EPIPHYTE DAY ~ NEW GARDEN MEME by RAINFOREST GARDENER

This is my second entry in the world famous Epiphyte Day hosted by Steve over at Rainforest Garden.
Hang around for awhile and you'll see some cool entries in this emerging group at http://www.therainforestgarden.com/

This is a Neoregelia called Olens Vulcan x 696 x Concentrica. It was $8.00 and already mounted when I bought it at our Houston Bromeliad Society sale.  The x's  mean that it is a hybrid cross and someone has been busy since there are 3 parents listed. The unusual 696 part in the middle is probably a seedling number. This usually means that the person is a very serious hybridizer and has many years of experience. I've bought a number of seedlings from this person and they are all wonderful plants. I love this plant because it came back from a terrible freeze last winter. This is fairly rare for Neoregelias.

HAPPY MACRO MONDAY ~ SAGE ADVICE

My sage advice ~~~ grow some SAGE. There are so many varieties and they do so well in many climates.
This is one of my favorite macros since I did not think it would turn out. This is morning dew on a sage with silvery gray green foliage.

And here's some more sage advice; to see the rest of the fun macros visit our host,Lisa, at http://lisaschaos.com/

unTROPICAL TEXANA~ Hard Freeze Predicted!

I'll post later about how I feel about all this, but as the approaching ARCTIC AIR  mass looms ominously on the horizon, I'll post what the forecasters are predicting. The National Weather Service wins the prize for always giving me the greatest SHOCK since they plan on the WORST to happen. Hey, it's their job, right?

Icebergs in Greenland (source: Wikipedia)

Intellicast              27    28   29  34   (I can live with these numbers....maybe the cloudcover will hold out)
Accuweather        36   30    34  34   (This won't hold....too many are predicting lower...too bad)
KHOU TV           30   26    26   32  ( Probably going to be close to the truth)
NWS                    31   26    23   30  (The 23 will be like that iceberg slamming into my tropical garden)

SIGNS OF WINTER/ SIGNS OF SPRING~ MACRO MONDAY IN TRANSITION

I first just want to say how fun it was to read comments today. It's so nice to know that fellow gardeners stop by to 'visit'. :-)  Thanks.
I think I'm getting more and more critical of my photos and lately, I've trashed just about everything I take.
Ever had one of those times?   So here are the last 3 that jumped back out of the trash can. It's been too muddy (when was the last time I said that!!!) to garden, so I've been trimming trees and shrubs and trying to find something to photograph. Happy Macro Monday.  And...to see some people NOT struggling to find a photo or two, visit Lisa's blog at http://lisaschaos.com/  . Her photography blog is gorgeous.

Cardboard palm (Zamia furfuracea) The individual pieces feel stiff and are kind of like botanical poker chips.

It can regrow brilliantly from a hard freeze. I love this plant!

A ladybug! Maybe Spring is on the way. (click on photo to get MACRO)

The wild elderberry bush takes the lead and starts budding this week. Doesn't it know it's still January?

Today's Garden Chuckle:  You would never want to sprinkle this on your plants!

BYGONE FLOWERS OF TROPICAL TEXANA

Last night I was trying to find a particular photo and in the process I went through hundreds of old garden pictures from this tropical garden. It's hard to imagine that I used to grow these plants and I can't really say why they're not here anymore. A freeze here, a heatwave there, a hurricane, a drought, and so it goes.
"Better to have grown and lost than never grown before. "  ~~my take on a famous quote
David/ Tropical Texana

Curcuma cordata (Hidden ginger)

Hedychium Elizabeth (Butterfly Ginger)

Canna Lily

Hedychium Brandi Sato (Butterfly Ginger)

KEEPING TRACK OF WEATHER: Last Date of Killing Frost for Hobby Airport Houston Texas (Past 5 Years)

I couldn't find this information very easily, so thought I'd post it for those interested.
Hobby airport is the home of the southern and hence warmer weather station here. Central Houston would be a little cooler and Intercontinental on the north side even cooler with later dates.
2010...February 25  
had a low of 32, then no further freezes

2009...January 29
 had a low of 32, then no further freezes

2008...January 3
had a low of 32, then no further freezes...almost a year without a freeze!

2007...February 16
 had a low 29, then no further freezes

2006...February 12
 had a low of 30, then no further freezes

Latest freeze in recent history...We had a killing frost on April 4th and 5th that killed my vegetable garden in 1985. I had not thought a freeze in April  possible. I gave up my vegetable garden that year for many reasons including that untimely frost.

Rare snow in December 2010

A SCREECH OWL TWO STEPS AWAY!

