WELCOME TO DRAGON HOSES ~ AND OTHER Sadly FUNNY GARDEN NAMES

The city of Houston has raised our water rates for the 2nd straight year, a drought the size of TEXAS is raging outside along with millions (?!?) of  acres of wildfire damage across the state, and our poor farmers are suffering untold losses from crops waiting...just waiting for moisture.

How do you deal with hard times? I try to maintain a modicum of humor...plus I pray a lot.

With all of this, I've decided to rename my garden based on the weather conditions. Since I love languages, I've reached into the WORD barrel and come up with these:
 NEW GARDEN NAMES for TROPICAL TEXANA:

GARTEN KAPUTT (German for 'it's all gone!) :when a HARD FREEZE kills all of my tropical plants  
LE JARDIN LATANIER :when I get FLOODS and my garden is a swamp    ( Cajun French for swamp palm garden...by the way that sounds very romantic doesn't it?

DRAGON HOSES  :when I have to water endlessly  (said with a Scottish accent)

LA SECA GRANDE when it's so DRY I can't stand it anymore  (Spanish for THE BIG DRY)

BRUN HAVEN  :and finally, when it's all dead  (Danish for BROWN GARDEN)

Right now I'm still hopeful, so I'm sticking with DRAGON HOSES soon to be LA SECA GRANDE.

DRAGON  (DRAGGIN') HOSES...this week's garden theme

Thanks for stopping by. Share this post with anyone going through gardening difficulties.

David/ :0)

Latest Map from the United States Drought Monitor

http://drought.unl.edu/dm

DRIEST APRIL IN HOUSTON CLIMATE HISTORY (1889-PRESENT)

Houston records go back to 1889.

The worst combination of Spring months appears to be 1937 with .45" in March, .33" in April, and sadly, only a TRACE in May. This was durng the DUST BOWL of the 1930s. My dad lived through it as child.

1917 is in the news as another very dry year.

Our last chance for rain was last night and all the thunderstorms tracked north in the East Texas area.  We got nothing.  DRIEST APRIL in HOUSTON, TEXAS
0.11"   2011
Note: We usually get 3 or 4 inches of rain each month here along the Gulf Coast.
On average, El Paso, Texas in the West Texas desert region receives more rain in April than our 0.11".

It's not pretty, but necessary. Waiting to collect rain from the roof. I have two rain barrels and hope to buy at least 4 more this year. Each holds 55 gallons.

David/ :0)

APRIL MONTHLY GARDEN BOUQUET: EASTER BLESSINGS

Noelle at Ramblings from a Desert Garden  http://www.azplantlady.com/ features monthly garden bouquets from around the world. This month I put my bouquet in an Easter Basket along with a little surprise.
I also made some small bouquets as well. Happy Easter!

Easter Flower Basket filled with Impatiens

Inside on the kitchen windowsill

Another angle (or another angel?) :0)

Now before you scroll down, I want to reassure one of my gardening friends that I am NOT going to have chicks in all of my blog entries.  But seriously, I just had to do this to make the CUTE-O-METER go off the charts. For those who don't know, I got 6 baby chicks this week and will be calling them garden chickens.
I'll limit my garden posts about these cute little fluffballs to only once a week..except for this week. I promise.

                                                             Thanks for stopping by. David/ :-)

