Hill Country scenery
June 09, 2008 Despite those crazy pink bluebonnets still blooming in my garden, Texas wildflowers in summertime favor orange, yellow, and red, with a few white prickly poppies and yucca blooms thrown in for good measure. Yesterday we drove our son to summer camp in the Hill Country west of ...
Austin almost at goal for NWF certification
November 27, 2007 This summer I posted about Austin’s goal to become certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. With a population of 735,000, Austin would be the largest city in the country and the first in Texas to become certified. Now I hear that Austin ...
Lost in the beauty of Lost Maples
November 06, 2007 Bigtooth maple in Lost Maples State Natural Area Leaf peeping can be a disappointing pursuit here in central Texas. Absent the flaming oranges, yellows, and reds of eastern hardwood forests, our trees either stay green all winter (live oaks and junipers) or their leaves color faintly before ...
Chicago Botanic Garden: Japanese Garden & Bonsai Collection
October 17, 2007 One of my garden goals is to learn more about Japanese gardens, ideally through a trip to Japan. (Have you noticed that I like to travel?) Last spring I was inspired by Tom Spencer’s beautiful garden photos from Japan. Despite my appreciation for their quiet, reflective beauty, ...
Going batty at Austin Batfest 2007
September 01, 2007 Night Wing bat sculpture at Congress Avenue and Barton Springs Road I went a little batty this evening. Actually, the whole family did. We dressed up in our batty best (notice the earrings?) and went downtown to the 3rd annual Batfest, a street festival/live-music/bat-watching party held entirely ...
Austin gardeners, let's help city attain goal
July 20, 2007 White-lined sphinx moth resting in my garden A gardening neighbor tells me that the City of Austin is encouraging residents to certify their yards as Wildlife Habitats by the National Wildlife Federation. This “green” initiative was announced last month, on June 11, at the NWF site. Alice ...
Austin gardeners, let’s help city attain goal
July 20, 2007 White-lined sphinx moth resting in my garden A gardening neighbor tells me that the City of Austin is encouraging residents to certify their yards as Wildlife Habitats by the National Wildlife Federation. This “green” initiative was announced last month, on June 11, at the NWF site. Alice ...
Tanzanian wildlife
July 13, 2007 My favorite African animal Just now, at midnight, I walked down my dark driveway to drop a bag into the garbage can. The tree shadows and my imagination made it seem a little creepy out there. It reminded me that while visiting the national parks of Tanzania, ...
Mountain lions in urban areas — Are they in Austin?
September 21, 2006 In July I posted about The Beast in the Garden by David Baron, a nonfictional look at Boulder’s experience with mountain lions moving into suburbia. A real page-turner, the book follows the escalation of lion attacks from pets to humans, as well as the changing perceptions of ...
Read This: The Beast in the Garden
July 12, 2006 I don’t have to contend with deer in my garden, but I fear that day is coming. Living as I do in an older, in-town neighborhood, separated from the greenbelt-banded, hilly neighborhood to the west by a busy highway, I’ve never had plants chomped by deer or ...
Rocky Mountain High
July 10, 2006 Zen-like serenity at Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park I love to travel, but I’m always ready to come home after a week away. Before I lug my suitcase into the house, I’m drawn into my garden to see what I missed and what needs trimming or ...