I was out tonight with that gorgeous full moon shining. I was taking some kitchen scraps out to the compost pile when a movement caught the corner of my eye. Something had been on the ground and had flown up to a small branch. It stayed and stayed just sitting there. As my eyes adjusted, I could tell it was a small screech owl. I had no idea they hung around all winter in my backyard.
Of course I had no camera. ( Do YOU take your camera out to a compost pile late at night? LOL)
Soooo...I slowly moved backwards and walked back into the house to get one.

I was guessing there would be a 100% chance that the owl was gone....I mean, why would it stick around for me?
But...it must have really wanted to get back to hunting in that little spot of the yard. I stepped, took a picture, then stepped again closer until I was just two steps away.  We spent what seemed like an eternity looking at each other. Then, in a flash, the owl was gone. Have you ever been so close to something wild that you didn't want it to end? That's how I felt.
I really want to make some owl boxes for this garden.
David/ :-)

He was not at all scared of me. I got the distinct impression that this was his garden, not mine. :-)

RELAXING BY STARING AT STUFF IN YOUR GARDEN ~ A not so Wordless Wednesday

We've had 9 overcast, cold (for here), rainy days when finally the sun came out for a moment yesterday afternoon. I was sitting outside in a chair staring at the garden. Most of the garden has an assortment of birds flittering around most any day, so I watch them. I also look for patterns. I find it relaxing after doing paperwork (right now I'm starting to do our taxes).
Here's what I stared at:

and....here's what I found...

click to enlarge.

I'm always fascinated when I find something like this to photograph. Isn't nature grand?

By the way, to stare, observe, glance at, or peruse some more photos, visit

Alicia at http://weloveiowa.blogspot.com/   and see a fine collection called Wordless Wednesday.

Thanks for stopping by Tropical Texana/ David :0)

MACRO MONDAY ~ BLOOMING RICE PAPER PLANT

It just so happens that our Rice Paper Plants dodged the frosts and put out their otherworldly bloom spikes. They attract quite an array of flying insects including this strange little guy in the bee or wasp family.
Visit our wonderful host, Lisa, at http://lisaschaos.com/  to see this week's macros.

Click on photo to enlarge for the macro. As I stood under these hundreds of flower balls, the bee and fly traffic sounded like a tiny airport with miniature planes taking off and landing. :0)

A few fun facts about this plant.

Rice paper plants look very tropical, but are root hardy in zones 8 and 9.

They grow very large, palm-like leaves. They can grow in full sun or shady spots.

They can grow up to 15 feet tall and even develop a trunk about the size of a broom handle.

They bloom every year starting in November...as long as it doesn't freeze.

Once mature, the stems can grow back their leaves even after a hard freeze. Amazingly, my plants regrew after a 21 degree freeze last year.

Handle the leaves with care! Some people find the 'dust' on the leaf surfaces irritating to the throat and nose.

Baby plants can come up as suckers up to 10 feet away. I just pull up any baby I don't need.

They don't transplant easily. Cut all the leaves off except the top one and replant in early Spring.

Rice paper plants needs water, but they can take a short dry spell. They like high humidity.

Thanks for stopping by my tropical garden blog. David :0)

Bonus shot: Palm shadows across palm leaves.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A BLANKET STATEMENT

I always imagined gardening would look about the same all over the world. Plants, tools, digging, watering and such are on the menu for everyone. But, for zone 9ers a big part of the show is covering plants. I would guess people in tropical climates would view the photo below with amused curiosity. Likewise in Canada.
I also figured out something else. Next time we have a close brush with freezing weather, I'm going to make note of the gardens in my neighborhood with the most things covered.  Why? Because it shows that you don't want your tender plants to die. Plus, I'd be curious as to what exactly  they were covering! LOL

I covered about 12 plants this time around. These are tropical plants that are in the ground and are not as hardy as the rest. I can already tell that it was worth the effort.  I have about 100 plants that don't need covering...they've either gone into hibernation or can take colder weather. About 40 of my favorites are indoors or in my greenhouse.  I fear January freezes, but to be honest, February is the month that fills me with the most dread. It's been as low as 18 here in February and that would probably be the end of most of my tropical garden.
But, on the bright side, the weather is rebounding by 10 degrees each day. We'll be back up to 70 by Monday. I can't wait.

A curious sight

BRING IN THE CLOUDS ~ JUST IN TIME!