FIRST WEEK WITH CHICKS HERE AT THE GARDEN: HEN HAPPENINGS #1

I've been hoping to find a local source for chicks and I found one. Quality Feed and Seed on North Main in Houston Texas http://www.qualityfeedco.com/ has an excellent variety of straight run (both sexes mixed) and pullets (hens). Since I just want eggs and since these are going to be garden pets, I bought just pullets.
If you are going to raise chickens, get a book on the topic and read it cover to cover to see what you're getting in to.  Don't buy cute chicks on a whim. HERE ARE THE BASICS:
Chicks need warmth (80 to 90 degree temps in one part of the container), room enough to get away from the heat, constant water, chick starter crumbs, proper flooring and bedding material, and lots of care the first week.
All has gone well except for one scare; the water container went dry and nothing flowed out of the bottle for half a day. So I've put a tiny container with pebbles and water in the corner as a backup in case this happens while I'm at work.  Our cat also got into the room once, but I've got a metal grate on the top. Plus, he's very old and well fed.
Easter chicks are famous for NOT being cared for. Mine have been in the planning stages for 5 months now so yes, they're going to be fun  Easter chicks for the kids, but they're mostly here for many years to come as garden chickens. I must admit, they ARE very cute! Happy Easter everybody!

Our first night. That's some winter rye grass from the garden I'm using for bedding.

You can also use layers of newspaper, paper towels, and pine shavings. DO NOT use cedar shavings because the aromatic fumes are hard on their lungs. Also, they will peck at anything, so these grasses were not chopped up but about a foot long. I watched carefully to see if any choking was going on. So far, so good.

It was almost 90 degrees F outside and warm enough to take the babies on their first field trip.

I still had to hold them and warm them up after a bit. We stayed out for about 10 minutes, then got back inside under the warm lights.

Handtaming starts immediately. I sit in the pen with the flock and gently hold each one until it feels secure. Usually they fall asleep in my hand. It's the best part of raising pet chickens.

My wife said I accidentally brought home a PENGUIN! It's really a black Australorp (Australian breed) and it is the spunkiest of the bunch. A beetle accidentally got into the pen and BAM...it was gone.

We've name her Gwen (short or Penguin) She's extremely soft.

This one looks almost like a baby owl. It has barred wings and brown and tan coloration.

It's a week old and the leader of the tribe. We've nicknamed it Hoot! He's a rascal, but very sweet.

I'll post some more HEN HAPPENINGS in about a week.

Thanks for stopping by.

David/ :-)

UBIQUITOUS OXALIS: Happy Macro Monday

UBIQUITOUS: existing or being everywhere at the same time : constantly encountered : widespread

This most beautiful flower is everywhere in my garden. It spreads and spreads and I couldn't get rid of it if I tried. Judging from this close up, I guess I should be happy to have such a pretty problem.
Visit Lisa, our host, for some beautiful macros. http://lisaschaos.com/
David/ Tropical Texana/ Houston

FASCINATING FERN FOLIAGE AT TROPICAL TEXANA: HAPPY FOLIAGE FOLLOW-UP

With the worst drought in 40 years blazing outside our window, it's hard to imagine ferns growing here and looking good. I used to have so many ferns....and loved every one of them. But as all gardeners know, every plant family has its more durable and more delicate members. The ferns below are the more durable and toughest and can take just about anything our Houston weather throws at them. I try to be water wise, so I must add I DO WATER FERNS. They need a bit each day to carry on and I feel they are well worth it. To conserve water, I have clustered the ferns in 3 or 4 locations and just water those areas more than the rest.

To see more fabulous foliage, please visit our wonderful host, Pam at Digging. She's on my sidebar favorites.

Thelypteris kunthii  or Dryopteris ludoviciana~ both names go with our native Southern wood fern. Critters love to eat it, but it recovers quickly. These are fresh fronds with no damage.

Another view of Southern Wood fern. Transplant it very early in the Spring and it will do fine.

The LBJ website reports that it's good for shade gardens with oppressively hot summers, high humidity, and heavy clay soils. Yep, that's what I've got! LOL

Holly fern ( Cyrtomium falcatum ) is tough. It can even dry out a bit between waterings, but I don't like to take chances. Once a fern dries out, it has to start completely over from rhizomes.

Southern Maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) growns along the north side of our house next to the water faucet. It gets a splash of water each day or so. It prefers limestone soils and alkaline conditions. This fern is famous since it grows along Texas springs, waterfalls, and Hill Country creeks. It's probably my favorite.

The last of one of my bicolored ferns.

