off to college and my daughter married to bother with the yard this year.

Hmm . . . sounds like the perfect plant for me. Good thing that these bulbs were passed along to me by a friend, because they do not seem to be available in the nursery trade. This fact makes the plant doubly delightful to me. When the first hint of autumn arrives, I can enjoy the beautiful blooms and remember the kindness of a friend.

20 Items or Less

Today I made the first real trip to buy groceries since the nest emptied. The familiar landscape of my local Wal-Mart seemed bewildering. The aisles that had been such a comfort to me because they yielded the ingredients for happy family dinners seemed devoid of inspiration. Gone were the pot roasts of my imagination, the lasagnes, the roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy. Not present in the light bulb of my head were the hearty casseroles, quiche lorraines, fried rice, and chicken enchiladas that my hands knew so intimately. Not a thought was given to homemade brownies or sugar cookies or chocolate macaroons.

I smiled at families gathering lunch goodies for the kids. The aisles were crowded at mid-afternoon, but I felt lost. For some reason I don't remember the grandmas who were widows pushing carts with fewer items than mine contained. I always noticed the single senior citizens before. I always wondered about their selections. Have I blended right in? Am I experiencing a Sixth Sense moment?

I didn't even need to buy beer, wine, coffee, or chocolate because I have those left over from the apres-wedding dinner at my house.

Tell me I'm real. And don't tell anyone about the pizza.

Shop Class as Soulcraft

www.hewnandhammered.com/hewn_and_hammered/2009/05/shop-class-as-soulcraft-an-inquiry-into-the-value-of-work.html


This is the article in Hewn and Hammered that enticed me to buy this book. I just started the book and am truly impressed with the author's ideas and his writing style. Not everyone can be a knowledge worker, and even those who are, need hands-on creative work to balance their outlook. It's about time that the manual trades got some highlights in the press.

The Hewn and Hammered web site is inspiring, especially to the lay person who enjoys the arts and crafts aesthetic. I've often consulted this site for companionship with other homeowners who are engaged in various degrees of remodeling in the spirit of true craftsmanship.

And now that the year is winding down, maybe it's time to get back to my own labors.

Freakin' Fantastic

"Freakin' fantastic" was my daughter's comment about the wedding florals. But you know what? The entire day was perfectly freakin' fantastic! We had perfect weather, a beautiful ceremony in a stunning church, wonderful reception, fabulous photographer, great playlist music by my daughter herself, and most of all, the families and guests had a grand time visiting with each other! I adored watching all the generations of families interacting, from grandmothers down to babies in arms. Two blended families welcomed each other. Ex-husbands and ex-wives and ex-relatives happily renewed acquaintances. The love was palpable. The positive energy was incredibly uplifting. The shared joy for the newlyweds broke down all barriers.

So here are some images of the florals and decorations in the wedding colors of watermelon pink, chocolate brown, and ivory. Because my daughter believes in the power of photographs to keep memories alive and reinforce friendships and family ties across the miles and across the generations. And just because the flowers were freakin' fantastic (and we were too busy visiting with each other to pay attention at the time).

Bride's bouquet from above

The bouquet

My flowers painted in Sunday morning light

Cake topper

Large arrangement

Table decor

Love, love, love

Matchbooks and napkins

Program and pew cones

Garter and fan

Moms and step-moms carried a mini-bouquet like this

Centerpiece flowers

Boutinnere and table decor

Freakin' fantastic!!!