The frigid predictions left me dreading my first glimpse of the tropical garden this morning. But, rather than the 25 predicted, we had a low of 28.5 here in central Houston. Some areas had a predicted low of 21 to 25, so I was more than relieved. It will be another cold night, but the cloud bank is thickening and rolling in over the region. That's good for a 3 to 5 degree moderation. Light breezes are worth 1 to 2 degrees of moderation as well. And crossing my fingers...well, it just makes me feel better. :-)

Last night the NWS had a current temp of 35 at 10 PM at Hobby Airport. I always figure a 1 degree drop per hour with 7 AM having the lowest reading. That was going to be a number around 28. Sometimes that prediction holds and sometimes it turns out that the temp is lower if the air is still and the ground is dry. We have almost saturated soil right now, so that helped as well.
Just 5 more weeks of this Weather Russian Roulette and the threat of VERY severe cold is over.

                     Clouds shown with the trees across the street. Even a few clouds can be good news.

About 1/2 of Tropical Texana is cold hardy. Lady fern and variegated alstroemeria can take a frost.

COLD WEATHER AHEAD ~ TIME TO DUCK INSIDE ~ HAPPY WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Tropical Texana is bracing for 3 nights of frigid weather. This is the 2nd consecutive year and now I'll have to see just which plants are doomed to regrow from scratch. In the meantime, I'll let these beautiful ducks express my feelings.  I took these shots at Hermann Park, Houston, Texas.

I need to "pare down" my tropical plant collection.

How A Tropical Gardener feels when they say it's going to really freeze tonight.

I could 'rail' about this weather, but what would it matter?

I have all my ducks in a row...the plants are all covered.

There will still be beauty after all this is over.

Happy Worldless Wednesday. To see other great entries, visit our wonderful host, Alicia at http://weloveiowa.blogspot.com/

Thanks for flying in to visit. :0) David

BTW: Anyone know the species of  duck? I'd love to know.

MACRO MONDAY ~ THE GEORGIA O'KEEFFE FLOWER

Have you ever had a perfect moment in photography? The light is perfect, no breeze, all is still, the angles, the subject...everything?  It felt this way when I was able to get these pictures of our white Brugmansia just before the Christmas frost. I took many, many photos, but these are the best. Happy Macro Monday! And...to see the rest, visit our delightful host Lisa at http://lisaschaos.com/
Oh, and if one of these is your favorite, please tell me. I'd love to know. Thanks.

                      (click on photo for Macro)  This is probably my favorite. The viewer wants to peer into that mysterious interior while viewing all around the edges. I captured a little green at the bottom to show perspective and to give the eye a place to go and 'rest' from all the whiteness.  The hint of sunlight at the top of the crest shows some of the detailed hairs and gives a hint of texture. Can you see what I'm talking about, or am I just crazy? :0)

A few facts & my experience with  Brugmansias:

1. They tolerate NO frost, but are very root hardy and regrow faster than any plant outside of vines and bamboo. In a light frost, they will sprout from the stems and regrow even faster. They can bloom in one season after freezing back to the ground. That's amazing!

2. They are quite poisonous. Do NOT grow indoors around pets and small children.

3. They are prone to love high humidity and droop in low humidity. They can recover from dry spells.

4. They are very thirsty plants and need watering daily in temps above 92 degrees.

5. They can grow into small trees and have beautiful  foliage and flowers.

6. I have two varieties and really enjoy the fragrance of one. The other is overpowering.

7. I would recommend this plant for Hawaii, Australia, Tropical Asia, Central America, Central & South Florida, Puerto Rico and the West Indies. It can be grown outdoors in Houston and San Antonio (?).

8. They readily root from cuttings or directly in moist soil.

9. They are native to subtropical South America.

Thanks for stopping by Tropical Texana.

THOUGHTS ON GETTING A FEW CHICKENS FOR MY GARDEN

I told some of my teacher friends at work today that my new idea is to get a few chickens for my garden. They laughed and waited for me to say the words, "Of course I'm joking". But I'm really serious. I've thought about getting a few chickens for years. There is no city law against them and they would be pets kept in a nice, roomy area with a chicken fence. I would tame them since many breeds actually like to be picked up and cared for. I'm thinking about breeds that would take the SUMMER HEAT, are great egg layers (I would not EAT a pet you know), and have a nice temperament. If you know of any garden bloggers that have chickens, tell them I'd love some input. Here are a few I'm thinking about.  I'm getting hens since roosters crow loudly and I don't won't to wake the neighbors.  (Images from Wikipedia and Oklahoma State University)

Australorp: a black chicken prized for laying many brown eggs. Described as 'delightful, a great pet chicken, calm, and friendly". Also called " peaceful and dignified" and "docile, sweet, and shy".  Has soft, shiny black feathers with a greenish or purplish hue in sunlight.

Barred Plymouth Rock: looks like a zebra with black and white stripes. Described as 'sweet, very friendly, great layer, and easy to manage. Gets along with people and other chickens".

Welsummer: looks like the chicken on Kellogg's Corn Flakes, brown and black. Described as "active, friendly, intelligent, and easily handled".