 A small fern in the Boston fern (Nephrolepis) family. It can take drier conditions better than most.

Lace fern (Microlepia strigosa) is easy and quite cold hardy.

Mother fern (Woodwardia orientalis) hangs on for dear life. Each year I think it's dead, but it pops up each Spring like a phoenix.

I also grow Leatherleaf fern (Rumohra adiantiformis) and this works well for Houston.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING FOR HOUSTON if the climate continues to stay drier and hotter:

In the past I've grown (and lost) the following:

Australian tree fern

Small tree fern

Australian maidenhair,

button fern

rabbit's foot fern

Bird's nest fern

Autumn fern

Giant staghorn fern (it was magnificent!)

ruffled fern

Boston fern

roundleaf fern

Five fingered maidenhair fern

Resurrection fern

Pteris ferns

and the ever gorgeous Japanese Painted fern. If you are in a moist zone 8 garden area, try it!

Thanks for visiting!

APRIL BLOOMS at TROPICAL TEXANA: HAPPY GBBD!

The front yard is the focus for this month's Garden Blogger's Bloom Day. This superlative event is sponsored by Carol at May Dreams Garden. She's on my sidebar favorites, so please go visit! :-)
We've been very dry this past month, but cool. The impatiens are one of the few flowers than can take heat, shade, and Houston humidity. They also take water, so choose wisely. I usually don't keep them past June since they drink heavily...water that is. LOL   A few tropicals are also in bloom this month. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your gracious comments. David/ :-)

Out of 144 plants, this was the only one with this pattern. I don't recall ever seeing an impatien like this. I'm going to try to take cuttings and keep it alive as a houseplant. I really like it!

Another pretty pattern with that blush of pink and lavender.

Another 'eyed' impatien. I like this one because it is not like the typical solid pink

Another with a pattern.

Cannas are starting to bloom.

One of my Spring blooming bromeliads.

An Aechmea bromeliad in bloom.

The Loop Lawn. The pavers take the viewer in a gentle "S"  to the back of the garden.

Another view of the lawn loops. I really enjoyed making these.

Here's another view of the loop garden. Texas is having the worst drought in 40 years, so it's a miracle the grass is even this green. I'm already tired of watering.

Maybe we'll get rain soon.

David & Melanie, Houston Texas

AGAVE BUD PRINTS

I've been looking very closely at my agaves this week. Blogger is turning my photos topsy-turvy, but it doesn't matter. Agave bud prints are beautiful any direction.

David/ :-)

ON PATROL: HAPPY MACRO MONDAY

I was out this weekend and enjoyed seeing some hard working little fellows. I rely on them day in and day out since I try to avoid poisons unless it's the very last option.
The jumping spiders wave their mandibles and stare right at you, unafraid. In fact, both of them jumped on my camera lens when I got too close. The lizard is a baby green anole. For more macros, visit our host Lisa, at http://lisaschaos.com/ .

A brown, black and white jumping spider. Sorry this is sideways. The download flipped it. Just turn your head. :-)

A metallic green jumping spider. He's the size of your pinky fingernail.

Cute, isn't he?

Thanks for visiting. David/ :-)

GARDEN BLOG GAMES: 1st EDITION~ Which is NOT a Florida Garden Blog?

I'm fairly certain I will never get to visit all the garden blogs in the world, but I can at least have fun trying.
And what better way than to play some games. Since I'm a teacher, this is a pleasure.
Won't you give it a try? I guarantee these are all actual GARDEN BLOGS that I have visited.

WHICH ONE IS NOT  A FLORIDA GARDEN BLOG?

A.  My Florida Backyard   ( see, I'm nice, aren't I?)
B.  Terra Mirabilis (means miraculous land)
C. Hoe & Shovel
D. DragonFly Garden
E. Shovel-Ready Garden
F. The Rain Forest Garden
G. Peace in the Valley
(scroll down for the answer)

E. Shovel-Ready Garden is in Austin Texas   http://shovelreadygarden.blogspot.com/  .  All the others are in Florida. Happy Weekend.
hOPE yOU  Get TO GO outSIDE and GARDEN your gloves off! :0) David/

GARDEN TOUR: The Bromeliad Garden

I've had a request from a dear friend back in my hometown. She wants to see bigger parts of my garden. So, from time to time, I'll post a garden tour.  I'm a  perfectionist so no part of the garden is EVER finished. LOL

I GUESS THE JUNGLE GARDENS OF MADE WIJAYA (island of Bali)  would be the style I'm aiming for. Still, I want it to look like a Texas Tropical Garden, so the elements are mixed.  This is part of the backyard with mostly bromeliads along a path to the winter greenhouse. The fence is too stark for my tastes and will have a row of banana trees hiding it by the summer's end. It's my next project. The tropical garden is still recovering from a severe freeze in February.
 David/ :0)

Our family cat wants to be in on the garden photos!

                                      I like tropical plants. Can you tell?

                          Live oak leaves cover the trails around this part of the back yard. The plastic red pot of basil counts as our annual herb garden. The blue-green yucca is the latest gift from a gardening friend at church. I really like it! The Agave attenuata does not grow well in Houston, but this one seems to be making it.

One of the Chinese fan palms ~ the signature plant of our tropical garden. Mine is a wildlife garden so I keep this on the wild side with lots of places for bird habitats.

This owl marks the entrance to the back garden.

It's the latest edition to the garden ~ a fun gift from my dad.

Thanks dad! :-)

And thanks to all who stopped by to visit. It's nice when someone gives a hoot about gardening.

I'll post another section of the garden soon.

INSPIRATION ~ VISITING THE ONLY COLONY OF OLD ORDER AMISH IN TEXAS

From time to time, I'm going to post what I'm thinking about when I garden.  What do you think about? My mind seems to ramble from one topic to another. I guess in psychology it's called free association.
Here's one example:
It's dry
~ I need to water
~ Who invented the water hose?
~ My soil has a lot of organic matter
~ Good thing
~ My grandmother's vegetable garden
~ She wore a bonnet all the time
~ She was German
~ I liked helping her water
~ I wonder if anyone still wears a bonnet in the garden ~ the AMISH farmers do.

I dream of the Amish a lot. They choose to live without the electrical devices and hectic pace that we seem to hold on to with gusto.  I've always wanted to visit an Old Order Amish community and watch them plow with horses.
I've done a lot of research on this topic and a couple of years ago found out something startling: you don't have to go to Indiana, Ohio, or Pennsylvania to find the Amish.  We have one colony here in Texas. It's down in Bee county and it's hard to find. They value their privacy and there are no signs like AMISH COMMUNITY STRAIGHT AHEAD.
We went down to Corpus Christi this weekend to visit the Texas A&M University campus. On the way home, I found my notes and charts and decided to search for the Amish colony.
They do exist, but be prepared....it's not like the pictures you see of Lancaster county. And there are no tourists.
Still, the grasslands, the windmills, and their rugged determination to make a living off the land are what inspire me to garden as simply as possible. The colony is still young (started 11 years ago), but there is one store and a growing number of  farmsteads.  There's also a demonstration farm, but we did not get to stop and see it this time.
The Amish do not like having their pictures taken, so I photographed only the buildings.

Water is life. This is the water system for one of the farmsteads. There are no large rivers or lakes in this part of the county.

A typical farmstead. Notice the windmill and the elevated water tank.

I love the prairies that are now so rare in much of Texas.

This looks like one of the newest buildings. It might be the school, but I'm not certain.

The Amish build all of their own buildings.

The combination store sells tack, buggies, and other Amish items.

                              I wanted to buy some bread, but it was too late in the day.

A buggy coming down the road.

This the only sign that gives you a hint.

The population of the colony as of 2010 is 75 Amish.

Thanks for visiting. That's it for this time.

David/ :-)

A simpler time