(New Hampshire Red is very similar to Production Red)

Production Red: a hybrid cross between the Rhode Island Red and the New Hampshire Red. It has a bit lighter shade than the darker Rhode Island Red. It's an efficient egg producer and can take climate extremes of both hot and cold. The hens are described as for the most part calm and docile.

(Image of Ameraucanas...Easter Eggers vary in color and are not a standard breed)

Easter Eggers (often sold as Ameraucanas): Not considered by some to be a breed, but carries the blue/green gene that produces these beautiful eggs. Described as having a 'fun' personality and usually quite friendly to children and humans. The pullets(hens) are smaller than most and weigh 4 lbs. compared to other hens that can weigh 6 to 8 pounds. Considered to be especially docile. Said to like treats and will often follow you around while you do garden chores.  I really want one of the Easter Eggers.

Buff Orpington: Described as have a calm disposition and easy to handle. A heavy breed weighing up to 8 pounds. Can lay large, brown eggs year round and is said to be easy to handle. Also said to be 'large, gentle, and friendly'. They have a lot of plummage, so I'm not certain if they will do well during hot, Texas summers.
PART 2: THE BABY CHICKS ARRIVE!
http://tropicaltexana.blogspot.com/2011/04/first-week-with-chicks-here-at-garden.html
PART 3: OUR CHICKEN TEENAGERS: THEY FEATHER OUT AND GROW UP  http://tropicaltexana.blogspot.com/2011/06/our-chicken-teen-agers-are-fun.html

FOR MY CHINESE FRIENDS:
雞生長

雞的種類

 熱帶花園雞

Any other breeds I should consider? Texas gets hot in the summer and so that's my top concern.
David :0)

WEATHER OR NOT....WHO CAN PREDICT THE WEATHER....LET'S SEE

Sunset at Quintana Beach, Texas Gulf Coast

There's a BIG FREEZE coming next week and as a Tropical Gardener, this always brings some apprehension along with THE question; just HOW cold is cold for this round?

I'm actually relieved at the answer. We had heard rumors like the big freeze of '83 or '89. Those were events that happened here before I added the tropical element to the garden. Whole trees died during those years.

So here's what I've got as far as predictions for this next week. It will be interesting to see who is the best at predicting such an event one week out from its occurrence. (Sunday through Thursday low temps.)

Do you have a favorite from the list, or even a better source for weather? Thanks. David :0)



1. Weather Channel                34  33  28  35  42
2. Intellicast                            34  33  30  27  42
3. KHOU                              50  33  30  28  30
4. National Weather Service   34  32  29  31  42
5. Wunderground                   34  34  32  34  42
6. My Forecast.Com              49  35  35  34  43
7. Accuweather                      35  33  35  32  33
8. UNISYS                            46  34  31   31  31    
9. Actual Low Temp.            39  35  27  32   39   (My lowest temp 28.5)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY ~ A PROUD MOMENT!

I know it's not a beautiful scene, but I am filled with wonder. It's hard to describe my joy at this temperature reading....almost 130 degrees on a 50 degree day! The is a Winter Compost Pile so this is an amazing temp. Happy Gardening and Happy Wordless Wednesday.

Visit Alicia at http://weloveiowa.blogspot.com/ to see the rest of the collection. Thanks, Alicia, for your great photo blog and for hosting. It's thundering and pouring down rain tonight...a sweet sound during a drought.   :0) David (just checked...we got 1.50" of rain tonight)

***

NOT SO WORDLESS EXPLANATION:  If you have never made a compost pile from dead leaves and such, you may not understand what's going on in the picture. To get this temperature, you have to have just the right amount of oxygen mixed with water and "throw aways" in a 30:1 carbon to nitrogen mix. This can happen under the right conditions in the summer, but it's tricky at best in the winter. The first photo I took didn't show up because of all the steam coming from the pile when I dug a hole in it! It's a gardener's dream to get high numbers in compost since it kills all the bad guys like diseases, weed seeds, etc. Whew! I'll try to be wordless next week with a simpler photo. LOL! :0)

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR LEAVES?

GATHERING LEAVES by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like a rabbit and deer
Running away.

But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight;
And since they grow duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who's to say where
The harvest shall stop?

So....what do you do with your leaves? It's funny, but I divide my leaves into the 'bad' ones and the 'good' ones. The bad ones get composted. The good ones get to be pathways in the wildlife garden. Good ones are in the oak family. Pecan leaves matt down, turn slimey and so get composted.  Thanks for stopping by and commenting on what you do with your leaves. BTW: Bagged leaves here in Houston get composted by the city in our recycling programs. :-) David/ Tropical Texana